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Young World
Courage under fire
PAVITHRA SRINIVASAN
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Vivek puzzled over why Naresh was so nasty to him all the time. Then he found the answer…
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The annual exams were barely two weeks away, and Vivek was nowhere to be found. Their special class had just ended, and there was a model test tomorrow. Venkat scouted the school-grounds, and finally ran him to earth near one of the tennis courts.
“What on earth are you doing here?” he asked his friend, who looked depressed. “Why the long face?”
Vivek shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Look, let’s play a small game — it’ll help get us fresh for tonight’s studying. You know what they say about play and work.”
Vivek nodded, but his service and shots proved that his mind wasn’t on the game. When he’d lost four games in a row, Venkat decided that something had to be done. “What’s up with you? Spill!”
And out came the whole story.
“I can’t figure out Naresh at all,” Vivek complained. “He’s the best student in class — he’s the best cricket player, he can out-do us all in tennis and give the best speeches …” his voice trailed away. “But he’s so awful to me sometimes.” As Venkat waited, he continued. “I copied his notes when he was absent — and he shouted at me. I tried mending his bat for cricket and he almost chewed me up. I bought him lunch at the canteen when he forgot his, and he almost slapped me. And you know what the worst thing is?”
“That he looks like he’s enjoying it?” Venkat asked, and Vivek looked up startled.
Trouble brewing
“How did you know?”
“Because I’ve seen him do it. He’s a bully, Vivek. He’s a good student — but he’s not a good person. He makes sure everyone does what he wants, bribing them with the hope that he’ll help them. You want some help with algebra, right?”
Vivek flushed. “I know it’s weak and cowardly — but he studies so well! How on earth am I going to get his grades if I don’t get his help?”
“Idiot. Did you really think a bully like him will ever help someone else beat him?”
Vivek dropped his racquet and sat down. “This is getting on my nerves. What do I do?”
“Ignore him. Don’t answer his taunts. He’s really good at hurting people — let him know that you don’t care. Once he realises that his heckling has no target, he’ll stop. You’ll see!”
“So how do I solve the studying question?”
Venkat sat down beside him. “I’m quite good at algebra, in case it escaped your notice.”
Vivek grinned.
A week later, a visibly happier Vivek was playing a marvellous game of tennis against Naresh. As Vivek won in straight sets, several onlookers cheered him, while a morose-looking Naresh slunk off the court. A rather timid-looking boy hailed Vivek. “That was a great game! It was cool how you scored better than Naresh in everything. How do you do it?”
Vivek winked at Venkat. “Call it courage under jeering,” grinned Vivek, as they laughed.
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