To the rescue

Daddy had been transferred to Jabalpur and it was
to be my first day at the new school. I was reluctant to
go because I had no friends there.

I was still dawdling over breakfast when I heard
mother shout, "What's the matter with you, Anu.
You will miss the bus."
"Ma, my leg "
"I understand, Anu, your limp makes you self-
conscious. But you are a brave girl. I'm sure your
classmates will understand."
"But, Ma, I don't know anyone and they might
laugh at me. You know how awful I feel when people
make fun of me."

"I don't think it's going to be all that bad. Here's
some Kaju barfi* for your classmates. Remember to
share it with them. Now run along. Daddy will take
you to school."

On reaching school, my father took me to the
Principal's office. Later, the school peon took me to
my class. On the way I noticed some children staring
at me and giggling. I was miserable. My limp became
more pronounced and I wanted to go home. But, with
mother's words in mind, I managed to walk to the
class.

The teacher was there already. She introduced me
to the class and said, "Anuradha, go and sit on that
chair in the front row. The girl next to you is Mala."
"Thank you, Madam," I said and took my seat.

I was happy to get a seat next to Mala. She was goodlooking
and I liked her. A little later when the bell rang for the lunch
break, I asked Mala, "Where do you live?"

Mala did not answer. I thought she had not heard
me. I was about to repeat my question when a group
of girls gathered round her desk. They were busy talking
and Mala was telling them how she had learnt to swim.
I moved closer to her and asked, "Do you swim, Mala?" "Yes."
"I also swim."

"Oh!" she said and turned to her friends, again
ignoring me. I felt insulted. When I reached home
that afternoon, mother's first question was, "How
was your day, Anu?"


I burst into tears and, between sobs, said, "I'm not
going there again. The girls are not friendly. In the
morning some children laughed at me. Nobody spoke
to me in the class."

Mummy gathered me in her arms. "Now, now,
Anu, don't cry. Give them a couple of days. Do your

work well and be friendly and you'll see things will

work out differently." 

The next morning after a talk with Mummy, I was

ready again. Walking to my class, I noticed nobody

had giggled. I felt slightly better. 

The last two periods were for games. Mala and her

friends were going to play badminton. I love watching

others play. So I asked Mala, "Can I come along too". 

"What'll you do there?" Mala said curtly. "You

cannot play."

"I cannot play but I can pick up the shuttlecock," 

I asserted.

Mala thought for a second and said, "Not today. 

We're going to play a match. May be some other time.

Bye, bye." 

She picked up her racket and breezed out. One by

one they all left the classroom. I sat there lonely and

depressed. I tried to read a book, but my mind was

not in it. 

At dinner that evening my father and I were discussing

my day at school.

"How is your games teacher, Anu?"

"I don't know. I don't go for games."

"But, you are a good swimmer. Why don't you go 

swimming during the games period? You'll enjoy it.

I'll ask your teacher to give you special permission,"

said Mummy. 

"That'll be great. Oh Mummy will you really?" I

jumped with joy. 

The next day I took my swimming kit and

Mummy's letter. As soon as I reached the class, I gave

the letter to the teacher. She immediately agreed. 

During the games period everybody went off to

play, and, as usual, didn't bother about me. Feeling

a little bad, I picked up my swimming kit and left for

the pool. 

The sight of water always makes me fee) calm and

relaxed. I went to the bathroom, took a shower and

went and stood near the pool. I noticed bubbles in

the water. 'What could it be?' I wondered. Then I

saw a clump of hair. Two hands were hitting the water

wildly. "A girl is drowning." I shouted looking around.

But since I did not see any one I jumped into the pool

to save her. I just about reached her when she went 

under again. I moved fast and grabbed her hair. But

her short hair slipped out of my hand and she disappeared.

I dived, shot my hand out and grabbed her tunic.

Almost simultaneously she seized my hand. 

Soon I found myself being pulled down. I spluttered

and shouted, "Help! Help!" I kicked my legs as hard

as I could. Her tunic slipped out of my hand. She too

lost her grip and began to drift away. 

I swam after her and grabbed her hair. Then dragging

her, I swam towards the side of the pool.

Reaching the filter vent, I held on to it with my free

hand. After regaining my breath I pulled her and held

her up against the wall. 

With all the energy left in me I shouted, "Help!

Help!" 

Soon I heard voices. "Help!" I shouted again. Two

girls came running. Seeing me in the pool one of them

asked, "Anuradha, what's happened?" 

"Help me to get this girl out, please, Mala." Mala

knelt immediately. 

"It's my sister Kala," she exclaimed. Sprawling on

the ground she stretched her hands and tried to pull

Kala up. But she could not. I couldn't help either because 

Kala was too heavy for me. Mala shouted to her

friend, "Neela, give me a hand, quick!" 

Mala and Neela together pulled Kala out and laid

her on the ground. 

"Run, get the doctor, Neela. Hurry!" cried Mala.

As soon as I scrambled out of the pool, Mala 

looked at me accusingly. "Why did you push Kala in?"

she demanded. 

Her words hurt me. "I did not push her. She was

drowning when I came," I said curtly. 

Soon the doctor came. She gave Kala first-aid and

wrapped her in a blanket. After sometime Kala opened

her eyes. By this time the Principal had also joined us.

A peon brought a glass of hot milk for Kala. 

The principal then turned to me, "Anuradha, what

happened?" 

"I came to the pool to swim, ma' am and I found

Kala drowning." 

"But, madam! ". Before Mala could finish

what she wanted to say, Kala still dazed, tugged at the 

Principal's saree. Pointing at me she said weakly,

"Madam! this girl saved me." 

The Principal patted me and said, "That was very

brave of you. Go and change your clothes, dear. Otherwise

you will catch a cold."

After I had changed, I came and sat down near

Kala. My legs were aching and I was massaging them. 

Soon Mala came to me. "You must be tired. Let

me help you," she said and began to massage my leg.

"Are you feeling better now?" 

"I'm all right and I can see that Kala is feeling

better too," I said. 

"She would have drowned but for you," said Mala. 

We all walked home together.