The Umbrella Partner

Chapter 5 - Bullying

"You like her because she is likable? Or is it because she was kind to Shravan?" My friend asked me, while draining my supplies of grapes, which I had no idea, existed in the fridge.

"Okay, first. Like is a strong word. And B. Why do you stress that she was kind to Shravu? Isn't that a good thing?" I tried to take a grape from his bowl.

He swatted my hand away as if I were a fly. "Because you love that kid. And you hold everyone who helps him, in a high regard. And the teacher being nice to him, stuck to you like a chewing gum getting stuck to brand new shoes."

"Is this even going somewhere?"

"I heard you raised your voice at his classmates last week for annoying him. My point is, you lose it when it comes to Shravan. I just want you to remove that lens while viewing the rest of the world." He finally told me what bothered him.

"The classmates didn't annoy him. They bullied him." I considered slamming my fist on the table. But stopped myself the last moment, thinking of how much a new table would cost me if I broke this one.

Shravan was getting bullied.

We spent two months during the summer holidays, trying to build his confidence. And these kids managed to break it in ten minutes.

It was the little event they planned two weeks ago, celebrating the bravery of the kids who got stuck in the bus.

Of course I was invited. I was thanked by all the parents. Some over friendly ones hugged me. I stood there awkwardly, plastering a smile on my face.

The Social teacher, Prakruthi,  somehow managed to click a picture of that particular moment. She said I looked like someone put me on gunpoint and asked me to smile for the camera. We laughed together for a long time.

She then showed it to Santa Claus aunty, which was a big mistake. She found it very cute. Within few minutes, the whole town was familiar with the picture.

After that, Prakruthi introduced me to her colleagues. One of them asked me if I would allow the students on a field trip to my tea manufacturing plant. And I being me, nodded instead of shaking my head.

Imagine having to manage hundred kids for a day, when one Shravan was more than enough to increase my blood pressure.

Prakruthi assured me that there will be one teacher for every ten kids and I need not worry.

She then told me that few of her students made me thank you cards. Though I maintained my composure when I saw them, I was so touched that I had to blink away tears.

The day was perfect, till the moment we decided to head back home. I went to fetch Shravan, only to see him crying in a corner, while a group of kids made fun of him.

Shravan's parents were living separately. They were on the verge of divorce, which was why his mother left him here, with his grandmother. And these bullies never let him forget that.

He wiped his nose on his sleeve.

Snotty Shravan, someone said. Immediately, the entire gang started chanting it.

Before I knew what I was doing, I ended up scolding them. It didn't go well with their parents. Prakruthi and the other teacher who spoke to me earlier, had to interfere. When it was sorted out, I walked away without saying a word.

I knew they would think of me as an ill-mannered person. I thought that was the end of my friendship with Prakruthi. But she texted me that evening asking me if Shravan was fine. A woman who only knew him for a month and a half cared so much for him. After several hours of being angry with everyone and everything, I finally felt calm.