Unconditionally Yours

Sweet Brother

Doctors came with the nurses, had a routine check up of Awantika and went off assuring Naina that her daughter will be fine. Naina was crying profusely. Her face was red and tear-stained. Her eyes were blurred due to the tears which knew no bounds. Her hair which were freely flowing in the morning were tied into a messy, untidy bun. She was sitting on the same bench with her face burried in her hands. She was worried of her daughter who laid unconscious. She couldn't even hug her because she was surrounded by dozens of monitors monitoring her. She couldn't even go near her because she wasn't allowed to enter. Her daughter hadn't opened her eyes after the accident. Being a mother, she was terrified.

It was then, a young boy wearing a green colored T-shirt with denim jeans and carrying a small backpack came towards her panting, feeling short of breath.

Coming near the glass door, he saw Awantika laid unconscious and a tear slipped from his eye. Trying to maintain his composure, he said, "Madam... Madam".

He called Naina twice but she, being lost in her thoughts, didn't hear him until he patted on the bare part of her shoulder startling her. She flinched with the unknown touch in the hospital as she got up.

Looking towards him, she said, "What?"

He asked her politely, "Are you Awantika's mom, aunt?"

She nodded at his question not willing to talk with anyone but little she knew that the young guy standing in front of her was an angel in her life.

He sat near her on the bench and said, "Aunt, she didn't go by herself. How is she, by the way?"

Naina was startled this time. She understood the boy in front of her wanted to tell something. She asked him in a monotone remembering she had to be strong, "Who are you?"

The boy said, "Aunt, I am Prateek, head boy, class 12-Science" He wanted to tell something more when Naina stopped him in between asking him how did she knew a six year old of his school.

Remembering something, he said, "Aunt, she was bullied in the school. You know Principal madam retired last month and the new Principal came. He appointed his daughter to be the class teacher of Awantika's class. She was also teaching her English language."

Interrupting him in between, Naina said, "I don't get you", as confusion was spread all over her face.

"Please listen to me. First." Prateek said visibly irritated. He didn't like to be interrupted while talking and moreover, he wanted to be quick. He was getting late.

Naina nodded while he continued, "Awantika was like my little sister. She used to tell me things. She told me of getting bullied and I asked her to tell you to which she denied saying she doesn't want to make her mother feel sad." He paused as Naina let out a sob.

Getting back to the point, he said, "She had written an essay in the school. The topic was 'My Father'." Letting out a sob, Prateek continued, "She wrote about you."

There was this line, 'I don't have a father', in her essay and her class teacher humiliated her. She was crying when she told me a week ago. I asked her to tell you but she didn't." Having said that Prateek began to cry.

Naina, on the other hand, was petrified, she just remembered when her family had said, "You can't manage her alone."

She rubbed Prateek's back consoling him, signalling him to continue.

Wiping his tears, he said, "Today when she got her notebook back for the weekend, some children of her class took it. They were used to tease her. It was everyday affair since then. I saw some children running ahead of her in the recess with her English language notebook which had the essay. She was running behind them when they reached the construction area. I tried to stop her and I ran behind her."

It was difficult for Prateek to narrate the incident. However, taking a deep breath, he continued, "They threw her notebook on the ground from the second floor and pushing her away, they ran off. I was confronting them when I heard a shrill cry. I went towards the direction only to see that the notebook was stuck on the mesh of iron rods. Apparently trying to pick the notebook up, she had fallen." Having said that Prateek was crying profusely.

Placing her hand on Prateek's shoulder, Naina tried to console him. Continuing his conversation, he said, "Aunt, I took the notebook and confronted the teachers. Principal reprimanded me. Please inform the police, bullying and supporting the bullies is a crime. My sister was bullied. She is there, inside." Prateek said pointing towards the glass door.

Naina, too, broke down crying. Within seconds, she controlled herself and asked Prateek, "Son, could you give the statement to the police?"

He nodded in affirmation and said, "I will give proofs too."

Naina was startled a bit, she asked him, "Proofs?"

With a positivity in his eyes, he said, "Yes, the CCTV footage, the school wanted to destroy."

Naina was startled and shocked at the fact that how could a sixteen year old boy get access to CCTV footage of his school. As if reading her mind, Prateek said, "Aunt, I have my ways. Be rest assured and take care of Awantika."

He appeared mature in his thoughts as he passed a small smile lifting up the mood of Naina.

She was thankful to Prateek but worried of him too. She asked him, "Will your parents allow this?"

He said, "Don't worry, aunt. Just tell me when my sister awakes", as he gave her the English language notebook along with a paper over which he had scribbled his phone number.

He went to the police cell to tell the whole story along with strong evidences. Naina, on the other hand, opened the notebook and began reading the ten-liner essay her daughter had written.

I don't have father but I have a beautiful mother, Dr. Naina Vashishtha.

My mumma is greater than all fathers and she loves me.

She is a teacher in the college and she teaches big children.

She gets up in the morning and makes my favorite food.

She drops me to the school in her blue car.

She plays video games and watches Doraemon with me.

She helps in my homework and teach me one hour daily.

She tells me stories of real and brave princesses like Rani Luxmi Bai.

I love her and thank her for being my mumma.

I will always keep my mumma happy.

Naina had tears brimming in her eyes but she smiled at the Awantika's essay which the teacher had striked down and written with a red pen, "Ask your mumma to get a father."

Being filled up with rage, she got up and went straight to the police cell to hand over the notebook. She was seriously enraged by the teacher's unprofessional behavior and had planned to take strict action against them. Being a single mother wasn't a crime, and she knew that.