THE NIGHT DUTY

Today is the first visarjan – of one-and-a-half days’. So, my eight-o’clock-batch students wanted a day off. I could take some rest and reach late. 


At nine, when I reached near my classes, I thought of taking a glimpse of the Ganesh murti decorated just outside… There was no one around; so, I thought I could peacefully spend a moment inside the pandal.

 

My heart spontaneously smiled the moment I reached the pandal. Three kids – aged between eleven to fifteen – were fast asleep inside! 

“Good morning,” my smiling heart wished them. Immediately, the youngest one jumped. “What’s the time, sir,” he asked me. “Nine, beta,” I told him.

“Oh, no!” he seemed worried and started pulling the blankets off his friends’ faces. “Nine it is; we have missed the school!”

The other two pulled over the blankets and turned to other side. The youngest one decided to sit down for a while…

The school, any way, had gone for a toss!

I am a teacher. At times, I make a big fuss about my students skipping the lectures. Often, they cite the reasons such as the pooja at home or the visarjan… or even the b’day. I do not easily buy their reasons. I give a short – sometimes, a long – sermon. “You can’t miss the class.” Period.

But, they do!

My short… or, long… sermon, aside!

So, these three kids, who were given their night-duty, last night, had missed their school! 

Ganesh should not be left alone… 

They had volunteered 

to give Him the company!

My smiling heart took me back to the time when I was a kid like these three.

The youth in our village had become famous for decorating a giant Christmas crib. Weeks of preparation, most of the times overnight, and, finally, when the crib would be ready, hundreds of visitors would make a bee-line to behold the magnificent work done by the youth. The Christmas-star itself would be of a Guinness-book size… all hand-made with bamboo and white cloth, gigantic... and it would tower over even the tallest tree around!

And, we, little kids? What was our role?

We were the ‘side-kicks’. The big-boys would, often, give us some sundry work and we would take great pride in carrying it out… Yes, all fired-up with excitement! The most exciting duty used to be... yes, the night-duty!

The Baby Jesus should not be left alone… We kids loved to give Him company in the chilly, December-nights!

The next morning, the school would go for a toss… 

Hey, the Baby Jesus must be smiling, up there... behind the stars!!!

So, kiddos… don’t worry about the school, tomorrow. You can write in your calendar the reason for leave:

“As I was on a night-duty to give company to Bal-Ganesh…!”

Trust me, your teacher will surely smile…!

GERALD D’CUNHA

Pics.: 1. Shaila D'Souza

         2. Manohar Kadam