Unlike Mamli, Bablu has never been alone at home waiting for Padmaja and I to return from work. We were not sure if he should go to a pre school play group like Mamli did. Mamli started pre school when she was a little over a year old and continued till she was ready to go to LKG at BVBPS. We held off till he was two and a half and then decided to admit him to Euro Kids in Ameerpet. A little out of the way for us but our research showed that this was the best available option at the time.
Bablu wasn’t pleased with the idea. He was comfortable at home being pampered by his big sister and had no desire to face a horde of strange kids who might poke fun at him. He detested the school the entire time he was there. Surprisingly he loved BVBPS. Most probably because he is always accompanied by Mamli who seems to treat him as a live, personal doll and this affords him the protection of not just a big sister but all her friends too.
The Euro Kids in Ameerpet is a franchisee out of a bungalow near the Nature Cure Hospital. The place does not have enough open space but that does not seem to stop the owners, the local authorities or parents. The local authorities are only bothered about their own pockets – the more schools the merrier. Who cares about the condition of the school! The owners are private entrepreneurs out to make a buck at any cost it seems. And parents? There are two kinds I think. The first are people like Padmaja & I, working couples with no support from grand parents or other relatives who live close enough to help keep an eye on the babies. The second lot are the socially conscious parents, mostly with housewives as mothers who seem to think that such a pre school play group will give their children some major advantage in life. It is easy to tell the two groups apart 
The second lot is always better dressed, looks cool and composed, arrives in chauffeured cars or are dropped off by harassed looking husbands who drive off immediately, leaving behind a wife who looks like a walking advertisement for one of the beauty parlors in the city. The first lot are conspicuous by their less than perfect dress, office ID badges hanging from necks, laptop bags or haversacks, and a conspicuous lack of makeup. And you are likely to see as many fathers as mothers or both the parents.
Padmaja & I visited the school many times but always separately. Baring the day Bablu was admitted to Euro Kids we were together only twice, on the Annual Sports Day and on Bablu’s Graduation.
The Euro Kids Annual Sports Day was held in the nearby municipality playground. For a change there was enough parking space though it was all out in the open with no shade. Bablu was to participate in a race and I dropped him off at the school early and went back to pick up Mamli & Padmaja. The school kids put up a good show. There was enough seating for parents, grand parents and friends. The school teachers managed to retain some semblance of order during the proceedings.
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Bablu’s race was I think the 5th. He managed to reach the finish line and then stood there as if dazed till one of the teachers took him away. Padmaja & Mamli then went to get him from the student’s tent and we watched a few more races before leaving.
Bablu’s graduation from Euro Kids was also his last day at school. He was pleased enough about that fact to go through the day.
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I have never seen Bablu smile at Euro Kids Ameerpet even when he was playing. He always had that haunted, withdrawn look, frightened and on the verge of tears. We spoke to the school principle and his teachers many times but his response did not change.
Padmaja & I were not sure how he would do at BVBPS after that experience with Euro Kids.
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