“Mom, I just
want a mobile phone, that's all. Now I don't want to hear anything else. Now
this is too much, mother. You are informed mother, all my friends have very
good, super, imported mobile phones and all of them have good ring-tone, good
design and touch screen. And mother, I don't have any mobile phone. Now mother,
I also want a mobile phone and that too from a good company. A mobile phone
with Android One and touch screen.” Innocent Bhaskar insisted on meeting his
mother.
Bhole
Bhaskar's childish mind was adamant that he should also have a good mobile
phone of a good company, like other friends of his school. He would start
feeling inferiority complex in his mind when his other friends would miss-call
each other from their mobile phones or send SMS to each other. They use to
write, e-mail, talk about various things on WhatsApp, share jokes and talk
about a lot of things with other friends for a long time. Not only this, when they
were alone, they use to listen various songs with earphones in his ears.
Sometimes they would laugh and sometimes he would start dancing in his own joy.
The innocent
childish mind of Bhole Bhaskar would repeatedly insist on getting a mobile
phone from his mother and then he would make up his mind to buy a mobile phone
with an imported touch screen.
If he
doesn't insist then what kind of a child is he? Being stubborn and obstinate is
a natural quality of a child and a child must be stubborn. The desire to become
something good, the desire to do something good, the desire to dream something
good, the desire to become an example for the world. The whole world says that
if you are so stubborn then it should be like this.
Bharat had
also insisted on counting the teeth of the lion, Dhruva had also insisted on
performing steadfast penance and the stubborn Eklavya had also insisted on
getting education from Acharya Dron.
History is
replete with inspiring examples of stubborn and obstinate children. Stubborn
child Krishna had also insisted on playing with the moon toy and stubborn child
Hanuman had kept the sun in his cheek.
But the
question is about the direction of the insistence. There is right and wrong.
Playful hair is the direction of the mind's movement. If the movement is
positive and in the right direction then the results are good and if the
movement of the mind is negative and in the wrong direction then how can good
results be expected.
Now how and
who should explain to the stubborn childish mind of Bhole Bhaskar that for his
son to study and write, he does not need a mobile phone, but a book-copy,
pen-pencil and true faith and dedication in the mind.
Good
imported super mobile phones, mobile phones with good ring-tone and
touch-screen mobile phones are the hindrances in the process of reading and
learning. To study, one needs a high courage, a dream, a dedication that makes
one sleepless at night and restless every moment during the day.
Mother's
every attempt to convince his demand over Bhaskar's head like a bouncer on his
stubborn pitch and had no effect on the determined, stubborn and obstinate
child mind of innocent Bhaskar.
This age is
such that children often consider their peers of the same age as their
well-wishers and what they say is correct. They accept the right words of their
parents, teachers and well-wishers as right only when their peers prove them to
be right, otherwise not at all. How can a slippery tender age think of all
this?
But poor
Bhaskar's mother, even if she does, what should she do? From where will he get
such an expensive mobile phone?
Ever since
Bhaskar's father passed away, she was upset with herself and on top of that,
her only son Bhaskar, who despite his stubbornness, was not ready to listen to
even a single word of his mother.
Bhaskar was
adamant on his insistence for two days and yesterday evening he did not even
eat food. Now he said that he would not go to school until he got a mobile
phone.
The problem
was very serious and its solution equally complex. Bhaskar's mother could not
sleep the whole night.
The next
day, like every day in the morning, the rickshaw puller of the school called
from downstairs – “Come on Bhaskar, come quickly.”
When no
movement was felt, the rickshaw puller called once again, perhaps Bhaskar could
not hear. But it is narrated only to those who want to listen and who can
narrate it to someone who does not want to listen even after listening.
But rickshaw
puller bhaiya ji had to give some answer. So, Bhaskar came to his balcony and
shouted loudly to the rickshaw puller bhaiya ji – “I don’t want to go to school
today, bhaiya ji.”
“Why, what
happened Bhaskar, why are you not going to school?” While saying this, his
classmate Kabir had by now got down from the rickshaw and reached him through
the stairs.
“Why are you not going Bhaskar, your health
is fine.” Classmate Kabir asked Bhaskar out of curiosity.
“No, just
like that. I don't feel like it today." Bhaskar said, hiding his stubborn
statement with pride.
“What is the
matter Bhaskar, why are you not going to school?” Kabir wanted to know the
reason.
"Nothing
at all. just like that. I don't feel like it." Bhaskar once again tried to
hide his point.
And then
Bhaskar's mother told Kabir - “Hey son, he has not eaten food since last night
and is adamant on taking the mobile phone. Saying that I will not go to school
until I get a mobile phone. Now you tell me, from where should I get such an
expensive mobile phone.”
Bhaskar's
mother's heartache and her financial constraints could be
clearly read.
“What will
Bhaskar do with your mobile phone?” Kabir asked Bhaskar in a stern tone.
“Look Kabir,
all the children in our school have good imported mobile phones, only I do not
have one. And mother is not even getting me a mobile phone.” Bhaskar said while
explaining to Kabir.
“Where are
you Bhaskar, all the children have mobile phones. Look, I don't have any mobile
phone.” Rejecting Bhaskar's words, Kabir said to Bhaskar.
“What about
you. You are a topper But all my friends have very good mobile phones.” Bhaskar
once again presented his argument.
“So, what if
I am a topper? Okay, tell me which of your friends have mobile phones?” Kabir
wanted to know from Bhaskar.
“Rajat,
Akash, Vikas, Pawan, Raju and Sudha, all of them have good imported mobile
phones with super ring tones.” Bhaskar said with great pride while enumerating
the names of all his companions.
“Where does
Rajat have his mobile phone?” Kabir said to Bhaskar.
“Yes, his
father has given him a mobile phone just two days ago. Do you know how much he
had to insist to get a mobile phone, then somewhere his father got him a mobile
phone. With great difficulty his father agreed to get him a mobile phone.”
Bhaskar told Kabir very excitedly.
“Okay, tell
me, what is his mobile phone number.” Kabir wanted to know from Bhaskar.
“Rajat's
mobile number is 989898..” Bhaskar said while telling Rajat's mobile number to Kabir.
“And
Bhaskar, do all these boys take their mobile phones to school?” Kabir wanted to
know.
“Yes, and
all the boys talk to each other on mobile phones, send SMS, WhatsApp and also
listen to different types of songs. And whenever the teacher is teaching a
boring subject, we sit on the back bench and comfortably play good mobile
games.” Bhaskar became very excited and told Kabir.
“But Bhaskar,
carrying mobile phones is prohibited in school. Principal madam has clearly
forbidden it and yet they all carry mobile phones. This is not a good thing.” Kabir
said while explaining to Bhaskar.
“Everything
goes on, no one asks and no one sees.” Bhaskar excitedly told Kabir.
“Okay, now
you get ready quickly and come to school.” Kabir said to Bhaskar
“No Kabir,
now I will also go to school only when mother gets me a mobile phone.” And now
Bhaskar has finally told Kabir about his insistence on taking the mobile phone.
“It's just
that, Bhaskar. So come on, you will get the mobile phone. Now let's go to
school." Kabir said while giving assurance to Bhaskar.
“But how
will you get pride? Mother has been saying no for so long.” Expressing the
dilemma in his mind, Bhaskar said.
“But what
does this have to do with you? If mother doesn't want to get it, I will get it
done either by asking my father or from my pocket money. Now get ready quickly
and come to school. Bhaiya ji is standing downstairs and anyway, we are getting
late for school now.” Kabir said to Bhaskar.
“Kabir, you
are not joking, tell the truth.” Expressing his doubt, Bhaskar said.
“What's the
joke in this, if you want to study with a mobile phone, then I will bring you a
mobile phone, somehow, from anywhere and by doing anything.” Kabir said
seriously.
The
assurance of getting a mobile phone from Kabir gave wings to Bhaskar's mind and
he immediately started getting ready to go to school.
Meanwhile,
Bhaskar's mother could not understand why Kabir gave such assurance to Bhaskar.
From where will he get him a mobile phone? And would it be appropriate to take
the mobile phone given by him? Bhaskar's mother was in distress. Don't know
what will happen now.
But as soon
as Bhaskar went inside the room to get ready to go to school, sensing the
anxiety in his mother's mind, Kabir said to Bhaskar's mother - "Aunty,
don't worry. I will fix everything.”
“Okay, as
you think is right. You yourself are intelligent. You know everything.”
Bhaskar's mother said proudly.
And after
some time, Kabir and Bhaskar along with their other friends sat in a rickshaw
and reached school on time. After prayer and after that, studies started in all
the classes like every day.
Here Kabir
had made up his mind that today he would expose all these boys by catching them
red handed with mobile phones. And being the student representative of the
school's disciplinary committee, this was also his duty.
The second
period was of sports. During the same period, he met his PT sir and informed
Principal Madam that four-five boys of his class bring mobile phones to school
and also told Rajat's mobile phone number. This information was enough for PT
sir. He was also in-charge of the school's discipline committee.
After the
recess, the fifth period was going on. In the class, Sakshi madam was
explaining a science topic with great concentration. There was pin drop silence
in the class. Just then the ring tone of the mobile phone started playing in
the class and that too was a film song. Which could not be called good. And
this was the sound of Rajat's mobile phone.
The ring
tone created a stir in the peaceful atmosphere. For some this ring-tone was a
matter of surprise and for others it was a matter of anger. Reason. But
Rajat's face was in shock.
“Who has a mobile phone?” Sakshi madam said
angrily in a loud voice.
There was
complete silence in the entire class and Rajat started trembling. He had never
thought like this even in his dreams, tremblingly he uttered – “Sorry… Madam, Sorry…”
“Why, what
do you mean by Sorry, don't you know that it is forbidden to bring mobile
phones in the school. Come on, bring your mobile phone here.” Sakshi madam said
to Rajat in an angry tone.
And Rajat
got up from his seat with the mobile phone in his hand and started moving
towards Madam.
Taking the
mobile phone from Rajat, Sakshi Madam placed it on her table and ordered Rajat
to stand outside the class and said – “Go, stand outside the class and after
this period you will be complained to the Principal Madam.”
On the other
hand, Principal Madam was on the rounds and seeing Rajat standing outside the
class, she asked Rajat the reason for standing outside, then Rajat told that he
had brought a mobile phone to the school. Hence Madam had thrown him out of the
class.
“Even when
you know that bringing mobile phone in the school is prohibited, you still
bring mobile phone to school, it causes disturbance in studies. Call your
guardian tomorrow and you will not sit in class until he meets me.” Saying
this, Principal Madam left.
And after
some time, the peon came with a circular in which it was written – “It is
prohibited for any student to bring a mobile phone in the school. It has been noticed
that some students still come to school with mobile phones. Now if any student
is found with a mobile phone in the school campus, disciplinary action will be
taken against him.” By permission... Principal Madam.
Sakshi madam
was reading the notice. Every word of the notice was melting the icy mountain
of Bhaskar's insistence on getting a mobile phone. This question was coming to
his mind again and again that when he would not be able to bring his mobile
phone to school then what would be the use of buying it or carrying it with
pride.
He had made
up his mind that now he did not want to buy a mobile phone and he would not
insist on buying a mobile phone from his mother.
While
returning from school, as soon as he sat in the rickshaw, he said to Kabir – “Kabir,
I do not want a mobile phone.”
“Why, what
happened to you Bhaskar? You have not gone crazy. Now you are saying not to
buying a mobile phone. Sometimes he insists on taking the mobile and sometimes
he doesn't." Kabir asked surprised.
“Yes Kabir,
when all my friends will not be able to bring mobile phones in the school and
will be thrown out of the school if they bring them. Then what is the use of a
mobile phone for me? Bhaskar said.
“Okay, as per your wish. But I am still ready
to get a mobile phone.” Kabir said.
“No Kabir,
now I have to concentrate on studying. After all, there must be something that
Principal Madam does not do about mobile phones.” Saying this, Bhaskar took a
deep breath and made up his mind to study.
But till
date no one has been able to find out who had called Rajat on mobile phone.
-Anand
Vishvas