by Milind Bokil
Baba had no choice. He wound up the game. ‘Chess is over!’ he said, resigning himself to the change.
We had a general idea of the tentative dates for our exams. It became clear when the timetable was put up on the notice board. It was good that they had not been postponed as they would have clashed with Naru mama’s wedding. The exams were to start on the second of April and would get over on the tenth. The wedding was on the nineteenth. Results would be announced on twenty-eighth, two days earlier than usual. Pethkar ma’am said this had been done to allow students to start their tuition classes in time.
Surya’s way of mugging up things was to hold the notebook in his hand and pace the room reading out loudly. Chitre had told him it would not do, but he would not listen. It was impossible to study in that situation. We did not need him for our studies. Chitre was, as always, upto date with his preparation. He could write the exams any day. He used to come there as he did not want to stay back at home alone. Devaki continued her flirtation much to his dislike. Chitre said that she had tried the same trick once again. She would also drop her pallu whenever she got a chance.
Phawdya had no respite from the vegetable business. He had to sort the vegetables in the morning and then sit at the shop in the evening. He wanted to come over the building at nine in the morning but could reach only at quarter to twelve, running all the way. He was desperate to study and pass the exams because his mother had warned him that she would pull him out of the school if he failed.
There was still a week or ten days to go for the tuition classes to get over, but Deshmane sir had started winding up his portions. He gave us a sample test which we had to attempt at home. We were out of the class in no time.
We had enough time. It was still bright outside and no one was in a hurry to go home. The boys and girls stood there talking. I looked at Shirodkar and her eyes told me that we had enough time to chat. I was not going to let such an opportunity go by. Pingle deliberately asked me in a loud voice whether I was visiting Misal. Juvekar laughed at his comment, but I ignored him.
I went and stood under the peepal tree. It was bright and the place looked clean and dry. The lane was desolate as usual. A few leaves fell down from the tree intermittently. I then remembered that the peepal leaf formed a lovely design once dried in between the pages of a book. For a moment, I thought of picking up two leaves; one for me and the other for her. It would be a memento for both of us. But I brushed away the thought. The peepal tree was going to be here forever and the leaves would continue to fall in heaps.
She came in after ten minutes. She must have managed to escape from her friends, but it seemed that she had been teased by them. She came in smiling to herself.
‘What happened?’ I asked.
‘Nothing,’ she said.
‘That Juvekar must not be letting you go,’ I said.
‘That’s right. In fact, we had decided to study together till the exams.’
‘When are their exams?’
‘At the same time as ours,’ she said.
‘Why doesn’t Mande come these days?’
‘She has to help her mother in the kitchen.’
‘We are going to start studying in the building.’
‘That adda of yours? Chhi! You guys just sit there and rag the passers-by. What studies can you do there? You don’t go there.’
I kept quiet. The fact that we assembled there was known to everyone now. And our pranks were considered ragging now. There was no point in discussing that.
‘The classes will end soon,’ I said.
‘Yes. On twentieth.’
‘What next?’
‘Next?’ she asked.
I was not sure whether she had understood what I meant or whether she was just acting innocent. My heart was beating louder.
‘Then where shall we meet?’ I asked.
‘Why do we need to meet?’ she asked, laughing.
‘I enquired regarding night school,’ I said, changing the topic.
‘Night school?’
I realized she would not know the context. She was not aware of my plan.
‘I have decided to join night school if I take up a job after class ten. My kaka’s son Prakash did the same.’
She did not understand and looked at me, glancing once in both the directions.
‘Which class are you planning to join next year?’ I asked.
‘I have not decided yet,’ she said.
‘Ambabai says, Chaitanya classes are good,’ I said.
‘Aiyaa, really? Juvekar said the same thing. But it would be a little far away.’
‘Not that far, really. And it is better that way.’
That was good news. And Juvekar’s presence would not be a hindrance. She knew, and it was good that she was in a different school. She could come along with Shirodkar. Two birds with one stone!
‘The exams are approaching,’ she said.
‘Yes.’
‘We need to study now,’ she said. She glanced around once. ‘We cannot meet here any more.’
I did not say anything. She was right. The classes would end and the exams would begin. There was no way we could meet here. It was just a matter of a few weeks actually. Then the tuition classes would begin in May and school too would start.
‘After the exams, we are going to Naru mama’s wedding.’
‘Right after?’
‘No. A few days later. I will return a day before the results are announced. Are you guys going anywhere?’
‘Nothing fixed yet,’ she said. ‘We may visit our Aaji.’
‘Will we meet in the vacations?’
‘Let us see,’ she said, looking away from me.
I did not know what to say further. The air was still and the lane was quiet. It was as if the wind had stopped blowing in order not to disturb the silence. The hollow in my stomach was growing. For a brief moment, I thought of popping the question—will you marry me? But the words did not escape my lips.
‘Which college will you join?’ I asked.
‘College? It is too early,’ she said. ‘We still have class ten to get past. Who knows whether I will pass or not.’
‘What is there to worry about? Are you taking Arts or Commerce?’
‘I have not decided anything yet.’
‘I will have to take Science,’ I said. ‘The folks at home have decided that I am going to be an engineer.’
‘What’s wrong with that?’
‘Will you join that college?’ I asked.
‘Me? Why me?’ she asked, smiling. ‘I don’t like engineering!’
‘Then what do you like?’
‘Nothing,’ she replied like most girls do.
This conversation was not going anywhere. There was an air of urgency all around. I could feel the tension in the air. I wanted to speak out what I wanted to but did not. The emptiness in my stomach continued to grow. I could not understand. What was it? Was it because the year was ending? or was it because the exams were approaching?
‘This year went off well, isn’t it?’ I said. I had to say something.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘But that Bendre ma’am made life hell for me. It will be good if she does not teach us next year.’
‘Bendre will be there for sure,’ I said. ‘Maths will be taught by Kendalkar. And Appa is going to be there too.’
‘Oh God! That’s terrible!’
‘We cannot play word games next year.’
‘Aiyaa, really? Why?’
‘They have decided so.’
‘Issh! That will be really boring,’ she said. ‘Who wants to study all the time?’
I wanted to say the only solace is your presence, but she would not have liked that. I could not afford to say anything stupid.
We stood there without speaking for a while. It was nice to stand there like that. Like that day in the Ganesh temple. But time was slipping by. I wished I could hold it in my hand.
‘Shall I go?’ she asked.
I knew she wo
uld say that sooner than later. But I felt I was losing something precious.
‘No,’ I said.
She smiled at me. Her smile was lovely. I was happy that I had dared.
‘I need to go,’ she said. ‘Aai had asked me to come home immediately after class. She will get upset if she comes to know that the class got over early.’
‘Will you come tomorrow? ‘I asked.
‘No. Only after the exams,’ she said.
‘But there are no classes then.’
‘You can come home. I will leave now.’
She started walking away. I too had to go home and could have walked along with her till the end of the lane, but I could not move from my place. My legs felt weak and I felt empty. She walked a few steps and then waved at me, smiling. There was enough light, and the moment she stepped out of the shade of the tree, I could see her face clearly. I felt an acute sense of loss; something inexplicable. We had school tomorrow and there were a few tuition classes left to attend, but a strange fear gripped me. For a moment, I was tempted to run after and walk her home, or perhaps take her to my home. But my legs refused to move and I kept watching her as she walked away.
When I reached our adda I found that Surya had arrived before me. He came in early these days. Ever since the building had been made ready, he spent most of his time there. He had spread out his books on the floor. We had homework to submit that day—an experiment in Physics and some equations in Chemistry. Predictably, he had not been able to complete them. I gave him my notebook, which he copied from hurriedly. Chitre was not expected as he was in Bandra. One could not be sure of Phawdya. Surya wanted to understand some Maths problems, but he lost interest by the time he copied the Physics and Chemistry homework. He then lay down on the floor looking at the ceiling. I too sat down and stretched my legs.
‘Ichibhana, you know what I dreamt of last night?’ he asked.
‘What?’
‘Kevda and I were sitting in a garden. There was a big crowd around us but we did not care. Chitre asked me whether I was enjoying alone with us, and then you said you should leave us alone. You boys went away and I held Kevda’s hand. But I don’t remember what happened next.’
I stifled my laughter. Chitre would have burst out laughing. Surya was describing his dream in all honesty. He was dreaming of Kevda and it was obvious that we would land up in his dream. I was surprised that Phawdya was absent!
‘Dreams are a good sign, especially if you see them early in the morning,’ I said. ‘Did you dream of this early morning?’
‘Ichibhana, what is the point in dreaming?’ Surya answered, turning prone. ‘No dreams materialize in reality. And now the exams are approaching. All I have achieved is nothing.’
He was right. He had followed her once, but that had yielded nothing. While Chitre was going steady with Kevda. Chitre had mentioned that they were, in fact, spending time studying together.
‘Why don’t you ask that mama of yours? We need some good ideas. We have to find a way to woo that Kevda, yaar.’
I pitied him. He was not aware that Chitre had already beaten him in the game. But there was no point in telling him. It was Kevda who would have to tell him that. Chitre had said he was planning to advise her to tell Surya clearly that she was not interested.
‘There is no point in following her,’ Surya said, sitting up. ‘She does not say a word!’
‘Why don’t you ask her directly?’ I suggested.
‘What can I ask her?’
‘Whether she’s interested or not. That way you would know it once and for all.’
Surya was silent for a while. He probably mulled over my suggestion. Then he stood up and went near the window. He could see the road from there. There was still time; we had reached early. The morning batch was yet to get over.
‘Ichibhana, are you a soothsayer or what?’ he shouted.
‘Why, what happened?’
‘Come over here. See.’
I went over to the window. I could see the road right upto Mokshadham. There was no one on the road. And Kevda was walking by, alone.
Surya kept looking at her as she approached the building.
‘Hey Joshi, come on bhenchod,’ Surya said, hurriedly. ‘You suggested I should ask her directly, isn’t it? Come on, I will ask her today.’
I did not know what to say. I had casually mentioned but did not know he would put that into action right away. The moment was opportune. Kevda was alone. There was no one else in sight.
‘Don’t rush,’ I said.
‘Why not? We won’t get a chance like this.’
‘But here? Near our school?’
‘So what? Let us go down. I will ask her right away.’
Surya was in high spirits.
‘You go alone,’ I said.
‘No. You come along, saale. Just stand there next to me.’
‘No. You go alone. I will wait here.’
‘Come on bhenchod. Don’t be stubborn,’ he shouted angrily. ‘It was your idea and now you are shying away.’
He literally dragged me down. We went and stood near the building wall. Kevda walked alone in the bright sunlight. She had a scarf on her head. She was wearing a well ironed skirt and blouse. A cyclist crossed her, but there were no other students on the road.
She spotted us the moment she came near the building. She glanced at Surya and then at me. Then she started walking in the middle of the road. Surya took out a comb from his hip pocket and arranged his hair into a buff.
My chest was pounding.
The moment she came near us, Surya stepped on to the road and, trying to block her way said, ‘Apne ko line deti kya?’
She stopped and then, pursing her lips, simply nodded in the negative, making a ‘chkk’ sound.
‘That’s all you can say?’ Surya persisted.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Now let me go.’
She walked away without bothering to even glance at me. Surya kept staring at her for a while.
‘Chaila! She refused,’ Surya said, looking at her go by.
I was expecting that. We stood there for a while and then climbed back the stairs.
‘Ichibhana, she refused,’ Surya repeated, sitting down.
‘Let it be, yaar,’ I said. ‘Let her go to hell.’
Surya did not say anything. It was evident that he was sad. But it was good that he knew her feelings now. Phawdya came in after a while and seeing us glum realized that something was amiss. Surya was silent and I persisted, ‘Let it be, yaar. Don’t take it to heart.’
‘You guys are having a great time with your sweethearts,’ Surya said. ‘We are the unlucky ones.’
I kept quiet. School went off as usual. Zende sir was absent and his class was taken by Halbe sir. We were not free in the PT period either. The tuition class also went off uneventfully.
Chitre came in the next day, but we did not sit there for long as we were busy doing Biology homework. We did not get time to peep outside and reached school just in time.
Ganoba came into the class during the Marathi period. ‘Mhatre and Joshi,’ he announced, searching for us. ‘Headmaster has summoned you.’
Ma’am stopped teaching and the entire class looked at us. No one knew the reason. We stood up and Ganoba said, ‘Come on.’
We had no idea why we were being called. Ma’am simply stared at us and then indicated with a nod of her head for us to go.
I glanced at Shirodkar as I left the room. She had a surprised look on her face. My mind was racing. It dawned on me—only Surya and I had been summoned. Not Chitre or Phawdya or Santya or Harishchandra. It had to be Kewda!
‘Ganoba, why has sir called us?’ Surya asked.
You will know soon,’ he said.
‘Your prank yesterday—that’s the reason,’ I told Surya.
I spotted Kevda the moment we entered Appa’s room. A fair person sat on a chair. It did not require divine intervention to know that he was her father. The school supervisor, Jangam sir, sat on a
chair next to Bendre ma’am. Appa was waiting for us. He addressed us with his usual, ‘Welcome, please come in’, the moment we entered.
Ganoba made us stand near the table.
‘Are these the same boys?’ Appa asked Kevda.
She nodded.
‘Which of them accosted you yesterday?’ he asked.
‘This fellow,’ she said, pointing at Surya.
‘Oh, is that so? Step forward!’
Surya stepped forward gingerly. Appa picked up the cane and spanked him fiercely. The cane made a whip-like sound as it cut through the air.
‘What is my mistake, Sir?’ Surya screamed as the cane hit his arm.
‘What do you mean? Nalayak! What temerity!’ Appa shouted and continued caning him. Surya turned his back to Appa, trying to avoid the cane and took the beatings on his back. My legs were shivering now. I had never seen Appa in this avatar.
‘I did not do anything, Sir,’ Surya shouted.
‘Besharam! You hold a girl’s hand, and then say you did nothing!’ Appa screamed while another blow landed on Surya’s back.
Surya shuddered hearing Appa’s words. I stood shivering in my place. It was not true. Surya had accosted her but he had not held her hand.
‘I did not hold her hand, Sir,’ Surya pleaded. He was trying to protect his face with his palms.
‘Shut up! Not a word more,’ Appa growled, caning him once more. He then turned his attention to me.
‘Come forward. You!’ he indicated with his cane.
‘I did nothing, Sir,’ I pleaded, not moving from my place.
‘What was he doing?’ Appa asked Kevda.
I looked at her. She was at a loss for a moment and then said, ‘He was just standing there.’
‘Oh, I see. Accomplice!’ I did not understand the meaning of the word, but Appa continued, ‘Put your hand forward!’
I put my hand forward and Appa let the cane land on my palm with all the force he could gather. This was not Bendre ma’am. This was Appa in all his fury. I convulsed and took my hand back. My eyes were bursting with tears.
‘Why are you scared now?’ Appa asked, holding his cane. ‘Why are you pulling your hand back? You enjoy mawaligiri, isn’t it? Put your hand forward!’
