Venkat Raman

Children Stories Drama

4.0  

Venkat Raman

Children Stories Drama

Adventure In The Mountains

Adventure In The Mountains

12 mins
14.2K


It was a bright sunny but cold day in the mountains, somewhere in a village about sixty kilometers north of Almora in Uttaranchal, India. The sun was shining hard as it was around ten in the morning but the chill breeze from the snow-clad peaks just ahead meant the temperature was still an uncomfortable ten degrees Celsius. Bhola was on his way to school which was about five kilometers from his house and across the river that he had to wade through every day at its shallowest point, jumping over the rocks. As it was spring, this was becoming more and more difficult as the ice was melting and the water level in the river was steadily rising.


He had to take extra care that his books did not get wet and so carried them over his head and cautiously negotiated the swirling water. One wrong move and he could fall into the water which meant freezing water over him and his books and homework ruined. So he put all his concentration to see that this did not happen and soon thankfully reached the other end unscathed. His friend, Guddu was waiting for him at the other end. Guddu lived in a village on the same side of the river as the school and waited for Bhola every morning, offering to come halfway sometimes to help Bhola with his school bag if the water level was high. They both were the best of friends as long asd they knew and were i9n the same class.


Guddu was the son of the village Mukhiya and was therefore well off by the local standards while Bhola’s father was a father who just owned 5 bighas of land in which he grew Millets in winter and rice in summer. They were poor and could barely make ends meet as his father was always in debt from the local moneylender for the seeds and fertilizer that he had to buy every now and then. His crops did not get a great price in the Mandi and they had to depend on the moneylender every time for the new crop thus sinking deeper and deeper in debt.


“Let’s go,” said Guddu. Bhola asked him “did you do your Hindi homework”? to which Guddu replied saucily “ No, but I’m sure you have done it, so I’ll copy it from you before we go to the class. Bhola was very angry but didn’t say anything. IN spite of all the hard work, helping his father in the fields and then milking the cows, he made it a point to finish his homework without fail before going to school. Guddu, on the other hand was the only child of his parents, a spoilt brat and so was lazy and did his homework only after Bhola did his, which was the easy way out. Many times, Bhola wanted to tell Guddu not to take the easy way out, but he knew he wouldn’t listen and so gave in.


Guddu knew that Bhola liked him a lot and so would never refuse if he asked him. After walking for a couple of kilometres, they reached the school. There were still a few minutes left for the bell to ring, so Guddu took Bhola’s book and started writing furiously. Bhola scored good marks in all subjects and taught Guddu whatever he knew after class. Guddu was intelligent but couldn’t care less and did not pay much attention to the teachers in school. Guddu knew that sooner or later, his father would pack him off to the school in Nainital where his Uncle lived. They owned a flourishing cloth business and were rolling in money. Bhola too knew this and was dreading the day he would lose his best friend forever.


The bell rang and shook them out of their reverie. Guddu who had been writing his homework furiously, shouted “Done” joyfully and gave Bhola his notebook. Both went to their classroom and sat down on their benches. The teacher had not allowed them to sit on the same bench because they would keep talking and never pay attention to what the teacher was saying. Bhola sat next to Kaalu, the son of a cobbler who was dark complexioned but good-natured. Both were good at studies and sat on the first bench. Guddu on the other hand sat on the last bench with another laggard named Chandu who was also a spoilt brat, the only son of rich parents who owned the only grocery shop in their village and therefore had a flourishing business. Both sat behind and pulled pranks on everyone else like throwing paper balls, dropping ink on the shirt “by mistake” and stealing pencils from others bags. They were notorious and the teachers were fed up of both. Several complaints had gone to both parents but of no avail. The only reason why they were still in school was because both their fathers wielded considerable power and helped in running the school.


Today, both seemed to be in a hilarious mood and were planning something big, as could be seen in their quiet whispering and mischievous glances at one another every now and then. Holi was round the corner and anything could be expected from the brats. Suddenly a packet of gulal flew from behind and landed on the teacher’s table. The class looked as if in shock, terrified at what the teacher would do when he came. However, as our bad luck would have it, the headmaster came to our class to tell us that our teacher was not well. But as soon as he saw the gulal, his face turned red with anger and he said in a loud voice “Who has done this” and everyone’s eyes immediately went to the last bench where Guddu and Chandu were suddenly quiet and looking down, obviously guilty.


The Headmaster then said “If no one owns up, I am going to make the whole class stand outside with their hands up and holding their bags for at least ten minutes.. Immediately everyone pointed to Chandu and said: “He did it”. Chandu at first blurted out “No Sir, I am innocent” supported by Guddu saying “Sir they are all lying”. But soon, a search of his bag by the Headmaster revealed similar packets of gulal, obviously meant to be thrown at others. The Headmaster knew that chandu’s father was the grocer, so he asked him to come with him to his room. Guddu followed him but was told to go back to his seat. We were all stunned at the sudden turn of events. We could hear loud noises followed by the sound of crying as Chandu soon came out looking visibly chastened. The Headmaster came and asked us “Chandu will not be coming to class for a week from tomorrow. Does anyone want to join him” Everyone looked at Guddu who was by now looking both angry and scared. He, however, kept quiet and decided to go home and tell his father about how the Headmaster had asked Chandu to stay home for a week just because some gulal was on the table and found in his bag.


The rest of the day was uneventful after the headmaster took a class followed by the Maths teacher and finally a class of History. Bhola packed up and started for home. Guddu accompanied him but was strangely silent. Suddenly he blurted out “wasn’t it wrong of the Headmaster to suspend Nandu for a week merely on the suspicion that he had thrown the Gulal on the table” to which Bhola immediately replied, without batting an eyelid “Then was it you Guddu”? Guddu was taken aback and looked at Bhola as if to say “How can you do this to me” Bhola continued “Come on Guddu, don’t look so surprised, we know that it has to be one of you two. No one else can dare to play a prank like that in class” Which was just as true because it made Guddu look away guiltily and he suddenly changed the subject by saying “Look, the river has come, take care and go home, it’s getting dark”. Bhola knew that Guddu had a soft corner for him and smiled in return saying “Goodbye, do your history homework today itself. Don’t wait for me to do it. What if I don’t come tomorrow?”


Bhola waded through the water and walked home briskly as it was getting dark and he still had a mile to go. Fortunately there was company in the form of a cowherd taking his cows hack home. As soon as Bhola reached home, he washed his hands and feet and was given some kachoris made crisp by his mother who was waiting for him at the doorstep. “So how was school today”, she asked him as soon as he started to eat, to which Bhola told her the entire story of gulal on the teacher’s table and how Nandu was suspended for a week by the Headmaster. His mother looked at him, open-mouthed, barely managing to hide her need to laugh at the mischief but stopping just in time. The punishment seemed rather harsh so she wondered that this may not be the first instance involving Chandu. She immediately warned Bhola “I know you are always with Guddu and you allow him to copy your homework, but be careful of that boy. He is the Mukhiya’s son and can get away with anything. You are not so fortunate, remember that and try to stay away from him”. To this Bhola replied innocently “ Ammaji, isn’t it possible that Guddu might improve in my company so let me be his guiding star.’ His mother was in awe of Bhola hearing this and hugged him saying “My Bhola is so mature”


Bhola knew that Guddu would not forgive the headmaster so easily and so was curious to know what the next day would bring. As they met after the river, Guddu was not his useful self. Bhola ventured to ask “ Hope all is well. Looks like you are not in the best of spirits”. To this Guddu merely looked away and said “it’s nothing, let’s go quickly” Bhola was even more surprised when Guddu told him that he had completed his History homework. He wondered what was going on. When the bell rang, Guddu went o his bench and was all alone as Chandu was obviously not there that day. However, after the teacher came and took the class, Bhola was even more surprised to see GUddu all ears at the teacher noting down whatever he taught.


Bhola wondered what could have happened and during the break, unable to contain his curiosity, he asked Guddu ‘What happened at home yesterday? You look like a reformed person” Guddu gave him a glare and mumbled something under his breath. Bhola was not one to give up so easily and tried another tack “Look, I will not tell anybody. Am I not your best friend? Can you not trust me?” At this Guddu looked at him and said “I complained to my father about the Headmaster being harsh with Chandu. But I was surprised when my father admonished me by saying “Your Headmaster spoke to me today and told me everything. We met at the meeting of the Sarpanches where he was asked to give his inputs on the state of the school. He asked me to take care of you and also told Chandu’s father who had also come there when the meeting got over on why he had punished Chandu. He asked me to keep an eye on your performance in school and I am going to do that from now on.


Bhola was surprised at his friend’s behavior but was happy that the two boys were given what they deserved. Bhola told his best friend, “Look Guddu, I understand that you are not too worried about your studies here because you will be going to Nainital soon. But think of us, if you both continue to play pranks, the teachers will be angry and will give us more homework. Have you ever thought of this? To this Guddu looked at Bhola and said unflinchingly “I don’t care”. Bhola looked away in disappointment, not knowing what to say. They didn’t talk much after that and Bhola knew that Guddu didn’t trust him anymore. It was as if a wall had been created by yesterday’s incident between the two friends and things would never be the same again.


Bhola knew that Guddu was not a bad boy but he was carefree and proud of his father being a Sarpanch. So he decided to try a different technique to bring him around. He told his friend when they were walking back home after school not to worry and offered to speak to the headmaster to give Chandu one more chance. Guddu’s face brightened up hearing this and he soon became his cheerful self. The next day, Bhola spoke to some of his classmates if they were ready to come and talk to the Headmaster to give Chandu one more chance. Many of them who did not like Chandu’s overbearing attitude immediately said “No way, good that he’s been suspended, he got what he deserved”. Bhola was disappointed but didn’t say anything. Suddenly they heard loud noises and people running here and there. Thick smoke was coming out of one of the classrooms.


People screamed “There are children inside. Someone, do something please” Chandu was passing by on his way home from his father’s shop. He heard the noise and came to see what was happening. Hearing the cries and seeing smoke coming from the classroom, he rushed inside without a thought much to the shouts of those outside “What are you doing? You will get burnt” Having disappeared inside, we feared the worst when he emerged from inside carrying a child. He placed the child on the bench of the adjacent class and went in again. Like this, the single-handedly rescued five children who were trapped in the class while everyone including elders was just standing there too scared to react. When the last of the children was brought out safely, someone shouted: “Get some water for them”. Soon the fire was put out by the villagers and the situation was brought under control.


That evening, Chandu was the hero and talk of the town for his bravery and the Headmaster congratulated him for saving the lives of the children. He added “You can come back to school from tomorrow. The school needs brave boys like you, but no mischief, remember that” With a smile. We learnt that the Sarpanch had referred Chandu’s case to the local politician for a bravery award. So all is well that ends well and everyone is back in school safe and sound.



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