A Dream of a child

Chapter 1: NOT AGAIN

“Wake up you little brat, up from the bed”, I can hear his voice in my deep sleep. I moaned a little and adjusted my blanket. “Wake up you useless fellow, look at your elder brother, he had already woken up and started studying. Get out of the bed and take a book to read, little swine”. He started to shout in a loud voice. My dad, he always gets irritated with me and always looks for a chance to offend me. And my elder brother sitting over there, always acts as a good boy and he tries to frame me all the time. This has become a routine play in my daily life. I hope I leave this home soon when I grow into an adult, and never come back to see them.

I am trying to adjust my blanket, aah, it is so comfortable here, so warm and cozy. The best place one can find in the world is your bed and the best thing is to have a good sleep. I smiled at my pillow and hugged it tightly. “You idiot…”, cursed my dad, before the curse could reach my ear, all I could feel was a hard blow on my cheek. I woke up in shock and sat on the bed, tears rolling down my eyes. I was looking at my dad to spare me, but he started to hit me again. I can see my cunning brother’s smile who is trying to hide his face behind the book. “Look at me”, he hasn't stopped yelling at me, “do you know what time it is? Do you have any idea of what you are going to become in the future”? I lowered my head, unable to look into my dad’s eyes. “Look at the clock, can you read the time, huh”? I nodded yes. He caught me by my chin and made me look at the wall clock hanging on one of the bedroom’s walls, “read me the time” he groaned at me. “15 minutes past 5 O’ clock”, I said. He threw me on the bed, “I’m trying to wake you up from the past 15 minutes and look at you”, he raised his hand to hit me. I hid my face behind my hands. “You have board examinations to appear at the end of the year and you, you have no concern about that and all you want is to sleep like cattle, do you know how hard you have to work to get through the exams, huh”? Oh God, make him stop please. The moment I got into the tenth, this is what is happening to me daily. I will kill the person who introduced these board exams and stuff.

“Look at the neighbor Mr Reddy’s kid, he studies for 20 hours in a day, shame on you, such a lazy kid you are”. 20 hours a day? How is it even possible, wouldn’t he eat, doesn’t he take shower, what about sleep?, how do he even read in the bathroom? I was smiling at the thought of him carrying a book to the bathroom. “What are you smiling at”? He snapped. I shut my mouth, hiding my smile. “Now look, get yourself up and start reading the book, ask your brother if you have any doubts”. I nodded okay. “Move out and do as I say, or else you know me”. I nodded again and got up from the bed waving good-bye to the bed. I am getting frustrated at all these situations. Why had I even been born as a kid, this life is so horrible.

Will there be any end to my problems? To my life?

Chapter 2: THE SCHOOL

After having each morsel of the scolding, I had to get ready for school, another awful place, first being my home. I had my breakfast, packed my lunch and left my home to the bus stop to catch the school bus, carrying a donkey's load. While my cunning brother has a bike, I have to go on this clumsy bus. I waited for a while for the bus to come, boarded the bus, greeted my teacher sitting there busy with her phone. I sat at the corner of the meager, yellowish bus by the window. It is a twenty minute long ride in this rattled bus to reach my school. The teacher at the front is always busy with her mobile phone, the other kids laughing, shouting, making fun of each other, it is a total mess. I have to close my ears and look out of the window to admire the beauty of the roads, buildings and other infrastructure of the town. I wonder why people call this a town. Everyone is always seen in a hurry running with time, some going to offices and some to colleges, schools. The roads are always busy with the horn honkings, vehicles revving. This is a concrete jungle, where one cannot find a calmer person, everyone is so mechanical that they do not have time to look and talk to others. Why one has to be so robotic in the modern era, why so much pressure, why running behind the time for the unknown destination. I got lost in the thoughts and suddenly I felt a hard blow on my head and I came back to senses. “Wake up sleepy head, the school is here”. Laughing, the kid who hit me. Maniac, I cursed in my mind. A very naughty and mischief kid who always wants to make fun of others, and I am his easy target. Everyone was laughing at me. Embarrassed by the situation, I silently got down the bus.

“School is here”, I sighed. This is not a school, it is another realm, entirely different from the outside world. Once you enter these gates, you cannot come back until dusk. You are locked inside this another dimension of the world. No talking, no eating, no sleeping, no playing, no entertainment. All you need to do is read, write and repeat. Once in a while you will have the perks of the punishments too, if you are some teacher’s untamed pet. This dimension of the world doesn’t care about your interests and dreams, they only care about your grades and ranks. Parents want their children to get good grades, so that they can feel proud about their upbringing. Schools on the other hand want their wards to get good grades, so that they can get good publicity to attract more admissions. But what do the students want? What do I want? No one cares. I started walking towards the gate and my classroom. I threw my bag and took the water bottle, while I was about to sip, the bell rang, indicating prayer time. Just as the cattle moved according to the bells, we started to move, by the bell, in a line towards the prayer room. The prayer has all of the religious songs and national anthem at the end. It took almost ten minutes to complete the formality. I never understand the use of this ten minutes in my day. We came back to the classroom.

The classroom is a very small cubicle-like structure with all the paintings on thewall, one wall has the portraits of the freedom fighters, another has a geographical map of the country, the third has pictorial representation of mathematical formulae and geometrical shapes, the front has a writing board where the teachers write all the stuff which we need to make a copy. This room has desks which can accommodate almost forty to forty five pupils. I sat in the corner of the room in the last row. The first teacher came and started to explain the subject while writing something on the board. After an hour another one comes. This has to continue non-stop without a break. We have to write down everything they write, dictate and assign. Not just that, they even give us some work to be done at the home, which they technically call as home-work. This had continued for a few hours and a bell rang. Yes this is the bell we all are waiting for, the lunch time.

As I had used the cattle as metaphor, we are not much alike in rushing towards the dining area. We started opening the lunch boxes which we had carried along from our houses. I ate the stone cold meals which my mother packed in the lunch box and after a few minutes we had to get back to the classes. Everyone dreams of having a nap after the lunch, which I feel to have so badly now, but beware this is no place to even have a thought of having a nap. Within no time another teacher comes to take up the class. This is the one I was talking about being an “untamed pet” of her, she always has a feeling of something the same towards me. She feels I am the most arrogant and aggressive and unfit student to be in here. She always embarrasses me, makes me feel guilty about being here in the room. As soon as she entered the room, her eyes started to look for me. As our eyes got in contact, I had to drop down my head not being able to look into her eyes. She turned around, drawing some figures on the board. And suddenly she pointed at me and shouted “stand up”. I was shocked at this sudden act. Without saying anything, I stood up from my desk. “Are you even standing there”, she snapped, “get on your feet”, she yelled at me. “I am standing mam”, I said in a softer voice. “Haha, are you now”, she started laughing maniacally. I felt so bad as she was laughing at me. “You are the same height beside the one who is sitting”, she giggled, “do you think you are taller enough to sit at the back”, she is making me so embarrassed, “come on sit in the first row, you little brat”. She shouted. I felt so bad as she called me short. I am medium in size and not at all shorter compared to anyone in the class, there might be taller ones but I am not short or small. I took my books and stuff and started walking toward the first row, “go sit in the first row, lilliput” shouted someone from the back. Everyone in the room started to laugh. I looked up to the teacher hoping she might confront the class, instead she gestured “what” at me and started laughing. Tears started to build up in my eyes and I had to stop it before it rolled out. I am embarrassed enough today. Whole class was shouting “Lilliput” and laughing, but no one said a word against it. I sat in the front row silently, trying not to cry.

The class went silent as the teacher started explaining the diagrams on the board. I had to look up to the board, my head raised, hurting my neck because the board is very much closer to me. After the explanation, the teacher asked us to redraw the diagrams in our books. The teacher while erasing the board intentionally was blowing the chalk dust over me and giggling. “Excuse me mam”, I objected to her, “the dust is making me uncomfortable and I am also allergic to dust”, I said, “can you please not blow the dust over this side”, I requested her in a very polite way. She, with red hot eyes, looked at me and said “don’t worry my child”, with a cunning face she said “you will get fairer with the chalk powder”. Grinned she. The whole class once again started to laugh at me. I can hear the voices from the back shouting “Blacky, dark bear, negro” and whatnot. The teacher laughed more frantically and left the class. This hurt me so bad and this is not the first time I was made embarrassed in the whole class by the teacher herself. I am feeling so alone, no one cares about me neither in school nor at home. I am trying to control my tears and trying not to cry. While everyone was laughing at me, the bell rang, the last bell.

Usually this bell would bring happiness to everyone’s face, because everyone can now leave this realm and go home. But there is no expression on my face. I packed my things and started walking towards the bus. While I was walking, I heard someone calling me from behind. When I turned back, I saw that it’s my brother. There is this little feeling of courage when you see a family member, in a hope, that they would protect us and fight for us. I took a deep breath and walked at him, he saw my face, “what happened little brother”? He asked, in a concern, which I felt. “The teacher insulted me saying that I was short and black”, I explained to him, ”and the others are bullying me”, I added. He looked at me and started laughing, I was looking at him in despair, “what is it?” I asked, “What are you laughing at”? He looked at me saying “what's wrong in that? You are what you are, whatever they said was true, wasn’t it?” tears started rolling my cheeks. “Do you think you are taller and handsome, try to accept what you are, not what you aren’t”, preached my brother. “Now stop crying like a toddler and get into the bus” he ordered.

My head's spinning like a Ferris wheel, my family despite defending me, was bullying me as the strangers and kids in the school. What kind of life is this, the teachers and students make fun of me, and the family which never wants me. My life is so miserable, I wish if I had any superpowers, I would make them feel as bad as I am. I would make them hail me for my talents and my superpowers. I would ace in all the subjects, I can become topper in my colony, no not just colony or town, for the whole country I will be ranked number one. I will make the teachers bow in front of me. All the girls would mesmerize at my beauty and would die to talk to me. While the bullies will become my butlers and serve me. Oh God please give me those superpowers, I will be forever thankful to you. The thought of getting super powers made my head lighter. I got on the bus and reached my home.

Chapter 3: MY HOME

That evening, I reached my home, searching for my mom. Ours is a little two bedroom house with a small garden at the back, where I spend most of my time gardening and looking after the cute little plants. Planting these plants of flowers and vegetables and looking after them has become one of my hobbies. I was looking for my mom, in the living room, the kitchen and the garden. Our living room has a big smart television, surrounded by decorative, artificial and natural plants, memoirs, a few cups and prizes, which I won in my childhood. At the center we have a small teak wood dining table with four chairs. And yes we do not have sofa sets, I dream of having a big sofa set in the pit, with a big retractable recliner at the corner, where I can relax and watch the TV.

My mom is not in the living room, nor in the kitchen. I took a glass of water from the water purifier which was hanging on the kitchen wall and drank the whole thing. “Mom, where are you?” I was calling her in a playful voice. I went looking for her in the bedrooms. Oh yes! She is here, making our beds. I sighed, went back to the living room, took the remote control and switched on the TV. While I was surfing through the channels, my mom came from nowhere and stood in front of me, “having a good time, huh?” Is she being sarcastic or angry? I nodded sideways and upside down. “You unmannered brat, how many times should I say to take shower after school, huh?” My mom is not less than my dad in reprimanding me. “Switch off the TV and take a shower, lazy kid”, she ordered. I sprang up from the chair, “get changed and start doing your homework” she is not stopping instructing me, “come on now, move”, yelled my mom. I threw the remote control on the floor and rushed into the bathroom.

After having shower, I changed into pajamas and sat on the floor taking my books out of the donkey’s sack. As I was trying hard to find the answers in the text book and writing them back in my notes, my mom brought a cup of milk and asked me to drink. I smiled at her and took the cup from her hand, but she was not smiling back. I can see some vex in her eyes which I was unable to understand. She sat beside me and asked, “how was your school?” I nodded good, “how is everyone in the class?” she enquired, “umm, everyone is..” , “What is your problem?” She intervened and did not make me talk. “What’s wrong with you?” What's wrong with you, mother? What is all this? I was totally in aghast. Why is she talking in this way? What have I done? I was thinking very hard if I have done anything wrong.

“Speak up you little wicked kid”, snapped my mom, “what do you think of yourself, huh, angry young man?” I am not at all aware of what she is talking about and what in the hell has happened now? Why is she confronting me in such a vicious tone? “What happened mom?” I asked in astonishment, “what is all this about”? I looked at her, her eyes were raging red. She held me by my collar and dragged me to her face, I lost my balance and hurt my knee. “Why are you doing this mom? What’s wrong?” I Shouted. She threw me on the floor and started yelling at me, “What is wrong with me, huh, how dare you speak to me in this tone?” her voice was so loud that the window glass was vibrating like acoustic strings. “I am sorry mom, I never meant to shout at you”, I was apologizing, “can you please tell me what have I done wrong”? I pleaded. “I received a call from your teacher”, she started complaining, “about you misbehaving with her”, she added and sat on the floor. My head started to spin.

“Misbehaving, me?” I asked. “I was told that you started arguing with the teacher about not doing what you were told to do”, mom’s face had gone red, she believes that I am the culprit, but she never knows that the teacher hates me more than anyone in the world. But how would I prove it to anyone? “That is not true mom”, I was trying to explain, “it is she who insulted me saying colored and dwarf”, I was complaining and trying to make her understand my situation in the school everyday. “Do not talk anything more of her”, confronted my mom, “why would anyone in the universe call a kid colored and dwarf”, she has no confidence in me, she never listens to me. “A teacher is one who tries her students to get good discipline and teach values and ethics”, my mom is totally into my teacher. “No mom, please listen, she always insults me makes me cry”, I was trying hard with a trembling voice to make my mom understand me, “even the other kids laugh at me while she insults me, she never stops the bullying”, I groaned as my nose was blocked. She is not listening to me, she is looking away from me, “mom” I called her. “Stop being so innocent”, my mom will never like me, “I know what you are, I believe what your teacher told”. “Mom please try to understand, I..”, “be quite idiot”, she slapped me, “don’t you dare say “understand” to me”, I was crying silently, but she didn't stop scolding me. “Stop crying” she snapped, “Drink up the milk and start doing with your homework” she sniffed her nose and wiped my tears. “Do not misbehave in the class and no more aggressive arguments with the teacher”, she preached to me, “I should not get any complaints further. Do you understand?” I nodded yes, “beware, I won’t spare you next time”, she warned me showing her index finger and left me alone. An abusive warning from my mother which I never expected from her.

Chapter 4: THE MIGHTY LIGHTING

I drank the whole cup of milk, laid my back on the floor. Tears rolling down my temples on to the floor. “Why does everyone hate me? Why do people take me for granted? What is my mistake? What have I done to them? I haven’t hurt anyone in my life, I am pretty sure that I haven’t tortured even a tiny insect in my whole lifetime. I love animals, I care for stray animals, I pet all kinds of animals and they love me back and they do not hurt me at all. What is that sin I am bearing this kind of trauma for”? I have many unanswerable questions running in my mind. I was looking for a little ray of hope that could take me out of this misery. I look past the window for that ray, but, you know my bad fate, as I say, there is no light out in the atmosphere, it is pitch black. I hear thunder clapping now and then, I hear rain pouring outside. It is raining hard, the pouring wouldn’t seem to stop very soon. I can see lightning as bright as a sun, which illuminates the whole peninsula for a few seconds. Is this my ray of hope, is this my way out of this torment. I looked out for my mom, dad and brother if they were watching me. As soon as I found no one near to my proximity, I slowly walked towards the main door, unlocked the latch and slowly opened the door. The door was creaking as I opened the door, I closed my ears trying not to hear the sound with both my hands. I walked out of the door, closing from behind. I sighed in relief that no one had noticed me. I hope everyone is sleeping and this is my time to escape from the earthly hell. I steadily walked upstairs climbing up through the wet and slippery staircase. I stood by the parapet looking at the night lights, the town was dark and silent. All I can hear is the pitter patter of rain. Within no time I was soaking wet.

Water is dripping through my head and pajamas. I feel little calmer in the rain but the words of my mom and all the other thoughts are haunting me. I started to cry in the rain, louder and harder. As the legendary actor once said “I always like walking in the rain, so no one can see me crying.” I am standing in the rain, so no one knows I am crying. I looked up in the sky, each water droplet hitting me like a pellet from a gun, but that is not what’s hurting me. I am asking God to spare me, I want that light, which is brighter than the sun, I need that brightness in my life. “O God! The mighty one, the protector of the universe, kindly look down at this little kid at your feet. Please shower your blessings on me as this shower of rain.” I am not praying, not pleading, not requesting. I am demanding the almighty to give me penance. I can see lightning with thunderous sounds. The thundering sound is so loud that it could tear my eardrums apart. I see light, I see brightness, I see… hope. “Give me that hope, O my God! Give me power”. I was shouting, crying, yelling madly. While I was looking above the sky there was a little ball of light, like a small hole on the roof of the sky. All of the sudden I can feel time has slowed down, I can see each drop of rain in slow motion, tearing down the sky and air to reach the earth.

Each droplet hitting my face, splitting into pieces of tiny droplets. The light ball in the sky slowly started to expand, gradually, becoming as large as a football court. There is this stroke of light coming towards me, in no time I know that it will strike my head. I am ready to take any hardship which would lead to salvation. I stood there spreading my hands in a welcoming way. I am ready to leave this world, from this treacherous life of mine. I am looking up, with my hands spread, standing still. I can see the stroke of light hitting my chest, I feel no pain for a few fraction of seconds. Later the striking had become so intense that it threw me in the air for almost five meters above the ground. The pain was so sharp that it felt like someone was hitting me with a nail and hammer to the heart. The pain intensified to such a larger extent that it has become unbearable. I feel my body is lighter. I found that my legs are no more on the ground, I was floating in mid air.

My chest is burning like a volcano. My body has become pale and white. The lightning which struck me had illuminated my whole body as if there was a light bulb inside. My body is sparkling like a diamond, an aura of sparkling white surrounds me. I know this is my last breath on the earth. I was floating, sparks coming out of my eyes, hands and legs. I was screaming louder, I have become lighter than air, flying in the air as a piece of paper. For a few moments I can't feel my hands or legs. But, after a few seconds I can see my hands growing taller, legs growing taller. My complexion has become fairer than snow. I am shining bright as a star. I can even produce lighting from my hands. I can now feel my hands and legs, which means that I am not dead yet. I am alive, not just alive, I am stronger than ever, I feel so powerful, I am taller than God himself.

That mighty lighting has changed me and my life for once. I can now live my life as I wish. I can now punish the bad. I can make my teacher tell the truth by a small electric shock from my little finger. I can prove my mother who actually is wrong. I can make the bullies realize who is stronger, they will now follow my lead in protecting the good. The thought of me becoming stronger had made me so happy. I was jumping in the air as a monkey, roof to roof, building to building. I am flying in the air as a bird, “wow, what a view from the sky”, this is what is called an eagle's eye view for sure. I am screaming in happiness. No one can hurt me anymore, not by brute force or by verbal abuse. My aura would make any stronger person tremble their legs and kneel before me. My shining brightness would make any girl fall for me. I have power of the mighty God, I am indestructible, I am supreme power. I am THUNDER-MAN.

I feel so happy, which I never felt in my whole life. This is true bliss, Thank you God for your kindness on me, I will lead my life righteously forever. I was screaming louder with happiness and joy. All of a sudden I heard someone shouting my name. I think my mom and dad are coming looking after me. I wanted them to show my powers, I wanted them to feel bad for what they have done till today. I want to see the pride in their faces of my powers and my aura.

But, all I can feel is a hard blow on my cheek, I was shocked at the pain and sprang up and sat.

Oh no… NOT AGAIN….

***THE END***