Page 198 - Musings 2020

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“Ohh!!”

Shivam Agarwal 2017B5A20969P, Swadesh Vaibhav 2017A7PS0030P, and Ishan Mangotra
2017B5A80903P

“Ohh” went the crowd, as Jaspreet landed a punch on little Mohan’s face. “Get up, let’s go to
the canteen, walk the pain off”, said Jaspreet, with a smirk on his face. One of Jaspreet’s
friends jumps on Mohan and trips him.

THUD.

Mohan fell face first. “Ahh”, wails the crowd, as everyone watches little Mohan getting
bullied by Jaspreet and his friends. They were Mohan’s friends too, and Mohan had to live
inside the bubble of this fact.
“Alfred !!”, screamed the ringmaster, ready with his whip for the next big show. Alfred
wasn’t like other tigers, he had people to feed him and bathe him. But his life was not that
much princely. It was all for show. In the evening, he had to pay the price for all of this. He
was beaten and humiliated by the ringmaster in front of the whole circus crew.

“Bhaiya, two chais and samosa.” ordered Jaspreet, as if he ran the very canteen. Teary-eyed
Mohan stares at Jaspreet's face. “Two samosas!!” Jaspreet corrects himself. Mohan ran to get
the order for both of them. But Alfred was famous, even the damn circus was named after
him. Deep down, he knew he was meant to rule. But right now, he was in a cage. The
ringmaster walked him, this time a piece of meat in his hand, instead of the usual whip.
Alfred had thought of eating the guy himself. But then, who would feed him.

Laughing, Jaspreet and the boys walked into the circus, Mohan trying to match their
enthusiasm. Moments like these were the best part of Mohan’s life, where he could pretend to
be safe and careless. The bullying never went anywhere, this time showing in the form of
casual hair pulling by Mohan’s so-called friends. Alfred would have continued the routine
which his master had taught him. But today, the meat was not enough. Alfred craved for
something else. “Poor master,” thought Alfred.

Something clicked, maybe it was one of the locks Jaspreet had pulled or the restlessness of
the tiger itself. Mohan stood up, turned, and punched Jaspreet in the face. Blurred spewed
from Jaspreet’s broken nose, as the crowd went “ohh!!”. Mohan was surprised at the reaction
of the crowd of thousands. He landed a kick on Jaspreet’s back, as he wriggled on his side.
Aloud “Ahh!!” came from the crowd.

Something was wrong, Mohan never thought so many people would be watching his little
revolt. He turned towards the ring. A gasp escaped from his mouth. The tiger was also
fighting his masters.

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