HOMECOMING-Rabindranath Tagore [Adaptation]

Phatik was the most mischievous boy in the village. He would often create nuisance on the villagers and even his young brother, Makhan. One day, when he played a prank on his younger brother, his mother beat him up. At this moment, his brother Bhishamber arrived and he offered to take Phatik to Calcutta. Phatik’s mother readily agreed as she was worried that Phatik would someday drown his younger brother or break his head in a fight or run him into some danger or other. Phatik also rejoiced that he would be going to a bigger city and dreamt of having fun. He would ask his uncle Bhishamber about when they would start an leave for Calcutta. At this point, Phatik’s generosity towards his brother was unbounded. He gave up also his playthings like the fishing rod, his big kite and his marbles.

When they reach Calcutta, Phatik made the acquaintance of his aunt for the first time. She was not at all pleased with the unnecessary addition to the family. She found her three boys quite enough to manage without taking anyone else. Phatik was fourteen and at his age, he was not even a child or an adolescent. Then, he is at the unattractive, growing age. He grows out of his clothes with indecent haste, his voice grows hoarse and breaks and quavers; his face grows suddenly angular an unsightly. The lad at this age becomes painfully self-conscious and unduly shy when he talks with elderly people.

For a boy of fourteen, his own home is the only paradise. To live in a strange house with strange people is little short of torture. The aunt despised Phatik on every occasion. If she asks him to do anything for ever, he would be overjoyed and overdo it. She would call him stupid and tell him to get on with the lessons. The cramped atmosphere of neglect in his aunt’s house oppressed Phatik so much that he felt that he could hardly breathe. He wanted to go out in the open country and fill his lungs and breathe freely, but he was surrounded on all sides by Calcutta houses and walls. He would dream night after night of his village home and long to be back there. He remembered his mother and longed for her love and affection. Nobody could understand his feelings, but it preyed upon his mind continually.

There was no more backward boy in school than Phatik. He gaped and remained silent whenever the teacher asked him a question. He longed to go home and when he asked his uncle, the answer was, “Wait till the holidays come”. But, the holidays were a long time still to wait. One day, Phatik lost his lesson book. Even with the help of books he found it difficult indeed to prepare his lesson and now it was impossible. Day after day, the teacher would cane him unmercifully. His condition became so miserable that even his cousins were ashamed to own him. He went to his aunt at last and told her that he had lost his book. His aunt started cursing him and that night when he was on his way back from school; Phatik had a bad headache with a fit of shivering. He felt he might have an attack of malarial fever and that this would cause nuisance to his aunt. The next morning, Phatik was nowhere to be seen and all searches in the neighbourhood proved futile. Bishamber asked for help from the police and at the end of the day the police brought Phatik to the house placed in their arms. He was wet though from head to foot, muddy all over and his eyes flushed red with fever and his limbs all trembling. Bishamber carried him in his arms and took him inside but the aunt wanted him to be taken to his home. Phatik heard her words and told that he was on his way home but they dragged me again and again. Phatik’s fever rose very high and Bishamber brought in a doctor. Phatik opened his eyes and asked his uncle if the holiday had come and could he go home. Bishamber sat beside Phatik all night. Phatik became conscious in the morning for a short while and turned his eyes about the room as if expecting someone to come. But was all of disappointment, seeing this Bhishamber whispered to Phatik, “I have sent for your mother”. The day went by and the doctor said by the boy’s condition was critical. Later in the day Phatik’s mother burst into the room and moaned on seeing her son in a sorry state. His mother cried at “Phatik, my darling.” Phatik turned his head very slowly and without seeing anybody said, “Mother, the holidays have come.”