Geometry Box

Prologue: Drop of Life is a category of blogs which carry small Anecdotes or very short story that carries the reflection of life in every drop. 

Shankar felt so weak and incapable. Wished he knew about a way to come out of this crisis. His life was so normal and happy until this night when he returned home. His 12-year-old daughter Sneha came up to him and said: “Papa, I would need to get a Geometry Box, a new pencil, and a notebook to take to school”. Shankar was hit aback by this unplanned requirement.

He asked, “By when do you need this?”

Sneha said, “The teacher had asked us to get it to school this Friday”

It was already Wednesday night. Shankar was not thinking as he spoke, “I will get it to you when I come home tomorrow night”

Sneha said “Papa!” and hugged him.
Shankar patted her back, “Did you have dinner?”
“Yes”.
“You should go and sleep now.It is very late.”

As Sneha jumped and walked to her bed, Shankar was looking at the direction his daughter had walked without taking off his eyes. Shankar’s wife Savitri was looking at all these and came to Shankar and said “How can you promise her to get it tomorrow? You just have one day.We would at least need 50 rupees to get everything for her. We don’t have money in the house. Do you have money with you?”  Shankar turned to her and said “No.” Savitri sighed and said, “Huh! How can you promise then?”

Savitri was reasonable and practical in what she had said. Shankar’s family runs on what he earns on a daily basis. He visits the apartment in the neighbor hood and presses clothes for earning. His daily income completely depends on how many clothes he would be able to press on a day. Some days he would be able to earn more than hundred rupees in a day and while on some days he would earn only thirty rupees. All the groceries and house hold needs to be run on the money he gets home every day. Sneha was their only daughter. When she was born Shankar had taken a vow that he would give her very good education and not let any of their poverty affect her. He has been able to do this successfully all these twelve years. There had been many days Savitri and Shankar had spent without having food so as to save the money to pay Sneha’s school fees. But even at those times they always made sure that Sneha did not have to sleep in hunger. Shankar had always thought Savitri is the best thing that has happened in his life. She had been so much understanding about his interests and lived life accordingly. She managed the house hold so well with whatever little money Shankar could bring home and never complained.

But now, this unplanned expenditure of buying a Geometry Box had come. If it had been a weekend Shankar would know that he would get a lot of clothes for pressing and have enough money to buy his daughter a Geometry Box. But it was just mid week. Usually, Thursday’s and Friday’s are dull in his work. People would wait for the weekend to do the Laundry and then give it for pressing.

Shankar felt so weak. His self-respect has never let him borrow money from someone to this date. There had been tougher times he had passed through without losing his self-respect but now, over come it is his daughter’s education. He would have to let her know about their poverty and not get her what she wanted for now. He had never let Sneha know about their situation. Sneha had always looked at her father as a Santa Claus. Every wish of her got fulfilled from her Father. How hopefully she had run to him today evening asking for a Geometry Box. He can’t see disappointment and tears in those little eyes.

But how to overcome this. He might go and ask for clothes in one of the houses. But it would maximum get him thirty rupees. He would need money for getting groceries for house too. He can’t let his daughter go hunger. Where would he go for the remaining money? Even if he wanted to borrow it from his friend Arvind for two days, Arvind is not in town. He did not feel like having dinner. He sat on the bed in a very dejected mood. He felt something soothing on his head. It was Savitri’s hand. She was patting on his head. She said, “I understand how hard it is for you, don’t worry we will find some way out.” His eyes became watery. Savitri hugged him and said, “Sleep peacefully now every difficult situation would pass.We would come out of this.”

It was a morning that Shankar had never wished for. But time does wait for none. He woke up very early in the morning and started out. Savitri asked him where is going so early. Shankar replied, “I need to go to Babu Sir’s house before he leaves for work. He is the one who might have clothes for pressing.” All other houses would give me only in the weekend. Before Savitri could reply anything, Shankar hurried.

He might get thirty rupees for the clothes he would press. He did not know where he would get the remaining money. He had planned he would finish his work quickly in the morning and go out to find if he can somehow get money from any of his friends. What is the value of self-respect before his daughter’s wish? Shankar knocked the door of Babu Sir’s house. The door opened and Babu Sir was getting ready to go to work. He saw Shankar and said “Oh…come”

Shankar said “Sir, do you have clothes to be pressed…?”
Babu Sir said,”Yes I do have some… How come you had come early in the week?”
Shankar said “I did not have much work today thought I will get your clothes pressed today”

Babu Sir went in and came with some clothes to be pressed. Shankar counted it to be fifteen.
Babu Sir asked, “How much it is?”
Shankar said, “There are fifteen clothes and it would be thirty two rupees?”

Shankar was still thinking where he would get the remaining money from. He still could not imagine how he is going to make the remaining money and which friend of his would lend him the money. His friends might be surprised or even might laugh at him, “Finally you ask us for money on loan?” The thought made Shankar’s body to shrink in shame.

“Shankar…Shankar!” Babu Sir called.
“Yes Sir… ”
“I would be coming very late from work today so may not be able to get the clothes from you. Leave it with the security once you are done ok?”
“Yes Sir…”

Babu Sir took out his purse and took a hundred rupee note out of it, “Here is the money.Do you have change?”

Situation was making fun of Shankar. If he had the money to give for change he wouldn’t have been standing so early at the door step. Shankar said “No Sir…Sorry I don’t have change…”

Babu Sir said, “Oh…ok can you get the money from me on Saturday then?”

“Errr…Ok Sir…” Shankar could not stop and say he is in need of money. Babu Sir had never delayed in giving money. Hence he could not say no. Now the hope of getting thirty rupees was also not there.

Shankar walked away from the Door step with full of disappointment. His shoulders were bent down with loss of hope. His feet refused to walk faster. That’s when he heard Babu Sir calling “Shankar…”

Shankar turned around slowly, “Yes Sir…”

Babu Sir held the hundred rupee note towards him and said, “Keep this with you for now and we can adjust the remaining amount for the clothes you would press for the next 2 weeks.”

Shankar couldn’t believe his eyes. He had hundred rupees in his hand. Bapuji was smiling at him. He had the hopes of his daughter in his hands.

In the evening, Shankar was there at home before his daughter had come from school. When she came in, he showed her the new Geometry Box he had got for her. Sneha hugged and kissed him. Savitri stood near them with a smile on her face. Shankar forgot all his worries.

This moment filled with happiness was priceless!