Reminiscences of a Criminal

He walks into the class-a bustling place of activity- chalk fights, swearing contests, what not. None of the students notice that the hero of our story has entered the classroom, not that he expects it. Only Thomas wishes him “Hi da!”

Class continues as usual.

The boy in the front starts swearing at the boy in the back. The guys at the back laugh their heads off at an unsuspecting and innocent teacher. The guys in the middle row keep on alternatively gaping at the girls and laugh at the sick jokes made by the guys in the back. Well, the girls are in their own world.

But even in this diversity, there was unity among the students in one thing- they all faithfully performed one thing- Forgot that our Guy was alive and ignored him totally. Our Guy tried catching their attention by asking two or three doubts but even the teacher seemed to ignore him. Sumith who sat behind him kept on throwing chalks at a girl who sat in front of our Guy and that kept on hitting our Guy instead. He felt at par with his classmates and was friendly with them. He felt his fraternal feeling was not reciprocated. The class tried as much as they could to avoid him. He, on the other hand, made huge sacrifices (without the class’s knowledge, of course) so that his friends were not punished while he rotted away in the Principal’s office. He kept on thinking about things he would like to say to his classmates to express his love for them.

“What is the difference between traveler’s cheque and personal cheque? You in the middle...What’s your name??”

The Guy gets up and blinks at the Front Office teacher.
“I want the answer Mister” shouts the teacher. More blinking, and the commentary starts from the corners.

Our Guy would stand again .And when the class was over, he would sit again. When the day was over he would lumber along to the bus and pull his concession card out of the bag. He would then lean onto the bars, looking out of the bars. It would be the same next day as well. Monotonous life it was.

His life went on. They entered into their second year of college life. Juniors came. They were scared to come near their seniors and the seniors were struck with wonder on seeing their tiny juniors. But all this did not affect the regular monotonous life of our Guy.
He never went near them. He was not attracted even by the prettiest girl. He went on with his own business. Blinking at teachers and tolerating nasty remarks.

One day during a boring theory class, the Principal and HOD stormed into the classroom. They seemed agitated, frustrated and what not. Our Guy knew that something big must have happened. Someone had manhandled a junior in a dark corridor after class hours. It was a known fact that it was done by Ishant due to some problems he had with the junior. But no one dared to speak of it. Ishant was one the most popular guys in the college. Even the seniors adored him. Girls loved him. As rightly remarked by a faculty “He was the Gem of the college.”

The junior did not know who the person was; due to the lack of light. All he could identify was the red color of the scarf that goes along with the chef coat, worn only by the second years. Our Guy now understood why the Principal and HOD had come. They had come to investigate. If the culprit was found a dismissal order would soon reach his home. Tension spread around the class like wild fire.

Another usual day dawned as usual. The students came to class as usual. The only unusual thing was that our Guy had not come to class. But every one was too busy noticing that, all of them were discussing about last day’s incident. Suddenly hot news spread around. Someone had owned up for the crime. Everyone wanted to see who the person was. There, in midst of all the staff stood Our Guy. His face was as blank as ever. He dared not look up. All the students were talking excitedly. Some couldn’t even recognize him.

The police had been called for. Actions had been taken. He was suspended for the time being. He would be later dismissed. Criminal case would be charged against him. His parents were notified. None of the students understood why he owned up for something he did not do. But no one knew the thought put behind this action of his. No one ever gave him the attention that he craved for. And he found this as the only way

He left the college in front of his teachers and students with his head down, but deep within, he was smiling to himself. He had been noticed, even by the prettiest girl in the college. They now knew his name. He was for once the happiest person in the college….

P.S: All of the author’s well wishers and friends should henceforth protect him at all times due to complications arising out of this seeming blasphemy.