Page 248 - E-Magazine 2016-17

The Bengalurean
It was a bright sunny morning, the eucalyptus trees were dancing and the Green- Bee-eater
was hunting in the grounds of Sunabeda in Odisha. "What a beautiful day!" thought Rohan
as he happily walked to school. He quickly reached school. At the gate he gave a salute to
the security guard and ran into his class before the first bell rang. He casually strolled into
the class and sat at his favorite place. All his friends crowded around him and soon the class
was abuzz with activities.

But under that happy cover, there was a sad boy lurking. Why? Just a few days back, when
he came back from school, his mother had given him the bad news. Rohan had asked,
"Mumma, why are you looking sad?" His mother replied "Rohan, in a few weeks, we will be
shifting from here. We will be moving to Bangalore." He just stood at the spot, dazed. He
cried, "B-but Mumma, I-I-I can't leave from here! This is where I belong!" His mother sadly
replied "I'm sorry Rohan. But we have to go." Rohan was devastated. He cried. On his last
day in his beloved town, he walked around clicking pictures and filling his slam book. He
climbed aboard the train to a new place and held his slam book close to his heart. Future
looked scary.

An apprehensive Rohan stepped down on the platform and shivered. A cutting wind made
its way through the platform. After a short taxi ride, he stepped into his new home. His first
remark was- "Its huge , but different!" His mother laughed. Then in a few days, his furni-
ture and his car arrived. He was now set for the long haul. A year later, Rohan had made
friends and the teachers liked him. But, still he did not feel that sense of "belonging" that
had made him feel secure in the old town. Sure, he had a wonderful school and great
friends. But he still longed for the simple life and that sense of "belonging" which was sadly
missing in the city. The days, months and years flew by, mechanically. "We are going to
Sunabeda!" Rohan's mother declared one day. When Rohan heard that, a flood of memories
surged through his mind. The times when he played cricket with his friends, and the count-
less cycle races in which he participated! Like a broken record, Rohan chanted "I am going
back" till he reached Sunabeda.

But when he walked through the same roads, he felt strange. The trees were not dancing
anymore, nor did he see any Green Bee-eaters. Even the long cherished visit to school only
brought him disappointment. The schoolrooms looked tiny, the security guard had changed.
And so too, his friends. Many had forgotten him and he too had forgotten many... The jour-
ney back was shrouded in silence. Rohan understood. He had moved on. He had become a
stranger in his own land. He had become a "Bengalurean"! ******

Ram Sundar Radhakrishnan
VI- H

I wish my dream comes true

Early in the morning when I got up in my dream I felt the cold breeze
blowing. Just then I mistook and bumped against the wall. I couldn’t see
my hand, but slowly I could go through the wall. Suddenly I realized
that I am an invisible boy. I didn’t go to school and had a great time with
my wooden toy. The wooden toy was acting like a cloud. He gave me rain
and made me proud. When I got up from my deep sleep it was 7.00am. I
got fresh to go to school. Though I got punishment from my teacher I had
a great time with my invisible friend in my dream.

Samar Singh Samyal
V- G