Ego

 When Rohan said he wanted to make a card each for all the boys and girls in his class, his mother was worried. He was a shy little boy of the fourth grade who had no friends worth mentioning. Even when the classes were real in the school, he never made a friend. He wouldn't talk to anyone. He just didn't know how to, what to talk to friends. Teachers thought that he was either a potential genius (a polite way of saying he was plainly abnormal) or just a dimwit (which nobody said loud). Then Covid-19 made the classes virtual and Rohan didn't miss any class though he hardly made his presence felt. 

Now his class teacher says they're going to celebrate the friendship day online. "Each one of you should make friendship cards for your friends. If you have one friend, make one card. If you have ten friends, make ten..." One card for each friend. And then the students will display the cards in the virtual classroom and thus declare their friendships. 

Rohan's mother was worried. She knew Rohan would not get any card. But he insisted on making a card for each of his classmates. "Did I miss anyone?" Rohan wondered after drawing up a list of his classmates. "What about Jameela? Sachin?" He checked the list again and again before making a card for each one. 

"Please God, let him get at least one card," Rohan's mother prayed every day until the friendship day came. 

The day came. Rohan's mother watched with trepidation as the virtual class turned on and went on. All the students displayed their cards made for their friends. Rohan's mother's heart sank. Her son's name never appeared. Never. She watched Rohan. He looked as if he was not even aware of the fact that his name never made an appearance on any card. When his turn came, he happily displayed all his 29 cards. 29 friends. None of his classmates had 29 friends. No, of course, Rohan hadn't counted that. He wasn't concerned about numbers. 

When the class was over, mother ran to Rohan and embraced him. "You made all your classmates happy today," she said. "Come, I've prepared something special for you today."

Rohan hugged his mother and said, "You know what, mom? I didn't miss anyone. Not a single one!"

***

This is a story I have adapted from Ruth McDonald's 'The Valentine'. Rohan is a symbol for me whose significance rises day after day as I watch our political leaders making tremendous claims and counter claims on my TV channels and other media.