It was 7 AM and Humera's bleating woke me up from my slumber. I shifted to sleep under the sunlight seeping through my caged windows. Winters in Kangra were extremely cold, and if you didn't have warm clothes, you'd be sure you wouldn't live long enough to see another winter. Humera is lucky that way. We always joke that she has a perpetual sweater on her back. Whenever we take her for shearing, I sob on my Ammi's bosom. I feel sad because nobody bothers about the fact that she would be cold if we take away her sweater. Zayed laughs at me when I say this, he calls me a buddhu who cries like a girl. I began to ignore him after I accepted the fact that he was born solely to give me a hassled life.
I couldn't catch a wink after that so I decided to wake up and help Ammi with her chores, since she was always toiling. I had barely ever seen her sleep, other than the times when I woke up in the middle of the night because of nightmares. Even then she would put me to sleep and only then go back to sleep herself. Every khala in my area had their husbands to take care of the house, but my Ammi did it all alone. Abba worked in a medical college, he is not a doctor, he is the gardener there, but I think that is equally important. Looking at flowers makes people happy and my Abba makes sure of that. He comes home once in 3-4 months, he says he cant afford to take a bus home every day, so he stays near the medical college. Every time he comes home he gets me and Zayed a small gift. The last time he came, he got me a top! He knew I envied my friends whenever I saw them playing with their tops. I was so happy that I went to sleep clutching it tight. However, more than the gifts it was the joy of having him home that made me happy. My friends hold their fathers' hand when they cross that shaky bridge each day on the way to school, and I go all alone. I assure Ammi I'm not scared but I think she knows that I lie. Abba brought with him a sense of security and safety. Whenever he left, I used to cry for days at end. I hated being weak, but the tears came before I could stop them. I really miss him.We used to build blanket forts together and he would tell me stories inside the fort. He weaved these stories spontaneously and I would always be amazed at his skill. I wish I was as smart as him. Then my teachers wouldn't hit me with that wooden scale in school.
....Anyway, Ammi was making Patande for breakfast and I quickly brushed my teeth and sat down for breakfast before Zayed woke up. After I was done, I fed Humera. She was my companion and I spoke to her even if she didn't understand anything. Ammi tells me we are like Jay and Veeru. I never understood what she meant but I think it is related to a bollywood film. It was 8 by the time I realised I'm already late for school. I got dressed hurriedly in my school uniform. Actually it was Zayed's, I hated that I always got his hand-me-downs. Zayed stopped going to school after seventh grade. He works at Amir kaka's shop now. School was an hour away, that is if I didn't go wandering where my mind took me. Fortunately, I reached exactly on time for the assembly. After the national anthem, we were seated at our places, and a group of doctors were welcomed to the dias by the Principal. Several speeches followed their welcome and I dozed through most of them. Once we were inside our class, the class teacher told us that we were supposed to go with the doctors for a medical check up. The whole class gasped since we were sure of getting injections at the hospital. Complaining about the atrocities imposed on us, we boarded the bus which was supposed to take us to this hospital. Once the journey commenced, we forgot all about the needles and syringes and started having a good time. It was not every day after all that we got to go for such long drives. We sang bollywood songs and some of the bigger kids sung english songs which we didn't understand. Some of us were snoozing when we reached our destination, and got down all sleepy and groggy. Surprisingly, the medical check up didn't turn out to be remotely related to injections. They only checked whether our heart beats right, whether our vision is clear, and whether our throat looks okay. We were made to stand in a queue and were led back towards our bus shortly after.
When I was exiting the gate, I heard someone call out, "Yakub!!!" Half-knowingly, I turned towards the man calling out to me, and before I knew it I was running towards him. My vision blurred because of the tears in my eyes, I just ran and ran until I fell into his outstretched arms. Seeing him so unexpectedly opened the channels to all my emotions, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from crying. Abba beamed down at me and I felt utterly embarassed as I hugged him and soaked his soiled shirt with my tears. But for once, I did not care what my classmates thought of me. I was with my Abba jaan and that was all that mattered. I had no idea that this was where Abba worked. I had heard Ammi say it several times but I had never remembered. I dreaded to think how regretful I would have been if I had left without meeting him. I would have spent days agreeing with Zayed that I'm a worthless fool. I told Abba about Humera, about how Ammi made patande for breakfast, how Zayed always poked fun at me. He listened patiently, smiling and nodding his approval at the right places. The bus driver's honks were left unheard as I went on with my countless stories. It felt good talking to him and being held by him. However, all good things come to an end and soon it was time to leave.
As I said good-bye to Abba, I was certain I saw something glistening in his eyes, but I didn't mention it to him. My bus sped off, and the melancholy in my heart was replaced by another feeling I can't really describe. When the first rain of monsoon falls after three months of summer, the trees and their leaves are wiped off their grime and dust, and are cleansed again. Suddenly everything starts to appear green and beautiful. Meeting Abba felt like that. Months of suppressed anguish had found a release in his arms. I felt new again, whole again. It felt like everything suddenly fell at their right place. I could hold on to this memory and carry on until he came to meet us again. I also felt bad for Ammi and Zayed since they couldn't meet Abba, but he had promised he would soon come home to visit. He had sent with me a flower from his garden for Ammi and a candy for Zayed. I tucked them safely in my bag and giggled at the thought of how surprised they would be when they received it.
So this was the best day of my life. It may not be as grand and adventurous as others' story, but it was the best moment for me.
PS- If I win this essay competition, it would be the second best day of my life. Thank you.
- Yakub Ahmed
3rd standard.
I couldn't catch a wink after that so I decided to wake up and help Ammi with her chores, since she was always toiling. I had barely ever seen her sleep, other than the times when I woke up in the middle of the night because of nightmares. Even then she would put me to sleep and only then go back to sleep herself. Every khala in my area had their husbands to take care of the house, but my Ammi did it all alone. Abba worked in a medical college, he is not a doctor, he is the gardener there, but I think that is equally important. Looking at flowers makes people happy and my Abba makes sure of that. He comes home once in 3-4 months, he says he cant afford to take a bus home every day, so he stays near the medical college. Every time he comes home he gets me and Zayed a small gift. The last time he came, he got me a top! He knew I envied my friends whenever I saw them playing with their tops. I was so happy that I went to sleep clutching it tight. However, more than the gifts it was the joy of having him home that made me happy. My friends hold their fathers' hand when they cross that shaky bridge each day on the way to school, and I go all alone. I assure Ammi I'm not scared but I think she knows that I lie. Abba brought with him a sense of security and safety. Whenever he left, I used to cry for days at end. I hated being weak, but the tears came before I could stop them. I really miss him.We used to build blanket forts together and he would tell me stories inside the fort. He weaved these stories spontaneously and I would always be amazed at his skill. I wish I was as smart as him. Then my teachers wouldn't hit me with that wooden scale in school.
....Anyway, Ammi was making Patande for breakfast and I quickly brushed my teeth and sat down for breakfast before Zayed woke up. After I was done, I fed Humera. She was my companion and I spoke to her even if she didn't understand anything. Ammi tells me we are like Jay and Veeru. I never understood what she meant but I think it is related to a bollywood film. It was 8 by the time I realised I'm already late for school. I got dressed hurriedly in my school uniform. Actually it was Zayed's, I hated that I always got his hand-me-downs. Zayed stopped going to school after seventh grade. He works at Amir kaka's shop now. School was an hour away, that is if I didn't go wandering where my mind took me. Fortunately, I reached exactly on time for the assembly. After the national anthem, we were seated at our places, and a group of doctors were welcomed to the dias by the Principal. Several speeches followed their welcome and I dozed through most of them. Once we were inside our class, the class teacher told us that we were supposed to go with the doctors for a medical check up. The whole class gasped since we were sure of getting injections at the hospital. Complaining about the atrocities imposed on us, we boarded the bus which was supposed to take us to this hospital. Once the journey commenced, we forgot all about the needles and syringes and started having a good time. It was not every day after all that we got to go for such long drives. We sang bollywood songs and some of the bigger kids sung english songs which we didn't understand. Some of us were snoozing when we reached our destination, and got down all sleepy and groggy. Surprisingly, the medical check up didn't turn out to be remotely related to injections. They only checked whether our heart beats right, whether our vision is clear, and whether our throat looks okay. We were made to stand in a queue and were led back towards our bus shortly after.
When I was exiting the gate, I heard someone call out, "Yakub!!!" Half-knowingly, I turned towards the man calling out to me, and before I knew it I was running towards him. My vision blurred because of the tears in my eyes, I just ran and ran until I fell into his outstretched arms. Seeing him so unexpectedly opened the channels to all my emotions, and I had to bite my lip to stop myself from crying. Abba beamed down at me and I felt utterly embarassed as I hugged him and soaked his soiled shirt with my tears. But for once, I did not care what my classmates thought of me. I was with my Abba jaan and that was all that mattered. I had no idea that this was where Abba worked. I had heard Ammi say it several times but I had never remembered. I dreaded to think how regretful I would have been if I had left without meeting him. I would have spent days agreeing with Zayed that I'm a worthless fool. I told Abba about Humera, about how Ammi made patande for breakfast, how Zayed always poked fun at me. He listened patiently, smiling and nodding his approval at the right places. The bus driver's honks were left unheard as I went on with my countless stories. It felt good talking to him and being held by him. However, all good things come to an end and soon it was time to leave.
As I said good-bye to Abba, I was certain I saw something glistening in his eyes, but I didn't mention it to him. My bus sped off, and the melancholy in my heart was replaced by another feeling I can't really describe. When the first rain of monsoon falls after three months of summer, the trees and their leaves are wiped off their grime and dust, and are cleansed again. Suddenly everything starts to appear green and beautiful. Meeting Abba felt like that. Months of suppressed anguish had found a release in his arms. I felt new again, whole again. It felt like everything suddenly fell at their right place. I could hold on to this memory and carry on until he came to meet us again. I also felt bad for Ammi and Zayed since they couldn't meet Abba, but he had promised he would soon come home to visit. He had sent with me a flower from his garden for Ammi and a candy for Zayed. I tucked them safely in my bag and giggled at the thought of how surprised they would be when they received it.
So this was the best day of my life. It may not be as grand and adventurous as others' story, but it was the best moment for me.
PS- If I win this essay competition, it would be the second best day of my life. Thank you.
- Yakub Ahmed
3rd standard.
