Jo was all excited the next morning. Sitting at the breakfast table she kept on reciting her last night's experience of the film show, to her parents and brother.
"What did you like, the film or the way you saw the film?" Her father was curious to know.
"Well, both." Jo had to think about this. "But I had no idea that people over here see movies, like this. When I saw the notice that there was going to be a film show over here, I said to myself, 'If there is no theater or cinema hall in this town, how can they watch films?"
"Oh! They call that 'Touring Talky' or something, I guess." Her mother interrupted her. But Jo was more interested in telling them her side of the story.
"So, I did some scouting on my own. I went there, to the School premises, and saw the venue. It is just an empty playground. And I said to myself, 'How can anyone see a film over here?'.."
"…and so you decided against going to the show." This time it was Monty who interrupted her. "Thank me", he continued, "I took you with me. And made you sit on that mat."
"Oh my God! What a crazy crowd. There was hardly any place left to sit, and still, people kept on pouring in. They just walk over you. My pack of wafers got crushed !" They all started laughing.
"This is also an experience. See how people enjoy with whatever they have." Her father, Dr. Parker got up from his chair. "You cannot see this life sitting in the city, can you?" He started to leave. "Okay, enjoy your day. My patients must be waiting for me. Bye!"
***
Life is not always easy for a hero. Especially, for a shy boy like Ron. In school, the next day, he could sense that the news, of his last night's encounter, was known to everyone. He walked around, without looking at anyone. "It was dark, I had to bend my head, still…??" he kept on thinking. Suddenly, someone tugged his backpack. "Your girlfriend?" It was Mag, his classmate.
"Who?" Ron responded instantly.
"Hey, he said 'who' and not 'what'!" This time it was Sheila.
Ron knew he was being surrounded. He started thinking about how he should respond to them. But all he could say was "No", "what", and "when".
Mag was in no mood to let Ron escape. "Okay, Okay, at least introduce your wafer-eater friend to us."
Ron had no option but to escape with a short 'Okay!". He dashed towards his bicycle.
As he rode on his bicycle, he kept on thinking of what mess he had got into, by attending the film show. He had no idea what to do with his school friends. "They are so excited to think that I have a girlfriend, with whom I see movies, and share a pack of wafers…!", he thought. "No. if they know the truth, they will be disappointed. And then, they will make more fun of me...." The more Ron thought of the situation the more nervous he became. Finally, he started praying, "Oh God, please help me."
It is said that 'the Lord listens to the prayers of the innocent'. Which, he did. Ron's prayers were answered in the form of two notice boards, still resting on the street lamp post, on the one side of the square. Ron jumped off his bike and ran to see the notices. The first one was of course, for the film show. He moved forward to read the second one. It was about the free dental check-up camp. Ron remembered how the same girl, holding her bicycle, was speaking in English. She had inspired him, to learn the language more proficiently. Ron was the type who always required someone or something, to motivate him.
Right then, he remembered her words. He had heard her telling the old man, very proudly, "I don't need to take this check-up. This Dentist is my father."
"That's it! That's it" Ron almost shouted. Now he knew who she was. "Yahoo!" He could not control his excitement.
He started reading the notice again. This time he read patiently, gathering the details. "So she is the daughter of Dr. Parker, hmm." He thought. "Something has to be done!"
***
Karan was busy at the bookstall. He was wondering if Ron would visit him today. After the last night's incident, Karan was sure that Ron would start avoiding him. Still, he had planned a number of lines to pull Ron's leg.
"That fellow needs to be harassed." Karan though, thinking fondly of his younger cousin. Usually, after seeing every film, Ron used to get very excited and would come to him to discuss the film's story. They would gossip about its scenes, characters, and actors. At times Karan used to show him pictures from the film magazines, of the actors. He would give his expert comments, by which Ron used to feel extra enlightened.
However, today Ron was not going to come, he knew. His whistle signal to him, last night was the spoiler, Karan felt. The thought of Ron not coming to meet him today afternoon made Karan, a bit depressed.
The 12.30 PM train arrived. The passengers started passing by the bookstall to the main gate of the platform. One customer asked Karan to show him some magazines. As Karan made his sale, he saw the most unexpected figure of a boy, walking slowly towards the desk. Ron directly climbed over the counter and started looking through the magazines.
Karan was shocked, really shocked, but was also very happy. He slowly started murmuring a romantic song, within the hearing range of Ron's sharp ears. Ron, however, pretended to be engrossed in the periodicals.
"Hmm! Still thinking of her?" Ron still continued to ignore him.
"Hello! I am speaking to you, boy."
"Do you have any pictures of last night's film's hero and heroine?'" Ron asked Karan, very innocently.
"No." Karan smiled. "But I know the address of your heroine..!"
"Address?" Ron looked confused.
"Yes, address, and I said, of 'your heroine'." As Ron stared at him Karan spoke slowly, in a calm base voice, "she stays at Mr. Situn's place!"
***