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Ankit stood in the center of the room.
Principal ma’am took a step towards him and hissed: where do you
learn such evil things from?
Ankit looked up – then lowered his
moist eyes- and kept wriggling his toes in his cheap canvas shoes. He
wanted to say many things, many words: No, Wait, But, How..
moist eyes- and kept wriggling his toes in his cheap canvas shoes. He
wanted to say many things, many words: No, Wait, But, How..
And all the words jumbled at the tip of
his tongue- like little children trying to squeeze out of the narrow
side gate of Malgudi Primary School at the last bell.
his tongue- like little children trying to squeeze out of the narrow
side gate of Malgudi Primary School at the last bell.
Sanjana sat in the corner at the very
edge of a low wooden bench. Yes, the bench meant for children
awaiting punishment in Principal’s office. She raised her hand to
say- But Ma’am, I was no where near.. But Ma’am raised her
hand to silence her…
edge of a low wooden bench. Yes, the bench meant for children
awaiting punishment in Principal’s office. She raised her hand to
say- But Ma’am, I was no where near.. But Ma’am raised her
hand to silence her…
*
*
*
Yes, that was the biggest scandal of
the 1989 in this sleepy little town. Funny, saucy and sad…
the 1989 in this sleepy little town. Funny, saucy and sad…
This is how this whole thing was
related to me during a bus journey. The person sitting next to me,
who had difficulty buying his ticket, opened up when I mentioned that
I too some time get stuck on words- especially destination. While
everyone dozed off as the bus moved through verdant valleys, we kept
on reminiscing about our childhood.
related to me during a bus journey. The person sitting next to me,
who had difficulty buying his ticket, opened up when I mentioned that
I too some time get stuck on words- especially destination. While
everyone dozed off as the bus moved through verdant valleys, we kept
on reminiscing about our childhood.
So, Ankit was this little cute and
mysterious boy in class 5. Mysterious- because he could tell you the
square of 45 or 65 without pen and paper- but had difficulty telling
which city was the capital of India! Quick witted in the play ground
but pretty dumb inside the class room. He had problems speaking
sometime and Jayant was his only friend. Jayant was the only child
who intuitively knew when to be silent so that Ankit could finish
whatever he was saying laboriously- and also, when not to look at
Ankit’s face! In fact, they were famous as friends in the school. If
you were looking for Jayant- just find Ankit- and he will be close by
and vice versa.
mysterious boy in class 5. Mysterious- because he could tell you the
square of 45 or 65 without pen and paper- but had difficulty telling
which city was the capital of India! Quick witted in the play ground
but pretty dumb inside the class room. He had problems speaking
sometime and Jayant was his only friend. Jayant was the only child
who intuitively knew when to be silent so that Ankit could finish
whatever he was saying laboriously- and also, when not to look at
Ankit’s face! In fact, they were famous as friends in the school. If
you were looking for Jayant- just find Ankit- and he will be close by
and vice versa.
Ankit felt confident whenever Jayant
was around, no matter what. In fact they both sat in the front row
together. If Jayant was asked a question, Ankit was always able to
give him a hint – using his eyes and gestures. Roll calls in the
morning assembly was another situation where the two friends helped
each other- sometime by giving the proxy or by just giving a push.
Saying “Yes Ma’am” was difficult for Ankit without a helpful
shove from his friend- especially when he was distracted in some
boyish prank.
was around, no matter what. In fact they both sat in the front row
together. If Jayant was asked a question, Ankit was always able to
give him a hint – using his eyes and gestures. Roll calls in the
morning assembly was another situation where the two friends helped
each other- sometime by giving the proxy or by just giving a push.
Saying “Yes Ma’am” was difficult for Ankit without a helpful
shove from his friend- especially when he was distracted in some
boyish prank.
That day, Jayant was nowhere to be seen
during assembly. Ankit was looking for him anxiously. Roll call was
about to begin. He was not worried so much about himself – but
about Jayant missing his roll call. Girls’ line stood next to the
boys’. He turned around to look back at the line- looking for Jayant.
No sign. Principal arrived. Everyone stood at attention. Ankit again
turned nervously to look back for Jayant – and to sign him, to come
ahead in the line, next to him. His head brushed the girl standing
next to him. He heard a snicker. He looked back- no sign of Jayant- but
he saw the wide grinning face of the class bully.
during assembly. Ankit was looking for him anxiously. Roll call was
about to begin. He was not worried so much about himself – but
about Jayant missing his roll call. Girls’ line stood next to the
boys’. He turned around to look back at the line- looking for Jayant.
No sign. Principal arrived. Everyone stood at attention. Ankit again
turned nervously to look back for Jayant – and to sign him, to come
ahead in the line, next to him. His head brushed the girl standing
next to him. He heard a snicker. He looked back- no sign of Jayant- but
he saw the wide grinning face of the class bully.
Someone whispered: He kissed the
girl! Did you see?
girl! Did you see?
Just a whisper, some more snickering.
Principal screamed at the top of her
voice: ATTENTION!
voice: ATTENTION!
There was pin drop silence suddenly.
But there were a little insistent
whispers too- gathering like monsoon clouds.. Ankit could hear it still. Back of his head and neck
tingled. He could feel all eyes on him- as if piercing him right
through to his bones.
whispers too- gathering like monsoon clouds.. Ankit could hear it still. Back of his head and neck
tingled. He could feel all eyes on him- as if piercing him right
through to his bones.
Roll call came and went – he just
kept his eyes closed and tried not to sway too much.
kept his eyes closed and tried not to sway too much.
By third period, the news spread and
the contents changed. In first period, it was: Ankit kissed the
girl. By third period, it was: Ankit kissed Sanjana!
Sanjana was that cute girl in the class, whom everyone was very fond
of. By lunch time, some teachers were looking at Ankit with a strange
expression. Jayant – his tower of strength- was sick and absent
that day. Ankit kept on wondering what to do. He swallowed his
spittle and kept on looking at his book harder, as the science
teacher hovered at the periphery of his vision. Fortunately, he did
not ask any questions to Ankit.
the contents changed. In first period, it was: Ankit kissed the
girl. By third period, it was: Ankit kissed Sanjana!
Sanjana was that cute girl in the class, whom everyone was very fond
of. By lunch time, some teachers were looking at Ankit with a strange
expression. Jayant – his tower of strength- was sick and absent
that day. Ankit kept on wondering what to do. He swallowed his
spittle and kept on looking at his book harder, as the science
teacher hovered at the periphery of his vision. Fortunately, he did
not ask any questions to Ankit.
Lunch time, it was same. Everyone kept
a safe distance from Ankit. No one wanted to get into trouble.
Finally, it was the last period. Ankit gave a sigh of relief. Now he
could go home and play with the calf. Their cow had calved recently.
He had brought the special thick milk for the class teacher, just a
few days back. Will all that help today? He wondered.
a safe distance from Ankit. No one wanted to get into trouble.
Finally, it was the last period. Ankit gave a sigh of relief. Now he
could go home and play with the calf. Their cow had calved recently.
He had brought the special thick milk for the class teacher, just a
few days back. Will all that help today? He wondered.
As the last bell rang, the class
teacher, signed Ankit to stay back. Other children ran out noisily.
He was marched to the Principal’s office. He was surprised to see
Sanjana sitting in a corner: her eyes wide with fear. She did not
need to fear though. Her great grand-father had donated the land on
which, the school stood today.
teacher, signed Ankit to stay back. Other children ran out noisily.
He was marched to the Principal’s office. He was surprised to see
Sanjana sitting in a corner: her eyes wide with fear. She did not
need to fear though. Her great grand-father had donated the land on
which, the school stood today.
The principal ma’am stood up and came
out from behind her huge desk. Looking at him- as if he were an
exotic beetle. She repeated her question thrice. The boy just kept
staring down. His silence was incriminating. Ma’am did not know what
to do with such a child. If it was stealing- five canes would have
settled it. But this obnoxious behaviour from a little tyke?
out from behind her huge desk. Looking at him- as if he were an
exotic beetle. She repeated her question thrice. The boy just kept
staring down. His silence was incriminating. Ma’am did not know what
to do with such a child. If it was stealing- five canes would have
settled it. But this obnoxious behaviour from a little tyke?
Okay, let me write a note to his
father- this is a serious matter, The principal thought and
turned around to go back to her writing table. Suddenly she heard a
noise behind her. By the time she was able to swing her heavy frame
around, Ankit was out of the office in one bound and running helter-skelter
towards the gate. Fortunately there was no gate keeper in sight. As
he cleared the gate and turned left to his village- he took a quick
glance back: Principal ma’am and Sanjana, were standing at the door,
in surprise..
father- this is a serious matter, The principal thought and
turned around to go back to her writing table. Suddenly she heard a
noise behind her. By the time she was able to swing her heavy frame
around, Ankit was out of the office in one bound and running helter-skelter
towards the gate. Fortunately there was no gate keeper in sight. As
he cleared the gate and turned left to his village- he took a quick
glance back: Principal ma’am and Sanjana, were standing at the door,
in surprise..
*
*
*
“So son, how is it that you want
to help me in the fields for next ten days?? What about your school?”
Ankit’s father handed him the tether of the calf, as he finished
milking the cow.
to help me in the fields for next ten days?? What about your school?”
Ankit’s father handed him the tether of the calf, as he finished
milking the cow.
“Baba, the school is closed for two
weeks because the principal has died; dont worry- I will go later;
let me help you in the meantime..”
weeks because the principal has died; dont worry- I will go later;
let me help you in the meantime..”
Ankit took the calf to the cow, so that
she could fill her stomach with her mother’s milk. His father always
left enough for the calf. He felt happy watching the calf jerking her
head and feeding noisily. He felt a little bad about the little lie –
she could fill her stomach with her mother’s milk. His father always
left enough for the calf. He felt happy watching the calf jerking her
head and feeding noisily. He felt a little bad about the little lie –
But then, he thought, if grown ups can speak a lie, why not him. He
was sure God will understand and forgive.
was sure God will understand and forgive.
*
*
*
Did you ever meet Sanjana after
that? I could not help asking him.
that? I could not help asking him.
“Well… After I got my first job as
a salesman, I met her once. I was showing her this washing machine,
that I was selling those days… she remembered that event and said –
I learned only that day that you stammered and that what a ‘big
deal’ it was- Till then, I thought that your blinking of eyes when
you talked was quite cute..”
a salesman, I met her once. I was showing her this washing machine,
that I was selling those days… she remembered that event and said –
I learned only that day that you stammered and that what a ‘big
deal’ it was- Till then, I thought that your blinking of eyes when
you talked was quite cute..”
So what happened that day, after you
ran off?– the child within me could not be silenced.
ran off?– the child within me could not be silenced.
“Well, she told me that after I ran
away, strangely, she suddenly felt very brave and told the principal
that she was nowhere near me in the line and the whole thing was just
a bogus story.. and the ma’am kept repeating like a robot: why
didn’t he say so? why didn’t he say so?..”
away, strangely, she suddenly felt very brave and told the principal
that she was nowhere near me in the line and the whole thing was just
a bogus story.. and the ma’am kept repeating like a robot: why
didn’t he say so? why didn’t he say so?..”
We both had a laugh- as the bus lurched
and moved on – like our lives.
and moved on – like our lives.
“And yes, she did buy the machine..
That was my first break!”
That was my first break!”
(This story is pure fiction based on
pure facts! No offence meant to anyone. I wish to thank Ankit from Malgudi! sachin)
pure facts! No offence meant to anyone. I wish to thank Ankit from Malgudi! sachin)
7 thoughts on “A little lie”
lashdinesh
(June 19, 2013 - 7:59 am)Sir, its a mesmerizing narration! Everything is so vividly described. Thank you for the wonderful article!
admin
(June 19, 2013 - 10:10 am)this is indeed a beautiful piece of work… 🙂
And I am sure…most of us PWSs' for sure have atleast one such story to share… !!!
keep sharing 🙂
admin
(June 19, 2013 - 12:43 pm)This is really a very good one. But is very tough to educate people about what is stammering?. What are all the emotional feelings of PWS?. For other disabilities and handicaps most of the people are ready to help. So PWS are suffering in this count also.This we have to address effectively though it is a tough one.
Sachin
(June 19, 2013 - 2:04 pm)Thanks Mani, Priya and Dinesh.. Yes, we have to educate people around us by sharing our experiences.. No one else can do it for us. I thought, telling it as a story might be nice way of doing so.. As a child, I was very fond of R K Narayan's stories based in Malgudi.. So, I keep going back to that place.. Thanks for your thoughts..
admin
(June 19, 2013 - 4:32 pm)good
admin
(June 19, 2013 - 6:55 pm)I remember Malgudi days very vividly..they were part of my formative innocent years..:i have the entire series in DVD now..locked in a ciphered wooden box..:)
Sachin
(June 20, 2013 - 2:23 am)@Joy: a stammerer kissed his innocence goodbye! That is how it seems to me.. 🙂
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