Story

Just an Average Kid!

Ananya Das

Rishav is extremely upset today! The results of the annual examinations were announced today at school. His elder brother Mrigank stood first in his class and got promoted to class seven. Mummy and daddy are very happy with his results. Rishav got promoted too, from class five to six but his rank in class is only a very poor eleventh! In spite of trying really hard he was unable to make it within even the first ten. The fact that Sharma sir who comes twice a week to coach Science and Maths to Mrigank Dada coaches him too upset the parents even more. Daddy was quite angry and asked, "What exactly is your problem? Do you not follow the lessons? Or didn't you understand the examination questions?"

Rishav kept silent. His problem was that he was an average at everything! Mrigank Dada in addition to being brilliant in his studies is an excellent artist. His paintings have been awarded in numerous competitions in India and abroad. He is even good at all kinds of sports! He is a really good bowler and plays cricket for the school and local club teams. Rishav likes to draw too but he is not very good at it. He has tried his hand at cricket, but he can neither bat well nor bowl well and who on earth was going to include him in their team for just fielding? Rishav's mama's son Ankit sings like a dream. He always keeps getting offers from the local radio and TV stations for programs. Pishi's (aunty's) daughter Rachita is a really good dancer and gives performances everywhere. Sometimes Rishav feels as if being an average at everything in an overachieving family is like committing an unpardonable crime! Everyone keeps telling him "Oh can't you do this? Can't you do that" all the time which can be intensely annoying and extremely humiliating! His parents keep comparing him to all the kids around him and everyone seems to be good at least one thing except Rishav! Mrigank Dada even calls him by the name of 'Average' at times! How much more embarrassing can it get?

It was a couple of days after the new school year started. Rishav was coming home from Karate class with Mrigank Dada. Not that he liked karate a lot, especially when dada was a brown belt and he hadn't gotten past the white belt stage yet! Dada kept hurrying him, "Hurry up! Guitar Sir will be at home waiting for us!"

Rishav however was looking at something else. He saw Harsh's grandfather getting off the bus and staggering down the road towards a bench in the park, where he sat down rather heavily!
"Dada look! There's Harsh's Grandpa sitting on a bench in the park. Looks like he is feeling unwell... Let's go and ask!"
"Rishav, stop trying to act too smart! It is time to go home... we are not going anywhere else!"
Rishav sneaked another look at Harsh's grandpa, "You go home dada. Tell Mummy I will be back soon!" and he ran off towards the park bench.
"Dadu, grandpa... are you ok?" Grandpa just managed to shake his head somehow and whispered, "No, I'm not feeling very well..." and with that he just lay down on the bench!

In desperation Rishav ran to Harsh's house but there was no one there! The front door was locked. Then he remembered! The rest of the family had gone to Ooty for a vacation. Grandpa was supposed to be the only one at home. What could he do now? Rishav ran back to the park bench. Grandpa's eyes were open but no words seemed to be coming out of his mouth! Rishav ran to the nearby taxi stand for help. No one was willing to assist when they heard about the illness stuff. Finally one of the drivers agreed. Together they lifted grandpa on to the taxi and rushed him to a nearby nursing home. The doctors were nice enough to take him in. After a while grandpa was recovered enough to be able to give the doctor a phone number, probably Harsh's father's. The taxi driver Suresh ji who was very kind and thoughtful to wait with Rishav all this while called the number using his cell phone. The Doctors spoke to the family too. Minutes kept ticking, finally the doctors said to Rishav and Sureshji, "He is out of danger now. You can go home."

Sureshji dropped him off at home. Rishav tried to give him some money (from the change he had gotten back after paying the fees at karate class) but he refused. Rishav tried to force him.
"No, no, you should take the money," he insisted, "just the money for petrol, I know it is not cheap!" but Suresh ji was adamant!
Mummy and daddy were furious when Rishav got home, "Why do you always have to try and act extra smart when there were so many other people around?"
Rishav muttered unhappily, "There were other people but no one else was willing to help except for Sureshji!"
Daddy kept yelling, "Do you realize if something had happened to him it would have turned into a police case? We would have all ended up in the lock up, thanks to you!"
"But Grandpa is doing fine now," Rishav pointed out timidly.

Two weeks later Harsh's grandpa came to Rishav's home along with his whole family.
"He was suffering from dehydration due to extreme heat. How many times have we told him to carry a bottle of water with him but he keeps forgetting! We are so thankful that Rishav saw him! We have prizes for children who do selfless work of social service at my workplace and I am going to recommend Rishav's name for it. I have already paid Suresh his dues and rewarded him. He did a lot too," Harsh's dad said.
Everyone kept praising Rishav and he was absolutely delighted! Even though his few minutes of fame were only going to last for a short while at least he was not just an 'average' today! Harsh's grandpa had already called him a 'hero' - and he didn't have a single regret regarding his actions of that day!