That is Our Secret

“Oops, I have left my text book in the class” groaned Sheila in the teacher’s room. She was in a rush to go home, it was Esther’s birthday and they had planned to have a fun-filled evening. As she was winding for the day, Sheila found something missing - her II Standard English textbook.

Rushing to the classroom to grab her book, she found Anish in the classroom, pouting and sulky. It was evident that he had cried too. Anish was an attentive student and scored considerably well in class. A disciplined student, she had had no problem with Anish’s studies, though there had been a decline in the recent past.

“Hey, Anish. What upset you, my child?” cried Sheila. Amidst controlled sobs, the kid told Sheila that his parents did not love him any more. They never had any time for him. It took her quite some time to gather that he now had a kid sister; Aarti and all parents’ attention went to her. Mummy-Papa did not love him any more, said the hurt Anish.

Sheila put off her plans, without thinking. She pulled forward a nearby chair and sat next to Anish to cajole him. “Anish, my boy, Aarti is only a year old and you are how much, 6 now? She will need not only your parent’s attention, but yours too. It will be fun watching your kid sister learning her first independent walk, talking her baby talk, I assure you. Instead of only your parents taking care of her, you join them too. Believe me, it will be fun!” chirped Sheila.

“Hmm… okay, lets see. Tell me, what time do you finish your homework every day?”
“4.30” said he.
“Well, what I suggest you do for just three days is this: before you go to play with your friends, give yourself just one hour with Aarti. You have 3 days of holiday till you come back to school. You can tell me how your holidays went”

After some more cajoling and cheering, Anish went homewards. Sheila then rushed with her textbook to the teacher’s room. She knew she would now be late for her evening with Esther. I will make amends for her over the weekend, thought she.


Monday came. Sheila did not have to take up classes for the II standard. I will have to wait till Tuesday, thought she. She wanted to know from Anish about his holidays.

“Miss, she is suuuuuch fun”, gushed a bouncing Anish on Monday morning. Sheila was very happy to see a jubilant kid in front of her in the teacher’s room. He chirped on and on about the fun times he had with his kid sister, how they had gone to the park with Mummy-Papa and how they had played in the sand. How he had gone away for a li’l while to talk to friends in the park away from Aarti’s sight and when he joined back how she came as fast as possible in four legs to hug him…

Anish, sure had an extremely satisfying holiday. The other teachers were all wide-eyed about these two chitchatting and asked what’s up; there was a knowing look shared between Anish and his teacher that said, “That is our secret!!!”