Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Harish's day at college - part-2

...Continued from part-1

Harish's day at college - part-2

Sitting in the classroom he saw, the lecturer come for the assessment. Blood shot to Harish’s face on seeing him. Fear and anxiety came over him, just as much as it had made its presence on other’s faces. Mr. Edward was well known sadist in and around his college, and exhibited no signs of interest in the improvement of species called Homo sapiens. He’d even managed to scare some of his colleagues. Apparently had some influential contacts, which acted as a shield for him.

The task he barked out to the students turned out to be quite interesting to many. Harish sank deep into his chair watching in horror, as the first student carried out his task. The task was that every one of the students had to talk about the topic ‘Why do people Beg’ for one minute. Failing to do so could cost him his lift, or worse, some kind of punishment from Mr. Edward.

The moment of reality had come. After twenty gruesome minutes, the guy next to him stood for his turn. “60 seconds, 59, 58, I’m caught. I have nowhere to run to” – he thought. By this time, both his hands and feet had gone numb with cold. “…..There is not enough opportunity….” He could faintly hear someone speaking these words somewhere near him. His vision blurred, and senses started fading away slowly, as he seemed to have sunk into a deep slumber from which he never wanted to be woken up… “…And only then we will get rid of beggars..” These words were loud and clear, as Harish startled and sat straight on his seat.

Applauses – when they had stopped, a hush fell, and Mr. Edward turned to Harish, “You - The son of Lorry-driver. Standup and speak!!”. “Why don’t guys like you go and pursue the careers of your father, than come here and eat our brains out you dirty beggars?” and then he fell silent for a moment looking intently at the piece of paper he had in his hand. That was it. These words plunged deep into his heart. “He has insulted my father. What did he do to him?” – he thought with anger building up in him. He looked around just to see grim faces of his classmates, staring at him with gaping mouth. They were shocked too, and were unhappy about such a behavior towards him. For the first time, Harish felt the urge to speak. He had nothing to loose. The harm had already been done. The insult he had been dreading had already been made to him, and to his father. He stood erect, and started.

“We all are beggars” – he spoke. “We all are beggars”, “for we beg for love, we beg for affection, we beg for care. Beggars of this kind are the ones who form the major part of the affluent class, affluent, but monetarily”. To his surprise, words were coming slowly, but steadily. In a few seconds, he knew he had won the audience. He had nothing to loose. “Of beggars of my kind of whom you speak, we have enough of love, affection and all that beggars of other kinds do not have. So, now who is the beggar? How do you define beggars?”… Said Harish in a slow, but clear and confident voice. The whole classroom fell silent for a couple of seconds. This was followed by huge applause even as the lecturer stood and watched him in surprise. This was Harish’s classroom, and this was his turn!

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Harish's day at college - Part-1

“We all are beggars” – he spoke in a slow but firm and clear voice. The whole classroom fell silent for a couple of seconds. This was followed by huge applause even as the lecturer stood and watched him in surprise. It was Harish’s classroom, and this was his turn!

It was two years since Harish joined his college. Yet, settling down with the bon ton of his college seemed to be several light-years away. Now and then, he could be spotted at the staircase trying to put a brave-face to the heavy jargons thrown at him by his classmate crossing his way. Apparently folks learnt that Harish does not open up so easily, and started making fun of thim. Ffrom then he started keeping a low profile.

“Why don’t you talk to people?” asked rekha once. To which Harish replied, “I don’t know, I used to be a good communicator when I was in school; but now, I just can’t talk”. Then he fell silent with an expression on his face that almost screamed, “These people are from different society. What if they make fun of me if I say something ‘wrong’”? He said, “I did my schooling from Hindi-medium, and have got to see texts in English just for two years now. If I say something wrong, or worse, interpret something said to me in English incorrectly, then”?

To Harish, the most horrible event that can happen to him was that someday someone would ask him a question in English, and he’ll not be in a position to disregard it. He’d be ashamed in front of all the guys, and worse, the girls. The pride he earned for himself during his schooling, becoming class-monitor, School-pupil-leader, and had earned a place in the good books of many – All would be shattered in a fraction of a second. Remaining silent and ignorant seemed to be best solution.

A year and a half more passed. It was his final year in the college. Everyone was preparing for the campus placement events. On the hot summer day, they were moving slowly towards the classroom, with their faces plunged into their books they were carrying in their hands. Apparently there was an assessment being done by one of their lecturers.

Harish thought, “I wish I could take part in it. But I am too scared. But again, this would be my last chance to make it through the placement, and prove that I’m no less than anyone else… But what if I goof up, then? What will they think about me? All guys would make fun of me as they did to Mukesh, and no girl would ever wish to turn towards me again. I loose my stand I have taken for four long years! My self-respect is bigger than the job that I’d try, and not get. No taking part in the assessment! Just watch the event!!”

...To be continued