By Prabeer Sikdar
Rains had a very special role in the government run Super Kids School, where the entire roof had many football sized holes in it.
Naughty as they were, the children always waited for a reason to bunk classes. So, when Masterji’s retirement date was announced by the School Headmaster, it was like another vacation waiting to happen after summers.
For Masterji, retirement date itself was a cause of worry as he was used to a noisy life for 30 long years in Super Kids School. The present students were the children of his former students.
So, as the mischievous lot comprising Tony, Moni, Soni and Johny and other brats celebrated Masterji’s last day at school, the latter shed copious tears.
In his farewell speech, clasping the mike in both his hands, Masterji sang his favourite KL Sehgal number ‘Ek Bangla Bane Nyara’ causing commotion among the students as they did not want any repairs carried out on the School’s roof.
The next day at home, Masterji got up at his usual time of 5 a.m., and spent time doing yoga till the arrival of the newspaper boy. It was not the front page he always looked at in the morning, but the back page, which he was addicted to. He loved solving his favourite game of Sodoku.
That he had retired was yet to sink in, as he again picked up the school books after breakfast and headed to Super Kids School. Midway, realisation hit him and he walked back home.
"One retires from life, but how can they retire me from work, which I loved so dearly," sobbed Masterji, cursing the retirement system. Masterji’s lonely life, soon added to his depression.
His hair started turning grey soon and for the first time he felt old. "I am still young at heart," Masterji muttered to himself, thinking of ways to beat his loneliness.
A man without friends is like a bird without wings. But, Masterji’s case was different. Ever since he had joined school, it was the only world Masterji knew. He simply loved children, including their naughtiness, haughtiness, failings, achievements and harmless pranks. "I despised grownups, now nobody likes me," lamented Masterji, while trying to get some sleep.
Knowing well that it was difficult to put the clock back, Masterji decided to give himself a mental makeover.
The next morning, when young Sonu, son of Goluram, came to deliver the daily newspaper, Masterji greeted him with a genuine smile. Immediately, he started feeling better.
"Do you go to school," asked Masterji, as Sonu was about to leave. "No. I help my father in washing clothes at the river bank."
"Do you like to study," Masterji asked again, hoping for a chance to cure his boredom. "Yes. But we are poor and all the money I earn by distributing newspapers goes to feeding our family donkey."
Soon, in Sonu, Masterji found a reason to feel like his former self, while the young boy got an opportunity to catch up with knowledge he could not gain earlier.
"I will call you Masterji," blurted Sonu, attracting a smile from Masterji, who gifted his new student some blank notebooks and a pen.
In the beginning, things started out well. Sonu was a quick learner but Masterji again felt gloomy after his student left for home. "Yoga, Sudoku, Sonu, garden… all done, what next?" fretted Masterji, as he pondered other ways to keep himself busy for the long days and nights, everyday.
His childhood memories were not that great to recall, neither was his family life, so it was useless mulling over them all over again.
As days turned into nights and nights into days, Masterji’s restlessness grew again. Sometimes, he spent entire nights studying different patterns made by the stars in the night sky. He soon was able to identify the Orion from Ursa Major constellation, but it made little difference to his boredom. Then, one day, everything changed for Masterji.
And so did it for the people living in Bholpur village, located in sylvan surroundings atop a small hill, where time always stood still. Notorious Dakuram, the thief with a thick long black moustache, had struck the village chief’s home. He carried a reward of Rs 50 on his head.
More than the Bholpur villagers, it was the portly rustic cop Nirbhay Singh, who was more worried as more thefts in homes meant his immediate transfer from his hometown to the city, away from his children.
The following day, when Sonu sat down with his books, he narrated what had happened. "The village chief is the poorest man now as Dakuram took away everything, including the heavy copper lock that dangled from the door of his home."
Never before was Masterji under the grip of so much fear and he felt goosebumps all over his body after Sonu told me about Dakuram’s exploits. "You go home, today," Masterji told Sonu, wanting him not to know his mental state.Years ago, Masterji remembered watching a martial arts movie in the city’s theatre. "How I wish I knew Kung Fu or Karate," Masterji sighed, while trying to feel brave that day.
To prepare himself for any eventuality, he practiced some kicks, which strained his unaccustomed muscles to a great extent.
Next day, when Sonu came for his class, Masterji was groaning in pain. After helping Masterji get up from his bed, Sonu left for home.
Even after failing in his Kung Fu attempt, Masterji did not lose hope. "There has to be a way out," thought Masterji. "I will sleep in the day to remain awake at night."
(To be continued…)
Rains had a very special role in the government run Super Kids School, where the entire roof had many football sized holes in it.
Naughty as they were, the children always waited for a reason to bunk classes. So, when Masterji’s retirement date was announced by the School Headmaster, it was like another vacation waiting to happen after summers.
For Masterji, retirement date itself was a cause of worry as he was used to a noisy life for 30 long years in Super Kids School. The present students were the children of his former students.
So, as the mischievous lot comprising Tony, Moni, Soni and Johny and other brats celebrated Masterji’s last day at school, the latter shed copious tears.
In his farewell speech, clasping the mike in both his hands, Masterji sang his favourite KL Sehgal number ‘Ek Bangla Bane Nyara’ causing commotion among the students as they did not want any repairs carried out on the School’s roof.
The next day at home, Masterji got up at his usual time of 5 a.m., and spent time doing yoga till the arrival of the newspaper boy. It was not the front page he always looked at in the morning, but the back page, which he was addicted to. He loved solving his favourite game of Sodoku.
That he had retired was yet to sink in, as he again picked up the school books after breakfast and headed to Super Kids School. Midway, realisation hit him and he walked back home.
"One retires from life, but how can they retire me from work, which I loved so dearly," sobbed Masterji, cursing the retirement system. Masterji’s lonely life, soon added to his depression.
His hair started turning grey soon and for the first time he felt old. "I am still young at heart," Masterji muttered to himself, thinking of ways to beat his loneliness.
A man without friends is like a bird without wings. But, Masterji’s case was different. Ever since he had joined school, it was the only world Masterji knew. He simply loved children, including their naughtiness, haughtiness, failings, achievements and harmless pranks. "I despised grownups, now nobody likes me," lamented Masterji, while trying to get some sleep.
Knowing well that it was difficult to put the clock back, Masterji decided to give himself a mental makeover.
The next morning, when young Sonu, son of Goluram, came to deliver the daily newspaper, Masterji greeted him with a genuine smile. Immediately, he started feeling better.
"Do you go to school," asked Masterji, as Sonu was about to leave. "No. I help my father in washing clothes at the river bank."
"Do you like to study," Masterji asked again, hoping for a chance to cure his boredom. "Yes. But we are poor and all the money I earn by distributing newspapers goes to feeding our family donkey."
Soon, in Sonu, Masterji found a reason to feel like his former self, while the young boy got an opportunity to catch up with knowledge he could not gain earlier.
"I will call you Masterji," blurted Sonu, attracting a smile from Masterji, who gifted his new student some blank notebooks and a pen.
In the beginning, things started out well. Sonu was a quick learner but Masterji again felt gloomy after his student left for home. "Yoga, Sudoku, Sonu, garden… all done, what next?" fretted Masterji, as he pondered other ways to keep himself busy for the long days and nights, everyday.
His childhood memories were not that great to recall, neither was his family life, so it was useless mulling over them all over again.
As days turned into nights and nights into days, Masterji’s restlessness grew again. Sometimes, he spent entire nights studying different patterns made by the stars in the night sky. He soon was able to identify the Orion from Ursa Major constellation, but it made little difference to his boredom. Then, one day, everything changed for Masterji.
And so did it for the people living in Bholpur village, located in sylvan surroundings atop a small hill, where time always stood still. Notorious Dakuram, the thief with a thick long black moustache, had struck the village chief’s home. He carried a reward of Rs 50 on his head.
More than the Bholpur villagers, it was the portly rustic cop Nirbhay Singh, who was more worried as more thefts in homes meant his immediate transfer from his hometown to the city, away from his children.
The following day, when Sonu sat down with his books, he narrated what had happened. "The village chief is the poorest man now as Dakuram took away everything, including the heavy copper lock that dangled from the door of his home."
Never before was Masterji under the grip of so much fear and he felt goosebumps all over his body after Sonu told me about Dakuram’s exploits. "You go home, today," Masterji told Sonu, wanting him not to know his mental state.Years ago, Masterji remembered watching a martial arts movie in the city’s theatre. "How I wish I knew Kung Fu or Karate," Masterji sighed, while trying to feel brave that day.
To prepare himself for any eventuality, he practiced some kicks, which strained his unaccustomed muscles to a great extent.
Next day, when Sonu came for his class, Masterji was groaning in pain. After helping Masterji get up from his bed, Sonu left for home.
Even after failing in his Kung Fu attempt, Masterji did not lose hope. "There has to be a way out," thought Masterji. "I will sleep in the day to remain awake at night."
(To be continued…)
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