Holiday!

(This is a feeble translation of a short story by Rabindranath Tagore. This is only to urge readers to read the original or better translations. You may find a summary of the story on the last page.)

Phatik Chakraborty, the undisputed leader of all the children in the neighbourhood, suddenly hit upon a new idea on noticing the massive log of wood lying on the banks of the river. It was decided that the log should be rolled away so that the owner, upon finding the log missing, would be perplexed. The vision of the owner's bewildered face goaded the boys and they immediately rushed forward to execute the plan.

But, before the plan could be executed, there arose an obstacle. Phatik's younger brother, Makhanlal, who seemed to be contemplating some worldly problem, came and sat on the log. The boys were dismayed.

One of the boys approached timidly and prodded Makhanlal in order to budge him from the seat. But this had no effect on the juvenile philosopher who continued to deliberate on the futility of playing such games and pranks.

Phatik came up and said angrily, "Get off the log, else you will get a beating."

Instead of getting off, Makhanlal made himself all the more comfortable.

Now, this was an insult. Phatik should have carried out his threat and slapped the impudent brother in order to preserve his dignity before the public. But courage failed him. However, Phatik wore such an expression on his face which seemed to suggest that he could easily have punished his brother but had refrained from doing so since he had devised another scheme that was certain to provide much more amusement to the boys.

"Let us roll the log with Makhanlal sitting on it," he proposed to the others.

Makhan thought it was a matter of pride for him, and it was certain to earn him instant fame. What Makhanlal and the other boys did not realise was that like any other scheme to earn earthly fame, this scheme, too, was fraught with consequent dangers.

The boys girded their loins and started shoving the log - "Push harder men, heigh-ho; good work braves, heigh-ho".

Even before the log could complete a single roll, Makhanlal flew off his perch, and his pride and philosophy rolled on the ground.

This successful result at the very start of the game had the other boys in ecstasy. But Phatik felt somewhat fearful. Makhanlal soon found his feet, and he fell upon Phatik and pummeled him in rage. After scratching Phatik's face, Makhan went home crying. The game had to be called off.

Phatik sat on the bow of a half-sunk boat chewing a blade of grass.

Just then a boat with passengers touched the shore, and a middle-aged man with greying hair disembarked.

"Where do the Chakrabortys live?" he asked Phatik.

"Over there," Phatik replied without pointing towards anywhere in particular; it was impossible to tell in which direction he had indicated.

The gentleman was confused.

"Where?" he asked again.

"I don't know," Phatik said and resumed chewing the blade of grass. Realising that he was unlikely to get a proper reply from the boy, the gentleman sought help from other people and went his way.

Shortly afterwards Bagha Bagdi, their servant, came and informed Phatik that his mother was looking for him.

"Your mother is calling you," Bagha Bagdi told Phatik.

"I don't want to come," Phatik replied.

Bagha wouldn't take a "no" for an answer. He lifted Phatik easily and marched homewards. Poor Phatik could only flail his arms and legs in his struggle to free himself.

Upon laying her eyes on Phatik, his mother immediately asked angrily, "You have been beating Makhan again?"

I did not beat him," Phatik answered.

"You are telling lies!"

"I am not telling lies, you may ask Makhan."

Makhan stood his ground and reiterated that he had indeed been beaten by Phatik.

At this, Phatik lost his patience and slapped his brother hard. "How dare you tell a lie?"

Mother took Makhan's side; she caught Phatik and shook him hard, and then followed this up with two or three slaps. Phatik pushed his mother away, an act which dismayed her very much. "Oh my! How dare you strike me!"

NEXT >