Courtesy: Morgue File (http://mrg.bz/jnYWqY)Hariram,a ten year boy lived in a room behind a school building, where children, from well to do families studied..His father,Harikishan, was a peon in the school. Hariram was the eldest of his two sisters and and a brother.He studied in class four of a municipal school.. He was a bright student. Every day when he left for school ,he wondered how does the school looked from inside, Why he could not study in that school. This huge school building was always in his thoughts.He hated the shanty in which he used to live.His father was a drunkard. Every day he beat his wife. Hariram detested his father. Many times he would try to shield his mother, but on such days his father used to beat him relentlessly.
Last night his father had beaten him with a broom. His whole body was aching when he stepped out of the dilapidated room. He was so deeply immersed in thoughts that he did not see a car, honking from behind. The car was running at a very high speed. As it neared Hariram . the driver pressed the brake, but the boy fell down. His head was bleeding, and he was unconscious. A big crowd collected. The driver, who appeared to be a rich man brushed away the crowd, carried the boy and drove away in no time. He took the boy to the hospital.Too much blood was dripping from the head. The boy was instantly taken to the Operation Theatre. After the surgery, which lasted three hours, the rich man was called inside. The doctor, who apparently knew the man asked him,"Sir, how did this happen?Who is this boy?". The man did not respond, he only asked the doctor, whether the boy would survive. The doctor gave a strange look and replied, "Too much blood is lost,nothing can be said. . Perhaps he may regain consciousness in three to four hours"The man went outside and sat in the visitors room. He drifted into sleep. Suddenly he got up with a shock. It was morning. The rays of the sun were shining brightly. He rushed to the Operation Theatre and straight away asked the doctor on duty whether the boy had recovered. The doctor told him that the boy was fine, but he seemed to have lost memory. The man approached the boy's bed and asked him," How are you feeling , Beta?"The boy looked at him blankly and said that he was all right. The man asked him his name but the boy gave a blank look.
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After twenty years ,Ashok , a handsome man was having breakfast. His wife, Rashmi, and a small child, about three years old was sitting on a high chair, which reached the dining table. His mother, in her early sixties was feeding the child. After Ashok finished his breakfast, he was ready to go to the office. His wife said,"drop me at at my friend's house." He touched his mother's feet. She blessed him and said,"Come back a bit early ." He replied,"Yes Ma, I know I have to buy blankets for distribution in the evening." She said, "I know you cannot forget. Every year you distribute blankets to poor children on Papa's anniversary". After Ashok and his wife left, Mrs Karam Chand was lost in her thoughts. She remembered that twenty years ago her husband had brought an ill child. They looked after him, nursed him. She kept awake on nights looking after him. They had advertised in newspapers about the boy, but nobody came to claim. He had forgotten his past. They named him Ashok, sent him to school, and later to an Engineering College. He married a sweet girl of his own choice. Her husband died three years ago. She was lost in her thoughts, when her daughter-in-law,Rashmi arrived. "Oh. Ma you have not had your breakfast. It is past one o' clock.Come take your breakfast."
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Next day they all drove to a school,on the outskirts of the city, to distribute blankets to poor children. They were welcomed by the Headmaster. Ashok was feeling uneasy. He told Rashmi," I have come here before. I don't remember , but I know this place." Rashmi told him it was only his imagination. After distribution of blankets,they sat in the car. Ashok again looked back from the window and thought,"I have definitely come here, but when?" After ten minutes the car crossed a huge building. Ashok again became restless. He asked the the driver to stop the car. He got down and listlessly started walking. His mother called him back. "What are you doing. Come and sit in the car. It is very hot. Ashok did not hear a word. He started walking towards the back side of the building. Rashmi and his mother followed him. Ashok seemed to be in a dream. He asked one man,"There is a small dilapidated room behind the this school?"The man was bewildered. Ashok again asked,"Harikishan, peon lives in that room?" Now the man asked him,'How do you know Harikishan? I am his son-in-law. He died in an accident,in a drunken state". Like a mad man, Ashok rushed to the room, where he spent the first ten years of his life.
Written in response to The Boy: Write Tribe Wednesday Prompt 27 November 2013
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