Just another day .... Chapter #2

While returning back from the school, he was least interested in what was being said or done around him. He was silent. The thought of going out for a vacation was not in his mind now, but he was rather unsettled. When he got down from the bus at his stop, he saw his mother waiting for him with that ever-so vibrant smile which was almost contagious to Vivan, but not today. He seemed lost. His mother noticed that and tried to divert his attention by asking him how the day was and he replied to that in a subdued manner, simply saying, “It was okay”. Walking side by side, Vivan kept kicking a stone on his way and his mother kept telling him about what she was planning to make for dinner and that his father would come a little early today. Nothing seemed to interest him at the time.

 

When they reached home, his mother asked Vivan to go change and freshen up while she prepared him lunch. He obeyed like always and when lunch was served, he sat down eating, but not entirely interested in the food. He was not thinking about the conversation in the school anymore, but, the balance of the day was messed with. Like all mothers understand without their kids speaking a lot, Vivan’s mother also understood that something was troubling him, but she didn’t want to nag him. He was a simple boy like most at this young age and his expressions were a mirror to his thoughts. She tried to deviate his attention again and asked, “So, how was Mathematics today? Did you have your notebook corrected?”

“It was good”, he replied. “I got a star for the homework”, this time with a little more emotion.

“That’s pretty good, isn’t it?” she said with an elated smile.

“It is and mom, nobody else got it among my friends. Just me” he said with a proud smile, almost forgetting that he was even upset. The lunch now tasted better somehow.

“So what else did you do in school?” she asked.

“Well, nothing special. Oh! Rishi and his family are going to Goa in the summer vacations. Tanmay has already been there and he was telling us there is a pool in the hotel. Pranav hasn’t been to Goa but he has been to a beach and he’s scared of the waves. He’s always scared of everything.” He kept stuffing his food while talking. She instantly guessed what might have tripped Vivan’s mood.

“Vivan, complete your homework before you go playing”, said his mother when they finished lunch.

“Yes, ma’am”, he yelled from the other room.

The reply reassured his mother that her kid’s mood was back to normal now. Realizing how simple kids are, the fickle nature of their transparent heart, brought a faint smile to her face.

 

Vivan spent about thirty minutes completing the little homework that he had and then, shutting his books ran off to his mother and found her in the kitchen arranging dishes.

“Mom, I’ve completed most of it”, he told her while sitting on the kitchen shelf. “There a couple of questions that I don’t understand, so I’ll ask dad to help me out”.

“Why can’t I help you out?” she replied

“Because it’s Algebra” he said plainly.

“So?” she said not looking at him, still arranging the dishes.

“So, the last time you taught me Mathematics, we were stuck on one question for 30 minutes” he reminded her.

“You don’t say, smarty pants, it was a tough one”, she said with a wry smile. “Now get off the shelf and go play, but, dad will be home in a couple of hours so you get back before him. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am”.

 

He jumped off the shelf, ran to his room to grab his bat and ran out of the door, yelling while shutting the door behind him. “I’m going”.

......... To Be Continued