G-CIRCUS COMES TO TOWN[PART VII]

PART-VII

THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS LEAVES
SONARPUR

Kumar was again at the Circus Maidan, along with his father, who was
there on his regular visits. As soon as he entered the circus area, he
went about looking for his friends Raju and Rani. At last he saw them.
Raju and Rani were engaged in their regular practise session. Kumar
waved his hand to attract their attention. Seeing Kumar, both these
children bubbled with excitement. "Wait a little", said Raju. "We will
come to you as soon as we finish our practise".

"I will wait, but let me go around a little and meet my other friends.
I will be back within a short time". So saying Kumar went around
meeting the other known faces with whom he had become friendly during
his early visits.

Very soon he was in the company of Raju and Rani. Raju was very excited
on meeting Kumar again after a long gap. "What were you doing all these
days Kumar? You did not come to meet me and Rani.We waited for you but
when you did not turn up with your dad we were sad because we thought
that you had forgotten us", said little Raju in a sad tone.

Then Kumar started telling these two young friends of his about their
cultural programme, starting from the rehearsal days up to the day of
the final performance. It was then that little Rani said, "You all are
so lucky. You people can enjoy, but just think about us. It is like
'all work and no play' for us".

At this Kumar pattered back, "But everyday you perform before so many
people. They clap for you and praise you for your work, you must be
feeling very happy then and you must be enjoying all these a
lot".

Then Raju said, "Our life is not so rosy like yours. If we do not
practise for one day, then we are punished and it also becomes
difficult for us to perform. You see, at our age children get a chance
and liberty to play and study. But here we are, working hard to earn
money to send back to ours parents back at home. We need to earn money
for our family. We don't even get a chance to study. I would love to go
to school, but back home they need money and so I to work in this
circus".

Just then Rani also spoke out. "You know Reshmi Didi teaches us to read
and write during our free time. We also know to read and write". At
this time this small little girl's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Hearing all this Kumar felt very sad. They had been chatting for quite
sometime now. "Let me move. Dad will be waiting for me". So saying
Kumar got up, bade goodbye to Rani and Raju. "Meet you again", said
Kumar while waving his hand.

Kumar found Mr. Raman talking to his father. Taking this chance, Kumar
said, "Excuse me Uncle, I will ask you for a favour, hope you will not
disappoint me".

"What is it my son", said Raman.

"Uncle, six of my friends would like to accompany me the day after
tomorrow to meet Rani and Raju and the others. Please, Uncle
please___give them permission to come with me".

Mr. Raman smiled_____he thought to himself that within a couple of days
his circus would be moving out of this town and he did not like to kill
the created interests of these young ones. "You can get them my boy",
said he.

Kumar jumped up with joy. Back home he ran to his friends and gave them
this good news. Their joys broke open all bounds. All of them sat
together later that evening and decided to buy some gifts for Raju and
Rani out of their pocket money.

That day was really an exciting one. The six boys went with Kumar and
his father to the Circus Maidan.They went in, met Raju and Rani.They
conversed with each other and then gave their two new friends, Raju and
Rani, the gifts that they had brought for them. Raju and Rani were very
happy. This small group was shouting and chatting at the top of their
voices. Excepting them, no one else could have understood what he or
she said to one another. Later on they all went around and met the
others. What fun they had when they saw the roaring lions and tigers in
their cages. The horses, the elephants, the monkeys, the bear and of
course the hippopotamus was a special attraction for them. They spent a
lot of time there and at the call of Kumar's father they knew it was
time for them to go back home. They bade good-bye to Raju and Rani.
There was an association of the feeling of joy and sorrow at the
parting time. They knew that they would not meet Raju and Rani any
more. With a very sad heart they all came back.

THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS performed its last show. That night all the
circus people went off to a very sound sleep. For the Circus Maidan
that was the last night of activity. The very next morning, the tents
were pulled down, and the Circus troupe packed up all their belongings.
The temporary stalls started breaking up, shifting all their belongings
and cleared the Maidan.

Soon the Circus troupe again began to move along the road leaving
behind, the town of Sonarpur, and moving forward to another place where
there would be full of life and activity all around. They left behind
an empty Circus Maidan, which turned to its original quiet self
again.

The schools re-opened after the long summer vacation and the children
of Sonarpur were again engaged in their studies. Now remained a faint
memory of THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS in their minds, which would soon
diminish, as days would pass.

When THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS had entered the town of Sonarpur it had
made its presence be felt by the people. When it left this town, it did
leave back a nostalgic lingering colourful remembrance in the minds of
the people of Sonarpur.

THE END.