This one is quite different from the last stories...do find it out😃...till then Happy reading 😃
27/05/2008
Oh so little They were standing in the Principal's office as convicts in front of jailor. The lady in her 60s looked down to the tiny people who couldn't even be clearly seen behind the big chairs across the table. She had to get up. Walking towards the little students she paused within a distance.
"I can see that the gardener was right that you people had a good fight! Your clothes have become very dirty." The lady's deep and restrained voice boomed in the large room.
The two kids looked at each other's clothes then started to dust off as much as possible for their tiny hands. The lady wanted to laugh but that would have been a provocation for the kids to take the issue lightly thus she checked herself on time.
"Now nothing can be done…how much you try. For the time being I am not punishing you but remember any more such dirty fights and I won't be this easy with you people." The lady's voice became stern with every word uttered, though she disliked acting all strict especially to kids as little as standing in front of her. She said again, "Now shake hands, be friends and go to your classroom."
The two kids looked at each other and then eyed the Principal who was patiently waiting for them to shake hands and seemed to be least inclined to let them go without shaking hands. They shook hands…but more than shaking..both attempted to wipe as much dust from their hand on the other one's hand. Ignorant of what transpired between the two, the Principal let the kids leave her room. She followed them to the door and as she saw them moving slowly towards their classroom, she found the teacher for their next period following the same direction.
The Principal called out, "Miss Shalini, if you have a minute please!" The teacher turned and after exchanging 'Good afternoon' wishes with the Principal she asked her what was the matter. The Principal said, "Look Miss Shalini….just now I have released two of your students without punishing them for fighting and that too in the garden. Just look after that they don't fight again or create any nuisance which is likely since they sit in the same bench. I think it will be better if you make them sit in some other bench if possible…although I think it will be highly unlikely that they will leave their seat…they are the famous Jay and Bani after all." Both the teachers laughed.
Miss Shalini entered the Standard I classroom. When she entered, the whole classroom sang in tune "Good Afternoon Miss." She wished them all a Good Afternoon too and then looked at Jay and Bani. The six year old kids were as expected sitting in the same first bench that they shared despite the fight few minutes ago. The teacher asked the boy first in a low voice, "Jai why don't you go and sit with Nikhil? See he also sits in the first bench." Jai replied in his childish voice calmly, "Miss I won't leave my seat..it's my favourite." The teacher then turned to Bani with the least hope. Before she could say anything Bani replied in her sweet doll like way, "Miss I also don't want to leave this seat…if it's his favourite then it's my favourite too. If he won't go then I also won't go!"
Useless Attempt the teacher thought. She then warned, "Okay people sit at your favourite place but remember Principal Madam's words….No Fighting!" they shook their heads in affirmative. As the teacher turned to go her chair Bani called out, "Miss I don't fight..he fights." She threw an angry glare at Jai. Jai instantly looked at her and gave a toothy smile. But when the teacher looked at him he composed himself and said, "Miss she is so stubborn…I had to fight!" The teacher put her fingers on her lips to make them silent.
Bani's father's driver was already waiting outside the school. When the bell rang, all the kids started running towards the gate. Jai was running faster than Bani provoking her to take a challenge. Bani put all her efforts and both of them reached the car at nearly the same time. Bani said, "I am the winner!" Jai said, "Huh! I am the winner." Both of them angrily turned to the driver.
Bani asked making a serious face, "Ghochu uncle who won today?" Jay was biting his lower lip in anticipation. The driver perplexed at the given situation. Every alternate day he had to face the same the question..some day they came out of fury and some day out of fun. He preferred the latter but today was just the one he disliked. Making a happy face he said, "Oh..you people need to practice a lot…I don't know how most of the day both of you end up doing photo finish!" the kids looked at each other throwing a glance which meant
So you see I am the winner too! In the car, Jay and Bani were sitting in the backseat. They took out their lunchbox. Soon they realized that due to the fight they didn't even touch a morsel of their tiffin. Jai raised his head to see what Bani had got for tiffin. Bani covered her lunchbox so that Jai was unable to see. Jai caught a glimpse of a Laddoo. Fiddling with his tiffin he said gravely, "What you are eating that's my favourite!" Without looking at himBani placed the box in front of him. He started picking the Laddoos slowly at first but then gave in to his temptation and took away four Laddoos out of five hurriedly. But before Bani could take back her lunchbox, Jai cautiously put Maggi from his lunchbox to Bani's. Bani was happy to see Maggi. Both spent the time on their way to home in eating away happily.
Jai's mother was standing on the gates of their mansion. After Jai got down, she waved Bani a goodbye but surprisingly Jai didn't. She looked at his clothes and understood that they must have had a fight. Calmly she said, "Jai how many times have I told you not to fight? Since you didn't bid Bani a goodbye I guess today you fought with her." Jai dropped his bag on the floor and stood quietly with his head down. Sighing she ruffled his hairs and said, "Look say sorry to her next time you meet!" With his mouth blown like a balloon he said, "No, I am angry with her!"
When Bani got down from the car, her mother rushed to her seeing her dirty clothes. She enquired in panic, "What happened to my doll?" Bani just uttered dragging her school bag, "Fighting!" Her mother panicked again, "With whom? I hope not that bully!" Bani shook her head in negative. The driver intervened, "Madam I think it was Jai today with whom she fought!" Her mother hit her forehead and calmly said, "Bani why do you fight with him? Girls don't fight like that and that too with such a sweet friend like him." Bani quietly listened to her mother. She didn't say a word regarding him but then suddenly remembered something. She turned and said, "Mama…who says I can't fight? If Jai can, I can too!"
The fine evening arrived with birds returning to their nests making sound, kids playing in the park making noise. Jai was busy watching Tom & Jerry cartoon. "Jaiiiiiiiiiiiiiii" someone called out. He ran to the balcony to see Bani waiting outside. He indicated her by raising his hand that he was coming and then ran to his room. Hurriedly he started collecting his bat and ball when Jai's mother came to the room. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Mom I am going to play with Bani, see she is already five minutes late" Jai went on saying while trying to balance his games and all in his two hands. Hiding a grin his mother asked, "But I thought you were angry with her!" Jai looked at her with confusion then said with a sweet smile, "Mom that was for the chalk that we got in our classroom…it's over. For playing there is no anger…..bye" Jai ran as he went on saying these. Jai's mother saw from the window, how Bani shared Jai's load and walked to the park. None could say that these great pals had a fight few hours ago.
When Jai returned, he looked sad and disappointed. His mother collected all his games from him and silently observed him. As he silently drank milk his mother asked, "What? Again fought with her?" Jai was lost in his thoughts. He just shook his head in negative. "Then?" his mother enquired. After a long silence Jai said all so sadly, "There was that new boy Karan, he played with Bani more than me." His mother was surprised. She said, "So what? You three could have played together!" Resting his chin on the table he answered, "We played! I didn't like that boy..but since Bani said so I allowed him. But he was busy playing with Bani only be it running, hide and seek, at see-saw, slippers or swing." His mother didn't know what to say. She just kissed his forehead and switched on a cartoon to make him feel happy which seemed to be hard.
Next day Sunday morning Jai's mother saw Bani parking her bicycle outside their house. She went to open the gates for her when she saw a rose in her hand. There was something unusual about the rose and that was that the stem was too long. Jai's mother laughed and asked, "Bani dear don't you think that the rose is too big for you to handle?" Bani nodded her head and said, "Yes Aunty it is indeed but it's special. You see yesterday Jai was upset that our game was disturbed by that new boy Karan. But what could I do? Jai should have fought for me!" Jai's mother's eyes got widened. She stopped in surprise and asked not believing what she heard, "Fought for whom?"
Holding the rose stem in one hand and pointing to herself with the other Bani said, "Me Aunty. Who else? How could I say no to that boy? Jai should have fought with that boy just like men fight." Jai's mother said, "Baby it's not good to fight." Bani continued with her high spirits, "Aunty but one must fight for one's rights! Isn't it? It was Jai's right."
By that time they have reached Jai's room. Jai's mother was still in amazement with the way Bani talked which just defied her age. Jai was busy colouring his drawing book. Jai's mother said to Bani, "See there is Jai colouring his drawing book." Bani turned to Jai's mother and smilingly said, "Aunty do you know that Jai draws so very well but has no colouring sense? Let me see what he is doing now…I can't let him get A- due to that. Oh when will this boy learn?" Jai's mother chuckled.
Hearing the voices Jai raised his head and saw Bani in a pretty pink dress and along with her his mother was standing. Jai's mood was still not very well but seeing the exclusive rose he jumped from his bed excitedly. Happily he asked, "Is this rose for me?" Bani held forward the rose with her two hands as Jai took it with delicacy, a glowing smile donning both their faces. He said, "We need to put it in a good place." Both the kids ran across the room to get a 'good place'. Finally he saw a roll of chart paper at one corner. He took it out and rested it against a wall. Putting the rose inside the whole he beamed with happiness. Bani clapped. Jai grabbed the pink coloured sketch pen from his bed and asked Bani to sign on the outer surface of the chart paper. With her tiny hands and somewhat 'not in sync' handwriting she wrote 'From Bani'. Both the kids were so happy that they clapped endlessly. Jai said, "I'll keep this rose forever! Won't that be too interesting?" Bani jumped, "Yes Yes!"
Jai's mother had to interfere. She said, "But children the flower will dry within no time!" Jai and Bani looked at each other and got disappointed. Jai's mother felt bad to give that piece of true information but she had to…before they built any hopes of seeing the rose there as it is forever. Jai and Bani sat down at the edge of the bed thinking what could be done to the BIG problem. Suddenly Bani stopped swinging her legs and screamed, "Ideaaaa! I'll bring a rose for you everyday!" Jai simply loved the idea. They did a high-five and giggled in happiness. A happiness that has no valid reason but a happiness which was as innocent as could be thought of.
Jai's mother just wondered what mess the house was to witness if Bani kept her promise which was likely because when it came to Jai, she had nothing called full stop. She just wished from the depth of her heart that may this friendship last forever. Other natural wishes soon followed but rather than forcing her wish she just wanted time to fulfill them. Standing by the door she saw Jai giving Bani the other half of the chalk for which they fought the previous day. Giggles filled the house as they drew unknown creatures on the slate with their share of chalks.
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Edited by ree_views - 17 years ago
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