It was one of the cold mornings in Mussourie. The class was busy jotting down the essay put up on the board. The composition was on ‘Celebrating Raksha Bandhan’. All the kids leaned on their desks energetically scribbling away onto the next several pages, taking down every word from the board carefully. I was gazing intently at the students absorbed in their writing, myself perched atop a table with my arms folded. I always looked forward coming to this particular class each morning rather than any other class. Yes, there was more than a reason on why this class and not any other!
Amid the silence of the class, I stared out of the window that opened towards a lake; surrounding the school on one of the sides. The serenity of that lake was actually an abode for one of the most unforgettable incident that had taken place six years back which left me transformed forever!
Six years back, on one of those usually peak hours in the evening, I was returning from school with my younger brother Babloo tugging at my elbow for balloons. Although Babloo was aged only two, he often threw tantrums at home whenever I used to get ready to leave for school; to allow him accompany me to my school. Not being able to put up with his daily dose of tantrums, my mother at last had a word with my head master to get him admitted to the Lower KG in the same school. Subsequently, his DOB in the birth certificate was tailored to meet that eligible age for a kid to be admitted in any school. Since then Babloo used to proudly accompany me to school armed with his blue water bottle (that was actually a camlin gum bottle, given to him after the gum stock became empty), yellow gum boots, and a red satchel, excited to be in his sister’s company all the day long. Whenever he saw a bird or a cat across the way, he used to tug at my skirt excitedly to draw my attention and I used to narrate him tales revolving around those characters after a frugal meal of ganji at night.
Since few days, the colorful rakhis put up on display across the shops had reminded me of the upcoming Raksha bandhan festival. And I had been desperately saving every paisa to afford a nice rakhi to adorn my sweet little brother’s wrist. Today was that much awaited day I had been looking forward to select that 1 beautiful rakhi for this year. On my way back home, I led Babloo into a shop on the footpath run by an old lady. After gazing at all the rakhis, I became rather confused which one to zero upon, as most of them were seemingly beautiful. So I asked Babloo which one he would like to have. Little did Babloo understand the definition of beauty for his small age. Sucking on his thumb, he pointed gleefully towards a small teddy bear attached to a fine satin thread. When I enquired the price of that rakhi, I was bit disappointed. But how could I refuse my brother’s wish? I pleaded that lady whether I could get back the remaining balance next day while on my way to school and placed the money that I had on the counter. But she was indeed a kind hearted lady, she smiled warmly and said, “Its ok. Take it for the money that you can afford now.” Packing away that rakhi, she handed over the packet to me. Overwhelmed by her kindness I thanked her profusely and turned towards my brother to show him what we brought just now. Just then the boy was missing from the scene. I was bit alarmed and looked inside the shop hoping to find him inside. But he was not there. I stepped out of the shop and looked all around on the road. I was shocked to find him crossing the road ahead calling out to me, “Didi, see those balloons”, pointing towards the hydrogen gas balloons that were on the other end of this road. Among several vehicles speeding away, a motorcyclist was speeding in his direction and I had no time to call him or ask him to stop as he had reached almost the middle of the road. Quickly I ran towards Babloo. In no time, the blood splashed over the footpath. All the pedestrians stood shocked like statues; beholding what had just happened. Roadside vendors jumped in horror across the stream of blood.
Police vans and ambulances soon arrived at the spot to rush the victim to hospital. Spectators of this disaster whispered, ”The whole body looks battered with some parts scattered all over. Very brutal sight of accident! Pity the parents of this unlucky victim.”
I managed to get up aftermath from where I was lying on the road. I searched for Babloo and found him fallen safely in one of the fruit baskets of some vendor in a fruit shop. The force by which he was pushed had landed him in a basket of grape vines. He was in a state of shock and looking wide eyed at the number of people gathered around. “Babloo” I cried and embraced him and kissed him on his cheeks thanking the almighty for having saved him from this accident. But he did not respond my actions. Instead some people took him away in their arms. I was stunned- how can they pull him away from me just like that. “Hello, he is my brother, give him back to me.“ I alleged advancing towards them. But they passed through me. I looked back at the accident spot. I was nerve wrecked!!! It was my body lying battered. Oh my..! What has happened to me…?!! No, No. God you cannot take me away like this. What about the rakhi I had bought for my brother? You did not even give me a last chance to tie him that rakhi! Why??!! Why God…Why?! The packet of rakhi lay on the roadside soaked in blood.
Today Babloo is studying in third grade, sitting in the same class as I was six years back! And that’s me - his sister dotting to see her brother at school each day. He is sitting on the bench facing the window busy jotting down his composition. After the last rites, my remains were disposed off in this very lake. And that’s how this is my abode. Sitting every day in my brother’s class and gazing at him is what I look forward to each day!
I take care to see no one does any evil to him. I pushed my hand forth to stroke his fine hairs, but no sooner he gets up, walks through me and strides towards his class teacher.
“Very good Babloo”, beams the teacher looking into his book, addressing the class, “He has also added his own lines to this composition, well done!” But, something slips from the last few pages of that book. Babloo quickly bends down to reach it and tucks it away in his side pocket. The small teddy bear attached to the satin thread dangles from his pocket.
