The Bell

Tring…. Tring…. Tring….

For most people this sounds just like the ringing of any other bell. However for me, the bell speaks a different tune. And it says different things each time it rings.

Early in the morning at 5 AM it shouts out, “Hey! You have slept a lot. Now wake up, freshen up and start your day.”

Then at 8 AM it says, “Hey dude, your breakfast is ready. Go and eat.”

After this, it says, “What are you doing? It’s time for class. Get ready.”

And then I wait eagerly for 11 AM when I hear, “You must be hungry now. Please go and eat lunch. Take rest after that. You can even take a short nap but don’t go into deep sleep.” After a while, it wakes me up from my siesta even though I don’t feel like getting out of bed. It urges me to do studies on my own. As study time comes to an end it rings again and says, “It’s tea time. Don’t forget that you have class and then debate right after the tea.”

I do what it says.

As evening falls and hunger overpowers all other thoughts, the welcome peal of the bell speaks to me, “Go and have dinner. Take good rest after it. But remember that your day hasn’t finished yet.”

And then as I am enjoying my free time, it unfortunately rings again, “Come back to your room and open those textbooks. Your teacher may ask you questions tomorrow. Get prepared. If your stay like this, you will feel embarrassed in front of your classmates.”

I try doing exactly what it says.

Later in the night at 9 PM it lovingly says, “Hey boy, you have had a long day. You must be tired. Now have a cup of tea, hang around for a while; come back to room when called upon. Whatever good things you’ve done, dedicate them to all sentient beings; confess whatever mistake you’ve made today and try not to repeat them tomorrow. Sleep well…Ah, don’t forget to turn the lights off, else you will be fined.”

There are times when I get annoyed by its sound. It never seems to get bored. It always speaks patiently. However had this bell not been there, my life would be completely topsy-turvy, not being able to figure out when to eat and when to study.  What a mess it would have been!