Day 4

The next day began and proceeded as usual in the school. I was having truly ambivalent feelings for the evident reasons. Anyways, I kept myself busy with the classes, classwork, homework and other blah-blah stuff. Then in the second last period, our English teacher, Ms. Rati knocked on the classroom door. As it was the Social Science class so, she requested the Social Science teacher if she could borrow me. Like a conspiracy had been planned by the God, I was earnestly given the permission to bunk the class. Though for the first time in my life I was wishing that the Social Science should have been made the compulsory task and next to impossible to miss just like the morning assembly and prayers. Anyways, I half-heartedly packed up my bag and dragged myself out of the classroom.

As I stepped out of the classroom, Ms. Rati directed me to the Dramatics room and asked me to go through the script that would be on the table there.

I went in the Dramatics room and dropped my bag in a corner. I went over to the table and found two copies of the script titled 'The Tale of two Brothers'.

I picked one copy and sat in a corner chair to read it. It was a story of courage and heroic deeds of two Greek brothers who loved and respected each other's bravery. It was indeed a lovely play, beautifully scripted. And, what an irony!

Suddenly, the room's door creaked and as I raised my head I saw a plump figure standing by the door. I went back to re-read the script as if the unacknowledged interruption is going to make me look like a super-cool person. Indeed, I was a jerk! 

After 10-15 mins of pin-drop silence in the room, the room was noisy like a swarm of bees have just seen a lovely, healthy garden full of beautiful flowers. Ms. Rati arrived along with a number of other students who would be playing other characters in the play.

Before formally starting the rehearsals, she made us to introduce ourselves to the entire group that was present in the room. She specifically asked us to mention our strengths and weaknesses as part of our introduction. Then, she narrated the entire story to the group. After story narration, she wrote the name of all the characters on board and asked the group to pen-portrait the characters. After the characters were pen-portrayed then she asked the group opinion that who should play which character based on the individual traits of each group member. Now, you can probably see that why she was favorite amongst the school students. She gave us freedom and helped us in developing our 'fair decision-making' capabilities.

So, finally after the voting-exercise it turned out that I was playing the role of Adeipho, the brave brother. And, Leelavati was Adelphos, Adeipho's brother.

Suddenly, Ms. Rati called both of us on the dais to start the formal rehearsal. I do not know about her for I could hardly spot her in the room full of so many 10-year olds. But, I did freeze. I did not want to face her on-stage and that too in front of so many people from my neighborhood as we were the famous enemies. And, reaching the dais before her did not seem to be my cup of tea.

Suddenly, by God's grace, the last bell of the day rang and, I took a breath of relief.

But, I knew it was not something inevitable. I had to face her tomorrow and that too irrespective of the fact that I like her or hate her.

Now, I was going to learn something about professionalism. Or, can there be someway out of this situation?

My mind was buzzing with all these thoughts while I was climbing the stairs down towards the school exit gate.