Monday, April 1 2002
Neha And Nancy
- Shamoli Sarkar Shamoli Sarkar practises Sahaja Yoga. She claims that God has filled her life with beautiful people, melodious sounds and happy colours. She spends her day with the best people, i.e. students - She teaches English Language and Literature to the undergraduates in a college in Lucknow. She enjoys writing short stories and poems. She has done her Masters in Indian Classical Vocal Music but prefers singing light Indian Music. She loves to paint with oil on canvas.
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Neha and Nancy studied in class V in the same school. Once Neha broke her leg. She could not come to school for a few days. One Monday after school Nancy went to Neha’s home to see her.
Neha was lying in bed. The doctor had advised her complete rest. Two bottles of medicine and a few tablets were on a stool near her bed. Neha had two dolls and a ludo beside her bed. She had also piled up her textbooks on a table near her bed.
Neha’s mother served Nancy warm and delicious lunch. But Neha could not join her. The doctor had asked her to eat light meal.
Neha some times practised arithmetic lying in her bed. Nancy saw Neha’s arithmetic notebook. She was amazed to see that Neha had done her calculations in the rough. Nancy said, "Why do you not use a calculator? A calculator helps you to solve the sums so quickly." She opened her bag, took out her calculator and handing it to Neha said, "You may try and see how it works so fast!"
Neha said politely, "Thank you. My father says I must work out the sums myself. If I use a calculator I will never learn arithmetic the proper way."
"How backward you are!" exclaimed Nancy.
They both remained quiet for some time. All of a sudden Nancy became curious to see Neha’s broken leg. She said, "Show me your leg."
"My leg is in plaster." replied Neha.
"What is plaster? I have never seen it. Show me your leg in plaster." saying this Nancy removed the sheet with which Neha had covered herself.
Nancy stroked her plastered leg and said, "It is so hard and white. How did you break your leg?"
Neha explained," I was racing with my brother - - - -"
"And you fell down and broke your leg." interrupted Nancy. She said," Are you primitives? Why don’t you play vedio games? It is safe and so exciting."
"Mother asks us to play in the park." said Neha.
Nancy asked, "What games do you play when you are not in the park?"
"I play with my dolls. I play ludo with my brother." said Neha
"How very boring! I have so many electronic toys. They move, talk, cry and do so many other things. They are mini robots. You must come one day and see them for yourself." said Nancy.
"Who gives you so many toys?" asked Neha curiously.
"My mother. Whenever she comes across a new toy she buys it for me. You must come once and see them all. My mother says we must enjoy and have fun in life. I play with the latest toys and have a lot of fun. I see you are so very unhappy," said Nancy pitying her.
"But I am happy." said Neha softly.
"You are telling a lie," cried Nancy. "And now I must go home." saying this she stamped her feet and ran for the gate to go home.
It was an unlucky day for Nancy. On the way to home it started raining. She ran to reach home faster but fell down and sprained her leg.
The doctor advised her to rest for a few days. He bandaged her sprained leg and gave some medicines to swallow.
Poor Nancy was now in bed with her leg bandaged. She was surrounded by all her toys that walked, talked, blinked, cried and did many other activities. For some time she played with them. After a while she kept them away. She could no more be amused by them.
Her food was kept in a hot case on a stool near her bed. She was hungry but she never wanted to take it herself. She wished some one should serve the food to her. She remembered the tasty lunch that she had eaten at Neha’s place. She also remembered the smiling face of Neha’s mother.
Nancy picked up the telephone. She dialled her mother on her mobile phone and said, "Mummy come soon. I am hungry."
"Has Ramu Kaka not kept your food near your bed. Why do you behave like a kid? You know I can not leave my friends in the club." saying this her mother disconnected the line.
Tears came to Nancy’s eyes. She again rang up her mother and said, "Mummy I am feeling very lonely at home. Please come home soon."
"Why don’t you play with your toys? Why are you disturbing me? Do not ring me up again," came the angry reply from her mother.
Nancy started crying badly. She threw down all her toys on the floor. She wished she had a brother like Neha with whom she could play. She wished her mother were also like Neha’s mother. She wished she had not been so rude to Neha that day. She buried her face in her pillow and cried for a long time. After some time she picked up the telephone and rang Neha. When Neha received the phone she said, "I am sorry I was so rude to you that day. I am feeling very sorry. Can I call your brother my brother? Would you allow me to play with you in the park when I meet you next?"
Neha was over joyed to get another playing partner. She said, "Why not. It will be lot of fun to play with you too. My brother can certainly be your brother too. And do not be sorry for your behaviour."
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
*ENCARTA ENCYCLOPEDIA
*OFFICE 2000 CLIP ART
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