The Jedi and The Padawan-2

Before the advent of telecommunication, roads were the path to people’s heart. You either took the road to them or with them.

Episode 2

“I don’t understand, Master”, quipped Baka as he and Sethu took an evening stroll.
“Didn’t I tell you to stop calling me ‘Master’ “ replied Sethu.

“But you’re my first guru, Master”, emphasising on the ‘Master’ again.
“I wonder how you made a mark as an actor without a teacher”

“As people say, it’s all in the blood, master” he replied with his ever-jubilant, sparkling eyes and a wide grin.

There was something about the boy that Sethu could never comprehend.
“Well, one thing is in your blood for sure- I can give you that- the knack of talking. Coming back to the topic, what is it that you didn’t understand?”

“I suppose you told me my theatre skills weren’t enough for your movies. So this means I’m ready now? Aren’t I?”
“Sometimes you got to push the kid off the brink before he learns a thing or two”, Sethu replied with a laugh.

“Or you could just accept that I’m ready for this” Baka responded sternly.
“You will get there when you get there, Baka. For now, you take up this. Consider it your calling”

As the conversation went on, a ball flew out of nowhere and landed in their garden.

“It must be that tiny tot from the street.”, Sethu said.

By this time, Baka had lost his patience arguing with Sethu.
“Let me teach him a lesson”, Baka said taking the ball in his hand.

As he strolled out the building, Sethu asked him not to be hard on the boy. Baka jetted out, paying no heed to Sethu’s words.

“What are you doing outside at this time?”, Baka shouted at the boy.

“Playing na”, the boy replied in a cool manner, addressing Baka as ‘anna’ in the local slang of Tyen.

“Aren’t you a bit too old to be playing out on the street all day? What about your exams? “

“Yes. Have an exam even tomorrow but that doesn’t stop me from playing. I love playing football”, the kid replied with a sheepish smile.

“Why don’t you go study, then?”, Baka replied even as he pondered why to vent out his anger on the poor boy.

“Why are you so angry, na?”, the boy asked.

Coming back to his senses, Baka shakes his head in denial and returned the ball.

“Tell me whatever it is. We’ll solve it with our boys”, pointing his hand at a bunch of kids, with a wink.

Baka couldn’t help but laugh, “It’s nothing, kid. I’m a drama actor and want to become a hero but my master is not letting me be”

“Who? Sethu uncle? Our hero?”, the boy said with a smile.

“Yes”

“Why?”

In his head, Baka always portrayed himself as the hero in his theatre acts.

“I acted as the lead in all my dramas. Now he wants me to do a support role?” Baka questioned the kid.

“So what? Do you love to act?”

“Yes, of course”

“Then hero or support role, what difference na?
You are doing what you love. Look at us. So many tests. Class test, Mid-term, continuous assessment, final exams, this test, that test. Sometimes surprise test too.” Baka smiled on hearing the kid talk.

“But now we’re all playing football. I don’t know if you will take that role to do what you love but we are doing what we love. The match is going interestingly. We’re one goal behind them. bye!”, saying this, the kid returned to his friends who resumed their screaming and playing.

Baka slowly walked back thinking about whatever he had heard from the kid.

“What happened?”, Sethu asked resting back in his chair.

“I’m taking up the role”, Baka replied calmly.

“Seriously! What happened?” Sethu asked again, perhaps in shock.

Baka just smiled.

“Kid, sometimes in life, whatever good you hear from people, it is not always the same until you hear it from that one specific person, right?”, Sethu asked with a broad smile, comprehending what could’ve happened.

“Won’t you ever get tired of your philosophies? Master”, Baka asked with a sigh, rolling his eyes.

“Bright kid, right? What’s his name again?”

“Aadharsh”, replied Baka, still smiling.

~ to be continued