Shoe Polish

My elder brother and I were studying in the same school. I was an average student and he was brainy. He scored distinction and was loved by almost all the teachers in the school. He was excellent at solving Math problems, Hence he was quite popular in the school among all sections.

He was appointed as a monitor of the school along with a few other so-called brainy students. Every day it's their duty to check if students are dressed in neat uniform, Students had polished their shoes and their nails had been trimmed. Whoever does not follow this should be made to stand aside and punishment was given to those students. This was followed to discipline students to come to school with neat uniforms and shoes. Every Wednesday and Saturday we were asked to go to school in White uniform and White shoes.

Me, being a naughty kid would play in a mud puddle and dirty my shoes while going to school without thinking about the punishment. After prayer when I was walking towards my class in line, My brother stood there to check our uniform and shoes.

He asked me to stand aside, "You, Stand there. Look at your shoes It is not polished.

I was in a defensive mode, "No It was polished, It's dirty now due to rain".

My brother was in no mood to listen, "You just stand there, Your shoes are dirty and I know it's not polished.

My anger raised, I looked around and found girls of his class moving on corridors. It's the right time I thought in my mind and shouted on top of my voice, "How can you say, It's not polished. You were the one who polished my shoes at home yesterday night. Do I have to remind you??"

All the other students and teachers started giggling. 

My brother felt insulted and he folded his hands, "Amma, One big namaste to you, Please go. Don't take out my leftover izzat".

I warned him, "Look, next time if you ask me to stand aside, I will spill all your secrets to your classmates. Be Careful".

From that day onwards I was given the royal treatment at school by seniors. As a punishment, I made my brother carry my lunch bag for an entire year.