Part 3
"Look Viru! You have to pay Rs.150 to join the cricket club, else you can't attend the matches. There are very few places available...Friday is the last day..." informed Viren's friend.
Viren's interest in cricket hadn't faded even though he had reached college. In his first year, he yearned to join the cricket club. Hearing the fees, he was sure his father would never give him the money.
"Viru...Do something and pay it...We can all be together...else...you would be left alone..."
Viren decided. He had to do something.
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"You won't be getting into this..." told Dadaji firmly, without looking at his son, screening every line of the accounts book.
"Bauji! Please...I want to participate in this competition..." pleaded Ramesh.
"NO!" replied Dadaji repressively.
"Bauji! This is a huge opportunity for me to showcase my talent. Only 3 students from the entire school are selected for this...Please Bauji...Let me..."
"Didn't you hear what I said?" resented Dadaji, looking up to Ramesh, with a menacing stare.
"FINE!" told Ramesh frustrated, as he left the room.
Viren had been observing this from outside through the window.
"I will never get the money now...Chote has got Bauji into such a bad mood..." disgruntled Viren.
"VIREN" called Dadaji startling Viren. Viren realised Dadaji wasn't aware he was standing near the room. Viren scurried behind the window, took a while and then went inside the room.
"What do you know about Ramesh's singing competition?" questioned Dadaji, not wanting to show extra interest.
"Nothing Bauji...I mean...This happens every year...It's an interschool cultural fest...and our school usually gets the maximum prizes...It happens in TM Vidya Mandir school for 2 days...", replied Viren earnestly.
"Keep an eye on Ramesh. I am sure he would still participate in this competition, in spite of me refusing permission. I want you to stop him from going to the other school..." Instructed Dadaji.
Viren was astonished. "Bauji...But how will I..."
"You can join the cricket club then..." continued Dadaji exactly knowing how to deal the matter.
Viren stood unmoved. He then realised his mother must have informed his father about the club.
"Stop Ramesh...I will give you the money for the club..." spoke Dadaji like he was about to strike a deal.
Viren stood silently thinking. Accepting this offer would mean, he would have to go against his own brother and his wishes, but, he would get what he always wanted.
"Look Viren! You are the eldest of the brothers, my first son. This singing and all are a complete distraction for your brother and will ruin his life. I want you to take up the responsibility now. I have so much expectations from you. You are the one who is going to take the family name forward...I want you to guard the respect of the family...and I know you can..."
"Bauji! Ramesh won't go for the competition..."
Viren was determined.
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"He still left Bauji...I told him to stop...I warned him...threatened him...Did everything...But he didn't listen a word. Teachers were around...and they convinced me to let him go...I couldn't say anything..." whined Viren nervously. He had failed to stop his brother. Is that the end of his dream of joining the club?
Dadaji was furious. His son had again rebelled and acted against his wishes. He had absolutely no control over him. Despite his denial, he had joined music classes in school. And now this competition? His scores had always been average and he didn't seem to care.
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Ramesh entered the house, in the evening, running to find his mother. He applied his emergency brake on seeing his brothers and father waiting for him in the courtyard. His mother looked sombre. She wasn't able to convince her husband, as usual.
"You still went, didn't you?" asked Dadaji reproachfully.
"Yes" replied Ramesh truthfully. He continued with excitement. "And I have been selected for the finals...tomorrow. I am the only one from my school..."
"ENOUGH!" blasted Dadaji getting up. "I am fed up of your antics. You aren't going for the competition tomorrow...and that's final. In fact, you aren't stepping out of the house tomorrow, did you get that?"
Ramesh looked at his father in disbelief. He had been waiting for years...the day he would win a music competition in front of a huge crowd, and prove himself that he was meant for music.
"But Bauji..."
"If you step out of the house...That would be the end of school for you...Got it? Now leave..." ordered Dadaji.
Ramesh looked at his brothers for support. But Viren's posture showed clearly that he was with his father. Mohan stood silently, as usual, not taking sides. His focus is only on his studies now.
Pain permeating his body, tears struggling to make its way out, Ramesh was impassive. He stood transfixed, digesting the fact that his dream was going to be a dream. Ramesh stormed out of the house.
Dadaji turned to look at his eldest son. Viren looked with anticipation.
"I am glad you tried to fulfil your responsibilities...But next time I want you to fulfill it perfectly." Dadaji gave the money to Viren, surprising him. "You will still come home on time...and no going out of college...Got it?"
Dadaji left leaving a stunned Viren.
"When will Chote learn...Keeping Bauji in a good mood is important to get things done...and he always does the opposite..." commented Mohan as he left to his room with his book. A smiled gradually made its way to Viren's face. He had got what he wanted. He could be with his friends and enjoy in the cricket club. He immediately ran outside to meet his friend.
The sadness and pain of his youngest brother, forgotten.
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The weeping sound of her son heard, Dadi slowly made her way to the back of the house where Ramesh sat alone.
"Rames..." called Dadi. Ramesh immediately wiped off his tears and looked at his mother sporting a small smile.
Dadi sat down on the floor, near her son. She gave him a plate of kachoris with a wide smile. Ramesh knew this was a way his mother wanted to show him her support. He could use it, as she is the only support he had. He started having the kachoris silently. Dadi eyed Ramesh, planning her words carefully.
"Rames...Your father..."
"You want me to go to the competition or not?" Ramesh understood his mother more than she did herself. He knew the kachoris were both to console him, and also to end the problem amicably.
Dadi struggled to answer. "I know you will..."
"Maa..."
"Your father will become really angry if you go tomorrow, even if you win..."
"Why Maa...Why can't Bauji be a part of my success and happiness?"
"Rames...Look at your brothers...They are also happy right...?"
"Really?" asked Ramesh with sarcasm inching in. "We used to be together, remember? We used to do everything together. But today...who is with me? Today Bhaiya could have saved me all the trouble...but he didn't...His cricket club was more important..."
"Rames...You are all brothers..."
"Why don't you tell that to them?" asked Ramesh defiantly.
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"I should have talked to Viren that day itself...made him understand that he shouldn't compromise on his bonding with his brothers, for the sake of his own needs...his own name. He wasn't like that before...But he slowly changed. His priorities changed. From trying to keep his brothers happy, he focused on keeping you happy...because he can get away with his mistakes then..." told Dadi, wiping her tears. "As much as our sons are responsible for whatever is going on now, we are the root cause for it. You are the root cause for it..."
Dadaji remembered a frustrated Ramesh coming from school, throwing his bag and going to the room. Later, he got to know how his friends, and teachers insulted him for not attending the finals, for backing out at the last moment reflecting negatively on the school name.
"He will be Ok, Bauji" told Viren then, not taking any step to go, to be with his brother for support.
He should have noticed the beginning of the crack then.
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