She used to crack jokes and was quite talkative, making noise in the class. Once she was caught by the class teacher for talking constantly and making noise. She was given the punishment to stay back. She was told to either help in cleaning the sports ground or assist the teacher in taking a class of the 4th grade students of EWS category in the second shift. 

As the school was against corporal punishment so the teachers never slapped or used force on the students. But, to discipline the students who broke the rules, they were asked to stay back and do something meaningful. In a month, if any of the students were punished and he /she had something else to do that day and wouldn't able to serve the punishment, then they have the liberty to pass that task to one of their friends with their consent. In lieu of that, theguilty student would have to return the favor in the same month itself. Otherwise the favor stood cancelled.

On the day, Aparna was to stay back, it was her birthday. And on the same very day, her uncle, aunt and cousins had come to their home in the morning for few hours on their way to Kolkata from London.  She thought if she stayed back then, she won't be able to see them.

Aparna needed someone to stand in for her punishment. But her problem multiplied as it was the last day of the month. So, she was pinning all her hopes on her friends, who would help her out of this situation for the sake of their friendship.

Vanshika, was her 'best friend' and Aparna used to tell her parents, if any difficulties came her way, Vanshika would stand for her. However, when she asked Vanshika for help that day, she said, “Oh no Aparna, I can't.  I have to help my brother for his nursery entrance test. The boy just can't seem to get into any decent school.” And she spent a good deal of time telling Aparna of her brother's problems.

“Alan, will you stay back for me?” Aparna asked another friend who was dribbling a ball in the playground. She knew he often stayed back for practicing football.

Alan replied curtly, “To help the teachers in the noon shift, which you had told me earlier! Oh, No, I'm sorry. I have to go to a relative's house with my father. Some other day perhaps!” and with that Alan ran away.

Now, Aparna was losing hope and it was becoming clear to her that none of her friends would agree to stay. But she tried again with three more “close” friends and each one refused. Of course, no one said “no” outright. Aparna was a great friend, after all. But each had a 'reason' why they couldn't take her place that afternoon, and if only it were some other day…

So, after school Aparna stayed back to assist the teacher of the noon shift, Ms Pinto. Ms. Pinto asked Aparna to assist her in checking the copies. After a while, the receptionist entered the class and enquired about Aparna. Actually, her mother had called the receptionist.She had requested to allow Aparnato leave as uncle, aunt, cousins and parents were waiting to celebrate her birthday. Considering the peculiarity of the situation,then Ms. Pinto allowed Aparnato leave. “Though I am popular among my friends and they move along with me when I'm in school. But now no one came to my rescue but my mother” Aparna murmured to herself, as she went home. When she reached home, she was in tears and told her mother, “None of my friends are real. I have seen their real face today. Now I realize that you and, father come first in my life, you are actually my real friends.”

Moral: Those who are made close to you by God, are only in real sense close to you.

Questions:

Q1.To whom did Aparna boast about her friends and why?

Q2.Why was she punished by her class teacher?

Q3.What punishment was given to her?

Q4.Why was she unable to stay back, were her friends helpful to her?

Q5.What was her final realization?

Glossary

Befriend      : to become friends

Boasted        : spoke too proudly

Corporal      : bodily, physical

Guilty          : at fault

Curtly          : speak rudely or abruptly

Peculiarity   : special, different