“What is the time?” asked Sharan
“What?” asked Vimal who was distracted
“Time.. what is the time?” asked Sharan
Vimal pressed the light button of this digital watch, although it wasn’t needed, but it had become a habit.
“It’s 6:10,” replied Vimal
“Why isn’t he here yet? He should be here,” said Sharan, peeking over the bush to the other side
Vimal was hoping Amrit wouldn’t come out to play that day and so they wouldn’t have to move ahead with this plan of theirs.
It all began when Amrit took Vimal’s new cricket ball. Amrit was one of those boys who would avoid boys his age and rather be around the younger ones for a simple reason that the younger ones were easier to dominate.
Sharan and Vimal, two good friends, were one of these younger children. Although Sharan wasn’t ready to be ordered around by someone who wasn’t actually an adult, but a few quoted ‘accidental punches’ + the fear of being isolated made him consider otherwise.
They had to listen to Amrit without opposition, he would decide what they would play, how they would play it, with whom they should play and also who should be ignored. Everyone hid their toys and other possessions of enjoyment or entertainment value so that Amrit wouldn’t demand them to hand them over.
Unfortunately, one day when Sharan and Vimal were playing with their friends Anand and Baasu, an initially well-placed shot from the bat led the ball right in front of passing Amrit.
Amrit picked up the ball and asked, “This is a new ball, now whose is it?”
No one spoke, especially Vimal, whose ball it actually was.
“It’s Vimal’s. His father got him and he would be very angry if Vimal were to lose it,” said Sharan
“Is that so? Then Vimal, you will tell your father that Sharan hit a shot so far that the ball couldn’t be found again,” smiled Amrit and walked away with the ball
Sharan looked at Vimal, “So what are you going to do?”
“… I don’t..” Vimal couldn’t complete what he had to say
“We are going to get that ball,” said Sharan and he looked at Anand and Baasu who were waiting for a good moment to walk away, “you both will help as well”
“Help in what?” asked Baasu
“We are four and he is one, today evening when he comes out to play, we will get him. Its now or never, we will end this today,” said Sharan
Amrit came out to play between 5:30 to 6. Sharan planned to meet at 5 pm and then the four of them would wait and beat Amrit till he apologised and promised not to bully them again.
At 5 pm Sharan found, no one had shown up, but he wasn’t giving up. He went to each one’s house and dragged them out.
“You both are going to hide behind that bush on the left and me and Vimal are going to hide in the one on the right. When you see us come out, you follow and we will get him for good,” explained Sharan and thus they hid and waited
“He is coming,” said Sharan seeing Amrit, walk towards the area where they were waiting, he also had the ball in his hand
When Sharan felt the moment was right, he signalled Vimal to follow him and he went and stood in the middle of the path.
“You are giving that ball back,” said Sharan in a bold voice
Amrit did not reply a little startled
“.. and you will apologise to us for everything,” continued Sharan
“What if I don’t?” asked Amrit unfazed
“Then you will have to deal with us,” said Sharan
“Us?” asked Amrit
Sharan turned to see that he was all alone, apparently the others had not followed him out and the next thing he felt was pain on the left side of his head. It took a few moments for Sharan to return to his senses and he found Vimal and the others next to him.
“We got the ball back,” said Vimal showing the ball he held in his hand
“Amrit threw it at you and then afraid that he had hit you harder than intended, he ran away,” said Anand
Sharan couldn’t understand what she should actually feel, relieved to get the ball back or disappointed that the others had backed down in the critical amount.
Written by Anuran Chatterji
Early Morning Memories 