The Burning Afternoon

“Satish….Satish where are you?” Monica was screaming at top of her voice. She was searching for him all over the place. Usually Satish run from his home. He didn’t like to play with other guys. He just likes to sit on the dusty mound. He likes looking at the view and daydreaming. Though  the view was not beautiful at all. All he could see from his spot was a lot of mounds of sand. They were arid and  lifeless. But his dreams were beautiful. They were full of life unlike those sand mounds.That was his favourite pastime. His dream used to be different each time. Sometimes he was a reputed doctor in a big hospital, sometimes a big officer who moved around in big white cars with security officers around him. Sometimes he was a heart-throb rock singer and sometimes a pilot flying gigantic aircrafts around the world. But his most favorite dream was when he was the Prime Minister of the country. He saw himself wearing white clothes, waving at the crowd, wearing a garland made of sweet smelling roses. 
“thud’’…he felt a strong slap across his cheek from behind. It was Monica. She was screaming at him. “Where were you huh? I have been looking for you for an hour now.” Though she looked for him barely for 10 minutes. “Papa is calling you. He wants you to handle the shop while he eats his lunch.” The orange colored teeth of Monica  were visible while she was talking. Satish did not like them at all but he ignored them as he knew that they were because of the beetle nut she chewed all the time. She said that it helped her with her stress. The 16 year old girl though had nothing big in particular to worry about except her exams which were in a week. Monica has wheatish skin tone and long nose. Her nose ring on her long and pointed face looks likes a part of her face. Satish sighed and said “fine. Let’s go.”
They went to their father’s  shop through the muddy road. The road was broken and full of ditches. The last time it was constructed was when there were elections going on and a big political leader did a rally on that road. That is from where  Satish got his favorite day dream. They hopped on that broken road where a regular person have to walk very carefully minding every step of his but as both of them were familiar with that road they had this unbreakable trust that no matter what, they won’t fall. They saw their father outside his shop waiting for them. He was a short thin man. He was dark in colour  and his front 2 molar teeth were longer than usual and rested on his lower lip. Sweat was dripping from his forhead and his shirt was soaked in sweat. He was walking back and forth and he looked angry. They knew that they would get thrashed by their father very badly. It was not his fault though. Anyone would get angry in such fiery heat. The temperature was beyond 45 degrees. Plus he was famished for hours now. As soon as he saw them he started yelling at them. “Where the hell were you? Do you think I’m a fool? Do you have no respect for me at all?” Monica tried to say “Papa but..” Before she could say anything further her father interrupted and said “Take care of the shop. I’ll be back in an hour.” They all knew that he won’t come back before the sunset as he was habitual of taking a nap after his lunch. He knew nobody will come to the shop to buy anything in this blazing summer noon. And if by chance anyone comes his kids can handle the customer.
His shop was a small one. It was made up of stones. It had few shelves where they kept few spices like turmeric, cinnamon, clove etc. in plastic jars. Some stuff was kept in jute bags like flour, sugar etc. There was some packet of potato chips hanging from a hook on the roof. Whenever Satish saw them he wanted to tear a packet and have some chips but he knew that neither his father nor Monica will let him have that as they can’t afford it. There was a jar full of chocolates as well. But Satish never craved for them. And then there were 3 jars of toffees. One full with orange flavoured toffees, another with chocolate flavoured. The last one was Satish’s favourite, it was mango flavoured. Dilip, Satish’s father, let him have one of those whenever he was in a good mood.
There was a guy who used to come to the shop, he was of Satish’s age. This guy belonged to a rich, well respected family in the town. Satish was jealous of him as he used to go to English medium school. He used to have chips and chocolates everyday and Satish knew this as he bought all of this from Dilip’s shop. He wore bright, colourful, branded clothes while Satish had to wear old, dull, hand-me-down clothes. But he didn’t hated the guy as the guy was very polite in behaviour. Satish one day asked his father what the guy’s name was. ‘’Govind...Unlike his brothers he has a good image in the society. He respects elders and is polite in behaviour. He’s good in studies as well. You should be more like him.” His father replied. Satish wanted to say that you do not give me new clothes like his father does, you barely let me have  even toffees forget about chips and still you expect me to be like him. But he didn’t say that out loud as he feared a slap from his father. He wanted to talk to Govind but could never gather the courage. Plus what would he talk to him? Maybe ask him about his school. Did he also like mango flavoured toffee like Satish? How did his father allowed him chips almost everyday? But each time Govind came to his shop he couldn’t utter a single word out of his mouth . Each time Govind used to come, ask for the things he wanted ,pay and left. Govid was a chubby and fair looking boy and with his polite and humble behaviour he used to win everybody’s heart. On the other hand Satish was a weak-looking, dark skinned boy.
Usually afternoon was boring. Monica used to sit on the inner side of the shop resting her head on the shelves while Satish sat facing opposite her resting his body on the wall while sitting on the cushion on which his father sits when he handles the shop. He calls it ‘gaddi’ and consider it important. In front of the shop there was a cycle puncture repair shop. Abdul is the owner of that wooden shop. He is also polite in nature. He even taught Satish how to repair a puncture. In noon Abdul mostly takes a nap. Other than that there are very few people visible on the road. There are one or two cows who are also trying to find shade. This afternoon was also the same. Then Satish saw Govind coming. He was panting. Satish first thought that he would offer him some water from the earthen pot which was kept at the shop for Dilip. But then he thought that he may not drink that water as it is not purified by those machines that are used by rich people. While Satish was in his thoughts Govind came and said ”brother can you give me a register worth 20 rupees.’’ Satish nodded and woke up Monica to which she reacted a little angrily by saying “what?” Satish pointed towards Govind and said give me the register behind you. She handed him the register and went back to sleep. Satish then gave it to Govind. Govind starts finding money from his pocket to pay Satish. Meanwhile Satish starts  to think whether to talk to Govind. He starts thinking what should he ask ? Should he ask about his school or should he ask what does he like more- chips or chocolate? Whether he likes toffee or not? Yes thats what I should ask him. Before he could say anything Govind hands him a 20 rupees note and starts going away. Satish thinks if he doesn’t speak right now Govind will leave.
Finally Satish broke the silence by saying “hey Govind!”. Govind stops, turns and starts looking at Satish. Satish falls silent now. He can’t think of anything to say. Then he remembers and finally utters “do toffees like you?” Govind starts laughing. Though Satish also joins him in the laughter but his laughter is more like when you are trying to show tricks on your cycle and falls in front of everyone and you start laughing. The ‘Embarrassment laughter’.
“I like toffees very much. Don’t know if they like me back or not? ” 
“I am sure they do. Everybody likes you.”
“No. That is not true.”
“Oh you’re just being humble as always.”
They talked for 10 solid minutes. Satish found out a lot about Govind. He goes to some school named St. Steve something. He even speaks english fluently as well as french. And yeah he also loves eating chips.
From that day they start talking each time Govind visits Dilip’s shop. Sometimes in the afternoon Govind even sits near the shop and they share a packet of chips and a lot of conversations. They sometimes even stroll around the road. 
One day in such afternoon Satish and Govind saw a bright shiny thing. It was a metallic object. Red and blue light were flickering from it. Satish picks it up and starts examining it. It looks like a watches’ dial. Govind also starts examining it curiously. There were 2 buttons on the side of the dial. But unlike a normal watch there were 5 needles in this watch. Govind took it in his hand saying “Someone must have dropped it.” He took a keen look at it. Satish was also looking at it without even blinking once. “This looks unusually beautiful” Satish said. While both Govind and Satish were busy in figuring out what it was, a guy came. He was Govind’s elder brother. “Govind what are you doing with this boy. You have been told  more than enough times not to play with him.” He said  this in a unpleasant voice which neither Govind  nor Satish liked. They disliked it not only because it was harsh but also because they knew that now Govind will have to leave and they won’t be able to figure out together what is the deal with the thing they have just found. Govind handed the watch to Satish and said quietly enough so that his brother can’t hear but Satish can “take care of it till tomorrow.” Govind then left with his brother leaving behind Satish on the lonely road.
Satish saw them till they disappeared. Satish then started to walk back towards the shop. He was seeing the watch but couldn’t figure out what it was. He then thought that he should probably wait till tomorrow. Govind will figure out what it is. Afterall he was the intelligent one! He reached the shop. Dilip was already there. He had arrived earlier than his usual time. Dilip told him to go home. From there he, with Monica went home. On the way home Satish  was thinking whether he should tell Monica  about the thing he and Govind had just found. He then thought that he would hide it from her as well. He feared that she would take it from him.They were welcomed with the smoke that was emerging from the 'tandoor' on which his mom was cooking spinach. Some spinach leaves were also around the tandoor.  Shanti was this weak-looking, fair skinned woman. She was sitting beside the tandoor. Her husband and 2 kids meant the world to her. Though she was timid but when she gets angry nobody could be more fearsome. Satish was looking for a place now where  he could hide his and Govind’s little secret. Finally he decided to hide it in his school bag whom no one will touch for sure. After hiding it he started doing his homework. Maths sums were which he hated the most. He was never interested in doing that. Today he even had a more interesting thing to think about. After completing his homework, he had dinner with  his family. Usually he used to sleep as soon as he lays down but today he was wide awake as an owl. All he could think about was the watch. After a lot of thinking  he decided to take a look at it. He got up slowly and carefully, making sure that Monica won’t get up. He takes out the watch from his bag and starts hitting the buttons. 
“beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.......!!!!! a long ,unpleasant sound came out from the watch. It was loud enough to wake Monica up. Satish hid the watch quickly in his pocket. “What was the sound ?” Monica asked. “I dont’t know.” They went back to sleep.
Next morning the sky was crystal clear. Satish couldn’t wait anymore to meet Govind and tell him about what happened last night. He was waiting eagerly on the shop where they usually meet. There was no sign of Govind. Mostly Govind used to come by 1:30-1:45 pm. But today there was no trace of him. Satish was now thinking that he won’t come today. Maybe he was stopped by his brother. By 2:15 Satish had lost all his hope of Govind coming. But at 2:30, all of a sudden Govind appeared out of nowhere.
“I’m sorry for my brother’s behaviour yesterday. Anyways did you figure out what is it?”
“No. I couldn’t. You know what happened last night. I was hitting its buttons to check whether it is in good shape or not. A long, loud voice came out of it. It was like beeeeep. It even woke Monica up.”
“Well let’s figure it out together. But not here. Anyone can catch us here.”
“I know of a place. Let’s go.”
Satish took Govind to his spot. On the sand mounds. There Govind started examining it again. There was a name engraved on the back of the watch. ‘Kaal’ ! It meant time in Sanskrit. There was a little button on it as well which none of them noticed yesterday. Govind pushed the button and all of a sudden everything started to change. Things started to move around them. It was day then night then day again within seconds. They saw people working around them but in reverse order.They saw the whole  world rotating around them in anti-clockwise direction. There were heavy winds blowing. Satish even lost his balance at a point but Govind held him. And all of a sudden everything stopped. The wind, the changes , the chaos. All. Stopped. But nothing much changed. They were same. But Satish started noticing change. This place was same but different. The road which lead to Dilip’s shop was well constructed. Then he looked around himself. Everything was better. There were way more trees. Then he looked at Govind. Even he looked different. He wasn’t fair or attractive anymore. Instead he was dark and thin. Govind was also looking at him with same gaze. Govind said “all of a sudden you’ve gotten chubby and fair.”It was as if their physical appearance interchanged.“ and you are thin and dark.” Satish replied.
“This is because of this ‘kaal’ !” Govind said a little angrily. 
“Let’s see everything else.” Satish said and he ran toward the road. Govind followed him. He was also amazed by looking at everything. Both of them couldn’t believe what they saw. They reached Dilip’s shop but it was completely different. It was big and had marble flooring. Satish was amazed. Dilip was sitting on a chair instead of his ‘gaddi’. There were way more items in the shop than before. Dilip was wearing a white linen shirt and a black pant. “What are you wearing? And why are you roaming with this boy? Go home and change.” Dilip said to Satish. Govind was feeling wierd now. He was thinking why am i being treated this way. Satish and Govind went from there. Sooner they concluded everything. This world was different from their original world. In this world Satish was rich and Govind was poor. Satish was more attractive looking and Govind was ugly. Satish was happy. He could eat as much chips as he wanted. He could go to the bigger and better school. Even the math  sums gave him pleasure. While on the other hand Govind was very annoyed with everything. His house was smaller, he was poor, he couldn’t even afford chips. Two days went like this. Satish was enjoying himself very much. He even started ignoring Govind. One day Govind confronted him. He said “give me ‘Kaal’. I want to go back.” But Satish didn’t want to go back. He was more than happy in this world.
“You are jealous of me. Right?” Satish said. It was more of a statement than a question.
“No satish. You are getting me all wrong. This is not our world. We have to go back to our REAL world. I do not like it here. I do not have anything here. I miss my home, my school. I miss everything.”
“Now you know how I felt. While you enjoyed everything and I struggled. I even craved for a packet of chips. No matter what happens I am not going. I like it here, I am living a great life here.”
“Give me ‘Kaal’ then. Let me go back.”
“No I can’t. You have to stay here. You need to be here.”
“ I AM GOING BACK. With you or without you.”
Govind tried to snatch ‘kaal’ which Satish had now tied on his wrist. Satish took a step back. Now Govind was struggling to take the ‘kaal’. He was throwing his hands in the air. Trying very hard. And after a lot of struggle Govind finally snatched ‘kaal’ from Satish’s wrist. In all of this Satish fell down and scraped his elbow and blood started to spill on the ground. But he was too angry to notice his bruise. He got up as quick as he could. He hit Govind with his fist which made him fell down. Satish snatched ‘kaal’ back but Govind had already pushed the button. Again everything started to change. Things were moving around. It was day then night and then again day. He saw people working but not in reverse order this time. The whole world was rotating around him in clockwise direction. Winds were again blowing strongly. Satish again lost his balance and he fell as this time
Govind wasn’t around to hold him. All of a sudden everything again stopped.
Satish was on the ground. He looked around. It was his spot. He was thinking about all that just happened. He was feeling guilty to hit Govind.
Then he remembered about ‘kaal’. When he lost his balance he had dropped
‘kaal’. He started searching for it everywhere. Then he saw it. It was broken. No lights were flickering from it anymore. The thought that now he can’t go back to the world that he cherished broke his heart. But the fact that Govind was still stuck in that world scared him more than anything. He tried to push that button hundreds of time. But nothing happened. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He started crying very badly. He was sobbing when Monica approached him. “What happened ? Why are you crying ?” Monica asked. “Nothing.  I fell down.” Satish replied. “come-on. Papa is calling us. Let’s go to the shop.” Monica said.
Everything went back to normal. Satish was again sitting on the shop with Monica in the afternoon. He again lost  interest in math sums. The only thing that changed was his day dreams. He spend hours on his spot. But he thought of something else.
Another day, another afternoon. The sky was on fire. It was piping hot.
There was not a single soul on the road. Cows were trying to find shade. Abdul was taking his usual nap in his small shop. Monica was leaning against the shelves and sleeping. Satish was sitting opposite to her on the ‘gaddi’. He saw Govind. Govind was walking towards the shop. He came and said “give me a packet of chips and a chocolate.” Satish did as he said. He gave him the packet of chips and chocolate. Govind paid and left. Satish saw him until he disappeared.
Satish was now on his spot on the sand . He was thinking about everything. The day he and Govind found ‘kaal’. Their adventure. And how all of it was nothing but a day dream of his. In reality, he never gathered the courage to talk to Govind. They were still strangers. Their relationship was nothing more than that of a shopkeeper and a customer. It was certainly not of friends. Satish knew he had a new favourite day dream.
Satish was thinking what would have happened if he had gathered the courage at that time to approach Govind. Would they have become friends? Would they have found ‘kaal’?
The clock was ticking. The second's needle was moving. Not fast. Not slow. Just at a regular pace. Satish's heart was beating. With each breath he inhaled, his chest rose  slowly and fell back too as soon as he exhaled. He was blinking, breathing, thinking all at the same time. Many years had passed but nothing seemed as important as the moment in which he realised all of it was just a fragment of his daydream. Years, sometimes decades pass but if nothing important happens it seems everything happened within a blink of our eye. But if something important happens, we count every blink. That is the game of time. Satish was now understanding it. 
Satish was deciding something now. He was deciding not to waste his time in day dreaming anymore but to use that time to chase those dreams. To overcome his insecurities about his skin colour and everything else. He decided to change his time. He knew that time is not going to stop for anyone. But if he exercise his time properly he would be able to bring a good time for himself and his family. The time that he dreamt of. He don’t need any ‘kaal’ to change his time. All he needs is hardwork and determination. Then he would be able to say ‘Time is Mine’.