The school for which Ramlal worked was a small primary school. Some called him ‘Grandpa’. Some called him ‘police’, but for the rest of the school, he was their school watchman. The children were very fond of him and he loved them all, particularly the crying ones who didn’t want to come to school. He consoled them better with his sweets than with his words. The headmaster, parents of the school children, visitors to the school were all very pleased with Ramlal’s love for children.
“Grandpa, give me a sweet”, demanded Gopi, studying in the second standard.
“I’ve got only two sweets left and its for those crying children, over there”, Ramlal told Gopi.
“They don’t need sweets, just show them the birds and flowers and they would stop crying”, Gopi replied as he snatched the sweets from Ramlal and ran away. Gopi was one of Ramlal’s favorite children whom Ramlal never disappointed. In fact, he always had a sweet in store for Gopi and he loved teasing him.
It was the parents’ day and students were expected to bring their parents with them. Gopi who brought his mother with him shouted at Ramlal, “Grandpa, I want two sweets today”.
“Sure, sure, how can I deny my master’s command; here take as much as you want”, he told Gopi and showed a handful of sweets. Gopi was about to grab the sweets when his mother pushed him away. “You stupid, haven’t I warned you before, for taking these sweets. These sweets are unhygienic and would make you sick. I’ll kill you; if I ever see you take these cheap sweets again”. She starred at Ramlal for a while, and then dragged Gopi along.
The next day Ramlal was busy distributing sweets and consoling the crying ones as usual, when he noticed Gopi. Gopi seemed unusually dull as he slowly walked towards Ramlal. Ramlal was confused, as Gopi reached him and starred at the sweets for sometime and said in a low voice, “I don’t want these cheap and dirty sweets. It would make me sick”. He then ran away. Tears rolled down Ramlal’s face as he watched Gopi disappear into his classroom. Gopi had stopped taking sweets from Ramlal. Every time Gopi passed Ramlal, Ramlal thought of those days when the boy had demanded him sweets.
Days passed and on one particular day news flashed across school that Gopi had not returned home the previous day. “What could have happened to Gopi?”. “Why had he not returned home?”, everyone had something to ask and chaos reigned in the school. In the evening Gopi’s father came to meet the headmaster. Very soon Ramlal was summoned and the two watched him as he came inside the room. The headmaster seemed unhappy as he spoke, “Do you know hat happened to Gopi?. He had been kidnapped and a ransom amount of five thousand rupees has to be met. I don’t know what you think, but we hold you responsible for failing in your duty. We are therefore suspending you for a month”. Ramlal sensed a blow. He seemed to be beaten more by the fact that Gopi was kidnapped, than by the fact that he was suspended.
“I’m sorry; must be I’ve become too old for my job; I’ll quit my job; but please see that no harm comes to Gopi and take good care of him”, Ramlal said in a crying tone as he bade them farewell. The headmaster and Gopi’s father watched Ramlal as he slowly left the room for the last time.
Close relatives and friends had gathered at Gopi’s place and eagerly waited for his return. Gopi’s mother, who had stopped taking food, since Gopi’s disappearance, looked hopefully for her son. Gopi’s father and the headmaster had already left with the ransom money. They had been warned against informing the police. The most joyful moment finally came. An auto rickshaw stopped by the house and the headmaster stepped out from it, followed by Gopi’s father, with Gopi in his arms. Everyone rushed out to welcome them. Anxious questions were asked, “How did you negotiate?”, “Did they treat the boy well?”
Gopi’s mother was happy and relieved. She kissed her son; “Darling, how did they take you?”. The boy’s expression had changed slowly as if he had been reminded of something very unpleasant.
“They came in a van mummy and called me”
“You made a mistake Gopi; you should not have gone to them”.
“They showed me some sweets mummy”; Gopi scratched his head as he thought hard; “But mummy, those were super bar chocolates, just like the ones you buy for me”.
