Each One Of Us Is Unique

Oasis apartment is one large extended family living together. A cluster of many homes in one large complex. The buildings are small and big, with a large central compound in the middle.

Welcome to Sharma family!

Nikhil, come and see the water drainage beta, I heard Shivaji kaka shouting from under my house.

I closed my book and got up from my study table. My mom was in the kitchen, of course she had heard Shivaji kaka too. I looked at her with an expression of “can’t help mom, got to go and help him”, the return expression I got was “I know you were finding ways to drop studying and run”.

Nikhil beta, are you there? Come fast the water is leaking out.

So I ran downstairs. Shivaji kaka is a widower in his early 70’s, had lost his wife soon after retirement. With only his son settled abroad, he is now preoccupied with household chores.

“Yes kaka what happened?” I asked as soon as I reached his house. “I think the drainage pipe is choked, water is not passing through.” I got an anxious explanation. “Kaka do you have a pump and a metal or wooden rod,” I asked. “Oh yes” saying he went looking for it. He came back in 5 min, “here baba ghe (take)”, he said and handed me a balen (small wooden rod) and a water pump.

Push pull, push pull, push pull, I tried several time but with little success. “Kaka, I think it better if we can get plumber to do this” I said after several failed attempts. “I know one guy, let go around and check if he is there, mom might have his phone number too, don’t worry will get this fixed.” Saying I ran upstairs.

“Mom do you have that plumbers phone number?, the drainage pipe is badly choked” I asked hurriedly. “Check it in the dairy.” said mom looking over the shoulder. “I don’t know when you will get to your studies at this rate.”  “Every day you get distracted by something or someone and the board exams are just around the corner.” Look at Ravi (my elder brother) see how hard he is working for this engineering entrance. “I will get back to studies immediately mom as soon as I fix the problem for Shivaji kaka” he is so old Ma, he needs help, just 10 more minutes.

After trying his number for several times, finally I got through to the plumber, he agreed to come immediately. “Kaka, plumber I spoke to the plumber, he will be here shortly.” I gave assurance to worried kaka.

“Thank you beta, I have to get ready and go to the market too.” He said half talking to himself. I waited with him for several more minutes till the plumber came. Then they both got busy so I ran back up to my studies.

“Is the water issue sorted?”, asked my brother who was sitting at the study table we shared. “Oh yes, I am sure the plumber will fix it.” “Good,” he said smiling at me and then looked down back to his books.

“Nikhil, now don’t go anywhere, focus on your studies, exams are around the corner and mummy gets worried for you,” said Ravi without lifting his head from his books.

I started to read, but my mind was elsewhere. “Why can’t I be like Ravi” I thought. He is so focused on his studies, has been a ranker throughout. My teachers at school still remember him.

 Every time my mom comes to school they enquire for Ravi. “He was such a pleasure to deal with, never had any complaints.” I hear them say this often.

Ravi was a nice brother, quiet but helpful. He had very few friends, all like him. He would help me with my studies. Help mom in the kitchen, he could actually cook! I picked up the book to study but my mind was elsewhere.

Why can’t I be like Ravi, would mom love me more and worry less for me if I were like him? But how can I be like him? We were just so not alike he was reserved, quiet, self-sufficient and focused on achieving his goals and me on the other hand, wandering bird, waiting to be with people.

“Nikhil, are you back?”, I heard mom shout for me, “Yes Ma” I said I had to get back to studies, so I dragged my mind back to the books.

‘Oh, when will these exams get over?’, I thought. We were on the fourth paper and there were seven more to go. These exams were almost a month-long, the longest I ever had. Every day was a one hour journey to and from the exam center. As the center was far away from my home, my mom would come to drop me every day.

Outside of the exam center was a mela (get together) of children from different schools holding their books pretending to study but actually chitchatting and giggling. Some fathers would occasionally come on a bike or in a car and to drop their kids.

But the best was the set of mothers a pick a corner and gossip there often expressing dissatisfaction regarding the preparation level of their child. After a few days, it didn’t matter if you didn’t know the other mother, the topic of their children, their approach to studies and general exams rules bound them together.

Today was the last day of the exam, I had prepared well, or so I thought. My friend and I happened to be closer to the group where my mom was standing, close enough for me to hear their conversation.

“Rina, (that’s my mom) you have an elder son too right? I heard about him the other day, what is he doing?” the aunty next to my mom asked her. “Oh he is preparing for his engineering entrance” said mom. “He is planning to get into IT”, he very clear of where he wants to go, she volunteered more information with pride in her voice. 

“And what does your younger son plan to pursue?” asked aunty. “Don’t know what Nikhil is planning to take up, he is free-floating can’t make up his mind” she answered pensively. “Oh you must be worried for him” said my friend’s mom once again.

Oh no! I thought not the same conversation again.

My mom looked at her surprised, “No I am not worried about Nikhil if at all I am worried for Ravi.” she said. Now, this had my full attention, what was I hearing? “Nikhil is a happy child, everyone likes him and he too like to be helpful to all.” She was saying with a smile on her face. “He will never face a lack of friends and in the long run that is what will matter.” “I just want him to focus on his studies so that he does well for himself. Both Nikhil and Ravi are different that’s it. In fact they both complement each other.” She said smiling.

Listening to her brought a smile to my face that reached my eyes.

I was not better or worse, I was different and unique and I was the happiest child that day!