YAADON KE JHAROKHE SE………..

I have fuzzy memories of those days. It ought to be 1972-73. I was 7-8 yrs. Old. I was studying in II or III class. My elder brother Bhagawati should be of 12-13 Yrs. And doing his Middle Class studies. In those times he was known by the name ‘Lallu’. I still remember how informal we used to be with each other. All the elders ( of family and neighbouring )exhort me to call him Bhaisaab but I could never. Bhaisaab was only ‘sabase bade wale’ others were Ramji, Munna and Lallu.
It was winters and Kite flying was our passion. I don’t remember whether I could fly kite perfectly at the time but Lallu had prowess in it. His rivalry with Dilip Nai in Kite flying used to be talk of the town.( unke painch bahut lambe chalet the ).
Once I demanded some 25-50 paise for purchasing kite and ‘Maanjha’ from Bai (Rajmata) but as usual she refused. I coaxed her in to giving me at least 25 paise but she was in no mood of offering me any bounty. As you know how strong, determined, obdurate lady she is! I gave up but had a trick to play in my mind. Bai used to put some small amount in an empty Tambakhu Dibba. She sniffed Kali tambakhu those days and used empty dibbas for different purposes. One such dibba was her Gullak. If Kite flying was our passion Bai’s was Gossiping. Bhabhu, Dagla wali Dadi, Mami, Kapurya ki Binani, Phulya ki Bahu et al were regular members of this soiree. The club started almost at 1500 Hrs. after Bapuji gone back taking his Meal. Gossiping remained continue till Sun set. Off course this was not mere gossiping but they did some useful domestic activities also like sewing, chopping the vegetables, knitting etc. Venue for this very important activity was Dhanji Darji ka chabutra and Mister ka chabutra. In winters our School time was 9.30am to 4.30pm. So when I came from School stint for Gossiping was still continuing and Bai was absorbed in it. I get in the home. There was none else. Throwing my school bag in ‘Khidakya’ I made beeline for the Gullak. It was put in the room at ground floor known as ‘Saal’ above the lintel of the door.I took it and opened what I saw was a single 5 Rupee note. There was no coin of 25 or 50 paisa which was my need of moment. I was on the horns of dilemma. what to do as it was too huge an amount for me. But there was no other option. I took the note out and slid it in to my knickers pocket. Next day early in the morning I went to purchase Patang and Maanjha from Bhom Bhaya whose shop was there adjacent to Jain Temple. He was one of the famous three brothers named Harku Bhaya, Badri Bhaya and himself Bhom Bhaya. He refused to give me saying he was not having good quality Maanjha at the very moment and to come in evening instead. I could not contemplate he had set different plot in his mind. I came back home and kept the note in my school bag and went to school. At approx 2.30pm I saw two familiar faces coming towards our classroom. As they came nearer the earth beneath me gave the way (They were Bapuji and Lallu). Whole the thing became clear to me. Bhom Bhaya had played his game. Bapuji talked with the teacher and my school bag was checked. To my consternation note was not found in the bag. Someone in class had re-stole it. It was double whammy. Bag of every student was checked but of no use, the fellow was not as inept as me in the art of theft. Bapuji’s anger rose, he asked me about the note. I refused having any clue about it. And ….thud it was a slap on my face (only senior Sharmas know how jhannatedar it used to be ). I was shuddering and as I saw the hand again raising , spoken out all the story. My first attempt of theft had turned to be a great fiasco.