That Day in May!

(Historical Fiction)

I distinctly remember that day in early May! It was around 12 noon! I just finished a lesson and returned to the Alumni Office. I opened the door, walked past my desk to the switchboard to switch on the lights and fans. As I reached out to click the switch on, I felt as if someone was standing at the door peering in. My back was towards the door and I turned around swiftly thinking it was some child who wanted something. “Yes?” I enquired. But to my surprise the doorway was empty!

Strange... I thought sitting down at my desk, slipping off my shoes and drinking some water. Perhaps the student decided not to come in, I thought. I picked up a register and I reached for my red pen. I was about to circle a spelling error... when from the corner of my eye I saw an image pass by the door. I looked out immediately. But no one was to be seen. These children... are they up to something, I wondered. I shook my head and circled the error.

“Elvira... you’re Elvira?” asked a voice.

I looked up and saw a nun at the door dressed in a white habit and black veil. I stood up and wished her.

“Good afternoon Sister! Yes... I’m Elvira!” I replied.

“I heard you’re compiling a book on the School’s History! Are you?” she enquired.

“Yes Sister! I am.” I answered.

“May I come in? I too have a few memories to share with you. Some facts, some things I heard from older nuns,” she offered.

“Please do come in! So absent minded of me. I’m really very sorry!” I apologised profusely.

“It’s alright! No problem, my dear! I can understand. I hope I’m not disturbing you.” she said walking in and looking at the photographs of the alumni and the pictures of days gone by. “Hmm... nice photographs! Things have changed so much now.”

“No problem at all! My next lesson is after an hour. Yes...The School has gone through a lot of changes in terms of architecture and otherwise too!” I agreed.

“When the French Nuns arrived here in Ajmer in 1896 they faced a lot of hardships! This wasn’t the original location of the School either. They moved here only in1913!” she said standing and looking at the image of a priest and four French nuns standing amidst a huge barren tract of land, one of the nuns had a pick axe in her hand. “This is a very old picture. It was taken when they were laying the foundation at this very location.”

“Yes... I read about it! A note behind this picture describes what is happening,” I said taking off the picture from the soft board and showing it to her.

“Hmm... and this picture here...!” She pointed to an award ceremony where Sr. Matilda was receiving the Best School in Rajasthan Award. “I remember how thrilled everyone was! Sr. Matilda had arranged a bus to take the entire Staff to Jaipur for the ceremony.”

“Ahh... yes! I heard about that from the retired teachers. Some of them don’t keep too well these days...old age and all.” I said looking at the picture too.

I draped the pallu of my sari around my shoulders. The temperature had dropped, I felt.

“Elvira... what do you know about this picture?” she asked me drawing my attention to a black and white photograph of children dressed like fairies and elves.

“This was a play performed in the 1970’s by the Boarders. It had some fairy theme... Sorry I can’t remember the name of the Play!” I said gazing at the picture like her.

“The name of the Play was ‘In the Forest one Summer Evening’! I remember the littlest ones performed so beautifully! Mother General had come on a visit to Ajmer and the Play was performed in honour of her. There was an ice-cream party that evening after dinner for the Boarders.” she informed me.

“This is interesting!” I looked at her. She looked fairly young. Her dark hair, just visible... Maybe in her early thirties, I thought.

“I’m thirsty! Could I have some water?” she asked suddenly, still staring at the pictures pasted on the soft board, especially one showing a flooded scene.

“Yes Sister. Why not?” I walked to my desk and picked up my bottle of water and one of the tumblers. I poured a glass full.

“Here Sister... The temperatures are soaring this year! We must stay hydrated.” I turned with the glass and a smile.

But... where was she? I walked to the door and looked out, up and down the corridor. But it was completely deserted.

I walked back to my desk puzzled and sat down.

“Ma’am, Principal bula rahi hai aapko!” the peon called from the door.

‘Ahh...’ I thought rising and walking down the corridor. ‘So she must have gone to the Principal’s office. That’s why the Principal is calling me. Maybe she wants to discuss some sections of the book in front of the Principal!’

I opened the door.

“Good afternoon Sister! You called me?” I asked as I walked in expecting to see the nun I had been speaking to a few minutes ago.

“Yes Elvira! I saw you standing in front of the soft boards looking up at the pictures. And, I remembered I had to give you a few photographs for the book, I found yesterday,” she said opening a drawer.

“How interesting! I just had quite an enlightening conversation with a Sister about a few incidents from the past,” I said brightly.

“Really? With whom?” she asked placing an envelope on her desk and shutting the drawer.

“Well, I don’t know her name. Very silly of me, I didn’t even ask her!” I realized how silly I must be sounding. “Has she come for a few days visit?”

“Elvira... we have no Sisters visiting us at the moment. And, you know all the ones here. I’ve no idea who you’re speaking about.” she replied motioning for me to sit down.

“Ohh... !” I looked at her in confusion.

“Well... here see these photographs! They’re from the days when the Mother General had visited Ajmer long back and there was a flood around that time. It was terrible! Many died due to drinking contaminated water. Some of our Sisters too!” she said pushing the photographs towards me.

“Yes... Sister told me about the Play!” I said picking up the pics.

“Which Sister, Elvira?” she asked.

“The one who came to the Alumni office just before you called for me!” I said going through the pics.

“Elvira... I saw you standing in your office through the camera looking at the soft boards, so I called you!” she said slowly. “When did you meet her and who did you meet?”

“I met her... this Sister!” I said, placing a picture in front of the Principal. “Yes... it was her! But I forgot to ask her name! What’s her name Sister?”

The Principal looked at me, “Are you sure? I thought I saw you...!”

“Yes... yes! I’m telling you I had a long conversation with her in the Alumni Office! She asked me for water and then she was gone... I thought she would be here in your office!”

“Elvira... this is not possible!” she said staring at me unbelieving.

“Why Sister?” I asked even more confused, wondering why the Principal was acting so weird.

She took the picture from my hand and turned it. “Read...” she said.

“Sr. M. Roselyn... born 1945 – died 1978!” I read aloud.

The picture fell from my fingers as I stared at my equally shocked Principal.

Image source: thecoreinspiration, Clifden Arts Festival, timesofindia, Eric E Jhonson