Acceptence is Repentance (1996)

This is the most awaited day of my life till then. Everyone I knew gave the day a lot of importance, sometimes considered it as a milestone in one's life. It was the last day of my HSC (10th) exam. The paper was Geography. I was not at all good in that subject. Before the exam starts, some of my friends were discussing about their plans for the evening. Some thought they would start drinking alcohol and some preferred smoking. But out of all this, the best thing that captured my attention was that of a movie.

Three of my friends, sitting under a tree, were planning to visit a movie. They were talking about some scenes they saw in a promo. It was quite alluring. I sat by them to hear what they were talking about, almost forgetting about today's paper. To end their discussion, Purna said to Srinu and Kunja that each of them needed to spend just a little more than 5 rupees to visit the movie. Now, it was interesting for me. I had all the three reasons to be a part of their plan. First, I had never visited a movie by then; Second, it was the last paper of HSC; and third, I had more than 10 rupees in my pocket. So before the bell rings when they said, "so it's a plan" and placed their right hands one over the other, I also put my hand on top saying "yes, it's a plan." All three of them, looked at me in astonishment. I felt like an uninvited guest, but it's okay when the matter was about a movie.

It was decided that all of us will meet at 12:30 PM at the same place after the exam. The test was scheduled to take place between 10:00 AM and 12:30 PM. I would say it was a 2 and 1/2 hour disaster for me. After answering every question, I started thinking about the movie. Around 12 O' clock, I was totally lost. At about 12:15 PM, when I came back to my senses and realized that I still know the answer of one question. Before starting to put the answer on the sheet, I found my movie partners outside the window. They gestured me to submit the sheet. And I made up my mind to leave the exam hall, beating all the guilty feelings. Without giving any second thought, I submitted the paper and left the hall.

We waited outside. Three public carriers came and went. I couldn't get into them. They were over crowed. All the other three got into the vehicle and jumped down when they saw I couldn't make it. On seeing a vehicle from far away, Kunja let everyone know about his decision that even if I couldn't make it that time, they would leave for the movie without me. I felt very embarrassed. I made up my mind to jump into the vehicle no matter what happens thereafter. But Srinu and Purna had a different plan. They knew I was not more than 35 kgs. When the vehicle arrived, Kunja got into it through the front door, but the other two waited till the back of the vehicle faced us. Then, Srinu hold my left shoulder and the right one was possessed by Purna. Both of them shouted "Jai Bajrangbali" and jumped on to the rod at the back side of the public carrier. There was no way we could enter into the vehicle. We had to stand on the rod for 15 minutes. I was trembling frivolously. But, anything for a movie.

The vehicle took 20 minutes to drop us at the theater. I was astounded to find the huge crowd outside the main gate. Hundreds of people were waiting for the gate to open. Kunja collected money from all of us before running to the ticket window as the gate opens. When he left us, his shirt was totally tuck in, hair was nicely combed. And when he came back with four tickets, he had only two buttons left in his shirt, hair were looking at the sky. But, the excitement of watching the movie overshadowed everything. We watched the movie sitting in the front row.

Three hours of entertainment ended at 5:30 PM. I reached home at 6:00 PM. All the way to home, I was thinking of a plan to misguide my eldest brother. Srinu and Purna guided me a little. But Kunja was the best. He suggested me the idea that I should say that the vehicles were too crowded, so we had to wait for a spacious one. Everyone agreed to the fabulous plan. All of us bid adieu outside my home. Then, I entered into my home. I took five minutes to walk five steps. Watching a movie in a theater was considered to be a sin in my family. "What would happen to me when my brother would come to know about this?", I thought.

I wished my brother didn't ask me anything though the plan was all set. My brother was teaching some of his students. He looked at me. I didn't look into his eyes, actually I never look into his eyes. He didn't ask me anything. I passed him and was about to change my uniform, he asked "why so late?" I started trembling. Kunja, Srinu and Purna! I don't know why they didn't come to my mind then. He asked again, this time a bit louder, "where were you until now?"

"I.. I.. I went to watch a movie", I confessed as my right hand reached near my right chick and left hand near my left butt.

I expected a tight slap in my face and two to three kicks on the butts. On the contrary, he reacted with a smile after five seconds and asked, "how was the movie? I couldn't get a ticket. How could you manage to get one?" I said, "Kunja got it for me." He said, "Ok, go and get freshened up. And, listen, don't make it a habit. I forgive you because this was your last day of HSC exam. By the way, how was the story?"