Do as you would be done by ?

A stray dog stood near the busy tea shop hoping to get a few scraps of bun. People moved, traffic moved, the world moved oblivious of the three watchers. Ayush, Abhijeet and Chirag were out on the terrace of a tiny makeshift recording studio watching the lane below.

The watchers were bored. They were waiting for their turn be called for the recording. They had been awfully proud that their friend’s mother had selected them in an audition. They were to provide voiceover for a short animation film that she was making.

It was a late Sunday morning. The routine summer power cut had stalled what to be a three minute recording. The studio’s power back up system was under repair, the electricity company was not answering calls and so all that they could do was wait - for their three minutes of fame.

While they waited and watched, a policeman brought his bike to a stop with an arrogant screech. He almost drove over the dog which yelped and slinked away. The crowd at the tea shop gave way to the ‘lord’ too. A little boy dusted the rickety metal stool with his towel and offered him a seat. Hot, sweet tea and a lavishly buttered fruit bun were served. The offering was consumed with no sign of joy or gratitude. The ‘lord’ then stood up, crushed the paper cup threw it mindlessly. It hit the unlucky stray which yelped again.

It is an ancient Indian belief that every action however small is observed and registered. Karmic Accounts are settled sooner or later. The three watchers looked at each other. The unspoken agreement was “Sooner!”

Ayush crushed his paper tea cup and dropped it on the police man’s balding head. The policeman looked up irritated and surprised. He saw nothing but the blazing blue sky. He squinted at the sun through the fronds of the inclined coconut palm.

The watchers on the studio terrace had ducked chuckling in diabolic glee. The policeman scratched his head, wore his helmet, scowled at the passers by and started his bike.

The studio door opened- rather suddenly. The boys were caught red handed! Their friend’s mother had arrived on the scene of the crime just in time to figure out what was going on!

Being a reasonable woman and a seasoned parent she asked, “Would you like it if some one hid on the terrace and threw crushed paper cups at you?”

“No Aunty ” Ayush replied while the others grinned.

“Then why do you do it to others?” She asked assuming that her point was made.

“Because it’s fun...” The three chorused. No remorse, no excuses, no justifications.

‘That’s factual!’ She could not help but smile. She understood young boys and their compulsive urges for mischief.

The boys knew that the incident would be forgotten soon and that no one would remember what had happened. But after the recording on their way home, why did they get the feeling that the mongrel had deliberately winked at them ?