When I woke up today morning, I had, and for no known reason, the strongest recollection of one of my old school pranks. I wondered hard on the reason why the memory of such a forgotten time would be so fresh, but then like many things, I dont think it has any significance. But the prank really made me want to recollect it, in more details, so I thought I'd write about it. Generally helps me with the recollection process.
I think I was in class 8th that is like almost 12 years ago! God its really been a long time! My best friend Shahnawaz came up with the idea of putting an empty waste basket (dustbin) just above the half-way-opened door of the class, (pic illustrates, obviously not my classroom, its my kitchen) and he did this just when I was walking towards it in the morning before classes started.
When I came to the door and opened it, I saw the insane expression on his face, and just then the dustbin hit me on my head! I wasn't mad, no way! I just had an epiphany! I did the same thing, as soon as I kept all my stuff in place, but only this time, I inverted the dustbin! Yey! "Dude, now that is how its supposed to be done!" I told him! And who better to come in next, than Adil, the last piece of our infamous triangle! (Yes, we were well known for being, in simple words insane, if they ever gave an award for the most notorious bunch, I am sure, we would get the lifetime achievement award).
But the trick didnt work, Adil, pushed the door too hard before he entered and the dustbin fell short of him and hit the ground, but the smile on his face told us that he agreed! We were in business.....
We did this to all the classmates who were coming in, and some had a horrible experience with a dustbin on their head, first thing in the morning, some, well just got lucky! We were like Einstein right after he had given the E=mc^2 equation, only happier, because our prank was awesome! Every person in class envied us! We were the "cool dudes". All we could think of for the rest of the day was how to make this even more AWESOME! And boy did we have an idea!!....
After the end of school, when everyone left, (it was usual for the 3 of us to stay a little longer, mainly because Adil's and my mums where teachers and they had to do some paper work and (Shah)Nawaz , well he just loved to be with us in the infinite playground!) we put the dustbins on the door of the class so that it would hit the next person to walk in the next day, but, we did this, in, EVERY, class!! Yes, we walked around the entire school, took out the trash, and placed the inverted dustbin over the door of every class. We were bond villeins! We were the OUTLAWS! Breaking the stupidest of rules back in school made me feel so proud, every time I did something wrong back then, I could feel the sun shine brighter, and my chest just grow! I felt like the KING OF THE WORLD!!
After we were done with redecorating the classes, we had a laugh and applauded our accomplishment, satisfied, went back home! The next day when we were in class, I think it was the very second class of the day, when the Principal, IN PERSON walked straight in, and said, in her scarringly calm voice, "Who was responsible for putting up dustbins on the class doors? Stand up and it will be short, if you plan to hide, be informed, I know who it was and I will be as strict as I can be!", OMG! There was a severe chill that ran through my spine and I stole a peek at the rest of my gang, we knew we were made! We just didnt know if we were to surrender or pretend. It was the confidence in the principals voice that made me certain that some one had seen us the previous day and informed her, I mean why else would she be in our very class and make the announcement with such confidence? I was sure she knew what she was talking about, I mustered the courage and started to get up, and seeing me, both my friends followed! We were in this together, and they were not going to let me go down, well, at least not alone!
Immediately, we were summoned into the principals office and in pure rage, blood gushing into hear head, red like a tomato, she asked, "What were you boys even thinking?". Her look had frightened me so badly, I was speechless, so were Adil and Nawaz. We had no answer! She would never understand our motive, she would never understand what being cool meant, or how you even got there! "Are you boys left with nothing better to do than put up dustbins on the doors?", "Give me you school diaries, I am writing a letter to your parents and will suspend you from class for a week!!" OMG!! This was the extent! We had never been suspended! This was NOT happening! I could not believe my self! My parents would literally kill me, or at least disown me if they found out I was suspended! "Ma'am, we were just trying to play a prank, didnt intend to hurt any one, we even cleared out the garbage, (we really did, but left it in the class is a different story) before we put up the bins" I said. "Prank? Are you boys really as stupid as you look? Is this how you intend to play pranks?" We just looked at each other, no one knew what to say, we were just acting stupid hoping that she would calm down and forget the idea of suspending us.Oh! Did it feel like forever before she asked "Whose idea was it?" Divide and conquer, she wanted one of us to rat!! It usually works, but not with us, we were too strong for that one, no one said a word! And then before she asked it again, Nawaz stepped up, "It was my idea ma'am"! WHAT! I looked at Adil, with the "Did he just say that? Is he completely out of his mind? She will expel him!!" expression! (yah we had a facial expression for that, in fact it was generally on speed dial). I dont know what happened next, but she let Adil and me off with a note in our school diaries, and for Nawaz, well, he had to bare another round of humiliation (admiration) in front of the whole school the next day, but none of us were suspended. Guess the principal got what she wanted, a confession and punishment!
That day just made us even stronger, closer and more invincible! We could take the fall for the other! After that day, we visited the principals office almost every other week for something or the other! But we never stopped! We were worshiped by out juniors, we were respected, we even got a name, the "Triangle" they called us. And till this day, we are known!
Guys, this one is for you lot! I dont know what I would have done without the two of you! And boy, do I miss being a BRAT!!