Nanu’s Friends

A sweet whistle woke Nanu up. The koyel living in the mango tree seemed trying to wake him up. He went to the window and wished him good morning. Then he ran to the bathroom to get freshen up. When he came out he saw Mummy has placed his breakfast on the table. He took two chapattis from the plate and ran to the terrace to scatter them tearing into small pieces. He whistled and said “Come come my friends” Birds from different trees came down to eat them up. After feeding them he came down and had his breakfast. He didn’t drink all of the milk but kept some to feed Lali, a cat living in a cardboard box at the corner of the verandah. He had brought it from roadside one day while returning home from school.

Then he got ready to walk the small distance to his school. While walking he feed biscuits to the stray dogs. They always wait for him and wag his tail to greet him daily. At the school gate he meets some puppies and their mother. He loves them very much so spends some time until the school bell rings. He then runs to his class and joins the Morning Prayer.

The school bell rang for recess. The students rushed out from the classes with their tiffin boxes and spread in every corner of the playground to eat and then play. Nanu took out his box, kept it on the desk and went to wash his hands. When he returned he saw his best friend Mannu is waiting eagerly for him. He opened his box and saw his Mummy today has given him veggi rolls to eat. Nanu wasn’t very fond of vegetables and liked only to eat food made from chicken or eggs. So his Mummy has started making these veggie rolls after learning the recipes from a popular tv channel. The first day when Mummy gave him to eat these rolls after he returned home from playground in the evening, he started running about the room as he didn’t want to eat vegetables. But after eating them for the first time he never said no to them. She makes them in a yummy way so now Nanu don’t hesitate eating them.

Mannu too advanced his hand to take a roll from Nanu’s box. Nanu asked “Didn’t you bring tiffin today?”

“No”

Nanu shared one roll with him but at the same time was very surprised. Why isn’t Mannu’s Mummy giving him tiffin for the three consecutive days? This thing never happened before. Aditya, one of their classmates whispered to Nanu when he went to wash his hands after eating “Do you know Mannu throws away his tiffin in the dustbin immediately after all the students leave the classroom?”

“Really but why?”

“I don’t know”

“And how did you know he had thrown away his food?”

“Today I first went to the toilet and then came to the classroom to take my box. At that time I saw him throwing away everything in the dustbin and keeping the box in the bag again. Yesterday after tiffin period it was drawing class. I went to sharp my pencil near the dustbin I saw the thrown away food”

Aditya pulled Nanu to the classroom dustbin to prove his words. Nanu couldn’t understand the reason of his friend’s such behaviour.

After the recess end bell rang the science class started. Mrs. Rao, the science teacher entered the class and started a new chapter FOOD AND HEALTH. Nanu was listening carefully and writing down the points the teacher asked them to write. While saying the importance of healthy food, Mrs. Rao said “Do not waste food children. If you feel your tummy is full and cannot eat any more don’t throw away the food in the dustbin. Share them with the stray dogs and cats and birds. Never take excess food in your plate than you can eat. Take in small quantities and take again when you feel you can eat some more. Many people are very poor who cannot afford to buy food everyday. You can share food with them”

The bell rang and the class ended. Next came in Mrs. Sinha, their class teacher to teach them geography. After the class ended Nanu went after her. She turned and said “What is it Nanu?”

“Mam, Mannu is throwing away his tiffin in the dustbin for the last two days”

“Did you see it?”

“Aditya saw it yesterday and today I saw the food in the dustbin”

“Why?”

“I don’t know Mam”

“So he didn’t eat anything”

“No Mam he shared my tiffin”

“Hmmm... Ok go to the class. I’ll see into the matter”

After the school ended Nanu stood for Cleaning Aunties to come. He saw Shila aunty coming with broom and a dustbin in her hand. He said “Aunty someone has thrown food in the dustbin. Please give it to the puppies living beside our school boundary wall”

Aunty smiled and said “Don’t worry. I give these everyday to them”

When Nanu returned home walking his friends followed him wagging their tails. He took out biscuits from his pockets and shared with them. He gave his five rupees which his mummy has given him to buy an ice cream to the beggar sitting on the roadside.

After reaching home Nanu’s Mummy asked him about his studies and other things when Nanu said about Mannu’s strange behaviour. His Mummy listened carefully then said “Maybe he doesn’t like the food his mother is giving to him and so is throwing them away. But it is not a good habit”

Nanu said “Yes science Mam too told today we shouldn’t waste food but share with those who need it most”

Mummy said “Your Mam is right dear. You should ask your friend too not to waste food”

The next day Nanu waited for the recess bell to ring. Today he wished to catch Mannu red handed. He went out of the classroom with others but waited to see what happened when Mannu remained alone in the classroom. He saw Mannu took out the tiffin box and went to the dustbin to throw them away. Nanu ran in and said “Stop Mannu. Stop! Don’t throw it away. What did you bring today and why are you throwing them away?”

Mannu said “Mom gave bread and butter. I hate it the most”

“Then ask her to make something yummy”

“I love to eat chowmein, noodles, French fries. I used to bring them before don’t you remember. But doctor has said to give these foods less to me. So mom started giving these tasteless foods”

“You like my veggie rolls?”

“Yes they are yummy!”

“Ok you share my tiffin but please give your ones to the stray dogs on the street. They will love it”

Mannu agreed.

Nanu said the news to his class teacher. She heard everything then said she will talk with Mannu’s parents. After the school ended Nanu took Mannu outside the gate and asked him to distribute his food to the puppies. Mannu was very happy to see the dogs wagging their tails and making funny sounds. He said he too will share his extra food with the stray animals.

Meanwhile teacher must have talked with Mannu’s parents so he began to bring veggie rolls veggie sandwiches and started eating his tiffin again. But still both of them kept some of it back to share with the dogs outside.