Award And Other Stories

Author(s): Pratap J Tolia
Publisher: Vardhaman Bharati International Foundation

Page 30

30 “But--------- But one question, one doubt, one worry nagged him. Any how he decided to find the way out and request his school president for Munni's entry because the session had just commenced and the admissions were on.
When he went to his classroom the next morning leaving munni at home and faced his fine flower-like student-children with his usual love and affection, he was seeing only the "two eyes” of his little, innocent and frightened Munni in the "fifty eyes" of his tiny student-friends. Every flowering and blooming face resembled that of Munni, just like that of "Mini Koki" in the story of Kabuliwala. Howsoever he tried to refrain from resemblance and remembrance and attachment other than the present and he was able to do always, he could not bring him self to do so that day. He was so overcome by love and mercy for his own daughter, whom he had neglected for long and guilty of failing in his first duty towards her that he could not raise above the situation that today and detach himself.
The sweet sounds of the singing birds forcibly carried his attention outside the window and he was absorbed into the spirit of munni and Rabi. He himself went on observing them outside "Look--------- Look--- look at out sir "The consciously observant children were gossiping among themselves and one innocent child remarked humorously : "Attention-----" And all burst into laughter. He also who had been trying to impart observation in attention daily joined them in laughing at his own self and frankly equipped "You are right my friends. Today I am in your place and you are in mine." "But as always I help you in looking at the Birds and flowers and nature, will you like to help me today in looking at them ?" “Yes sir, Yes sir But, you will tell us a story afterwards--- And sing a song *o.k. Agree. So first we shall look at the sky and the trees and the flowers and the birds and listen to their songs -------- He went on suggesting", listen; silently listen---- if their subtle notes, their melodious voices---- their delicate tunes!" And the observation began, All were silently lost in looking and listening and had gradually become quiet-physically, verbally and even mentally. Moments and minutes of this Meditative joy passed by All were absorbed After a good spell of time when he noticed that most of them were returning to their layers of thinking and speaking, he started a little suggestive humming and one child reminded him "Sir, a Song ! The other said 'Sir, a story! Yes you shall hear both the story first and the song later on And he began. The children were extraordinarily attentive. Perhaps, the attention had emerged after the conscious observation