Manohar Asija
Three chronic bachelors, on their way to Kosani (Kumayun Hills), have just completed their breakfast at a roadside modern `Dhaba` and the cashier for this solid group of three looks towards his companions, as if to seek their consent to signal the `boy` to bring the bill. So, in a broader sense, we used to be treating each other as `neighbour`, during those days. He is younger to me by a couple of years, but his physique and mannerism suggested his equaling me in age. Of course, he always remained conscious of my superiority, because at that point of time, I already had schooling for seven years, whereas he was thoroughly illiterate. …………………. Kundan happened to be the only `writer` available, had a brisk business almost for a fortnight. "I think that it was here that I actually began to earn for months at a run. One day, my earnings went to as high as Five Rupees and 14 Annas, I decided to place it before my mother, instead of handing it over to my father, as usual. …………. "Well, Khanna Ji, how long you had to work with this medico, before resuming your interrupted schooling?" This question was asked by Mr Nepali. "Of course, I spent around 16 months working with Dr Chhabra, as apprentice Dresser cum Dispenser. But I lost only one year of my life, with regard to my passing out from the school after going through the High School Examination, conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, as the rest of the time was condoned by the school authorities, keeping in view our refugee status."Of course, those two incidents that took place during my apprenticeship there played a great role in the formation of that naive boy into a psychologist at a future date. These mutually unrelated occurrences happened months apart, after I had gained some experience of the job during my six months of working under the guidance of my senior, who looked thrice my age. ………… In a couple of minutes, the Sun has assumed its shape and luster, which all of them are used to feel, while looking to
Read this work at the World Public Library (library card needed).