“Let’s go and play“, asked Raman. “We have a friendly match with Rohan and his team“. Anand kept staring at the birds sitting on the tree. Raman yelled again, “Let’s go man, we can’t win without you“. Anand looked at him and said, “I will never play again“.
Raman was Anand’s best friend. He came close to him and asked, “Why won’t you play Anand?“. Anand replied, “I need to look after my mother“. Raman smiled and said, “Are you kidding? You are just a kid. Your Mom has got a descent job in the Army office. She can take care of herself as well as of you“. “I know that she is working and she can take care of me. But, I have seen her crying every night. I am the man of the house now. I need to take care of everything“, said Anand. Raman looked at him in amazement and said, “Come to the ground in case you change your mind“.
Anand went towards the street and started talking to his stray friends. He heard a voice of his father, telling him, “Don’t play with strays, they can bite you“. He looked around but his father wasn’t there. He still called out, “Papa, is that you“. Suddenly, there was chaos on the street. Two police cars drove past him blazing the siren. They just stopped in front of Mr. Mishra’s house. Everyone in the street came out of their homes and found that there was a commotion. Mrs. Mishra was killed. Police started asking questions to everyone in the neighborhood. She was stabbed and her throat was slit. A policeman hushed the kids away from the crime scene. Anand was jumping on his toes to get a glimpse of what happened inside Mr. Mishra’s house. The policeman said, “What are you trying to see? Is there a movie been shot inside? This is not a place for kids. Go home!!”.
Anand went back home and tried to finish his homework. But somehow he wasn’t able to focus. He kept thinking of what would have happened to Mishra aunty. His Mom came back from office around 6:30 pm. He ran straight to her and hugged her. She smiled and asked him, “How was your school today? Did you finish your homework or you were playing cricket with your friends?“. He replied, “School was good as usual and I didn’t play today. And yes, I have completed my homework”. “You are a good boy, I know that. But, how come you didn’t go to play today?”, she smiled and asked. He replied, “I went out to play, but I didn’t play cricket today“, he replied. “Okay, get fresh, I am making your favorite dish for dinner tonight“. She refreshed herself and then headed into the kitchen.
Anand switched on the TV and started watching some documentary. But, he was still thinking about Mishra aunty. “Wash your hands and come to the dinner table“, his Mom said. He washed his hands and joined his mother on the dining table. “You are looking a bit lost today. Is everything okay?”, Mom asked. “Mom, you know Mishra aunty who lives in 283, she was killed today“, Anand replied. Mom was shocked, she stopped eating and asked, “What! How? She was such a nice lady. I never saw her even arguing with someone”. She paused and then asked Anand, “I understand that it’s disturbing. Are you okay? Do you want me to take leave tomorrow?“. “I am fine Mom. I was just thinking that who would have done that“, said Anand. “Ya, that’s strange and I still can’t believe that she is no more“, his Mom replied. “Mom, I was thinking…. I will investigate her killing. I will find out who killed her“, Anand said excitedly. “Are you out of your mind. You are just 12. You don’t even understand what murder means“, his mom replied in anger. She started crying and said, “You just focus on your studies and be a good boy. I know, I am not a good mother and am not being able to give you enough time. But, I am trying to make a living for both of us“. “Mom, don’t cry… I will not do anything to make you sad“, replied Anand while wiping his mother’s tears…..