3
One summer day, when the children were playing, Sabu walked away furtively. He had to catch up with his eldest paternal uncle on his way to office. Not that his eldest paternal uncle was a very fast walker, but he was very punctual and dutiful. He never missed a bus or the train to his office throughout his service-life. If Sabu had missed 8 o’clock in the morning, he would have missed him for the day. He was playing, but his mind was being restless for the moment his eldest paternal uncle started walking out of their house.
Sabu never wanted to put his parents into embarrassment. But, at the same time, he did not want to kill every wish most obvious to his beautiful little mind. His father’s big brother loved him very much. It never happened that Sabu wanted a toy or gift or a few pice from him to buy something and his uncle turned back. Even, on his returning home, in the evening, the big-uncle would look for Sabu and unzip his black leathery office bag to take out a very nice elephant-toy, which Sabu might have wanted and forgotten.
What his eldest paternal uncle found unique in Sabu was that once Sabu had taken something, he would not disturb his uncle for a long time thence. For, little he was, he was able to understand that way he would bring his father’s inability forward.
This time it was moon-biscuit.
Sabu was almost hiding himself behind the lamp-post by the village road. His big-uncle would be coming this way. At the same time he was keeping in mind that his mother would get angry if she came to know that he had held up his big-uncle to ask for something and even when he was going to office. That’s why this hiding.
In order to avoid being unusual to the passers-by, Sabu acted behind the post as if he was playing hide-n-seek with his playmates, who were looking for him.
But, unfortunately, one of his friends chanced upon him there.
‘What are you doing here? Will you not play?’ his playmate asked.
‘You go, play. I’m coming’, Sabu tried to send his friend back.
Sabu’s friend receded. He went back on slow, reluctant steps. He was being sure for something secret Sabu did not confide in him.
A moment had passed after the friend had gone out of vision when Sabu’s big uncle came out to walk down the road.
Sabu failed to notice. He was wriggling his toes in the soft growth of grass just under the lamp-post. His eyes were down.
Sabu’s big uncle, as usual, walked gently along the road while chewing carom seeds. He was a real Gentleman. He was slow, but timely and tidy about himself, about everything.
