The cars rushed by, people hurrying to their destinations, oblivious to their surroundings. The cacophony of horns grew louder, people shouting at each other in the traffic. Street vendors hawked their goods to women carrying baskets of fruits and vegetables. Beggars roamed the streets, half-naked. It was an average day on the streets of Mumbai, a city where dreams come true, a city that never sleeps. The lights on the footpaths always shone, people walking down the street in the middle of the night, drinking chai with their friends. But in this city, there was a person whose dreams were being crushed.
"Kabir! You absolute dunce! What is this answer? Don't you know basic calculations? What will you do in life if you don't know this basic stuff, huh? Tell me, why are you so quiet now? Every time I see you, you're always chatting with people here and there."
"I... I'm sorry, sir! I won't make these mistakes again, I promise, sir."
"I don't want your promises, you dunce. I know you'll never amount to anything. Now, do this problem again and then come to me." I picked up my pencil and walked to my table, my head bowed.
"Kabir, why do you always put up with this man?"
"I... I don't know, Varun. I try to understand the questions, but it's too much. I can't understand what sir is teaching me."
"Now hurry up. We have to leave early, remember? For my birthday party. Do you remember that?"
"I know, man. How could I forget your birthday?"
As time passed, the bright sky turned to night. It was almost time for the classes to end.
"So, kids, that's all for today. You all will do exercises one and two as homework." As the kids began to pack their bags, so did I.
"Kabir, you will not. You will do these exercises here only, because I know you'll do nothing at home. I have already talked to your parents."
"But sir, today is Varun's birthday. Sir, I... I can't miss that, sir!" Varun looked at me with a face of disappointment.
"Birthday? You want to attend a birthday?" The sir walked towards me with a stick. "You want to attend a birthday?" He struck my legs with the stick.
"Ahhh, sir! I'm sorry, sir!" Tears welled up in my eyes. "I... I'm sorry, sir."
"You can't even solve a problem, and you want to attend a party? I... I'm sorry, sir."
"You will do this work right here and now. Do you understand, Kabir?" He shouted at me. The other kids looked at me with pity, some making fun of my situation. As the other kids walked out, Varun placed his hand on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Kabir."
"Why am I like this?" I opened my notebook, and tears fell onto the pages, blurring the ink and breaking the words.
Three Hours Later
"Kabir, are you done with your work?"
"Yes, sir." I walked towards the sir with my notebook.
"Hmm." Mr. Mathew glanced at the pages without any interest. "Now go. Pack your things. Look at the time, you dunce. Because of you, I'll be late!"
"I'm sorry, sir!"
"Get lost now!" Mr. Mathew walked away. I was alone again.
Just as in the morning, cars passed, people argued, women bought goods, beggars roamed the streets, and people walked to their destinations. But here I walked the road with no destination in mind, walking along the sides of Marine Drive, looking at the dark night. People were drinking and eating with their friends. But here I stood alone with my bag. As a street dog approached me, I looked down at it.
"What are you doing here, buddy?" I picked him up. "Huh? You only have three legs. You don't have a mom?" The dog barked. "I'll take that as a yes. Here, have this." I handed him my lunch. "Now eat up. You have to become big and strong to live in this world." I stroked his fur. "You and me are the same. We're both outcasts trying to fit in with normal people." The dog barked and ran away. "Hey! Don't leave me!" I walked away.
"Maa, Paa! Open up!" I knocked on the door. "Looks like both of them haven't returned from home." I looked over my shoulder. Two people came from the lift.
"Look who we have here." The woman spoke. "I got a call from your teacher, Kabir. He told me that you're not doing your work in class. What is this?"
"It's not like that, Maa."
"Then what is it, Kabir? I'm disappointed in you, Kabir."
"But Paa, I wasn't expecting this from you!" I looked down in guilt.
"Now come inside."
"Yes, Maa." I walked inside the house, dropping my bag on my bed and lying down.
Two Hours Later
"Kabir! Come, dinner is ready."
"Yes, Maa!" I walked out of my room, seeing my Paa and Maa sitting at the dinner table.
"Kabir, come here and sit. We'll talk to you about your classes later, yes?" Silence filled the room, no one speaking.
"Kabir..."
"Yes, Paa?"
"What am I hearing from your teacher, that you can't even do basic calculations? It's not like that, Paa. I'm not able to understand the questions."
"HOW ARE YOU NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND? ARE YOU DUMB OR WHAT?" I looked down in shame. "LOOK AT THE SON OF DAS. HE SCORED 95% IN 9TH WHILE YOU WERE BARELY ABLE TO PASS! WHAT WILL I TELL THEM? HUH? TELL ME! I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU WILL PASS 10TH. I DON'T KNOW!"
Even my Maa joined the conversation. "Seeing your performance, we decided that it would be best for you to join classes. But even after joining, you're showing no interest in studying." I took a bite of food while looking down. Even though my tears were flowing, neither of them said anything. As I finished my dinner, the first words out of their mouths were:
"Kabir, I want you to score well in the tomorrow's exam that you have. If you don't score well, then you will regret this. Now go and study!"
"Yes, Paa." I walked towards my room to study. What will happen to me tomorrow in the test?