Short Story: Bhola's Day Out

Actually, this story was an essay assignment given to me by the University of Chicago. After writing it, I realized, it was really good, so I published it in my blog. So, buckle up to go through Bhola's Day Out.


BHOLA'S DAY OUT


It was 6:30 in the morning. The alarm clock was ringing on continuously for the last two minutes, but Bhola didn’t have any intention of losing his battle of slumber to a petty alarm clock. He covered his face with his quilt and hoped that this armor of his would protect him from the clattering attacks of his alarm clock. But this battle of his didn’t last long; the raids of the alarm clock were aided by a couple of hands and within a minute his defense was overcome.
“Oh-huh Ma! It’s just 6:30 in the morning.” moaned Bhola, “why did you wake me up so early? I slept late you know.”
A tendering voice replied, “But son, you will be late for your test.”
“What test?” inquired Bhola in anxiety.
“Your Teacher Training Certificate test”
“Oh shit! I entirely forgot about it, I better get ready fast. My entire career depends on this test.”
Bhola jumped out of the bed. He took his toothbrush and hurried into the bathroom.

Our Bhola is a young man of 25 years with below-average looks. His appearance is somewhat creepy; so, he is the only one amongst his friends who is still without a girlfriend. The only woman with whom he maintains a steady and friendly relationship is his mom. He believes his mom is very lucky for him and never goes anywhere without taking her kiss first.
His superstitious and irrational attitude is the chief cause of him still being unemployed even after holding a 1st class BSc (Bachelor of Science) degree in Mathematics. His only hope now is this TTC examination conducted by the University of Chicago, which he thinks will provide him a one way ticket to his success.

But he has no idea of what was coming towards him that day. He dressed up quickly, took his application file and hurried out of the door. In his haste he forgot to take his mom’s kiss. It was when he reached his bus-stop, which is about one km away from his house he realized what a blunder he made. He started feeling uneasy and thought of going back, but his test will start from 8:30 and it was almost 7:30 in his watch. So, he continued his walk praying that nothing bad happens. On his way he took out his admit card and saw that the test must given by number two pencils.

“Why number two pencils?” yelled Bhola in annoyance. “Can’t I just use pen? Who cares, it’s their test and I have to follow their rules”

Groaning and muttering, he went to a nearby stationery shop. The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman. He asked for three number two pencils. While he was taking out his wallet, the woman saw that one of his shoelaces was left untied.

She said “Excuse me Sir! A shoe of yours is open”
Bhola was quite extolled with the lady’s manners and had craziest idea that one can ever have.
He said, “Excuse me Ma’am! I was just wondering, could you kiss me on my left cheek”
The lady gradually started turning red with anger and within a minute she planted her right palm tightly on Bhola’s cheek.
But instead of saying sorry Bhola replied, “Pardon me Ma’am, but could you slap my other cheek also. My grandmother used to say, if one gets slapped in one cheek he remained unmarried for the rest of his life.”

Hearing this, the lady became more furious. She hit him tightly on his neck and threw him out of his shop along with his newly bought pencils yelling, “If you ever show your face in this colony again then that day will be your last.”

Bhola turned away from her and continued his walk. The two things that were bothering him were why did the woman hit him and can the neck-hit be considered as a slap. These thoughts of his didn’t bother him for long because he stepped on his shoelace and fell face-first on the road. His entire outfit became dirty. His face and hands were scratched. His entire appearance changed completely. He looked more like a beggar than an examinee. He got up from the ground and yelled for a taxi. A taxi stood in front of him; but misfortune followed him here too. Simultaneously two doors opened and before he could enter, an old lady got into the taxi.

Bhola argued, “But ma’am I called the taxi first.”
The old lady yelled, “Don’t you have any manners? Senior citizens always get first preference. Didn’t your mom teach you that?”
Saying this, the old lady turned her face away and ordered the taxi-driver to go to her destination while Bhola was blaming himself for forgetting to take his mom’s kiss. He wondered none of this would have happened if he was kissed and slapped properly.

He then took the next taxi and was on his way to the examination centre. Inside the cab he was hoping that his desired questions may come in the paper; but with misfortune following him like a shadow he had a premonitory idea that his exam will turn out bad. But if they ask for a fanciful explanation of the Pythagorean Theorem or questions from the Periodic Table of Elements then his chances of qualifying are good.

With all these preoccupied thoughts he reached his examination centre. Seeing him in this ragged condition, the gatekeeper said, “Hey wait! No charity service today. Come tomorrow”
Bhola replied, “But I am an examinee. Here’s my admit card”
The gatekeeper examined Bhola from top to bottom and muttered, “Education is getting cheaper day by day.”
But Bhola didn’t pay much attention to him. He entered the hall and started his examination.
After completing the test Bhola returned home. His mom asked, “How was the test”
Bhola replied, “Please don’t ask about it.”
He went to his room and lay idly on his bed.
Seven days later a postman came and delivered his mark sheet. Bhola was astonished to see what was printed on that piece of paper. He had qualified the exam. He jumped with joy and ran to mom. He gave her a kiss on her cheek and hugged her tightly. It seemed that all his premonitions about the backfire of the test were wrong. He now realized that it’s hard work not omens that builds a man’s career. He went to his room and looked at himself in the mirror. He realized that there was a transformation in him. He is a different guy now. He stared at himself for a minute when he realized that his inner-self was speaking to him. After his conversation with his inner self Bhola went to his mother.
He said, “Ma, you won’t believe what just happened. My inner-self spoke to me”
His mom replied, “So, what did it say?”
“It said; you have found the right path and will you continue to move along this road?”
“And what did you reply?”
“And yes I said yes I will yes” concluded Bhola.