Realistic Fiction By Atharva Ashutosh Kerkar

In the year 2018, we remember the freedom of choice students should have in their academic life of school, college and university. No matter who you are, or where you are from, you should be able to choose what you want to do in the future.

        “I can’t wait to go to the college of science for the first time,” said Arjun to his mother, with an anxious tone.

“I am sure you will learn enough, my dear, and become a scientist in the distant future!” said Arjun’s mother. “Have a wonderful time in the college of science, my son! Remember to stay focused in class and take your time in making good friends as well,” said Arjun’s father while reading a newspaper in the living room.

        Arjun was awaiting the college bus which was yet to come near his house. He was excited to meet new people and try to make new friends (well, that’s at least what his parents told him to do) but Arjun really wasn’t ready to learnphysics. Arjun is a down to earth, shy and an introvert who suffers from some anxiety in tough situations. He didn’t socialize in school often, but he did manage to make 2 friends at school to this day. Arjun never wanted to do Physics, but his mother tells him to do it since it has many job opportunities. He felt backed out, but he had to show he is excited so that his mother doesn’t have doubts on him. Arjun actually wanted to do animation and was more passionate with animation compared to Physics.

        “Bye mother!” shouted Arjun while running to the college bus approaching from a distant range on the road.

“Bye sweetheart,” replied his mother.

        Arjun was on the bus and observed his surroundings quite vividly. There were 8 rows and 3 seats on each. He decided to go to the third seat, since three was his favourite number. Since someone already took the first seat, which was the window seat, Arjun had to sit on the second seat from the left. He sat down on thick blue fabric of the bus seat and looked to his left. Arjun’s first thoughts about this situation was how he should handle it. He thought of talking to the person sitting on the window seat. Well, he didn’t look very pleasant.

       This student had a pair of horizontal lip rings on his lips and an earring on one ear, but not the other. He had black hair, black clothes, black nail polish on his fingernails, black trousers and black shoes and socks. He also had black lipstick and a dark tint of eyelashes which were also black. Arjun thought that this guy really liked the colour black and was really addicted to it. He couldn’t see his shirt and what it said at the time, but it wasn’t very pleasant. Arjun also observed that this guy also had quite long hair and looked western.

        Arjun, after looking at these details of the individual sitting next to him, wasn’t too confident to speak to him but Arjun knew his father said to make a better friend circle and Arjun knew he implied it. Arjun had to talk, even for at least a minute. It would improve his social skills more and more as time goes on and it would help him with talking to anyone, one step at a time. Arjun was always wanting to have this moment and to shine in the spotlight of socialisation. He knew what he had to do. Arjun approached this guy slowly, while everyone was chatting about their holidays and their test grades. Arjun tapped his shoulder.

        “Hello?” started Arjun. “What do you want? You fat creep” the student asked, distinctively. “Um, what is your name...?” replied Arjun, with an improvisational tone. “The name’s Bart.” He replied. “Seems to me like you’re in my physics class, aren’t cha mate?” Bart said, with a very heavy British accent. “Yes, I sure am! Are you British?” Arjun asked. “Oh yeah, I am full British. I am thinking you aren’t from this country now, are you?” agreed Bart. “Yeah I am from India” said Arjun. “Oi! Does that mean you are smart in your class?” asked Bart, yet again with his British accent. “Oh yeah… I am…” said Arjun.

        Arjun’s face turned green, because he felt guilty of lying. He knew he wasn’t doing good with science and even thought he had no interest to it. He felt it burn through his veins, hoping Bart won’t ask for help with studying concepts he himself doesn’t know. He felt disappointed of his actions. Nevertheless, it didn’t matter.

        “Oh cool! That’s nice!” said Bart. “Thanks… I really am passionate about science itself!” lied Arjun, again. “My name is Arjun, so now you can call me Arjun. So, do you want to be friends?” asked Arjun. “Oh, sure mate! Why not? After all we know a lot about each other already! Like… I know you’re Indian,” exasperated Bart. “Okay...” replied Arjun.

Arjun finally, while rushing, got a friend. After that conversation they stayed tongue-tied for quite a while. Arjun attempted hard to look at the scenery while the bus cruised through to its final destination. He looked at the trees, the swamps, the grass, the picnic mats adults set up. It was all drifting away from him while on the bus drive. He was looking over at Bart and he was ignoring him again. Arjun was very confused what he’d done to make Bart his friend. Was it a good idea?Arjun thought. Arjun could tell Bart wanted intelligent friends who he can ask questions to, but Arjun just wanted a friend so desperately to tell his parents about.

        “Oi, Arjun! We reached college mate,” said Bart. “I can see that Bart…” Arjun replied, with a disappointed tone.

Arjun, Bart and everyone else strideoff the bus and walked formally to the college entrance with simple, non-uniform clothes. The scenery was absolutely incredible. Arjun saw the football pitch, which was said to be nearly 2 acres, and he realized how big it actually was. There were students playing in the pitch and everyone was fitter and healthier than Arjun. He has a problem with how he looks, since he is fat. The gates Arjun entered from were made from steel and metal as the title of the school was on the gate and building, as it reflected the sun’s light on Arjun’s eyes. The reception was close by, but he had to go to the main entrance.

Arjun wasn’t excited to learn new concepts in the college, since he despised Physics. He felt his inner pain as he entered. But surprisingly, he instantly loved the college infrastructure and interior design! He saw all the college students, heading towards their situated lockers. He did the exact same thing while observing the location he was going to. Down the corridor, he saw a physics lab in the distant area and the teacher was teaching the specific class overall. There were many students in the classroom who were learning a physics concept,and there were more students in that class compared to secondary school.

Arjun put his books in his locker but was very nervous as to what concept his class was going to learn. When he was finished putting the unwanted books in the locker, he rushed to his classroom. Surprisingly, he was the first student in the class. He sat in a seat near the end of a very long table. It was equivalent to 5 secondary school tables and there were about 6 of them! Arjun knew this was going to be hard to get used to. He never adapted to his environment as quickly as the other students, but he always tried to, and that’s what he thought was important.

It was 8:00 A.M. and the college bell rang indicating the start of Arjun’s first day at college. The students came in, one by one, and Arjun’s face went red as sweat trickled down his cheeks. He was tapping his finger on the table as time was passing, and the teacher was teaching. Arjun had no clue as to how he was going to remember all the concepts the teacher was telling the whole class to do.He was getting bored, slowly. The wordings on the classroom board were all just coming from one ear of Arjun and getting out from the other. Arjun was just waiting for this suffering to end. Bart was sleeping in class and Arjun had sat next to another student instead. This boy was different compared to Bart. He had side combed hair with glasses and a grey t-shirt saying, “Having too much ego can be bad, but having none will be a disaster.” This boy was also focusing on the class and was very slim. Arjun thought that this student could help him more than Bart ever could.

        It was lunchtime and Arjun approached this student. He asked him what his name was, but he didn’t want to answer. Arjun pleaded again and again until the student found it too annoying and at the end he had to give up his name.

“Okay. Fine! My name is Jake. Now please, leave me alone.” He said with fury and left.

        Arjun thought there were slim chances with being friends with Jake, now that his first impression was bad towards him, so he tried to leave him alone. Arjun regretted his choice and the consequence of it. It was the end of lunchtime and Jake had to go back to class. He had to go to a different class this time because a different concept was being taught. Arjun sat near the end of the second row out of the six rows, but Jake moved to the start of the third row. Now it was clear that Jake despised Arjun and Arjun was sad. After that, Arjun still felt bored while the class was being taught another concept in Physics.He was waiting for the day to get over impatiently and didn’t like the first class at all.

        The day was finally over, and the buses were waiting for the college students to get onboard. Arjun packed his bag and went to the bus and sat on the same seat. Bart was already there, and he didn’t look like he wanted to have much of a conversation at all. He looked more disgusted than he was in the morning. The bus went back to everyone’s house again and then the bus driver dropped Arjun at his house.

        “How was your first day in college dear?” asked Arjun’s mother. “It was okay, it will take me a while for me to fit in.” Arjun said, monotonously, while going to his bedroom to change his clothes. “Don’t forget to put your clothes to wash! Don’t forget to put your lunchbox to wash as well,” shouted his mother.

        Arjun was thinking very deeply about what career he was going to do. He hated the college class and didn’t take any interest in even one word the college teachers were saying. Arjun was feeling pressured in his mind. What should he do?

        Arjun had changed his clothes and went outside to sit on the dining table. His mother had laid out one Dorito packet and 4 biscuits on a plate. Arjun sat down to eat while his mother sat on another chair in the dining table with her phone. Arjun ate his favourite biscuits and munched on his Doritos. After he was done, he got up and headed to his bedroom. He was walking slowly but stopped.

        He thought about what his real passion was. He knew there would be no turning back from science to animating and he has to try and convince his mother, and he has to try at least once! He turned around with a thump on the ground while doing so.

        “Mum…” Arjun said nervously. “Yes sweetheart?” replied Arjun’s mother, while putting her phone down on the wooden table. “I think I have a-a con-confession to make” stammered Arjun, with regret for what he was going to say. “What do you mean? Hmm?” asked Arjun’s mother, getting up from her chair. “I-I don’t want to study Physics mum…” Arjun continued. “I want to major into s-something else.” “What is it you want to do? If it’s animation, then talk to the hand or go to your room.” said Arjun’s mother, justified as to what Arjun was about to say. “PLEASE mum, I will be happy if I-.” “SHUT UP!” Arjun’s mother slammed the dining table. Arjun’s mother grabbed onto her son’s arms and looked at him with her bold, bulging eyes.

“Arjun, you won’t be able to survive in this cruel economic world without a good job and salary. Animating will slowly kill you and your distant family! You have to do science dear,” “But mum, I want to do it. I WANT TO,” said Arjun, with a raised voice. “Please mum, if I do science I will be fired out of my own job quicker than this argument. Please I-.” “No, you shall not have a say in this, you can’t! You are too naive to understand the consequences of your actions.”

        “Mum! I know the pros and cons about animating but doing Physics will be the biggest mistake of my life! I will always be bored and confused as to what I am doing with no passion to what I will help with. I will forget important concepts and I will not get a job by an enterprise. I-.” “I don’t want to talk to you. Go to your room now,” concluded Arjun’s mother. “Mum, you have to listen to me,” disagreed Arjun.

Arjun kept talking about his complex feelings, but Arjun’s mother took no notice of him, treating Arjun with contempt. Arjun went to his bedroom, slowly walking, with disappointment following behind him to his mind. He knew his mother didn’t care about what he had passion for, and he thought his mother never cared about HIM. His mother only wanted him to live a happy life, but she thought of only one thing that would make him happy. Money. His mother thought that animating gave you nothing but PAIN, since the income was lower than an average earning capacity in the western countries.

        Arjun swooped and dropped onto his unorganised bed. He whimpered onto his bedsheets and was sad that he would have to suffer for the rest of his life majoring in physics. He had dark thoughts like begging and starving, just like his mother thought of Arjun if he chose animation. He strides to his bedroom door and locked it. He fell onto his bed again and closed his eyes like nothing happened. He started thinking deeply and hoped to do it for a very long time.

        After around four hours of Arjun’s absence, Arjun’s mother got concerned. She tried to open the door of Arjun’s bedroom, but it was locked.

“Arjun?” She shouted, while knocking on the door. “ARJUN! OPEN THE DOOR!” She shouted, while banging on the door very hard.

        Arjun’s mother tried to break the door, but it was no use. Arjun was in a trance. He didn’t want to get involved with life anymore. Arjun’s father rung the door bell and Arjun’s mother came to the main door and opened.

“What’s going on Sanjana? You look worried…” said Arjun’s dad, with concern. “ARJUN HAS LOCKED HIMSELF! Bharwal, come and break the door down quickly!” Shouted Arjun’s mother anxiously, while pushing Arjun’s dad inside the house.

Bharwal sprinted to Arjun’s bedroom and shoved himself into the wooden door. It broke the lock, so he opened the creaking door slowly. “Arjun?” said Arjun’s parents, softly.

        They found him, lying on the bed. Arjun’s mother immediately went to check Arjun’s pulse and Arjun was still alive. Sanjana slapped Arjun’s face and yelled a lot.

“ARJUN! Wake up. Wake up NOW!” demanded his mother in fury. “Sanjana, calm down. You don’t need to let our neighbours know that our son is sleeping,” said his dad.

Arjun woke up after some time and then, before Sanjana could say even a latter out of her mouth, Arjun’s dad asked why he did this.

        “Dad, I don’t want to major in physics. Mother is not listening to me dad. She is forcing me to do something I don’t want to do. Please dad, can I do animation?” Pleaded Arjun. “Don’t do Physics then Arjun.” Replied his dad. “What? Bharwal. Are you out of your mind?!” disagreed Sanjana, while clenching her fist. “Arjun should only do what he wants Sanjana. That’s the only thing that matters to be honest. If he doesn’t then he will be screwed…Sanjana, you should know this,” finalised Arjun’s dad. “It won’t make him satisfied! He won’t get enough salary!” “Please tell me you are joking. Everything isn’t about money Sanjana, if he is happy then that’s everything you should care about.” “Bharwal! He won’t be able to feed his own children.” Cried Arjun’s mother.

“He will be able to enjoy his creative achievements of his career with them. Trust me Sanjana, if you tell him to do Physics now and force him then it will end up with his loss. You will be sad and disappointed.” “How will he get a wife! If he animates then he will just get lazier and fatter!” “We will sort that out Sanjana. Stop looking at the pessimistic side of this choice and enjoy it as it is. Think about the welfare our child will have and let him have his dreams come true.” “It is my job to look at the pessimistic side to see the welfare of our son.” “If that was your actual job Sanjana, you would have been fired by now.” Replied Arjun’s dad.

        Arjun’s mother changed her face from worry to angry. She went red and stepped on Bharwal’s foot. She went to the main door of the house and opened it to get out and then slammed it to close the door. “Are you sure you want to animate Arjun?” asked his dad. “Yes dad. I am not scared anymore… and thanks” replied Arjun while walking outside to speak with his mother. “What a strong boy” his dad said.

        The door shut, and Arjun stood next to his mother. “You know why I am doing this? So that you can lead a happy life my dear. I want you to have the money to satisfy your family with so that you be satisfied. I only cared about your salary and happiness. Then your dad made me realize that money doesn’t buy happiness. Your dad is right. What a bad parent I was, forcing you to do the one thing you didn’t want to do,” said Arjun’s mother. “Are you sure you want to animate, my boy? My dear son?” asked Arjun mother. “Yes mother… I want to animate,” said Arjun, with full commitment. “Very well. You may do animation as a career. I am so sorry I forced you to do Physics since you were in Grade 4, torturing you from the inside. Please forgive me.” “It’s okay mother. At least you said sorry…”

        Arjun hugs his mother and Arjun’s mother kisses his head in return. “Go now, I will serve dinner.” Commanded Arjun’s mother.

Sanjana went towards the kitchen and Arjun followed. Arjun, at this moment, felt a sense of “relief”. More than ever in his life. It was like he was carrying 100 pounds of weight in his mind, but it went to absolute zero in just a flash. He enjoyed this moment to the fullest in his inner-mind and inner soul. Arjun grew up to work for Disney and owns his own animated show till this day. He has a small family but a big crowd of fans. Everyday, he thinks of this part of his life and always thanked his parents for the approval for him to do animation and the approval to be who he is today. He also thanked his father a lot because he was the once who saw the bright shining light in his future, which made him convince Arjun’s mother that animating should be his reality and career right now.