That little thing called Pride

Std 3,DAV

"motiii " he shouted again.Now that was something I just could not tolerate back then.At least not infront of the whole class when I am doing my job of writing the names of the disturbing elements of my class.Had it been any other situation I would have retorted "no i am not".And I was not for that matter.But that hurt my pride.
How could he have insulted me in my bastion! My class teacher never took the trouble of asking me the form of disturbance.so there was his name,written at the top of the list of six disturbing elements.He was a true man.He didn't beg like others to remove his name.They all got punished.I was satisfied,I had performed my duty well.we didn't talk that day.His best friend talked to me though.He was comparatively more civilized.

Later that day,in evening he called me up for asking what the homework was.while I was at it I heard somebody call him.."sheikhu sheikhu" from behind .I couldn't stop laughing."sheikhu... hahahaha" .He told me that it was his servant's name.As if I was going to believe that.I knew everyone in his family,even his servant's name.I knew how his grandmom runs after him with a glass of milk in morning,how she had once fallen in a pit because of him,what all lies he tells to his mom.. just everything.
Even he realized I guess how bad he was at lying or may be how intelligent I was.:)

"I will tell everybody in class tomorrow."
"Do whatever you want.I told you it's not my name"
I was still laughing.
"still I will",I said.
"Just tell me what else did she ask us to do."
"okay I have a proposition for you,you dont call me moti,n I will keep my mouth shut"
"Do whatever you want.bye"
"okay bye!" ofcourse it was already disconnected.Rude.

Next day,not even once did he call me "moti".I guess the peace treaty was implicitly signed by both of us.School hours ended,the bell rang and we all headed towards our home. we lived in d same locality."sheikhu",sheikhu's best friend,few classmates and I.sheikhu's home was the closest to our school.And mine the farthest.It was a small peaceful area so even though we were kids we used to go back home alone on our little feet.

There were two ways to go back.One ,you follow the main path.The other one was shorter(according to him,I never felt that way) but one had to cross a
sandy area lined by mango trees on it's left.It was sort of a little mango garden.And it was always him who suggested to go through the "shorter" one.He liked the
way sand filled up his shoes and scattered around while removing shoes and socks.That day was no exception.We all started walking that way.As we were passing the mango garden he pointed towards a raw big mango on one of the trees and said ,"It's big ...and fat.. just like her." Giggles all around. Now that was it.Violation.He had not called me "what-he-wasnt-supposed-to-say" but that just got me.

"His pet name is sheikhu!",I shouted.
"moti moti moti moti !" Now he found the treaty violated.Dumb.
I was in a fit of anger.I looked around,found a broken broom and hit him once.He hit me back.And then I beat him repetitevely.He did the same with his hands.
Nobody came to our rescue as it was a hot summer afternoon and that "shortcut" was a little secluded.However our classmates were sensible enough to stop it soon.But the damage was done.I reached home and my father noticed the scratches n bruises all over.He asked me, "who did this?" I told him.Of course my version of the story.He immediately called my principal and had a talk.I couldn't listen despite my desperate efforts.My mom didn't say much against that stupid little "sheikhu".May be she knew that I wasn't that innocent as I sounded.


Next day,at school everybody got to know about our little fight.They had the proofs to see all over our hands,his elbow,my knee.During our 7th period,second last
before they used to call it a day,a peon entered our class and informed the teacher that principal ma'm had called the two of us.Now I was scared.what if he tells her that I hit him first.what if she asks me to stand outside her office for half n hour as punishment,what if all my classmates see me,
that would be so embarrassing.what if all my friends get to know that I was scolded.Nothing mattered to me more than my dignity and my pride.I had never been
punished,never scolded and I was the class leader.I checked everyone's nails,shoes and decided who should be sent outside the assembly line.I cannot be punished.we entered her office.she heard both of us,scolded both of us,warned us and sent us back.She had always been nice to me.This hurt me more.

I wept while returning.His eyes were red.I didn't know how to face my class.when we were about to enter our class his friend asked what happened.He gave one frightening red look,punched the wall(guys!!!) and went inside.I capitalized on that.I immediately brought a winning smile on my face and entered with my head held high.The battle was won.My pride was still intact.Our reaction clearly indicated what had happened in there.Who was scolded and who wasn't. :)