Babu - Chapter1

“What are you doing Babu?”

“Nothing Maa. Sitting only.”

“Ok, since you are not going to school, go and do all the class work.”

“Maa. It’s early to start reading. Can I go and play cricket for sometime. People are still playing in the field. Yesterday Shibu was asking me to join their team.”

“No no. It can’t be. They are good for nothing fellows and play through out the day. You will be like them if you mix up with them.”

Babu becomes silent. He moves to his study room .

Outside the window he can sees butterflies. Sparrows enter in his room and start chirping.

Babu opens his book. Turn down pages from geography book and leave it.

He looks outside again. Two squirrels are playing with each other near coconut tree with a small coconut.

It looks like a ball. “Can squirrel plays cricket. No , they don’t have hands like us.”Babu thinks.

Maa just enters his room with breakfast in her hand.

“ Babu , go wash your hand and finish your breakfast. Then start your homework. By the way what are you doing?”

“Nothing Maa, just thinking why other animals and birds can’t play cricket like us. It would be fun for them. The have so much leisure time . “

Maa gives him a sweet smile and says “they don’t need it. Do you want them to have your breakfast. I doubt if their mother can prepare breakfast for them.”

“ No Maa. They already have their breakfast of berries. Also they don’t need our food. Why you worry about their food. They have their mother.”