The Little Liar of V B

 

Sasha was determined to fit in this time. New school, new teachers, new atmosphere! She was determined to work hard, study well, improve on her handwriting and be a success!! She just wanted to make her mom proud for once in her life.

 Life had never been easy on her. Being an only child in the 80s was tough. She had been constantly judged by her relatives and bullied by her cousins. She was endorsed as the brand ambassador of ONLY CHILDREN – selfish, spoiled and lacking the qualities like sharing, caring and adaptability. 

Though not lacking in any of the qualities mentioned above she was by no means what the dictionary defined the terms selfish & spoiled. But the girl was miserable. She had little academic, athletic or social skills. She was slow in everything! Even Turbo, the snail would be faster than her! Whether it’s a simple task of taking the book out of her bag in class or the more complicated ones like making friends and keeping them.

She was the least capable of playing with the girls at recess. She was terrible at passing or keeping secrets, was unable to put her fellow mates in Coventry and her eating habits were another story! She was slow as she was in everything and didn’t like anything she was given to eat. In short she was a disaster!!!

Teachers and classmates were fed up dealing with her, a misfit in every sense. All they could do was complain. They promptly did so to her mother when they got a chance to meet her or to her maid who took her lunch to school every day. Being a picky eater obviously she couldn’t be trusted to have her lunch alone as the other kids.  

Of course her mother was ashamed. What more can she do? She rattled her brains in vain. She had no such trouble growing up; neither did her brothers. Sasha’s dad, much like Sheldon from the sitcom The Big Bang Theory – deciphered the equations and derivations of geometry and quantum physics before he was potty trained. How can their child be a total disaster! Nature’s mistake? Where did the genetics go wrong?

Seldon unravelling the secrets of the Universe... 'Big Bang Theory'

More than anyone else Sasha was ashamed of herself! The little girl was hurt. No matter how much she tried nothing was coming easy for her. Though she was an epitome of obedience she failed to win the hearts of her elders. Being an only child with the devoted maid hovering over her constantly she was deprived of all the chances that could allow one to walk alone, fall down, pick oneself up and walk again to fall down once more, making her deficient in those valuable skills much needed on the playground.

But she was a brave heart and never let a soul find out how hurt she was because of her own inabilities; how she wanted to make her mother happy and how sad she was to hear her mom and the maid discuss her failures.

Now that she was going to the new school, far away she wanted things to change. Going to school with her lunch box and water bottle, carrying her bag all by herself just like all other kids made her feel as if she has conquered the world. Secretly at her heart she wished nobody would know that she was an only child. She wanted to turn a new leaf.

Life wasn’t bad in the new school. People didn’t know she was an only child and she tried hard to keep it that way. She got a friend, for the first time in her life.  Though she wasn’t particularly good she did more than okay in all subjects, except drawing and needlework. She sucked at both!!

 But the case of Malayalam was different. Though she got average marks the teacher wasn’t pleased with the numerous spelling errors she made. However the Malayalam teacher, Miss. Shiney seemed to have noticed in her a certain flair for writing.

One day the class was given a composition on the topic vidyadhanam sarvadhanal pradhanam. They were told to attempt writing the composition on their own if they wanted, though it was not compulsory they did. It was a welcome change for Sasha as the teacher always provided them with a readymade one to be by hearted.

At the zero hour that evening she worked like a hero. She worked diligently and wrote a ten line composition. She felt much like Ishan in Tare Zameen Pur after finishing his Math surprise test.  She resisted the temptation of showing her work to her best friend whose seat was right next to her. She wanted to surprise her in the Malayalam class with her work. She was also a little worried she might steal her lines for her own composition. Typical single child behavior!!

That evening Sasha was particularly happy to reach home. She wanted to show her writing to her mom and dad, her cousin who was staying with them and of course, her maid. She read her composition to her mom who nodded while she was bustling in the kitchen. Mother boasted of her grandfather who helped her with the same topic when she herself was a child and offered to improve on her work. Sasha wasn’t pleased. She didn’t want to change a word for then it won’t be her work. The maid and her cousin didn’t find it a big deal at all.

Disappointed Sasha put her work back and didn’t bother showing it to her dad lest he might also find it wanting polish. She did not get the appreciation she had expected. But these little set backs were not going to kill her spirit. She was sure her teacher will be pleased with her in class. That night Sasha slept happily dreaming how she will be applauded by her teacher for her work. She could imagine her standing in the front of the class with her fellow mates clapping. She might even earn some house points for it.

The next day Sasha was thrilled to go to school. She couldn’t wait for the Malayalam period. There were two that day. Sasha could not contain her excitement.

Shiney miss seemed not to remember the work she assigned. She was busy giving the pending notes during half of the first period. At last she asked about the composition. None of the class had done it except three and of course Sasha. Sasha was sure the works of the other three girls would be better than hers. After all two of them were the class toppers and the third one, Shamna was particularly good in Malayalam. She made each of them read their works. The three girls being old students had copied down what the teacher gave in class the previous year.

Now it was her turn. Sasha rose to read her work. She had practiced reading it many times and so did it beautifully. Once she finished she looked up in triumph. The teacher seemed interested. She asked her from where she wrote it. Sasha replied honestly that she wrote it on her own last day during the zero hour. Now the teacher wanted to see the work. Though a little annoyed, Sasha took it to her. May be she wants to read it for herself. Then she would congratulate her in front of the whole class. Her heart pounced.

After the close examination of the exhibit Shiney miss arrived at her final conclusion. She had found the crime, the criminal, evidence and even the accomplice. Now all she needed was for the culprit to confess her crime.

So she turned to Sasha. Sasha looked at her. She could not find an iota of appreciation or encouragement on her face. The teacher seemed not pleased at all!!  She wanted Sasha to admit that she sought her mother’s help and then lied about it.  Shiney miss was dead sure. Sasha was just an average student and an only child. She will get all the attention and help from her mother.

After learning about her background the teacher had already made her mind up about Sasha. She might be given extra coaching at home and was taught everything in advance or else how was she always coming up with original sentences in class. She was particularly good when it came to making sentences. How else could an average student like her come up with such things? Extra coaching by the mother! That’s the answer.

Now the teacher was determined to expose the little liar of V B. She had to admit to her crimes. The cases charged against her was not all together wrong. None of her ideas on the topic were entirely her own.  Sasha had used the ideas that the teacher had discussed in class that day as well as the ones which her parents always recounted while convincing her of the importance of education. But how can she admit that she took someone’s help in writing the composition when she didn’t. How was she to admit to something she did not do?

The teacher was very cross with her. She was adamant. Sasha was cornered and ridiculed. But she stood her ground. Finally the teacher came up with the last arrow in her quiver. Sasha had to stand outside until she confessed.

Standing outside Sasha couldn’t believe how the state of affairs changed so drastically against her. Things did go as she had imagined yesterday but not quite the exact way as she thought it would. She was for sure standing at the middle of the class with all eyes on her. But they were not the look of admiration but distrust and disbelief. The teacher did mention her name multiple times in the class. But not as someone who should be looked up to but as a liar who should be looked down up on. She regretted not showing her work to her friend. Now no one saw her write and so no one could testify for her. She had nothing to prove her innocence.

She thought what the other teachers and headmistress will think if they saw her standing outside the class. If the headmistress saw she might get much severe punishment. The sheer humiliation and embarrassment was too much for the nine year old to take. Moreover she was tired of standing. The pathetic athlete that she was made her legs tired. She couldn’t take it anymore. It was as if God has come down to Earth to tell a poor man to lie and admit to the crimes falsely accused on him so that he could be spared of the torture of the police. So Sasha did exactly the same. She went in and told the teacher she was sorry she lied. Her mother was the one who wrote it for her. She copied it down and read in the class. The teacher was satisfied. After all she had been right all the way long. A triumphant smile appeared on her face. The smile Sasha had longed to see on her face when she read her work. She let Sasha in. Casually the little girl went inside and took her seat.