The Irony of Life(Chapter 3)

Just after the recess bell rang, the students would usually come out of the class, go for lunch and come back. Today, it was different, today the headmaster of the junior wing was standing in the centre of the assembling ground, which was just outside the classes.

He was standing there ready, for some kind of announcement apparently. But, whatever he had to say was there on the notice board, the students had been ignoring the board for some time, well, they had been ignoring it entirely, he couldn't blame the children, how could he? All of them far away from home, set within a specific schedule of exercise, eat, study, eat, study, eat, play , study and sleep. Whatever, it was his duty to inform the students of the activity being organized by them, it was their choice of whether to go or not.

The man stood waiting for the bell to ring, he glanced at his watch,

It was time, the bell was about to ring.

In about 5 seconds the bell rang, and the peaceful ground was filled by the playful sounds of the young students studying in the school. An all boys school, it was almost always filled with naught, childish naught, which sometimes he appreciated, sometimes he did not.

He took the mike and announced, "Good afternoon children, I am your headmaster, Yogesh Bhatt. I want to direct your attention towards the notice board…."

All the children stopped in their tracks immediately, turned around and started listening, he was a man of discipline and was to be treated with respect.

"….which you all have been ignoring for quite some time, my advice to all of you would be to check the board at least on alternate days to remain updated with the changes and activities coming up in school. Now the school has organized an event for you all, a one-week quick course for rock climbing at Baara Patthar, this we have done on coordination with the rock climbers society of Nainital, anyone wishing to join can register themselves with their housemaster after consent with their parents. The fee is Rs. 1000. It will start from next week, have a good day. Carry on."

Abhishek listened with his usual intent, and became conflicted,'Rock climbing, should I do it, or not? It might be dangerous, but then, it's for us, the juniors, surely, it must be safe? I'll talk to ma and pa and then decide, they must be calling me today at lunch…let me hurry…'

As there were strict rules over there and discipline was a priority, children were not allowed mobile phones and the parents were given provisions to contact their children so as to stay in touch with them and talk to them. One of them was a booth just outside the dining hall, wherein the parents would call the booth and the attendee would call out the name of the respective student in the mike joint to the speakers in  the dining hall.

Abhishek's parents were to call him during lunch time. It is then that he talked to them, and they totally put the weight of the decision on his shoulders, he could go if he wanted to, he would not if he didn't want to.....