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Young World
Smile, a sunshiny smile
SUBAJAYANTHI
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When Chirag’s tooth fell, he thought nothing could be worse. But then he did not know the wonders sunshine could work.
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Green-headed sprouts triumphantly stood above the soil. Chirag could not help smiling.
Chirag’s cheeks were stained with tears. His eyes were swollen with much crying and his mouth shut tight when the teacher asked him if he was OK. “One gives way to another,” said Miss Sheela. Chirag could not smile; he didn’t want to for his upper jaw was one tooth short. The shaky front tooth had fallen out on the desk in class. The boys booed, while the girls exchanged sympathetic glances. Chirag didn’t like it one bit; worse still he though
t he was going to grow up without a front tooth.
Changing times
But, Miss Sheela’s hands over his shoulders were reassuring. Head bowed low he sat beside her as the other children got their gardening kits ready for their weekly eco-club activities and marched out of the classroom. Chirag thought he should stay back in class and take time to feel better. Miss Sheela was quick not to let that happen.
“Chirag, come let’s see the smiling sun,” she said. “I will show you the wonders sunshine can work.” Soon Chirag found himself close to the patch of soil tilled in neat long columns for the seeds to be sown.
There was a bit of commotion when Miss Sheela began distributing the seeds. Children swarmed around her to get their hands on the varieties of seeds. The mustard was very tiny; the bean had a cute curve, the sunflower seeds were sharp at the ends, the pumpkin seeds were a big oval and the corn was a kind of round. Miss Sheela gently thrust a fistful of seeds into Chirag’s palm. He held on to them tight and waited his turn to drop them into the soil. When all the children had finished, Miss Sheela nudged him forward. As his little fingers dug into the soil, burying one seed after another until there was no more left, Miss Sheela said, “There you are, Chirag. One gives way to another, and you shall know it soon.”
Chirag and Miss Sheela walked back together. Close to the compound wall, a few yards ahead of the classroom, stood a custard apple tree. There were no fruits and the tree didn’t look very healthy. At one glance Miss Sheela could say it was a caterpillar infested tree. Chirag also saw caterpillars. There were cocoons too. Pointing to one, Miss Sheela said, “Do you see that cocoon, Chirag? You will know soon how one gives way to another.”
A week went by. Loud cheers were heard in the garden during the eco-club class. Green-headed sprouts triumphantly stood above the soil and eager eyes peered over them. Chirag could not help smiling too. The seeds he had planted had produced sprouts that seemed taller than the rest.
Miss Sheela drew him near and said, “Didn’t I tell you Chirag, when one goes another comes?” Chirag’s eyes sparkled.
He wasted no time running to the custard apple tree. Fluorescent yellow butterflies were out of the cocoons creating a flutter in the air. He turned towards Miss Sheela, to find she was watching him. His smile was brighter than the sunshine.
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