The setting: Baba reading a book on his table and I fidgeting here and there composing my dialogues. Finally the impatience gets the better of me.
Me (making a goody and coyish face): Baba, Please tell me.
Baba (without looking at me): What?
Me: Baba, pleeaaaase, you know very well what I am going to ask you.
Baba (fake expression of displeasure): No.....What do you want to know now? I need to complete reading the book today. Don't you have any other work? Did you do your music riwaz today?
Me: Baba......I am tensed.
Baba (looking serious): So you wanted to ask me how you will fare in your annual result?
Me: Yes. Shall I pass and get promoted to the next class? What do you think?
Baba: Do I look like Nostradamus? How can I say?
Me: Baba, but whatever you say, that happens.....please say whether I will fail or pass?
Baba: What...how ridiculous! That's just a wishful thought..it might or might not be true....so did you write your exams well?
Me: Yes....but...
Baba: Which subject is the 'but' dear?
Me: Baba...I wrote well....but I am doubtful in Maths and Chemistry...I don't know whether I will pass in those.
Baba: Huh....those 2 problem makers...eh...aren't they?
Me (on the verge of breaking down): Yes.......I don't know whether I will manage the pass marks in these 2.
Baba (suppressing his laughter): I am also doubtful. Ask me tomorrow...I will predict then...
Me: No...no...I want to know today.......
Baba: What's the big deal....fail once..then you will know how many rice grains are there in how many paddy bundles..
Me: No, I don't want to fail.......
Baba (fake expression of anger and the voice tone pseudo-serious): You should have thought about this day before when you were whiling away your time reading storybooks during exams.
Me: Baba...I wasn't just reading storybooks..I was building up vocabularies....there's a difference...isn't it Baba? I hate these 2 subjects.....
Baba (laughing heartily over the honest confession): Ha ha ha ha...Don't worry, you might pass this time...
Me: Baba...why 'might'? Please tell me with full confidence, Baba.
Baba: Ok...mone hochhe you will pass...
Me: mone hochhe? thikthak mone hochhe to?
Baba (suppressing another laughter): That I can tell you tomorrow...
Next morning, just in front of the school gate...
Me: Baba...you promised me that you will tell me what your mind is telling you about my result.
Baba: Just go in.....tenetune ebare utre jabe....(laughing again)
So, every year, I managed to pass somehow and Baba would award me by buying my favourite 'Nikhunti' sweets. I would carry the report card in one hand and would make tall promises again on studying well, preparing hard and so on. Baba would hear them, laugh again in his own distinct style as he could already foresee me whiling away my time with storybooks in the next session and say in his usual style, "Hey..did you complete the second volume of Rabindra Rachanabali? Look forward to finish the novels this summer." And I would nod affirmatively pacing down towards home together.
Me (making a goody and coyish face): Baba, Please tell me.
Baba (without looking at me): What?
Me: Baba, pleeaaaase, you know very well what I am going to ask you.
Baba (fake expression of displeasure): No.....What do you want to know now? I need to complete reading the book today. Don't you have any other work? Did you do your music riwaz today?
Me: Baba......I am tensed.
Baba (looking serious): So you wanted to ask me how you will fare in your annual result?
Me: Yes. Shall I pass and get promoted to the next class? What do you think?
Baba: Do I look like Nostradamus? How can I say?
Me: Baba, but whatever you say, that happens.....please say whether I will fail or pass?
Baba: What...how ridiculous! That's just a wishful thought..it might or might not be true....so did you write your exams well?
Me: Yes....but...
Baba: Which subject is the 'but' dear?
Me: Baba...I wrote well....but I am doubtful in Maths and Chemistry...I don't know whether I will pass in those.
Baba: Huh....those 2 problem makers...eh...aren't they?
Me (on the verge of breaking down): Yes.......I don't know whether I will manage the pass marks in these 2.
Baba (suppressing his laughter): I am also doubtful. Ask me tomorrow...I will predict then...
Me: No...no...I want to know today.......
Baba: What's the big deal....fail once..then you will know how many rice grains are there in how many paddy bundles..
Me: No, I don't want to fail.......
Baba (fake expression of anger and the voice tone pseudo-serious): You should have thought about this day before when you were whiling away your time reading storybooks during exams.
Me: Baba...I wasn't just reading storybooks..I was building up vocabularies....there's a difference...isn't it Baba? I hate these 2 subjects.....
Baba (laughing heartily over the honest confession): Ha ha ha ha...Don't worry, you might pass this time...
Me: Baba...why 'might'? Please tell me with full confidence, Baba.
Baba: Ok...mone hochhe you will pass...
Me: mone hochhe? thikthak mone hochhe to?
Baba (suppressing another laughter): That I can tell you tomorrow...
Next morning, just in front of the school gate...
Me: Baba...you promised me that you will tell me what your mind is telling you about my result.
Baba: Just go in.....tenetune ebare utre jabe....(laughing again)
So, every year, I managed to pass somehow and Baba would award me by buying my favourite 'Nikhunti' sweets. I would carry the report card in one hand and would make tall promises again on studying well, preparing hard and so on. Baba would hear them, laugh again in his own distinct style as he could already foresee me whiling away my time with storybooks in the next session and say in his usual style, "Hey..did you complete the second volume of Rabindra Rachanabali? Look forward to finish the novels this summer." And I would nod affirmatively pacing down towards home together.
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