"I'll buy a pack of bullet, two anars and one rocket."
"No I would like to buy a pack of electricity cracker and one pistol with some rolls, that will last for long and we 'll have lots of fun."
"But we still don't have enough money to buy even that much."
Sibu, Hari, and Raja, the three brothers were planning for their next Diwali. Hari was the youngest and Raja was the eldest among them.
It was the month of October and It was the ocassion of Dussehra. The three brothers were sitting in the soothing sunlight, sculpting the puppet of Ravana. They had somehow managed to buy a Hydro bomb and were preparing for their small "Ravana Dehan" in the evening. They knew that the father will not allow them to go to Dussehra Mela. They were happy, as they were enjoying their joint craftsmanship. But they still had to worry for the Diwali.
"We can not make our Diwali with just one bomb Bhaiyya", Sibu said.
"Don't worry Sibu, Papa will give us 10 rs on Diwali. We can manage a pack of bullet with that. We just have to collect some 15 to 20 rs more in these twenty days.", Raja tried to make Sibu calm.
Hari was too small to understand the complexity of money, but he was assured that his Raja bhaiyya will bring him a pistol on Diwali night.
Raja was an intelligent boy and was very good in sculpting chalks. He learnt this from an old man few years back. He had some small but intricate pieces of art carved on white and colorful chalks in his collection. Hanumaji, Shivji, a girl, spiderman all carved by himself on chalk using the pin of compass from his geomentry box. He had got lots of appreciation for his work from his school teachers and classmates. One of his classmates had even asked him to sell them to him, but Raja had denied because he loved his art.
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"Yes I'll sell these." Raja murmured, "What I'll do with them after all."...... "And If needed I can make more."
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It was afternoon and Hari had just returned from his school with Raja. Mom was waiting for them with hot lunch.
"Where is Sibu? Now a days he always comes late from school. Raja! have you took five rupees from here? I had put five rupees on the kitchen shelf in morning."
"No mama. I don't know.", Raj replied.
"Ok, I must have placed them somewhere else. You finish your lunch and pickup Hari to your aunt while going to the tuition. I am going to market. Sibu will pick him back if he comes in between."
Raja brought Hari back from school daily, as they were in same school. Sibu was in a different school and he was big enough to go to school by himself. Sibu was enjoying this freedom, he was frequently bunking classes with his friends. Today he had betted with one of his friends that he will defeat him in Tekken 3. The betting money was 10 rupees. Sibu was very confident because he was a champ in video games. So this was very easy way of earning money for Diwali.
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"Sibu! get ready quickly for the school.", Mom was yelling at Sibu. "It's already 7 am."
"No mama, I'll not go to school today. My stomach hurts."
"Stop this nonsense, son. Raja! have you finished your breakfast, check Sibu, what hurts him."
Raja came into bedroom after few minutes. And saw that there was a weird fear in Sibu's eyes.
"What happened Chotu? Is it really real or you are making us fool?"
Raja forcefully pulled Sibu from his bed but Sibu began to weep. Now it was getting serious.
"What's the matter? Let's go to a doctor."
"No bhaiyya, It's not the stomach. But I dont want to go to school."
"Will you explain me what's the problem with you bhai.", Raja exclaimed.
Sibu kept silent for few minutes he was shaking and was staring towards ground. Finally few words slipped from his trembling lips.
"... I ... lost.."
"What lost? Explain everything."
"Bhaiyya! I had a bet with pradeep yesterday which I lost. I had only five rupees but the betting money was ten rupees. Now he and his friends will beat me if I'll not return his money."
"Oh..man.. I have always told you to keep away from such friends. .. and what did you say.. you gave him five rupees.. was it you who took five rupees from the kitchen..?"
"I am sorry bhaiyya.. I did all this just for Diwali money... and now I am feeling very sorry for what I have done."
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Raja thought for few minutes and finally said..
"Ok listen to me.. dont worry .. first promise me that you will never come late home again.. you will attend your school regularly.. take this five rupee note.. and give it to pradeep... and dont think about Diwali money.."
"I promise you bhaiyya that I will improve myself.. and will never talk to pradeep and his friends...... but how did you get this money...", Sibu asked with a smile on his face.
"I helped my math teacher in making his assignments for junior class. In return he gave me 50 rupees."
"Bhaiyya! school nahi chalna hai kya.. mam maaregi.. agar late ho gaya to..", Hari entered in the room with his bag on his shoulders. The three brothers began to laugh...
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Who is Haku?
Character Profile: Haku
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