Its almost 9 pm but karthik is still sulking! Why wouldn't they get him the RS helicopter? He said to himself. Its his birthday but his parents disappointed him by bringing Hotwheels track set. He knew its a good gift but too many of his friends already it! How am i going to brag about it?
He is an only son and is pampered a lot by his parents. May be he saw too much of their love too soon or may be he took them for granted. He loves then a lot but he cant say the same about his grandparents or other relatives. He didn't see them a lot to begin with. His parents are board members of a popular company so they stayed in Delhi while all their relatives are in relatively small cities. He is rich and he gets what he wanted and he knew it! That's probably why he is never grateful for anything.
His mom came upstairs to bring him to dinner but he wouldn't come until they pleaded and his mom did exactly that. I can always get it afterwards and my classmates don't need to know! He smiled at his cleverness and came downstairs with his mother.
His father asked, "Why are you not playing with your gift? Its a limited edition too! Don't you like it?"
Limited edition? I didn't know that yayy, but i want the rc helicopter too..he said to himself and replied.. "I am sad because even though i asked for rc helicopter you bought something else. May be you don't love me that much"..he put his head down.
"I wanted to buy you that only but your mom only selected this! "
"So you will buy me that also then?"
His mom came from the kitchen and said...."may be next year".
They just need a little push. He started rubbing both his hands against his eyes and began crying.
"Don't cry now! Your mom is just teasing you. I am going to buy it tomorrow OK? Now show me your smile".
He wiped his tears and ran to hug his father. Yes they loved him so much!
That night they put him to bed in his favourite Ferrari bed and left for a late night flight for a meeting somewhere. They always did that. He is not surprised when he found out the next morning from his nanny. He knew it has always been for him and they will bring a memorabilia from where they went. Little did he know the flight crash-landed and both their parents died in the accident! He started getting ready for school. Just when he is about to bath his aunty and uncle who lives not far away from them came and his aunty hugged him tightly. None of them dared speak but tears were flowing from his aunty and she just wouldn't let go of him. His uncle rubbed his head with his hand and said...Just 8!what should i say to him?. His voice broken and betrayed. Karthik knew something just wasn't right. He wanted to ask what happened? But words weren't coming out. Its probably because his aunt is crying so badly that he is afraid even to ask. Soon a lot of people came and consoled him. He didn't know why but he was crying anyway. His gifts didn't matter anymore, he just want his parents to come home and tell him that everything is alright...mother..."where is my mother and father?" ..He asked. He didn't know who he is asking but it didn't matter. He asked again and again and again...at last his aunty said they went to another town for a meeting....he didn't believe her! "Then why are you crying?" She couldn't hold it any longer and cried again! His mother was her best friend after all. After sometime they put his parents photo in the hall with a garland around it. He knew what that meant but he just couldn't believe it! He stopped asking! Tears started to flow intensely. He just sat there and cried and cried and cried..he only slept when he could no longer cry. He woke up several hours later and cried again! Its been 10 days already. His grandparents couldn't leave him alone and took him with them. It didn't matter to stay there anymore. His parents are not coming back. Nothing mattered anymore. He never let any others get close to him. He didn't have close friends or cousins. He never gave them a chance. And now his life is but empty.
After a month, he still felt empty but didn't cry anymore. His grandfather took it as a good sign and joined him into a nearby school. Karthik didn't complain. He got ready in his school uniform and started heading towards school. His grandpa showed him the way the previous day.
On his way, all his old school memories flashed by. He always separated himself from others because he is rich. While everyone cracked jokes with each other he only spoke to them about his new toys or his parents new car and discouraged others from talking to him at all. He decided he want to make some friends this time. He was distracted in his thoughts and didn't notice school passing by. He walked a little further when 2 students stopped him.
"Are you going to Vidhyashram central?" She said
"Yes!" How does she know? It must be the dress code.
"Are you a new student? Late entry?" He asked
"Yes! How did u know?" Are they psychic?
"Because you just crossed our school. Come with us. Which class?"
"3rd standard..."
"Oh our class? Okay come on i will show you the way."
He followed them without speaking anymore. Just when he is about to enter the classroom, he asked "where are the toilets?" She absent mindedly pointed to their right.. "At the end"..she said.
He turned and walked. She put her bag down and sat to take a breath and suddenly realized her mistake. Its the girl's bathroom! She ran towards him. The other student also ran seeing her. Karthik is almost there when a senior student stopped him and said..."Are you going to the toilet?" and started grinning. Why is that funny? Aren't students allowed to go? He started to ask when he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see who it is. She said.."shut up! We are going to that water purifier to drink water" pointing to almost hidden water purifier. He gave a look and left. When he left she said "sorry! The gents bathroom is on the opposite side". Oh! So that's it! He said Thanks and smiled. She smiled too and said "what's your name friend?"
"Karthik.."
"Hi! I am vinisha and that's my brother venu". They don't resemble each other at all but he didn't point out like the old he would have done...instead he looked at them and said to himself...Yes!They are his chance!
They did everything together. Time seemed to fly when he is with them. They laughed and cracked jokes at each other. They ganged and teased others. It was a lot of fun! An year passed by! Vinisha came first in class and venu second but he came in some tenth place. But he didn't care. After a month, suddenly its their parents death anniversary. He became sad but he told his parents about his friends. He wanted to share his feelings with his friends and quickly came to school. He waited but they didn't come. He felt his heart throb. But he said to himself... They will come tomorrow and i will tell them then!
The next morning he woke up too early because he couldn't wait to see his friends. Its Saturday, so he wore civil dress. Even though he could wear chappals, he forgot and wore his normal black school shoes. He couldn't think straight! He came to school and waited. They didn't come for the first period. He felt like crying. Then he said to himself...
maybe they are playing at our secret place. They used the old city museum which is beyond renovation to play hide and seek.
That's right! This is just a game! He thought and ran with his bag to the old building. He called their names but no one responded. He ran and searched all the hiding places. They are not here..
Disappointed he started to come out of the building. Its been a year and nothing changed! Nothing at all! As he walked out he felt sad, betrayed, helpless. He is about to break into tears. His classteacher saw him walking head downwards towards the classroom.
She is angry at him for going out of school without informing her but she just asked him "what happened?"
"They are not coming!" He said crying..."vinni and venu are not coming". She knew how close they were. She said..."Didn't you know? Vinisha and venu are orphans who are studying here courtesy to some social organization and since they topped they topped the class they were taken to an award function in another city. They will only come on Monday".
So they didn't leave him. He is happy and his eyes gave it away! He hugged her and rubbed his tears off against her saree. She seemed like an angel from heaven. She said..."silly boy! You shouldn't cry like that or i will tell your friends!" He smiled and went back to the classroom happy.
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Picture credit : Morgue file ( http://mrg.bz/jnYWqY )
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At first i didn't know what to write. Since its my first story prompt and picture prompt i wanted to give it a good feel and this is what happened!Hope you like it! I also wanted to elevate the importance of non-profit social organizations that are making education possible for a lot of people. If possible please donate and support such organizations. I saw previously when KFC started donating 10 rupees for every order on customers behalf, some people didn't want to. I am not judging but please dont think twice when contributing to a good cause.
All good that you do will come back one way or another!
