The 'scapegoat' Ashwin

             Having a name that is very common, might not fancy everyone. But for me, it has always been to my advantage. Not just once or twice but many a time.

A teacher came to class during the break time and started reading out names from a list. It was the name list for those who acquired first three places in various events conducted during the sports day. She was there to re-confirm the names of the winners. My name ‘Ashwin’ did feature in the list of price winners. Ashwin had won 3rd prize in the obstacle race.

The moment my first name was read out, my friends started pointing towards me when the teacher asked, where is Ashwin? She asked for my Initial and once again my friends were quick enough to shout my Initial even before I could open my mouth. There was another guy in my class having the same first name ‘Ashwin’ who was absent that day. I knew it was not me but the other ‘Ashwin’ who won the prize as I didn’t even participate in that race. ( I was not even aware of such a race )

This incident happened in my class V ( yes…. It was long long ago ) and I didn’t have the heart to go and tell the teacher that it was not me but the other one. I just forgot this incident in the days to follow and after a few days there was the prize distribution function for the winners. My name was called and I went up to get the prize. Please don’t imagine anything big about the prize; it was nothing more than a snack box. Still that’s too much for someone, who was not even aware of such a race isn’t it?

I was made to stand near the 1st and 2nd place winners and a photograph was also taken. Would you believe me? The other ‘Ashwin’ was present that day when I was getting the prize. To my surprise, he did nothing but to remain as a mute spectator. I think he should have probably forgotten that he had won the 3rd price considering that we were only in 5th std that time.

I still don’t know with what guts I walked on to the stage to get the prize, when the guy was present. Though I didn’t give a damn about this at that time, when I think about it now, I feel a little bad.  But it does make me laugh, when I think how stupid I was.

This guy still had something in store for me. Students are shuffled every year among the 6 sections and we were put up in the same section once again after 2 years. Incidentally, I was sitting beside him. Seriously, neither of us had anticipated the trouble, I was about to give him.  

My chemistry teacher was ‘trying’ to teach some topic and for that she had to draw a diagram on board. The diagram which she drew was so bad that I instantly started laughing. Wouldn’t it be nice to share this lighter moment with friends and make it much better? I just did that by turning around and said these to one of my friend, ‘miss superrrrrr ah varayaranga la’ in a sarcastic way. The moment I finished telling these, my friend instantly got up and shouted ‘Miss.. Ashwin is telling that your drawing is so bad and hence he couldn’t control his laughter seeing the diagram’.

Yes, it was my mistake. I chose a very bad guy for the act. I almost had my heart in my mouth when he shouted this in class. I somehow managed to stop my laughter. Hearing my friend shouting, the Ashwin sitting near me started laughing which perfectly synchronized when the teacher turned around.

I guess, by now you would have predicted what might have happened when the teacher saw the ‘Ashwin’ sitting beside me laughing. She was so sure that it was him and not me because of two reasons. One, She saw him laughing when she turned over and also I am a very silent guy, ‘according to her’ which was enough to make him the scapegoat.

She asked him to come out of his place with a grim face in an unmelodious voice. I made way for him which made his eyes grow even bigger as he was already staring at me.  He was slapped and asked to get out of the class. This time he was not mute but was trying to save himself at which he couldn’t succeed. The teacher was in no mood to listen to him and he might have been in more trouble if he had tried to speak anything that time.  Neither my friend (who back-stabbed) nor I, did try to redeem this poor ’Ashwin’. 

After this incident, this guy did one right thing. He changed his place. I wish this guy still has a lot more to offer me in future as well. 

Incidents like these, does make one's School life more interesting, Isn't it?