Many years ago, once
there lived a fellow named Ram in a small village. He had a twin brother;
Shyam. Ram hated Shyam for no reason, but he loved his parents, his neighbors’,
village people and supported, helped all of them. He cared other people’s happiness
more than his. He was the most intelligent guy of his school. Everyone equally
loved him back either. He was happy. He had various ambitions in his life, but
meanwhile his greatest dream was to become the Head Boy of his school and he
was selected as the Head Boy by the school authorities and the investiture
ceremony was arranged on the other day. And the night before that he couldn’t
sleep for that reason. He was in dreams. He was ecstatic. He got up at 5am that
morning; he ironed his uniform, polished his shoes, bathed, got set, and
started right at 7am to school. It was a 45 min walk to school and program is
to commence by 8am and he was punctual. The investiture ceremony was announced
to be attended by various high officials and Ram’s post was the most valuable
one. His brother Shyam was already at school to do some volunteer works. The
road was muddy and he reached a half way and suddenly it started raining
heavily. He even didn’t bring up any umbrella, as there wasn’t any sign of rain
till then. His uniform did go muddy soon and he thought of better to go home,
change and borough an umbrella and return school.
He reached school at
8.30am and stage was completely clear and no one was around and he saw his
class with full bursting sound and joy heard outside. He went on to check and
no one cared his entry to class and suddenly the one who he considered his best
friend showed up and asked, where had you been? Why are you late? Come join the
fun, Shyam is our new head boy!
He didn’t understand
anything, as the news of me being selected as the Head Boy wasn’t known by
Ram’s friends. He went ignoring everything towards principal, but principal was
in talks with the guests and asked to wait. Ram was restless. He rushed to
convener and sadly convener replied, ‘Shyam was selected in place of you as you
weren’t on time’.
It outnumbered Ram’s
pulse count, he was destroyed completely. Again passing through same joyous
class of mine, ignoring principal, He went home not answering any questions and
to his room. He was feeling lonely in the crowd. He cried heavily, alone. After
some time, someone patted on his back, it was Shyam. Ram was angry on him, and
avoided his pat. Shyam started saying- You may not love me a bit at all, but I
like you and respect you more than anyone else. I don’t wasn’t this ‘Head Boy’
place, you are the deserved one, you might have this (the Head Boy badge). Ram
turned back to see Shyam’s teary eyes which said it: How much he loved! He
hugged him!
After around 40 years, Ram who had his own industry
and was leading it to heights, while Shyam was leading a normal life having a
small government service in the same village they lived. One day, Ram received
and urgent call and he suddenly started crying. He reached his village soon.
Shyam is dead!
He lit Shyam’s body
along with Shyam’s cute son, as was the tradition. The wood covering the body
and body started flaming and was completely in fire. He realized that, this is
that actual moment that Ram felt lonely amid of crowd.
