The Class of '18

Anav Adlakha

Anav Adlakha woke up each day to live only one dream - to do what his father commanded and each night slept with the crecendos of abuses for failing to meet his father's expectation and being a worthless son.

"Sir, tomorrow I'm participating in the race" said half a dozen old Anav.

"Care to open your books too. Last time you lost a whole one mark in Mathematics. Do you know the value of even half a mark. Students don't get admission in DU. Look at you! You'll just run after life but you will not win." said Sunil Adlakha, munching bread.

"Parents have to be there by eight." said Anav before going to bed.

"Sushma will be there."

Sushma Adlakha sat closely packed among the crowd of parents, her eyes fixed on Anav. She waved as he spotted her. He waved back a dead hand as his eyes scanned through the rows and columns around his mother.

"Ready!" 

Anav gathered his attention.

"You will not win" said the tall boy in the next lane grinning.

"Set! Go!"

Eight lanes sprinted towards the finishing line.

Anav ran as fast as he could, slowly leaving a few behind. His throat became dry, his head throbbed, his heart beat like an army bass drum. His legs began to ache.

He then left everyone behind except the tall one. The race was about to get over. A few thirty metres. 

Anav swiftly passed the tall boy, escaping a few elbowing.

A last ten metres remained. Anav looked back at the tall boy who was still about five metres behind him. 

Then Anav abruptly stopped just before the finish line and let the tall one pass him.

The Physical Education teacher came running, calling the race 'harsh'. She asked for a restart. Though it ended in the same fashion.

Anav Adlakha looked back at his mother who was still clapping, hiding the fact that her son one day will become a slave to the domineering world or maybe he already had.