Manu was walking to his home. His class had finished by 4. After that, he with Aashiq went to 'Mathai chettan's rubber estate to gather rubber seeds. A kilo of seeds will fetch him 10rs. He had a pouch which will be of half kg in his school bag. After that he and Aashiq directly went to panchayath ground n played cricket there. They stopped playing only when they couldn't see the ball anymore, due to dim light. Aashiq was there with Manu till they reached Canal-Bridge, from there Aashiq turns left to reach his home.
Manu will have to walk for 5 more minutes to reach his home. Amma will scold him today. She has asked him to reach before 6. When they asked time to Rajeshettan before leaving the ground, it was already 6:40. Manu was hungry too. He hasn’t had anything after the lunch. Anyway he was happy about his rubber seeds. He got around half kg today, which was better than yesterday’s. Now he could sell this with the seeds at home. It will be around 5 kg, which will fetch him tom 50rs. He was planning, what all to do with that money.
He had to pay school fee which is around 11rs. Rest he will spend in buying slippers. The straps of the slippers he was wearing will break anytime. He has changed its strap twice. Manu was not willing to change strap anymore, he want a new chappal.
'Where were you till now? Why you can now? You could have gone some-where that way itself.'
Manu had not realized that he had reached his home. His Amma was cleaning plates and basins. He noticed her only when she started to shout at him. It’s around 7 now. Manu was about to enter the house when Amma said, 'Don't enter. Stay there.' Then she started to murmur something to herself. Manu didn't say anything. If he says something, she’ll start to shout again. Anyway this is not new to him. He will sit in the verandah for sometime, after that she’ll call him in. Then she’ll say sorry & cry a little, saying 'I was worried about you. Don't be late again' & all...
Manu's Amma works in a match factory. She reaches by 6 everyday and wants to see him at home when she comes. Manu's Achan had passed away 3 years back. He was a tapping worker at Mathai chettan's estate. He died because of jaundice. From then Amma is working in Match factory. He has no brothers or sisters. Manu was thinking about his family.
One good thing about sitting out is, Amma won't ask him to study. He can simply lie there at Verandah. By 8 PM Amma called Manu in, and things happened as usual, her crying and complaining.
That night he dreamed of Chappals. He was wearing a new Chappal, going to school with it, showing it to Aashiq. Playing with it, running around, roaming with it.
He got up late next day. It’s Saturday. He brushed, bathed and had breakfast. Then he gathered all his rubber seeds and took it in a bag. He went to Aashiq's house. Aashiq had a big house. His father is in Gulf. He has got TV and Fridge at his home. Aashiq used to explain to him about cartoons, cinemas and cricket matches. Aashiq was standing in front of the house when Manu reached there. When told him about rubber seeds, he said, 'I don't have enough to sell. Anyway I’ll come with you.' And he went in and came back wearing a new shirt. They started to 'PVS oil shop'. Karunettan was there. He weighed the seeds Manu gave, which was of 6 kilos. Karunettan gave 60 Rs. Manu was very happy. He and Aashiq went to Moideen-ekka's shop. There he saw a blue & white chappal. He liked it & asked its price. Moideen told them it’s of Rs.40 & said, currently he don't have the size that will fit Manu. Manu, 'I don’t need it now. I have to ask my Amma. When you will have chappal of my size?'. Moideen, 'I'm going to town today evening. You can buy it tomorrow'. Manu,' Will this shop be open tomorrow?'. Moideen, 'I have got some work at home. If it gets over by noon, I’ll open the shop in the afternoon'. Manu, 'So I’ll come tomorrow then'. And they left the shop. That day evening, Manu told Amma about getting 60Rs for rubber seeds, and asked permission to buy a new Chappal, which she happily allowed.
Next day he went to ground to play cricket. But he couldn't concentrate on the game. His mind was at Moideen-ekka's shop. At about 1 PM he ran to Shop, but it was closed the shop. Karunettan was sitting there beside the shop. He asked Manu, 'what’s it?' He asked about moideenekka. Karunettan told him, 'moideen met with a bike accident today morning. Not serious, But a wound in his leg. He won't be opening the shop for a week.'
Manu was so dejected. There was no other shop in his place where he could by Chappals. He came back to home. He told Amma about moideenekka. He then gave the money to Amma, for keeping it safe till moideen-ekka opens the shop
That night he thought of starting a footwear shop. He decided to start a footwear shop when he grow up. So that kids like him won't be troubled when they come to buy chappals. He thought of names for the shop and what all types of chappals he will sell and all.
He went to moideenekka's shop every evening after school to see whether it’s open or not, everyday. But disappointment was the result. Ten days passed. That Thursday, when he went to check, shop was open. He went there and asked about chappal of his size. It was there. He tried it. It fits him perfectly. He asked moideenekka to keep it aside and said he will run to home & will bring the money. He ran to home. But Amma hasn't reached its only 5. He waited impatiently. He searched the home for his money but couldn't. By 6 Amma came. She was carrying a bag. He ran to her and asked for the money. She didn't answer. When she reached home, she took out a set of straps & said, 'Manu kutta, I didn't get my wages. So I had to use your money for buying rice and other provisions. I had bought you a new set of straps. I’ll get you a new chappal next month'. Manu started crying. He said, 'I dont need straps. I need a new chappal.' Amma, 'wear it now. I’ll get a new one later.' she tried to hold manu in her hands, but in vein. He was crying. He lie down at verandah. After some resisting finally manu allowed Amma to place her hand on his head. She took his head and placed it in her lap. She stroked his hair. And soon Manu fell asleep.
He dreamed of Chappals. In his dream, He saw blue Chappals. He went behind it, but chappal stated to run. He also ran behind it, but he couldn't catch. Moideenekka, Aashiq, karunettan where standing there laughing at him. He ran & ran but still couldn't get the chappals. He felt exhausted. At that time Amma called him. It was 9 and Amma had called him to have dinner.
Next day morning Manu went to school in his old chappals with n strap...
Manu will have to walk for 5 more minutes to reach his home. Amma will scold him today. She has asked him to reach before 6. When they asked time to Rajeshettan before leaving the ground, it was already 6:40. Manu was hungry too. He hasn’t had anything after the lunch. Anyway he was happy about his rubber seeds. He got around half kg today, which was better than yesterday’s. Now he could sell this with the seeds at home. It will be around 5 kg, which will fetch him tom 50rs. He was planning, what all to do with that money.
He had to pay school fee which is around 11rs. Rest he will spend in buying slippers. The straps of the slippers he was wearing will break anytime. He has changed its strap twice. Manu was not willing to change strap anymore, he want a new chappal.
'Where were you till now? Why you can now? You could have gone some-where that way itself.'
Manu had not realized that he had reached his home. His Amma was cleaning plates and basins. He noticed her only when she started to shout at him. It’s around 7 now. Manu was about to enter the house when Amma said, 'Don't enter. Stay there.' Then she started to murmur something to herself. Manu didn't say anything. If he says something, she’ll start to shout again. Anyway this is not new to him. He will sit in the verandah for sometime, after that she’ll call him in. Then she’ll say sorry & cry a little, saying 'I was worried about you. Don't be late again' & all...
Manu's Amma works in a match factory. She reaches by 6 everyday and wants to see him at home when she comes. Manu's Achan had passed away 3 years back. He was a tapping worker at Mathai chettan's estate. He died because of jaundice. From then Amma is working in Match factory. He has no brothers or sisters. Manu was thinking about his family.
One good thing about sitting out is, Amma won't ask him to study. He can simply lie there at Verandah. By 8 PM Amma called Manu in, and things happened as usual, her crying and complaining.
That night he dreamed of Chappals. He was wearing a new Chappal, going to school with it, showing it to Aashiq. Playing with it, running around, roaming with it.
He got up late next day. It’s Saturday. He brushed, bathed and had breakfast. Then he gathered all his rubber seeds and took it in a bag. He went to Aashiq's house. Aashiq had a big house. His father is in Gulf. He has got TV and Fridge at his home. Aashiq used to explain to him about cartoons, cinemas and cricket matches. Aashiq was standing in front of the house when Manu reached there. When told him about rubber seeds, he said, 'I don't have enough to sell. Anyway I’ll come with you.' And he went in and came back wearing a new shirt. They started to 'PVS oil shop'. Karunettan was there. He weighed the seeds Manu gave, which was of 6 kilos. Karunettan gave 60 Rs. Manu was very happy. He and Aashiq went to Moideen-ekka's shop. There he saw a blue & white chappal. He liked it & asked its price. Moideen told them it’s of Rs.40 & said, currently he don't have the size that will fit Manu. Manu, 'I don’t need it now. I have to ask my Amma. When you will have chappal of my size?'. Moideen, 'I'm going to town today evening. You can buy it tomorrow'. Manu,' Will this shop be open tomorrow?'. Moideen, 'I have got some work at home. If it gets over by noon, I’ll open the shop in the afternoon'. Manu, 'So I’ll come tomorrow then'. And they left the shop. That day evening, Manu told Amma about getting 60Rs for rubber seeds, and asked permission to buy a new Chappal, which she happily allowed.
Next day he went to ground to play cricket. But he couldn't concentrate on the game. His mind was at Moideen-ekka's shop. At about 1 PM he ran to Shop, but it was closed the shop. Karunettan was sitting there beside the shop. He asked Manu, 'what’s it?' He asked about moideenekka. Karunettan told him, 'moideen met with a bike accident today morning. Not serious, But a wound in his leg. He won't be opening the shop for a week.'
Manu was so dejected. There was no other shop in his place where he could by Chappals. He came back to home. He told Amma about moideenekka. He then gave the money to Amma, for keeping it safe till moideen-ekka opens the shop
That night he thought of starting a footwear shop. He decided to start a footwear shop when he grow up. So that kids like him won't be troubled when they come to buy chappals. He thought of names for the shop and what all types of chappals he will sell and all.
He went to moideenekka's shop every evening after school to see whether it’s open or not, everyday. But disappointment was the result. Ten days passed. That Thursday, when he went to check, shop was open. He went there and asked about chappal of his size. It was there. He tried it. It fits him perfectly. He asked moideenekka to keep it aside and said he will run to home & will bring the money. He ran to home. But Amma hasn't reached its only 5. He waited impatiently. He searched the home for his money but couldn't. By 6 Amma came. She was carrying a bag. He ran to her and asked for the money. She didn't answer. When she reached home, she took out a set of straps & said, 'Manu kutta, I didn't get my wages. So I had to use your money for buying rice and other provisions. I had bought you a new set of straps. I’ll get you a new chappal next month'. Manu started crying. He said, 'I dont need straps. I need a new chappal.' Amma, 'wear it now. I’ll get a new one later.' she tried to hold manu in her hands, but in vein. He was crying. He lie down at verandah. After some resisting finally manu allowed Amma to place her hand on his head. She took his head and placed it in her lap. She stroked his hair. And soon Manu fell asleep.
He dreamed of Chappals. In his dream, He saw blue Chappals. He went behind it, but chappal stated to run. He also ran behind it, but he couldn't catch. Moideenekka, Aashiq, karunettan where standing there laughing at him. He ran & ran but still couldn't get the chappals. He felt exhausted. At that time Amma called him. It was 9 and Amma had called him to have dinner.
Next day morning Manu went to school in his old chappals with n strap...
6 comments:
Nice one.....
annu andi perukki nadannavan epo acrodelon il programmer..kaalam poya pokey!!!
angane aanalle karyangal...enittu chappal vangicho??
Now this one..........this one is good. We might have read this kind of stories already from some great writers, but still you wrote it in different way.
Thanks for this.
Adipoli story! enikishtamayi... 'Kunjunni Maashu' poyi.. pakaram aavan nokuvano.. ha ha nalla writer aavan chance undto. All the Best!
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