Story - The Autograph Book!

It was the end of the year at school. Komal would not study in the same school again. She was leaving for Kolkata with her parents and so, to a new school and new friends. A week before school was to close, Komal’s father gave her a small packet. ‘What’s in it, Daddy?’ asked Komal with excitement.

‘Open it and see,’ said Daddy.

Komal’s fingers danced over the packet as she opened it hurriedly. There was a small book in it with a pretty picture on the cover. Komal flipped through the pages of the book. ‘But Daddy, this is neither a picture book nor a story book. There is nothing written on the pages.’ she cried in disappointment.

‘Komal, that is an autograph book,’ said Daddy.

‘What is an autograph book?’ asked Komal.

‘People collect the signatures of famous people and loved ones in autograph books,’ explained Daddy. ‘When I was in school we used to collect the autographs of all our friends in a diary. I still have the diary with me. Since you are leaving your school and friends, you can ask them to sign in your autograph book. When you go to Kolkata you can open these pages and remember all the good times you had with your friends in this school.’

Mother came in just then with a plate of sandwiches and coffee. ‘Dear, Komal is just in her third grade,’ she laughed. ‘I don’t think she has enough friends to fill the pages of the autograph book. Anyway they are small children. What can they write in autograph books?’ Komal was not so sure either. But she did not want to hurt her father‘s feelings by refusing to take the book. So she took her red sketch pen and wrote her name laboriously in the front page and kept the book in her bag.

The weeks flew by. School was over. Soon, Komal and her parents were going by train to Kolkata. ‘Ah, Komal, I forgot to ask you. Did you collect the autographs of all your friends?’ asked Daddy. ‘Or did you use the book to draw your favorite Dora cartoons?’, he laughed.

‘Daddy, of course I collected all the autographs,’ cried Komal indignantly. ‘I always do as you say, don’t I?’ ‘That’s a good girl,’ said Daddy. ‘Now show me your autograph book. Let us see what your friends have written.’

It was with a trembling hand that Komal put her hand into her bag and pulled out her autograph book. Daddy took it from her eagerly and started flipping through the pages.

‘Blessings from Munusamy’

‘God Bless you’.  Ramayi!’

‘Do Well’. Bhaskar!’

‘Best of luck Child’.  Sheetal

Daddy went through all the pages quickly. All the pages were filled with a variety of names and blessings.

‘What’s this, Komal,’ said Daddy. ‘Who are Munusamy, Ramayi, Bhaskar and this Govindasamy? Do they study with you?’

Komal looked up shyly from the comic book she was reading. ‘Daddy, they are the people who work in my school. Bhaskar is my principal, Ramayi is my class ayah amma, Sheetal is my Math Mam, Munusamy is the school gardener and Govindasamy is my van driver.’

Daddy laughed. ‘But why did you get their autographs? I asked you to get the autographs from your friends.’

‘Daddy they are people who have helped me and taken care of me. My principal and my teachers have taught me so many things; Ayah amma has helped me clean up the mess I made every time during lunch; Munusamy keeps the school and its surroundings so clean and beautiful. Govind uncle always drives the van carefully because we, school children, were inside. They have all been kind to the children. That is why I got their autographs.’

Daddy was thoughtful. ‘That is a great attitude Komal,’ he said. ‘But do the gardener, van driver and ayahamma know how to write their names?’ ‘They didn’t,’ said Komal sadly. ‘I held their hands and made them practice writing their names in my rough note book. Then they were able to write in my autograph book.’

'That’s our girl’ said daddy and mom together. ‘You not only showed them respect but also taught them to write their names. We are proud of you, Komal’, they hugged her close. It was a happy family that chugged their way to Kolkata.