MOTHER had been abed for two days past. Swaminathan missed her very much in
the kitchen, and felt uncomfortable without her attentions. He was taken to her
room, where he saw her lying dishevelled and pale on her bed. She asked him to
come nearer. She asked him why he was looking emaciated and if he was not
eating and sleeping well. Swaminathan kept staring at her blankly. Here seemed to
be a different mother. He was cold and reserved when he spoke to her. Her
appearance depressed him. He wriggled himself from her grasp and ran out.
His granny told him that he was going to have a brother. He received the
news without enthusiasm.
That night he was allowed to sleep on granny's bed. The lights kept
burning all night. Whenever he opened his eyes, he was conscious of busy feet
scurrying along the passage. Late at night Swaminathan woke up and saw a lady
doctor in the hall. She behaved as if the house belonged to her.
She entered mother's room, and presently out of the room came a mingled
noise of whispers and stifled moans. She came out of the room with a serious face
and ordered everybody about. She commanded even father to do something. He
vanished for a moment and reappeared with a small bottle in his hand. He hovered
about uncertainly. The hushed voices, hurry, seriousness, agitation, hot water, and
medicine--preparations for ushering a new person into the world--were too
bewildering for Swaminathan's comprehension. Meanwhile granny kept asking
something of everybody that passed by, and no one troubled to answer her.
What did it matter? The five carpets in granny's bed were cosy; her five
pillows were snug; and granny's presence near by was reassuring; and above all,
his eyelids were becoming heavy. What more did he want? He fell asleep.The Tamil Pundit, with his unshaven face and the silver-rimmed spectacles
set askew on his nose, was guiding the class through the intricacies of Tamil
Grammar. The guide was more enthusiastic than his followers. A continual buzz
filled the air. Boys had formed themselves into small groups and carried on private
conversations. The Pundit made faint attempts to silence the class by rapping his
palms on the table. After a while, he gave up the attempt and went on with his
lecture. His voice was scarcely audible. Sankar and a few others sat on the first
bench with cocked-up ears and busy pencils.
Swaminathan and the Pea sat on the last bench.
'I say, Pea,' said Swaminathan, I got a new brother this morning.'
The Pea was interested. 'How do you like him?'
'Oh, like him! He is hardly anything. Such a funny looking creature!' said
Swaminathan and gave what he thought was an imitation of his little brother: he
shut his eyes, compressed his lips, folded his hands on his chest, protruded his
tongue, and tilted his head from side to side. The Pea laughed uncontrollably. 'But,'
Swaminathan said, 'this thing has a wonderful pair of hands, so small and plump,
you know! But I tell you, his face is awful, red, red like chilly.'
They listened to the teacher's lecture for a few minutes. 'I say, Swami,' said
the Pea, 'these things grow up soon. I have seen a baby that was just what your
brother is. But you know, when I saw it again during Michaelmas I could hardly
recognise it.'