Chapter 6:
Chapter 6
Captain O Captain
Captain O Captain
Chapter - 6
After an intense discussion on Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan 'Agyeya' one Monday, Manoj asked,“So, which book will you give me next, Captain?”
Akshita thought for a moment and said,“You read way too fast. I’ve never seen anyone finish both parts of *Shekhar* in just one week.”
Manoj’s face lit up with pride. But Akshita continued,“That’s not a good thing. A book like *Shekhar* shouldn’t be read so quickly.”
Manoj’s expression immediately fell. Seeing his rapidly changing expressions, Akshita smiled faintly.
Manoj asked again, “So what next? I’m not going to read *Shekhar* a second time.”
Akshita took a deep breath, as if she wanted to say something, but stopped.Manoj quickly said, “Oh come on, say it. What do you want to say, Captain?”
Akshita took a little more time and then said,“I have an uncle. He writes too. His pen name is ‘Rakt.’ He hasn’t been published anywhere, but he gets his stories typed and gives them to me. I have one of his stories with me right now. Would you like to read it?”
Manoj immediately agreed. Akshita took out some papers from her bag and handed them to him, and also suggested a few stories by Jainendra Kumar ( another writer ).
---
The next Monday, when they met, the first thing Manoj said was,“Captain, tell me honestly—*you* are Rakt, right? There’s no uncle, is there?”
Akshita had been caught. But more than that, she was surprised at *how* she had been caught—and that too by Manoj.
Seeing her expression, Manoj understood he was right. Laughing, he said,“Come on, Captain—anyone could tell it’s your story. So much seriousness, so much pain in it."
"Please explain.” Akshita asked.
Manoj elaborated,“Look, first of all, there’s a shadow of sorrow present throughout the story. Oh—what’s happening to my language? Why am I using words like ‘present’? Anyway… secondly, there isn’t a single unnecessary word in it. The writer has packed an ocean into a pitcher. Reading the story, it feels like the writer must be a serious, quiet, introverted girl. Am I right?”
Akshita couldn’t believe Manoj had this level of understanding. Earlier, he could barely say anything beyond “it’s good” or “it’s bad.”
Manoj continued,“And let me tell you one more thing, Captain…” (pausing briefly)“This was the best story I’ve ever read. Oh, how much I cried! That prince helped everyone, but no one understood his pain. And in the end, he met a girl who, at first glance, sensed his loneliness. And then that witch-hunting twist—when it seemed like everyone would burn the girl thinking she was a witch—then the prince set the entire city on fire and saved her! What an ending! And that monologue—‘This girl is not evil, all of you are. The real monsters live inside you.’ Oh, what can I even say—best, best, best!”
Manoj kept speaking in a flow, while a deep sense of pride grew on Akshita’s face. She tried her best to suppress it, but couldn’t.
---
From that day on, Manoj insisted on getting at least one story by “Rakt” every week.
The last Monday of the holidays arrived. Today, Manoj looked upset. Akshita immediately sensed something was wrong. Even during their discussion, Manoj seemed lost.
Finally, Akshita asked,“What’s wrong with you? Did you have a fight at home?”
“Nothing,” Manoj replied in a dull voice.
Akshita stayed silent for a while, then said,“If you’re sad, write it down on paper. Then see what happens.”
Now Manoj noticed that Akshita was concerned about him. He quickly lifted his head and said,“What will I even write—that today Mom made halwa instead of rice kheer, and I got angry and came out without eating?”
He laughed after saying this.
But Akshita said,“That could actually make a good story—*Rice Kheer vs Halwa*.”
After talking a bit more, both of them went back to their homes. Akshita used to travel by rickshaw.
Manoj never told her till the very end that the real reason for his sadness was that now he wouldn’t be able to meet Akshita alone like this. He wouldn’t get to see her in casual home clothes, nor would he be able to talk to her freely for so long.
After school resumed, Akshita had forbidden Manoj from talking to her in front of others. She had also asked him not to tell anyone about their literary discussions.
She knew that if the other boys found out that she discussed literature with Manoj, they would all show up too.
Manoj himself was aware of all this.
Chapter - 6
After an intense discussion on Sachchidananda Hirananda Vatsyayan 'Agyeya' one Monday, Manoj asked,“So, which book will you give me next, Captain?”
Akshita thought for a moment and said,“You read way too fast. I’ve never seen anyone finish both parts of *Shekhar* in just one week.”
Manoj’s face lit up with pride. But Akshita continued,“That’s not a good thing. A book like *Shekhar* shouldn’t be read so quickly.”
Manoj’s expression immediately fell. Seeing his rapidly changing expressions, Akshita smiled faintly.
Manoj asked again, “So what next? I’m not going to read *Shekhar* a second time.”
Akshita took a deep breath, as if she wanted to say something, but stopped.Manoj quickly said, “Oh come on, say it. What do you want to say, Captain?”
Akshita took a little more time and then said,“I have an uncle. He writes too. His pen name is ‘Rakt.’ He hasn’t been published anywhere, but he gets his stories typed and gives them to me. I have one of his stories with me right now. Would you like to read it?”
Manoj immediately agreed. Akshita took out some papers from her bag and handed them to him, and also suggested a few stories by Jainendra Kumar ( another writer ).
---
The next Monday, when they met, the first thing Manoj said was,“Captain, tell me honestly—*you* are Rakt, right? There’s no uncle, is there?”
Akshita had been caught. But more than that, she was surprised at *how* she had been caught—and that too by Manoj.
Seeing her expression, Manoj understood he was right. Laughing, he said,“Come on, Captain—anyone could tell it’s your story. So much seriousness, so much pain in it."
"Please explain.” Akshita asked.
Manoj elaborated,“Look, first of all, there’s a shadow of sorrow present throughout the story. Oh—what’s happening to my language? Why am I using words like ‘present’? Anyway… secondly, there isn’t a single unnecessary word in it. The writer has packed an ocean into a pitcher. Reading the story, it feels like the writer must be a serious, quiet, introverted girl. Am I right?”
Akshita couldn’t believe Manoj had this level of understanding. Earlier, he could barely say anything beyond “it’s good” or “it’s bad.”
Manoj continued,“And let me tell you one more thing, Captain…” (pausing briefly)“This was the best story I’ve ever read. Oh, how much I cried! That prince helped everyone, but no one understood his pain. And in the end, he met a girl who, at first glance, sensed his loneliness. And then that witch-hunting twist—when it seemed like everyone would burn the girl thinking she was a witch—then the prince set the entire city on fire and saved her! What an ending! And that monologue—‘This girl is not evil, all of you are. The real monsters live inside you.’ Oh, what can I even say—best, best, best!”
Manoj kept speaking in a flow, while a deep sense of pride grew on Akshita’s face. She tried her best to suppress it, but couldn’t.
---
From that day on, Manoj insisted on getting at least one story by “Rakt” every week.
The last Monday of the holidays arrived. Today, Manoj looked upset. Akshita immediately sensed something was wrong. Even during their discussion, Manoj seemed lost.
Finally, Akshita asked,“What’s wrong with you? Did you have a fight at home?”
“Nothing,” Manoj replied in a dull voice.
Akshita stayed silent for a while, then said,“If you’re sad, write it down on paper. Then see what happens.”
Now Manoj noticed that Akshita was concerned about him. He quickly lifted his head and said,“What will I even write—that today Mom made halwa instead of rice kheer, and I got angry and came out without eating?”
He laughed after saying this.
But Akshita said,“That could actually make a good story—*Rice Kheer vs Halwa*.”
After talking a bit more, both of them went back to their homes. Akshita used to travel by rickshaw.
Manoj never told her till the very end that the real reason for his sadness was that now he wouldn’t be able to meet Akshita alone like this. He wouldn’t get to see her in casual home clothes, nor would he be able to talk to her freely for so long.
After school resumed, Akshita had forbidden Manoj from talking to her in front of others. She had also asked him not to tell anyone about their literary discussions.
She knew that if the other boys found out that she discussed literature with Manoj, they would all show up too.
Manoj himself was aware of all this.
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