The Boy Who Never Spoke

Right versus Wrong

Laxman Rastogi paused to take a sip of water. In the narration for little over half an hour, he had completely forgotten about his sore throat as he read out his first two chapters. The anchor listened to him as intently as the audience in the studio. She finally broke the silence

"It is little unfortunate to listen to the kind of viewpoint that Lok was exposed to, at the end. His mother saw it more as a boy with a girl rather than his son with his friend..."

"Well, like many of the mothers over here, her intention was right yet her perspective was limited. The society that she herself had been raised in, had carved such notions, that she caressed, while she reprimanded her son. Her words were the reflection of our limited beliefs about relationships..."

Just as he was glancing across the front row in the studio, a feeble hand went up from the third row. A grey haired head rose from the crowd and readjusted his spectacles as he held on to the microphone given to him before speaking

"I don't quite agree with you. The beliefs of the society are time-tested. Everything has a time and a way in which it is be done. Son, I loved your story till now but I don't agree much with what was spoken just now. I have a son and if he were to speak that way, my reaction won't be much different to that of the mother."

"Sir, I respect your opinion. It is true that parents do care and must care about what their children do. But, their care shouldn't tie the hands of their children. Guidance shouldn't be confused with dominance.Love shouldn't blind understanding."

"But that's how a parent's love is...", he replied in a shaky voice.

"So, what he is trying to say is the society has indeed been that way. Let us not be too critical. It is just a fact.", she interrupted.

"True that, often it is the society's imperfections that become catalyst for a change.It is true that everything has an order that it must follow but so often we lose sight of the purpose in pursuit of right versus wrong." He sipped another glass of water and cleared his throat before beginning once again

For some strange reason, a boy and a girl together always attract stories. Lok and Sneha had been friends till now yet rumors began spreading in the college like wild fire in a forest. One of the craziest things about love is that our generation today wears it as a tatoo on the chest. A person in an apparent relationship is held in an envious awe even if his grades are average. Lok was beginning to realise that. They shared their notes, the lunch that Lok occasionally brought and the time after the classes ended. Her words were now more warm while his words became more free flowing . One evening, standing in the parking space and fiddling with his stubble, she whispered
"You should speak more often."
" Why?"
"People find it hard to believe that how I am able spend so much time with a silent duffer like you" She punched his belly while he smiled at her. He kept his hands on her shoulder and bowed down to look into her eyes. Her lips stretched to an ecstatic smile as she threw her arms around him.
" You are a duffer indeed but a nice one. Picking me up from my home tomorrow?"
"What is tomorrow?", he exclaimed
"Don't you remember what is tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow is Sunday. It is a holiday"
"Oh, god. Lok...", she pushed his arm that almost hit his motorcycle handle as he bit his tongue in laughter.
" Okay, okay....I remember, you told yesterday in the canteen. The college troupe is performing at the City Theatre  and that includes you as well. Don't worry. I will be there"

Just as Mr. Laxman was at the cusp of continuing his narration, a voice stormed in. "What rubbish ? Do you guys know anything about decency!" He turned around. A tall dark skinned man wearing a saffron kurta stood up with few of his comrades who were dressed similar to him. Few of the spot boys ran to him immediately to pacify him but he went off again,

"It is guys like you who spoil the minds of children and put a dark spot on our culture. Is love all about a boy and girl touching each other in a private space ? You should be thrown out of this country" The crowd looked at him with wide eyes. The anchor jumped into damage saving mode, " I think you are getting it wrong. Each citizen has right to express his or her opinion. The author is getting close to explain what he wants to. Please have patience till then"

"Do hell with your opinion. We will boycott this book. Laxman Rastogi Murdabaad ! Murdabaad !", his gang shouted in one voice. Group of bouncers rushed to escort them outside as the spot boys hinted rest of the crowd to be remain calm. The anchor tried hard to maintain her smile as she looked towards Laxman occasionally. He was calm and composed. When everything seemed settled, he continued,

" Few people in this world can't stand a real world where life isn't a bed of roses, perfect and plush. A writer never writes to put his readers to shame but to bring forward the real face of the world. Now that a section feels that I haven't been able to do that. I wonder should I continue. This question is for the audience here." Silence befall next five minutes. It was more fifteen minutes for the show to end and it was already running at risk of losing TRP ratings due to this ruckus. Murmur descended in the hall as the camera man watched anxiously at the crowd while his camera still pointed towards the set. A man in the front row grabbed the microphone and said," You should continue. The story has been lovely till now and you shouldn;t stop because of few narrow minded people in the society. We want to hear what happened next!" Soon a low chorus joined him in demanding for Laxman to continue, "We want to hear! We want to hear ! We want to hear!"

"So as we see the entusiasm of the crowd, I am curious too to know what happened with Loknath and Sneha, next.", the anchor said with a smile.