Colours of Life Chapter1

Prelude

If I am told to say something good about my childhood, then I perhaps would have tothink hard and come up with a first prize in academics or a star in Art exams. What has been missing from my childhood was the joy of togetherness or company. I don’t know when did it take place? But the complicated boy had given up running and had started living.

Hrehaan

The front row of spectators is composed of parents, eager to capture the moment of glory of their wards. I too will be felicitated, but my mother is absent. This is nothing new to me. Since my mother’s separation with my father, she has to choose her profession over me and my happiness.

“Nest we have Hrehaan Roy, Hrehaan please come on stage and accept this prize for having a consistent academic excellence ”,said the Principal.

I rushed on stage and with a humble bow accepted the prize from the hands of the chief guest. I rode off the stage and was making my way out of the stage when Krish held me by my arm and asked ,“ Hrehaan yaar wait. We are going to city plaza .Will you come?”

Looking at the expecting faces I felt like going with them, but my inner voice reminded me “Dodge it Hrehaan , this guys shall reduce the weight of their as well as your wallet in eating useless stuffs there”. I gently turned down “I have some other plans with my family .Sorry Krish.”This was not very difficult for a cost conscious person like me. I have been practising this lies ever since befriends with these guys.

The ‘plans’ at home included a T.V.program while having a home cooked meal and after that a noon nap. It was not that I outings but I did’nt like to waste my mom’s hard earn money. Today is one of the very few days I am contended. I was felicitated in front of the whole school.

Going back at home I did narrate all the events with exclamations to my grand mom who could hardly understand it ,but was able to smell the essence of excitement within me. She was very happy.

“Everyone’s parents did come except mine.”
“ You are sixteen now Hrehaan, enough grown up to attend this events alone”, consoled grandmom.

“If once in childhood she did accompany me at the instant of my achievement I would not have strived today for her presence in the auditorium.”

“Hrehaan do not do like this you know how she needed the job. She is doing all for you.”

These were those last words which punctuated all my protests. It was the final blow of fact that all the three members of our family very well knew. But the volcano filled with grudge lied somewhere active in my heart. My only mother could never manage a time out for me. Eating up my lunch I lied on my bed. When I was four my mother did seek a divorce from my father. The court gave my cusody to my mother. Since then I have been missing her at each important day I should have her. Even I go alone to my cousin’s house during holidays.

The sun had gone down and darkness did fell upon the golden sky. The doorbell rang, I opened it. My mother stepped n .From my expression she could make out that I was angry. She placed her hand in her vanity bag and took out a wrapped box, perhaps a compensation for her absence at the prize distribution ceremony. It was disgusting how every time she did imagine that a gift will fill her space. With one quick move I snatched it and threw it on the floor. It was enough, enough of this lack of attention, enough of those unfulfilled commitments, enough of this emptiness, enough of these parental tricks.

Without wasting a second my mother did give a tight slap on my face which shook me. My rand mum hurried to cool down the situation. Bearing no further insults I ran to my rooming, slapping the door upon her face. Outside my room, my mother was yelling at her son’s unruly behaviour unaware about the incompleteness of his life. I plunged my face in my pillow and shed a few tears which were the only companion of this immature boy.