”Hey, give me that pen,” Smriti said, attempting to take the pen from Rachana’s grasp.
”I’m writing; can’t you see?” Rachana objected.
”Trying to be a nerd! I must also write, but the ink in my pen has run out,” Smriti explained.
Rachana asked, ”Why are you bothering me? Use another pen.”
”This Rachana has become egoistic these days,” Surakshya replied.
”If she told me that, I would never have tolerated it…” Jeni attempted to evoke Smriti.
”Rachana, who are you to suggest what I should write?” Smriti tried to start a fight.
”Why are you guys fighting? Just do your own work.” Sabitri wanted to maintain peace.
”Oh, here’s a goddess full of suggestions,” Jeni mocked Sabitri.
“Don’t interrupt Sabitri. I’m talking with her.” Smriti pointed to Rachana with a disappointed face.
Smriti snatched the pen from Rachana’s hand, saying, ”Do you know who I am? What should I do with your pen?” she asked, breaking it and tossing it in the trash. Smriti behaved like this with everyone she disliked. She was an egoistic girl who thought she was better than the rest. She used to brag about her rich status with her friends. It was regular for her to give nicknames to people, make others feel embarrassed, and make fun of teachers. She enjoyed doing that. She never took the teacher’s warnings seriously.
Sabitri and Rachana were stunned by Smriti’s behavior.
”Why did you throw my pen?” Rachana argued, fixing her eyes on Smriti.
”I wanted to. I hope you keep in mind that if you tell anyone about this, I won’t spare you. You know about Prajesh, right? I will tell him to kill you.” Smriti pointed a threatening finger at Rachana.
They had a break from class. Only six students were in the classroom: Rachana, Smriti, Surakshya, Sabitri, Jeni, and Bikash. Sabitri went outside after the incident. Bikash was in his own world, without showing any interest in the ongoing argument.
The teacher came to class after the break. All the students stood up to greet him except Rachana. She was laying her head down on the table.
He told everyone to sit down, went to Rachana, and asked her, ”What happened, Rachana?”
”I’m having a headache, sir,” Rachana said, and again laid her head down. Her eyes were red. Smriti was staring at Rachana.
”Do you need medicine?” Sir wanted to help her.
”No, sir. Thank you,” Rachana replied quickly.
She spent the whole class the same way. Prajesh and his mischief was on her mind the whole time. Prajesh was famous for his bad behavior. Rachana had heard a lot about them. Beating others without reason and threatening them came to him naturally. She knew about his history, being held in prison. But that had made no change to his behavior, so he was a threat to everyone.
Some students used to threaten others by using Prajesh’s name and used to spend time on holidays with him. Smriti was one of them. So, Rachana was afraid to even go home. She headed home with her friends after the end of class.
”I’m not feeling well, mummy. I won’t go to school today,” Rachana told her mom the next day.
Anjali gazed at her daughter and realized she was not ill. She was astounded by her daughter’s behavior because she used to attend classes even when she was sick.
”Why don’t you want to go to school, darling?” It’s not a good idea to skip classes. She wanted to know the reason behind her daughter’s refusal.
”There is no reason,” Rachana replied succinctly.
Rachana hadn’t mentioned being bullied at school to her mom. When she thought about the bully, she wished she didn’t have to go to school. Similarly, she did not tell her mother about the incident from yesterday.
Smriti’s words played on repeat in her ears, ”If you tell…”
”This is not like you. Please tell me what happened,” Anjali said, concerned about her daughter.
”I am afraid when walking home. There are some bad boys on the way,” Rachana said, her face hidden. She was happy that she was able to hide the truth. ”I will go only if you come to pick me up,” she added.
Because it was winter, the days were short. It used to be late when returning home. The way home from school was scary; you had to pass through a small forest. Anjali had heard about some drug-addicted boys fighting on that stretch of road. She used to worry about her daughter because of that road. But Rachana had never been scared of those boys. She used to come home by herself with her friends.
Even today, schools only sent students home in groups. ”Something fishy is going on,” Anjali thought, but she had no time to ask more questions. It was already late for Rachana to go to school. So, she promised Rachana to pick her up in the evening and then sent her off to school.
Rachana said nothing to her mom while returning home together in the evening. Even the next day, she made her mom promise to pick her up from school again. Anjali was troubled by her daughter’s behavior. She went a little earlier to school to maybe learn something about it, but without gain.
On the third day, using different methods, Anjali managed to make Rachana say everything. Rachana started crying and told her mom everything about the threats Smriti had said.
”Don’t you know that a barking dog never bites? Moreover, you should not be afraid and hide such things from us. We are always here for you. At school, you have teachers, and at home, you have us, your parents. She can do nothing.” Anjali consoled her daughter.
”Ahh... you know nothing about Prajesh,” Rachana was not comforted by her mom’s logic.
”Don’t live in fear. I will go to your school and talk to the teachers about it. Is that okay, my darling?” She tried to convince Rachana.
Rachana’s problem was taken seriously by the school. The charging officer summoned Smriti to the office.
”What did you say to Rachana?” he asked.
”What have I told you?” Smriti answered rudely.
”And who broke Rachana’s pen?”
”How could I know?”
Rachana and Sabitri were also called to the office.
”Sabitri, did Smriti break Rachana’s pen?” Sir asked.
Sabitri looked at Smriti. She was staring back.
Sabitri bowed her head and said, ”Yes, sir.”
”And anything more?”
Sabitri looked at Smriti but said nothing.
”You should not be afraid to tell the truth, you know,” Sir said encouragingly.
”She threatened Rachana by mentioning Prajesh.”
”Why did you do so?” Sir asked Smriti.
”Because she did not give me ink.”
”Well done. Keep it up,” said Sir.
”I am sorry, sir.” Smriti bowed her head.
”Who taught you such things? Where did you learn to behave like this? Do you think you can achieve things by threatening others?”
Sir asked.
Smriti was silent, bowing her head.
”Did your parents send you to school to behave like that? How would they feel if they came to know about this? Give that some thought.”
Smriti was still silent. She was gazing at Rachana. Rachana was shivering with fear.
”If you want to do such things with your fellow classmates, then we should inform your parents about this and hand you over to them. We cannot take responsibility for such students.” Sir made his sentiment clear.
”Sorry, sir. This will never be repeated. I don’t want to leave this school,” Smriti said, terrified.
”We have already called your parents. Some paperwork is still left to do; you may enroll in another school,” sir explained. ”You are in touch with good people. Your mom might be happy to know about it.” He mocked. ”Sister, could you please send them to the office?” Sir asked loudly.
Rachana’s mom Anjali and Smriti’s mom Rekha entered the office together.
”We called you only after investigating everything. She does not value the lessons or morals we have taught her. Now, it’s your decision—what should we do?” Sir informed Smriti’s mother. ”I have told you everything about her faults.” Rachana’s mother arrived. ”Who will be responsible if something bad happens in the future?”
”I ask for forgiveness on behalf of this evil child. At some point in their lives, everyone makes mistakes. Please forgive her for thinking that the mistake was done in innocence. If she repeats any such behavior, then I will be responsible for it. She won’t make such a mistake again.” Smriti’s mom pleaded.
”You want to say something, Smriti?” Sir looked at Smriti.
”I unknowingly made the mistake, sir. It won’t be repeated. I am sorry, Rachana.” Smriti asked for forgiveness.
”It’s alright. I am forgiving you this time for the sake of your mother. But...” Sir told her, looking at Smriti.
”Rachana, do you have any fear regarding Smriti? She has even regretted it and asked for forgiveness.” Sir inquired, his gaze drawn to Rachana.
”No, sir,” she answered shortly.
”Okay. Now, hug each other, go to the classroom, and try to be good friends.”
They hugged each other.
”I am sorry, Rachana,” Smriti said, still asking for forgiveness.
”It’s okay.” Rachana had forgiven her.
The person in charge smiled. They left the office.
”I am grateful that both of you helped us bring children back on track.” The person in charge, sir, was grateful to both parents.
Keshri Amgain is a novelist and poet from Nepal.
