Khel Khel Mein

As the children walked out of their classroom, the teacher asked Ravi to step aside, the third time in the week. The teacher went down on her knees, held his hand gently, and said: Ravi, I am very unhappy today. I do not like that I have to talk to you every day during recess time when you should be out playing. But let me tell you that it disturbs me and your friends when you run around clapping and making noises while everyone else wants to do some work in the class. This has to stop. Tell me, what shall we do? The teacher stopped, looked into his eyes expecting a reply. The 4-year-old squirmed and wriggled, trying to escape the conversation, knowing that somewhere outside his friends were well into their game of ball. After another minute of twisting, fidgeting, and waiting, Ravi prised himself free from her grasp and ran towards the courtyard saying, “ Aamhi shalet fakta masti karto, tai. Aapan abhyaas kadhi karayacha? ” (We only have fun at school, didi [female teacher]. When are we to study?)