Chapter 1
“Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and is then heard no more, it’s a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” (Macbeth)
Life as we know it is awry. We have understood this by now, but at the age of 10 or 12 it is very difficult to see the difference. A neonate doesn’t think about future, it only explores, the more he grows, the less he ponder, which happens as it can understand and analyze an object on his own.
I too behaved in the same way, the more I grew, the less I wanted to explore. The zeal to gain knowledge was not a snag, but the path to achieve it, was.
I was lanky, lethargic and lousy boy who dreamed of being the omniscient like “Batman on Mobius Chair”.
“It is good to dream but if you don’t work for it, it will remain a dream and it will be distant” said Raman.
Raman was not my friend, cousin or neighbor. A boy whom I met on our local ground while having a friendly game of cricket. Long hair, sturdy, average, that is what I could see in him. Not a great observation, but why should I bother he was not going to be my friend after being in my opponent’s team.
“OUT” screamed Prasad. The whole team ran towards him. “We are going to win this match soon now since their star batsman is back to pavilion” spoke Madan. Within 20 minutes the whole team was sent back. This was a great win as it was our first against theirs 15th. We longed for this, but this dream became a reality out of sheer determination. We congratulated each other and left.
This was my first vision of Raman.
“AAH ITS MONDAY AGAIN” I screamed for not being in any mood to go to school. Imagine going to school after 3 days of absolute merrymaking and I haven’t finished my homework. With broken heart I left for school.
“Ms. Nambiar will kill you, this is the fifth time you haven’t done your homework, and you know she counts the notebooks.” Screamed Rajat
“Yeah yeah, by the time her period comes I will finish it, promise” I replied.
“Bless my lucky stars, she is absent” I laughed maniacally.
“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? I HEARD HER HUSBAND CAME BACK FROM WARFRONT AND IS SERIOUSLY INJURED” screamed Mansi.
“I am sorry for being a jerk” as I continued to thank Lord for saving me from her wrath. The marks of lashes from our previous encounter were still there.
As I buried myself in copying the homework which I was supposed to do 3 days back, I heard the vice-principal entering the class.
“This is Raman, Raman Rai, your new classmate” “Recently shifted from Buxur“.
This was the same boy whom I met yesterday, but there was something different. Perfectly short hair, neatly dressed and confident, not the one I saw yesterday.
“Hi, I am Raman, if I am not mistaken I met you yesterday during the match” he said.
“Hi”, I replied with bitterness in my voice. “Nice to meet you” I dug my head again in order to copy the homework from my classmate’s notebook as he spoke to others.
On the first day not much interaction happened, but I was intrigued that how one kid could join after the mid-annual exams have already been commenced.
“HEY, WALK PROPERLY” “Don’t you dare fall on me” shrieked the snack vendor as I was day dreaming about today’s events. However I ran past him and reached home.
My grandmother, whom I loved dearly, was waiting at the door to welcome me.
“Come son, you must be tired, wash your hands and face meanwhile I will serve lunch, call your sister as well” she said.
My elder sister was preparing for her exams and hadn’t been to school today.
“Di, come granny is calling for lunch”, “Not now and GET OUT and let me study” she screamed,
“But, granny is waiting” I replied. “FINE I AM COMING” was her answer.
After lunch as I was sneaking out to meet my friends and to have a quick game of cricket, she stopped me. “WHERE ARE YOU GOING? Finish your homework and then leave; otherwise I am going to tell Ma and Pa all about your recent escapades”.
I thought she was bluffing, but when she narrated the lashing session by Ms. Nambiar, it scared the life out of me.
“Ok. I will finish the homework first.” With acute haste, I finished my homework and ran towards the ground.
“Hi” someone behind me said, “Hi” I replied without realizing that it was Raman. “You are early no one came till now” he said. ‘Hmmm” was the reply. “How come you have shifted from Buxar in the middle of the year?” I asked. ‘My parents have shifted to Canada, and I cannot go without completing a full academic year”. “So you will be leaving after the finals”. “Yes, by May I will be there, you know I am living with my uncle, my mom’s brother. Can I study with you after school as I have to complete the full syllabus in 5 months?” he asked.
I wanted to say no but I don’t know for some reason I agreed. “Yes, you can come to my house after 5, and then we will study”.
“No it will be late by then, I just want 2 hrs of yours after school, it will cover your course as well. You might not know that I was a state topper in Buxar that is why I got admitted to this school without any hindrance, it will be easy”.
I wasn’t ready to sacrifice my leisure time for a guy who will not be here for the next year, but nonetheless I agreed as it will benefit me and could save me from my father’s wrath of not excelling in any examinations.
Thus came the night as I was preparing tomorrow’s activity, I asked my mother “Ma, I had a “mama” right?” “Why are you asking about it now?” she said.
“JLT, I mean just like that” I said
“Yes I had a brother; his name was Raman, very, smart, intelligent and hilarious. You know he was the youngest kid to win a national award for innovation. The whole locality was lit that day in Buxar.”
“Buxar? You lived there?” I asked perplexedly.
“Yes, but when your Nana got transferred here we all moved with him “, But Raman absconded, we searched everywhere for him but he wasn't anywhere to be found
filed police complaints, looked at the railway station, bus station , i mean every where but in vain, we couldnt find him.
Tears rolled down from Ma's cheeks as she told me about her brother's ordeal.
“What? You didn’t tell me anything regarding this, what happened to him and why doesn’t anyone speak about him?”
“Now go to sleep, I will tell you later maybe on a holiday, and then only you will get time to sit and chat with me.”
“OK Ma, good night and love you.”
As I lay, questions began to ponder regarding Canada, Buxar, Raman, the more I wanted to understand the more I was tired. I gave up and slept.
