The Shy Giant

Amit...I still remember how shy he was, it always amused me. Not that being shy was a very funny thing but given his size and look, I least expected him to look down at the floor and speak meekly when asked his name. And I thought I was the shy guy! But I wasn't aware that this shy giant would affect my life to such a great extent......

It was class 8 when I started to understand how important friends can be in your life. I had a bad fallout with a buddy the previous academic year because of some stupid reason and when I came back after my vacation thinking that he would like to patch up, it was all over. He had new friends who were better than me in studies and sports. They were the guys whom girls looked up to and I was the shy guy always pulling him back because I was afraid.....always afraid of something or the other. It was a bad start of the course, but I accepted my flaw and tried to have no bitter feelings against anyone (that never happened though).

It was sometime during the second day when this gigantic guy entered the class. His face was stern, with strong jaw sets and a dark beard and moustache which were there a little too early for an 8th-grade student. As he walked past me students scrambled and sat at their respective places. Someone whispered as he passed by "He's the guy who failed". At that very instant he turned around and looked into the eyes of the one who said that. Everyone froze. I half expected to see the big-mouthed idiot flying out of the classroom. But to everyone's relief, he turned back and continued his stroll to the last bench.

After a while, the class started and there was a traditional introduction going on. I hated the process so much because I was always afraid of speaking in public and I stammered whenever I was nervous. That was enough to trigger giggles and make me feel embarrassed or rather ashamed of me. It went on smoothly, thankfully I didn't stammer. Then came the last bench. He stood up and the teacher gave out a deep sigh. I understood that she knew him as he was there in the same class last year. She demanded an introduction from him as he was hardly speaking anything. Then came a deep voice which just said "Amit More". I was startled.

The guy actually sounded like a full-grown man. His voice was much huskier than my dad's. But there was no emotion in his voice. It was just plain AMIT MORE, nothing else. A semester passed by and I hardly noticed this guy. I made new buddies and went around with them. It was only when I was alone and when my so-called friends had their priorities that I would notice him. He was always alone, in the canteen, in the library, in the lecture, the lab. No one ever talked to him or shared their food with him. It was like he was outcast and untouchable. After all, he was branded as a failure, and he was. That semester he had failed in a couple of subjects. I always thought, "What a loser? At least he can try to clear his papers if not get the best scores".

It was a rainy afternoon when during our library session I was forced to sit and read some stupid science encyclopedia when I first spoke to him. He came around and sat right next to me. I hated him so much for that. All my friends were giggling and laughing as he smiled so very earnestly looking at me. I could do nothing but just look at him and smile back. He started reading the book audibly. Not a huge noise but a whisper. But given his voice, I could hear every word clearly. He was already irritating me with his audible reading and he started finding it difficult to read some words. After like a hundred words misspelt I corrected him on one instance. Immediately he beamed and said thank you. I was all the more embarrassed as my friends again started giggling, this time a little louder. I don't know how, but Amit caught a hint of the situation and he apologized and left the place quickly. I felt a pinch of guilt in my mind. He was just another guy, why should I insult him like this.

For the next few days, we just exchanged smiles. Then within a month's time, we became good friends and most of my so-called friends had started maintaining distance from me. It was only when I came close to him that I began to understand the situation. He was from a financially challenged family. His father ran a small offset printing facility which only gave them so much that they could hardly save anything. Yet his father was adamant that his son is taught in the best of schools so that he can break free from the poverty they were suffering. He was not so good at his studies because he hardly could study. Most of the time there was no electricity and the oil lamp was used by all his siblings for their studies. So he had to wait until the lamp was free and by that time it would be midnight. His life was something I would say the exact opposite of mine. And I thought I was not taken care of.

We helped each other through our activities. I helped him in my studies and in a way studied myself and he helped me with sports and other activities as I was dead clumsy with them. The unit exams came and went by and we both did better than what was generally expected of us. I was excited as my Dad for the first time was more surprised than happy with my score. Amit was happy too. Teachers were shocked by his improvement and praised him. Students who loathed him came by and talked to him. He was always beaming with happiness, but never did he leave my side. He was always stuck with me. Helping me and being helped by me. Then the disappearances started.

First, it was for a couple of days but then it was very conspicuous. I also noticed changes in his behaviour. He hardly smiled and was always lost in his thoughts. I tried to ask him but he avoided all my questions. Then one day he just stopped coming to school. I was worried initially then it was replaced with anger and disappointment. At least he could have informed me. The semester exams came and still, he was not there. I thought he might be ill. I wanted to see him but I didn't know how I could. The exams passed by and the day of our final results arrived. I was there with my Mom and Dad to collect it. Again I passed the exams with average marks, much to the annoyance of my Dad. When my parents were cribbing about me I found out that this was the right time to move out and I sneaked out into the corridor. When I gazed out onto the ground, I saw him. He was on a bike with some other guy. He waved at me and I ran towards him. I wanted to say so many things to him. More than that I wanted to punch his nose, though that would have caused more damage to me than him.

I reached there and before I could speak he started. He apologized for not informing me. He told me that his Dad was seriously ill and he was bedridden. Even in that condition, he was forced by his dad to attend school. Initially, he obliged but as the condition at his home started deteriorating he started bunking. He lied to his Dad and started bunking school. He started working for his friend (the other guy on the bike). He ruined his education purposely to support his family. It was too much for me to understand. I had so many questions. But before I could speak it out, he stopped me and said, "Ratheesh I have to go. I can't be like this. My family needs me. I know you do not like this but this is the right thing to do. I may not contact you anymore as I don't have any means to. We may never meet ever again in our lives, but I should say that you have been a sweet little brother to me and you have helped me a lot. Thank you". With these words, he got on to the bike and rode off. I never saw him ever again. People in school forgot about this amicable giant. But he was imprinted deeply in my mind. In so many years many friends have come and gone in my life some moved on without me some are still with me as my best friends. But I still find that space empty, the space that was and will always be for the shy giant.

After all, he was my first ever best friend.............