Hello! This time this mere writer is here…. Back to safe comfort zone (:P) on a special request of my beloved sister… Nusrat….
Bonu, it's not a long one… but I have tried to put all doses as per your order :)
Hoping for your response beta….
NOW HAVE A HAPPY READING…
A fair tall boy of average 15 years of age with a not so new school bag hanging from his back reached at a place running really fast… panting heavily…. Stopped for a while and removing the straps of bag from his shoulder brought out a white printed paper, glance it for once and went ahead to a blackboard placed before a big closed gate… contained various papers pasted there of some lists of roll numbers and room numbers.
He took a deep breath of relief… ahh… waqt pe pahauch gaya! Koi andar gaya nehi. Matlab kuch der abhi hain entry me. His fair face turned totally red due to exhaustion… and his big glittering eyes were looking tired.
His eyes searched here and there and lastly found a road side municipality deep tubewell. He rubbed his face to wipe out drops of sweat from forehead and proceed towards the source of water.
He tried for once or two. But not a single drop of that colorless liquid…. ornamentally called Life, came out!
In utter frustration he jerked his head… shit! Aab kya karun? Gala bilkul sukh gaya. Time bhi kitna hain abhi, nehi pata. Kab bell bajegi… kab andar jaunga… tab pani milega? Abhi iss nal ko kharab hona tha… jab pata hain, iske baju wale school me board exam ka center diya gaya?
He noticed the surroundings.
It's the day of unnumbered students' first day of life's first board examination… the ever first big important examination of their life… 10th standard examination was going to be started within some times for that year.
There were a good amount of different school's student… as in board exam, students have to give there tests in some other school rather than their home center… and along with them, there guardians…. Parents… well-wishers were also present there… to give moral support to their candidates.
Every candidate was busy to revise their last minutes preparation… some were sitting there with very nervous face…. some were pacing randomly in worried gesture biting their nails…. Some were praying to Almighty…. Some were talking to their friends about upcoming question paper.
In between all, a slim tanned boy caught the fair boy's attention; sat beside a gentle lady… may be his mother she was… silently and patiently, with a very confident serious face.
A water bottle was peeping out from the serious boy's bag's side pocket.
The tall boy thought for a moment… yeh toh padh nehi raha. Chup hi baytha hain. Pani bhi hain iske pass. Agar mangunga toh sayad mana nehi karega.
But in next moment his mind warned… agar mana kar diya toh? Itne sare logo ke saamne mera mazak ho jayega toh?
He convinced his mind… nehi karega mana. Bhala pani ke liye koi mana karta hain? Yeh toh mujhe janta bhi nehi. Main use thore hi disturb karne jaunga? Mujhe toh bas thora pani pina hain. Itna sa piunga. Baki school ka gate jab khulega, andar jaa ke pet bhar ke pi lunga.
With a slow hesitating step he reached to the serious boy, listen saying him gripping that lady's hand securely… aap bilkul padheshan mat ho Maa. Main bilkul thik hoon. Mujhe itna sa bhi tension nehi ho raha… aap bhi chinta mat karo. Main toh kehta hoon, aap exam start hone ke baad ghar chali jao, main apne aap hi aa jaunga.
His mother ruffled his hairs lovingly… woh sab sochne ka tumhe koi zaroorat nehi beta. Tum bas shanti se pariksha deke aao.
The boy made face… kya Maa, mera baal kharab ho jayega! He engaged in setting his silky hairs properly. But stopped noticing a shadow infront of them and gazed upward; found a fair tall pale faced boy standing there with amazing eyes.
Kuch kehna hain? Serious boy asked the previous one softly…
Fair boy's trance broke and making too much awkward face, he mumbled… thora… eyeing at water bottle… thora pani milega?
Later one narrowed his eyes.
Tall boy fumbled hurriedly… mmm… woh….. woh us side wala nal sayad kharab hain, pani nehi aa raha. Thora pani mile….
Mother of the slim confident boy smiled sweetly... kiun nehi beta? She forwarded another bottle to him… piyo beta… thora nehi, pura hi piyo. Pani chahiye toh aise hichkichake puchta koi bhala!
The boy gave her an unbelievable dreamy look and grabbed the bottle. In one go he almost finished more than half litter of water. Thank you aunty jee…. He smiled warmly in return.
The gentle lady keenly noticed his both sides… beta, tumhare ghar se koi aaye nehi? Aaj toh pahela din hain pariksha ka… kam az kam aaj ke din toh kisi ko aana chahiye tha!
Fair boy was trying hard to find any suitable answer… reliving him, the entry bell rang.
Boy just grabbed the opportunity. Aunty jee bell baj gaya… main chalta hoon. He rushed to the school gate without giving any further chance of question.
The tanned slim boy was looking all sitting beside his mother… now got up…. Bent quickly to take his mother's blessings… Maa, main bhi chalta hoon. Abhi tees minute hain… His mother tried to say something, but he assured her… main ekdam thik hoon. Mujhe bilkul tension nehi ho raha Maa. Aap fikar na karo. Room bhi pata hain…. Main sidha jaa ke seat me bayth jata hoon.
His mother picked a soft kiss on her son's forehead… bahat bada ho gaya mera bachha. Apni Maa ko tasalli dene lag gaya! She chuckled.
Slim boy smiled sweetly and stepped forward bidding his mother good bye.
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3 days had passed… class 10 board exam started.
That fair tall boy while wiping his sweaty face sat with a thud on a cemented bench infront of a nearby closed confectionary shop. He looked at his side… and found the main gate of school closed till now… bach gaya. Late nehi hua aaj. He was in his own thought… listen a confident joyful voice… hey! What's up?
Turning his head he found that first day boy whose mother gave him water. He smiled sweetly… hi! and moved a little to give space to later one... baytho. Aunty jee nehi aaya?
Thank you… later one uttered and sat…. nehi, Maa ko main hi mana kiya. Kiun faltu itni tej dhup me bhaga-dauri karen? Main yahi pass me rehta hoon. Bus se bas teen stop ke duri par. Wayse bhi iss rashte se main tuition ke liye jata tha pahele. Toh koi problem nehi. By the way, kaysa jaa raha exam?
First one nodded affirmative… thik, tumhara?
Slim boy: aab tak toh padheshan ho raha tha. Aab jaa ke rahat mila.
First one felt curiosity… kiun? Abhi kiun rahat mila? Paper toh easy aa raha hain.
Mujhe linguistic se kuch khas dosti nehi kabhi… slim boy laughed.
Tall boy: oh! Mujhe linguistic hi jada achha lagta hain… he smiled softly.
Slim serious boy exclaimed in astonishment: achha! Linguistic se pyar! Baap re, matlab tum toh Hindi aur English me hi major score kar loge.
Their chatting interrupted by bell ringing voice coming from school… and bidding each other bye, they left to their respective class room.
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It was the day of History exam. After finishing, all students were coming out from their respective rooms; the slim tanned boy suddenly pointed a known face at the other corner of corridor, drinking water from water pot kept at balcony.
He turned at his classmates… yaar, tum log chalo. Main aata hoon thori der me and made his way towards there.
Hi! He stood just behind of his known figure.
Later one kept the mug from which he was drinking water at its place and turned.
He wiped his mouth in his shirt sleeve…. Hi!
Slim boy smiled… kaysa gaya aaj?
Achha gaya… tumhara? Later one asked.
Duo started walking towards staircase.
First one: 70% aa hi jayega… usse jada ummid nehi!
Fair boy: kiun? Tumhe History bhi achha nehi lagta?
Slim boy: achha lagta. Lekin chronology yaad hi nehi rehta… kya karun? Mujhe Math me 100% score karna hain kayse bhi kar ke. Marks manage ho jayega. He stopped while descending. Achha tum zaroor Maharaja Shivaji Uchhya Vidyalaya se ho… he asked suddenly.
Fair boy smiled: haan. Aur tum zaroor Munsi Premchand High School se, nehi? as these two were only boys' schools in that center… other two were some girls' institute.
They reached at main gate where some of the classmates of serious faced boy were waiting… chalo kal milte hain… he told and hopped towards them.
Fair boy stopped for a while… koi mujhse dobara bhi milne ka umid rakh sakta hain! Thinking in mind he also made his way outside.
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Next day… day of science exam.
Fair tall boy was continuously pacing to and fro with worried face, someone tapped his shoulder.
Hey, tension me lag rahe ho… that slim serious faced boy was standing there.
Fair boy tried to smile… mm… nehi.
Sirf tension hi nehi, bahat nervous bhi ho… tumhara chahra tension me laal padh gaya… later one chuckled.
Fair boy inhaled two-three deep breath only.
Kahan se aate ho, kal Maa tumhe dekha… exam start hone se bees minute pahele tum pointed at some direction… uss raste se bhagte hue aa rahe the?
Fair boy frowned… kal main late ho gaya isliye, aur koi wajah nehi. He looked at front side main road to divert his mind from ongoing conversation.
Slim boy stretched his hands casually… Wayse tumhare ghar se kabhi koi aaye nehi? Sab ka parents ek na ek din toh aate hi hain.
Unknowingly a color passed from fair tall boy's face. Mujhe padhna hain. Mujhe organic chemistry ka ek bhi bonding yaad nehi ho raha. Main padhne jata hoon. He slipped from there…. offff… bach gaya. Do ghut pani kya pi liye uss din, yeh ladhka ko piche hi padh gaya! Kahan se aate ho, ghar se koi kiun nehi aa raha… haad hain… huhh!
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It was the last day of exam.
Students were in very much relaxing mood… chatting, gossiping and laughing freely outside of their center finishing their 10 days long burden called board exam!
Fair faced boy stepped outside of class room with relaxing sigh thinking in mind… hush! Exam khatam. Aaj aur bhagke jana nehi padhega. Aaj aram se chalke jaunga. Haan… Bus adde ke pass wala rashta ho ke jata hoon. With a happy face he scratched his head… udhar ka Pao Bhaji wala stall se kya mast khusbu aata hain!
Someone called him from behind… hey! Linguistic lover!
His feet stopped with this call.
That slim boy came with a broad smile… gussa ho kya mujhse? Uss din ke baad se kabhi mile hi nehi tum?
Main idhar tumse milne nehi, exam dene aata tha…. Fair boy delivered in calm tone.
Slim boy smiled…. matlab pakka gussa ho. Thik hain… sorry baba… us din tumhe padhai ke waqt disturb kiya. Kya hain nah… Science mera sabse pasandida subject hain. Toh main uss din thora relaxed tha. Sayad tumse jada hi baat karne bayth gaya iss liye. Sorry nah!
His Sorry shook the fair boy… mujhse koi maafi bhi mang sakta hain! He thought in mind.
A scene flashed before his eyes….
A group of boys continuously pushing a lean fair tall boy vigorously towards the railing of a balcony…. aaj bhi tera koi nehi aaya. Aaj toh Parent-Teacher meeting tha. Tu ne kaha tha, tere sath bhi koi ayega. Kahan hain, dikha?
Someone kicked that alone boy in the name of fun… Ek toh tiffin nehi le aata kabhi…. class me sabhi bari bari mahine me ek din sabko tiffin khilata hain. Tu sirf muft ka khana khata raha. Sharam nehi aata tujhe?Bhikhari hain kya tu? Kabhi kisi ko ek chocolate bhi nehi khilata.
Alone boy's eyes turned wet... he was feeling very much helpless.
Apna kapre dekha? Kab ka purana dress pahenke aata hain. Shirt ka color bhi white se yellowish ho gaya… ghari bhi nehi pahenke aata. Boys group started laughing madly which pierced that lean boy's heart.
A fatty boy twisted that alone boy's nose harshly, may be in the name of fun! He stretched his wristwatch worn hand in front of that crying boy… dekh bey, ise kehta hain ghari. He chuckled… dekh dekh… Rado ka ghari. Kabhi naam suna saale?Yeh mera wala nau hazar ka hain. Tujhe pata hain, nau hazar rupay kya hota hain? Kabhi dekha apna is pani tapakta hua ankhon se!
Again the group of boys started teasing him.
Someone pulled his uniform's sleeve… chi…. kitna purana dress pahenke aata hain.
A hefty boy slapped his head… panch saal se ek hi school bag le ke aata hain. Na jane kitna purana tera uniform… shoes ka toh pata bhi nehi, kab shop se tera ghar aaya tha! Ghin aata hain tere sath ek class room me baythte hue… chi!
Fallen boy was silent throughout the time as he had nothing to confront his classmates… only his sobbing voice can be heard… which triggered the encouragement level of the boy group.
Mean time some footsteps reached at scene. Kya ho raha ihan? Kya kar rahe ho? Abhi tak ghar nehi gaye tum log? Kab ka chutti ho chuka school…. strict voice of master jee came and immediate after that earlier boy group vanished.
Lean fair boy got up from cold floor while wiping his teary eyes.
Tujhe pata toh hain, bade gharon ka ladhka log. Yeh sab tere sath hoga hi. Jada soch mat. Tu muft me padhta hain school me, itna toh sehna hain tujhe. Master jee walked from there casually.
Fair tall boy stood silently looking at vast sky… mujhe koi bhi aa ke kuch bhi kahe sakta matlab. Rona aur maar khane alawa aur koi chara nehi mere pass! Kiunki main free me padhta hoon school me, mere pass paysa nehi naya uniform, school bag, shoes kharidne ka…. Main sach me bhikhari hoon kya? Aur kitna din… aur kitna din yeh sab sehna hain mujhe? Bachpan se toh sirf yahi hote aa raha mere sath… kya kabhi koi mujhse achhese do baten nehi kar sakta… bina mera mazak udhaye!
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Tumse ek baat puchna tha. Slim tanned boy carefully looked at later one's face… puchun? He asked finding first one unmindful about present scenario… hey! What are you thinking? Main kuch jada bol gaya kya?
Fair boy snapped out from his world and nodded in no.
Tumhare school se toh kitne sare ladhke exam dene aaya. Lekin itne dino me main ek bhi kisi ko tumse baat karte hue nehi dekha. Pointing his own group at a distance outside of main gate of the school… dekho woh humara gang hai. Hum humesha sath sath rehte hain. Woh sab mera dost nehi. Tumhara koi dost nehi? Slim boy asked all innocently.
Tall fair boy stunned for a moment but covered up well…. Sabhi exam me busy tha. Koi kisse baat karega bolo? Sabhi toh tension me tha itne dino se.
Slim boy sensed something fishy but didn't dragged more. Anyways wanna join us? He asked in jovial mood.
Tall boy thought a little and gestured yes with a bright smiley face.
Chalo, tumhe mere doston se milata hoon… slim boy made his way to his gang.
Main toh kal Singapore ja raha hoon baba… exam ke khichkhich se pak gaya hoon yaar. Pure 10 din ka trip hain, you know! Someone was telling arrogantly beside them.
Wow! Disney land! Aur main agle hafte Kashmir ghumne jaa raha hoon. Another voice came from behind.
Mujhe iss chutti pe Mama ke ghar jana hain, dher sara movies dekhna hain, bahat sara video games kharidna hain. A short-heighted boy exclaimed enthusiastically from anywhere.
Fair tall boy asked softly… wayse tum kya karoge chutti me? Tum bhi Mama ke ghar jaoge? There was strange sadness in his voice.
Nehi. Main kahin nehi jane wala. Slim serious faced boy replied while stepping outside.
Kiun? Tall boy enquired further.
Papa aa rahe raat ko. Slim boy whispered with a glowing face.
Fair boy: Tumhare papa bahar rehte hain?
He is an army man…. Slim boy announced proudly. Wayse tum kahan jaoge iss chutti me? Result aate aate der-do mahina ho hi jayega. Tab tak kya karoge?
Fair boy's face turned bloodless within a second. Mm… mujhe jana hain, late ho raha hain… main…. main chalta hoon. He started moving.
Aare abhi toh tum kaha mere doston se miloge… kahan jaa rahe ho phir? Panch-das minute toh ruk jao… Slim boy astonished very much.
Nehi nehi...Mujhe jana hoga. Der ho raha mujhe… fair tall boy managed to say this only somehow and almost ran from there left his bewildered new companion behind.
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Ajib ladhka! Kuch bhi puchta hain! Aab main kya balun, main kahan jaun! Zada der rehta toh use mera sachhai na pata chal jata! Fair boy was walking with fast steps towards bus adda… to satisfy his olfactory organ with the tasty spicy smell of Pao Bhaji stall… aare uss ladhke ka naam toh pucha nehi!
I am sure, my readers are smart enough to guess the characters :)
Am I right or am I right!
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Please try to drop your precious feedback in this tiny review box…
With regards,
Mistic Morning