"Where have you been?" "The bus had been waiting for you for 10 minutes." "Let's go." "Why don't you listen?" "Daily we are late because of you." "Let's go." "Let's go." "Shero..." "Shero jani, Hi..." "Hello, Hello." "Hey, stop, stop..." "Go, wash your hands and mouth and" "Put your bag in your bedroom." "First go hand wash your hands." "Put it down, put it down." "What were you doing in school?" "Look at your hands." "Look at your face." "Ishaan, put it down, Ishaan..." "Baby, close the tap properly." "Inho, you know, today you are getting your exam papers." "Did your teacher give it to you?" "Inho, do you know what I'm asking?" " Hi Mom." " Yohaan?" "Is it you?" "Drama practice cancelled." "The drama teacher got a virus." "Mom, I got First in all subjects." "Algebra, Geometry, Physics, Chem." "Bio, History, English, Geography." "Good, and in Hindi?" "2nd in Hindi but because of only two marks." "Inho, how about yours?" "Wow!" "It's coming quite well." "Ishaan, first complete your homework." "No, Ishaan... your uniform..." "Ishaan, Ishaan, Here this side, hurry..." "Hurry, throw it." "Hey, idiot, duffer." "Why did you throw it there?" "Go and bring the ball." "Go!" "I told you to bring the ball." "Why don't you understand?" "What are you looking at?" "What don't you understand?" "What you are looking at?" "Go and bring the ball!" "Go!" "What are you looking at?" "I told you to bring the ball." "Don't you understand?" "What you are looking at." "I told you to bring the ball." "Bring the ball!" "Your child destroyed my whole garden, Why don't you teach some manners to your child?" "And look, he is so hurt." "He is bleeding." "What?" "Haven't you taught anything to your child?" "He can hurt the other children like this?" "Aren't you ashamed?" "Look how badly he hurt my child." "Ishaan..." "Come here." "Come here right now." " But Papa..." " Shut up, Yohaan." " Uncle, he torn my shirt too." " I'll get you a new one." "You liar..." "Ishaan, it's too much." "Every day, complaints about you..." "Complaints from school," "Complaints from the building." "When you step out of the house, everyone complains." "After today, if anyone complains about you, Ishaan, then I...." " He is smiling." " Still smiling, shameless!" "One more complaint and I'll put you in boarding school." "You see, Mother, I'm here, and you are here, but he is stilling fighting." "What he did to that child." "He tore his T-shirt." "Sit and worship him." "Inho, how many times did I tell you?" "Don't play with Ranjeet." "But Mama he..." "Go, take a bath and then I'll put dettol on you." "Okay you wanna Fight?" "Fight!" "Come on!" "Come!" "Come!" "Come fight!" "Come on, come." "Papa, where are you going?" " Papa.." " I'm leaving this house." "I will not come back." "Sorry, Papa." "I'm very sorry, Papa." "I won't do it again, Papa." "I'm very sorry, Papa." "Papa, I will not do it next time." "Papa, please, I'm sorry, Papa." "Why you are harassing the child?" "Inho, Papa is going because of office work." "Not because of you." "He'll be back on Sunday." "Are you hurt anywhere else?" "Hey you, your boots are not polished." "Out, out." "Out." "Class, turn to page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "We are going to mark adjectives today." "That goes for you as well Ishaan Awasthi." "Page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "Can I have your attention, Ishaan?" "Ishaan?" "I said, page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "Read the first sentence and point out the adjectives." "Page 38, Ishaan." "Adithaya, just help the boy." "Come on, the rest of you look into your books." "Read the first sentence and tell me what the adjectives are." "Okay, come on, let's all mark the adjectives together." "Just read the sentence for me." "Just read the sentence, Ishaan!" "They are dancing." "Silence!" "Speak in English." "The letters are dancing." "They are dancing, are they?" "Okay, and then read the dancing letters." "Are you trying to be funny?" "Read the sentence loud and proper." "I said, loud and proper, Ishaan." "Loud and proper." "Loud and proper!" "Stop it, stop it!" "Enough is enough." "Get out." "Get out of my class!" "Out." "You want to leave as well?" "Who is laughing here?" "Who wants to follow him?" "I don't want to hear a kitten in my class." "Look at your books." "Shameless boy!" "Open your books now." "Who's gonna tell me what the adjectives are?" " I don't want a sound from this class." " Yes." "Come on." "Again punished?" "Duffer!" "Idiot..." "Hey duffer, are you punished again?" "He is a regular." "Hey Ishaan." "Did you bring the signed test paper?" "No." "Too bad, now you are gone." "Yohaan, Ishaan, wash your hands and mouths." "I'm serving food." "Wow!" "What is this?" "Superb." "Done." "Let me see." "What hand writing." "Ishaan, what is this?" "All your spellings are wrong." "Here "table" is "tabl" and here "tabai"." "And what is this? "D" instead of "The"." "What is this?" "Ishaan, How many times?" "How many times?" "Just yesterday we did this." "How you can forget so quickly?" "Now you have too much fun but again you will be stay in same class." "All your friends will go to the next standard." "Kanti." "Rohan." "Then will you feel good?" "Son, concentrate." "Concentrate." "Stop that and correct the spelling." " No." " What?" " No, no, no." " Ishaan." "Dada, Dada..." "Inho, no." "Today, no story." "I'm too tired." "Dada." "I ran away from school today." "What?" "I crossed the wall and ran away." "When?" "After first period." "Why?" "I didn't do the homework." "Also I didn't get the test paper signed?" "Then where did you go?" "Nowhere." "I just wandered around." "On the main road." "On the main road?" "Alone?" "So good!" "You have such guts, but you know how dangerous that was?" "Anything could have happened." "You could have had an accident or anyone could have kidnapped you." "Papa is also not at home." "Idiot." "Did you tell mom?" " Should I tell her?" " No, no, no." "Then?" " Dada, you can write an "Absent Note"." " What?" ""Absent Note"." "No, no, no." "I will not write a false "Absent Note"." "Now go to sleep." "In the morning, I'll tell everything to Mamma." "Dada, please." "Please, Dada." "Dada, please." ""Absent Note", Teacher..." "How are you?" "99." "Go." "Children, surprise math's test." "Marks from this test will count in the final so be careful." "Take one and pass the rest." "Here." "Great Captain Ishaan is leaving for mission impossible." "His mission is to enter "The Earth", 3rd planet from the Sun, into the 9th planet "Pluto" of the solar system." "Three into nine." "Oh God, the heat of the Sun will destroy the starship of the great Captain Ishaan." "Save it." "Now 3 is entering into 9." "Pluto is destroyed." "The planet is no more." "The great Captain Ishaan found the answer." "The answer of 3 into 9 is 3." "Times up." "Ishaan, how was the test?" "Great." "Hey Ishaan." "Inho, Papa has arrived." "When did Papa arrive?" "Last night." "You were sleeping." " Bye, Papa." "Bye, Inoo." " Bye." "What did you bring for me?" " That." " Strawberries?" "Yes." "And for Dada?" "Same." "For both of us?" " Yes." "Wash it first." "Ishaan, Ishaan..." "Papa, the aquarium, Papa." "Papa, please today, the aquarium." "Papa." " Papa." " Yes." "Can we go to the aquarium, today?" "Okay." "Mamma, was Ishaan suffering from fever on Thursday?" "Not at all." "What is this?" "Absent note." "I didn't write this note." "Ishaan, come here." "Come here." "Ishaan, come here right now." "Come here." "What is this?" "What does this note means?" "Answer Ishaan, otherwise I will beat you so much." "Don't look down." "Don't look down." "Look up..." "look up in my eyes and answer me." "Where the hell were you on Thursday?" "Where?" "Let me ask, where did you go, son?" "If you didn't attend school then where did you go?" " Tell me son, where did you go?" " Answer!" "goddamn-it." " What?" "What he's saying?" " Bunk." "What?" "You bunked school, Ishaan." "Bunked and what else did you do?" "What else did you do?" "Where did you go?" "Where?" " Road." " Road?" "What road?" "What road?" "With whom?" "With whom did you go?" " Alone." " Alone!" "?" "!" "Are you out of your mind?" "Are you out of your bloody mind?" "You were wondering alone in the city." "Didn't you care a bit about us?" "Idiot." "What's going on here?" "Listen up." "If he had been lost then how could we have found him?" "And who wrote this?" "Who wrote this "absent note"?" "You aren't able to write properly, bloody duffer, idiot." "You could pass if you were able to write that much." "Who wrote this note, Ishaan?" "Speak, who wrote this?" "Ishaan, this is the last time I'm asking you." "Who wrote this "absent note"?" " Speak." "Who wrote it?" " No." " Tell." " No." "Tell me." "Class work and homework, haven't made any improvement in either." "Just like the last year." "Books are still his enemies." "Like reading and writing is punishment." "His English handwriting seems to be Russian sometimes." "He repeats the mistakes without any reason." "His attention is always outside of class." "All the time asking for permission to go to the toilet." "I'm thirsty." "I want to pee." "Thirsty, pee... thirsty, pee." "He disturbs the whole class with his silly pranks." "And have you been through his exam papers?" "He has failed in every subject." "Did you send his exam papers?" "On last Wednesday, for his parent's signature." "He still has not returned them." "They were a sight, I tell you, Mrs. Awasthi." "In fact, I sent a letter especially to meet you." "Look at this math's test. 3x9=3." "Enough." "After that he ignored all the other questions." "Who would accept that he's the younger brother of Yohaan Awasthi?" " Mr. Awasthi." " Yes." "By the way, this is the second year of your son in third grade." "If it continues like this then I'm sorry I won't be able to help you out." "Maybe he's having some problem." "What do you mean?" "Maybe he..." "Some children are unlucky." "And there are special kind of schools for these kind of children." " Water, sir." " Move aside." "I told you, move from there." " 10 rupees sir... 10 rupees." "Thinks my son is a retard." "She thinks my son isn't normal." "Jeez!" "They filled up the class with 60 children." "The teacher isn't able to pay attention to every child." "Bloody nonsense." "Idiots." "What haven't I done?" "I left my job for the kids and left everything." "I took the lessons by myself in morning and evening." "Ishaan..." "Ishaan..." "Ishaan." "No Mamma, it's not your fault." "He wouldn't improve from such as that." "Okay... okay, tomorrow I come early in the morning." "Thanks a lot, Suresh." "Thank you very much." "Good night... good night..." "Done." "But in the middle of the term?" "Suresh Kapdia's uncle is the founder trustee of the school." "I'll submit the fee tomorrow after meeting with the headmaster." "No, I'll not go." "I'm not go to go." "Ishaan, shut up." "Eat your food quietly." "I will not go." "Let him finish this year then..." "I mean, Nando, he has never been without me up till this day." "Err!" "He'll have to grow up." "And didn't you hear the principal?" "They won't allow him in the school next year." "They'll fail him again and expel him." "Then where will he go?" "Look..." "look how he's staring?" "No bloody regret on his face." "There at boarding school, they'll straighten him up by force." "Today he asked Yohaan to write a note." "Don't know what he'll do tomorrow?" "Trust me Mamma, I'm his father." "The fee is out of our budget but we'll manage somehow." "His term will start after Deepawali celebrations." "Baba, please, Baba, don't send me." "Baba, please, I'll not go to boarding school." "Mama, I don't want to go to boarding school." "Mama, tell father that I don't want to go to the boarding school." "Please I don't want to go to boarding school." "Okay." "Quiet." "Quiet... quiet." "Mamma..." "Mamma..." " Ishaan..." "Ishaan." " Mamma." " Ishaan..." "Ishaan here." " Mamma." "Ishaan hurry up..." "Ishaan hurry up." "Ishaan." "Ishaan hurry up." "Ishaan." "Ishaan..." "Ishaan." " Ishaan." " Mamma." " Mamma." " Yes, son." " Mamma." " Yes son, get up." " Yes son, speak." " Mamma." " Mamma." " Yes, I'm here." " Yes, speak." " I don't want to go to boarding school." " No, you'll have to go to boarding school." " I don't want to go to boarding school, Mamma." " Boarding school is a good place." " I don't want to go to boarding school, Mamma." "I know, I'm trying." "Really see, A, B, C, D, I, M, N, O, X, Y, Z." "Really look, Mamma, I know everything." "I always study ...like that." "I'll not fire any crackers on Deepawali." "But I don't want to go to boarding school, Mamma." "I don't want to go to boarding school." "I don't want to go to boarding school, Mamma." "What, Ishaan?" "Why aren't you firing the crackers?" "You are afraid to go to boarding school, aren't you?" "Yes, speak." "I'm not afraid." "You are afraid, I know." " I'm not afraid." " I know you are afraid." " Look, what I'm doing?" " I'll going to be mad." "I'll not go..." "I'll not go." "Your Papa says that you are too stubborn." "Listen to one thing very clearly." "Only one rule is true in this school." "Discipline." "Don't you worry, Mr. Awasthi." "We put horse-shoes on so many wild horses here." "Err!" "Let's go, we are behind schedule." "Have they left, son?" "Come." "Change your clothes in the dormitory for food." "Come on." "Err!" "You are sitting without doing anything till now." "You haven't changed your clothes?" "Go and change your clothes." "Come on." "Let's go, it's 9 o'clock." "Lights out." "Err!" "You aren't ready even now?" "And this isn't the way to wear a tie?" "Hasn't your mother taught you anything?" "Children, this is Ishaan Nandkishor Awasthi." "Come forward here." "Come, pickup your bag." "Your place is over here from today." "Exactly in front of my eyes." "Just beside Rajan Damodhran." "Rajan Damodhran has always stood first in the class." "I hope that Rajan Dhamodhran's company makes a good effect on you." "Do you understand?" "Sit down." "Writing a poem and its central idea is today's topic." "Page No. 28." "Rajan Damodharan, you'll read the poem and Ishaan Nandkishor ...Awasthi, you, you'll explain the central idea of the poem. 'Nature'." "Okay." "Start Rajan." "'Nature'" "'Open sky from the top', 'Your world is filled with clouds'" "'It blinks like a jewel till the elephant dies due to thirst'" "'Bicycle buzzer, stone or mud or blind man stick'" "'Then you seem to be filled with water, you are our sweet stream'" "Very good." "Yes, Ishaan Anand Kishor Awasthi, explain the central idea of the poem." "What we see, we feel exists, and what we can't see, we feel it doesn't exist." "But sometimes what we see, isn't true." "And what isn't visible, is true." "This means..." "Err!" "What are you saying, visible or not visible?" "MInoo Patel you explain." "The poet says that when he sees the stream then he sees the sky's reflection in it and he explains ...that reflection in different kinds of ways." "And the flow of the stream rises again." "Good, very good." "MInoo Patel, sit down." "Yes children, 'Open sky from the top'..." "Actually, you explained the real meaning of the poem." "The rest of them gave copied answers." "Sir Tevari is very strict." "You have to say it like he says." "How could you come in the middle of the term?" "." "That my Papa's..." "Let's go, now it's art class." "You stood first in the class then why did your parents send you here?" " What do you mean?" " I mean..." "To boarding school as a punishment." "I'm not living in the boarding school." "My father is the state manager ...of the school." "I live in the staff quarters with my parents." "And who told you that all the children come here for punishment?" "Children." "Open your sketch books and take out your pencils." "Good." "Copy this without using any scale and utensil." "The lines must be straight." "If they are even a bit slanted then you'll get five on the right hand." "New boy, eyes over here." "On the blackboard." "See?" "Do you see where I drew the point?" "Do you see the point?" "What are you staring at like a frog?" "Don't laugh." "Do you see where I drew the point?" "Do you see?" "It isn't visible." "Isn't visible?" "The point isn't visible." " Satesh Bhatgan." " Yes sir." "Come here and show him where I made the point on blackboard." "Now are you able to see it?" "Very good." "Come here." "Hurry up." "Five on a clenched hand because your attention shouldn't leave the blackboard." "Hand forward." "Clench it." "Now copy this still life study." "Draw the perfect shape." "Otherwise five on the other hand." "Go." "Forward march." "Left-right-left..." "Left-right-left..." " Left-right-left..." " Ishaan, what are you doing?" " Left-right-left..." " Class halt." "Are you doing marching or wandering in the garden?" "You are disturbing the marching of the whole class." "Out." "Get out of here." "Forward march." "Why?" "Why can't you?" "Idiot." "Why can't you?" "What is your problem, son?" "Ishaan, open the door." " Inoo, open the door." " Ishaan." "Ishaan, open please." "Open the door, Inoo." "Ishaan." "Ishaan." "Ishaan..." "Ishaan..." "Ishaan..." "What happened, champ?" "Go, let's go." "I got permission from the housemaster." "Inoo, now leave the anger." "Let's go." "Let's go, son." "Yes, one extra mattress." "Ishaan, what are you doing?" "What are you doing?" "Come down." "Down." "Why did you climb up?" "Come." "What's up?" "Hey!" "Don't you know, he's gone." "Holkar Sir has been gone to teach drawing to the whole New Zealand." "A new temporary teacher has joined in his place." "I hope he is different from Holkar Sir." "Let's go. its already late." "Let's go." "Have it, this is yours, this is yours and that's yours." "Draw, paint and do whatever you want to do." "I'll be back quickly after dropping this off." "But what do we paint, sir?" "There is nothing on the table." "This table?" "This table is very small, sweetheart." "It's too small so it can't hold your beautiful thoughts." "Look into your mind and draw an amazing Technicolor photo." "And then drop it onto the paper." "Steal, steal the joy." "Nobody is here to stop you." "Where have you been lost, my friend?" "Are you looking for something in your thoughts?" "Don't worry." "No rush." "What happened, my boy?" "Don't you like painting?" "What is your name, son?" "Sir, his name is Ishaan Awasthi." "Thanks." "Where did you go?" "Where did you go?" "Your mother called." "Go and stand by the phone." "She's going to call again." " Hello." " Hello." " Is Ishaan Awasthi around?" " Yes, Yes..." "Just a minute." " Yes." " Talk with him." " Yes." " Take it." "Hello, Inoo..." "Hello Inoo..." "Say hello, son." "Look Inoo, we can't come on Saturday, son." "Dada's interschool tennis finals will be held on Sunday." "You know, son?" "I know you are very angry with Mamma." "Mamma is very bad." "Mamma is very bad." "I'm very sorry, Inoo, but what can Mamma do?" "Dada is also under tension over the finals." "You know?" "Would you like to talk to Dada?" "Now talk to Dada." "And wish him all the best." "One minute... one minute." "Hello Inoo." "Hello, Inoo, are you there?" "Inoo, I'll miss you a lot at the finals." " Hello." " Hello, Inoo." "Inoo." "Son, talk to Mamma." "Hello..." "Inoo..." "Hello." " Hello." " Hello, Madam he left." " Left?" " Yes, Madam." "Sorry." " What happened?" " He didn't talk." "Don't worry." "We'll go next Sunday." " Hey!" "Why are you putting those in there?" " This is the class work of the kids." "And so?" "Holkar didn't put them there." "That place is for the books." "Then where do I put them?" "Return them to the kids." "What use do they have anyway?" "What a racket they were making in your class, Nikumbh?" "They are kids." "They have to make noise." "And if the kids don't show their emotions in art class then where else would they show them?" "That's alright." "Just go easy." "Headmaster wants discipline in the school." "Discipline." "I heard that you were singing in class yesterday." "And playing the flute." "Yes I was singing and playing the flute." "The kids were happy so I was happy." "But the children of this school aren't like the children of that school." "What kind of children?" "You are teaching in Tulips School, no?" "Mentally retarded, abnormal kids." "Teach the way you like in that kind of school, it doesn't make any difference." "There is no future for those kids." "No serious teaching." "But this is a formal school." "Your singing and dancing style won't be appreciated here." "Here we prepare the kids for the race of life." "Kids have to compete, succeed." "Make a future." "There are three rules in this school." "Unity, faith and discipline." "Three rules of success, the way of a complete education." "Heil Hitler." "Tevari-ji now you have to learn German." "What happened, Ishaan?" "Okay..." "Okay..." "Okay..." "Okay..." "It's okay." "Hey!" "Listen, where is your friend?" "Sir, don't know, sir." "He was here earlier, but suddenly ran off." "He saw his new boring art teacher." "No..." "No sir, he went to the dining hall for lunch." "What is your name, friend?" "Rajan Dhamodhran, sir." "Rajan, tell me one thing, what is the matter with Ishaan?" " Sir?" " Is he having some problem?" "He's afraid all the time." " He wants to go home." " Why?" " He's a new boy, sir." " In the middle of the year?" "He's having a problem." "As much he tries he ...can't read and write." "He has been punished all the time." "Red marks." "Red marks all over the book." "What to do?" "You play here, I'll be right back." "Ok?" "Are you coming from somewhere after cutting some onions?" "The human is..." " worse than animals." "I know that." "And blind too." "Away from the inner beauty." "Who are you confronting these days?" "Myself." "After so long, I'm seeing myself in the mirror." "So is there someone to show you the mirror?" "That's what I always ask you to do." "You have a nice face." "Jabeen, he's in danger." "Who?" "Who?" "There's a boy in the school" "He's 8-9 years old." "He doesn't do or speak anything, always seems scared." "His eyes are like..." "screaming for help." "I'm afraid he'll fall." "Let's go, it's time for the lesson." "Ok, let's go." "Hey, Sail, come." "Do you know when the show is?" "In two days." "Yes." "Excellent, let's go." "Yes?" "Hello." "My name's Ram Shankar Nikumbh." "I teach at the New Era School." "Come in." "Are these his 3rd grade books?" " Yes." "Who made this?" "Ishaan did." "Ishaan did?" "Does he paint?" "Yes, he loves to paint." "Can I have some water please?" "Why did you send him?" "Why?" "There was no choice." "Last year he failed in 3rd grade." "Can you believe?" "In the 3rd grade." "And there's no sign of improvement." "This, my elder son, he comes 1st in every class and every subject." "And that other one..." "What do you think, what is his problem?" "Problem?" "His attitude." "What else?" "Towards studies, towards everything." "Always stubborn, always attitude." "I'm asking about his problem, but you're telling me the symptoms." "You're telling me he has a fever." "That I know already." "I'm asking why is he having a fever." "What's the reason for the fever?" "Then you tell me." "Tell me." "Have you noticed any patterns in his mistakes in his lessons?" "Patterns." "What patterns?" "They all are mistakes." "Then you didn't notice the patterns." "Look here." "Here "b" is in place of "d" and "d" in place of "b"" "Confusion among similar looking letters." "Here, he wrote "s" and "r" in reverse." "Even more..." "Look here." "This small "h" and small "t"." "Mirror imaging." "Animal, animal, animal." "Three different spellings on the same page." "It means, it's not the case that he remembers one wrong spelling." "He mixes similar looking words." "This "t-o-p" becomes "p-o-t"" "This "s-o-l-i-d" become "s-o-i-l-d"." "Why does he do that?" "Is he stupid, or lazy?" "No." "I think, he's having difficulty in recognizing words." "When you read "a-p-p-l-e", you imagine a red apple in your head." "Maybe he can't read "apple"." "That's why he can't get the meaning as well." "To learn, one has to know the sounds, visual and meanings of words." "Ishaan is lacking this very important need." "Ishaan is just lazy and skips his studies." "Read this please." "How can I read it?" "It's in Chinese." "Try it." "Come on." "Concentrate." "What's this rubbish?" "I can't read it." "You're not behaving." "You're being a duffer." "That's how Ishaan must be feeling." "He couldn't understand the words." "This problem in science is called "Dyslexia"." "Sometimes a child has other problems in addition to Dyslexia." "Like difficulty in understanding multiple instructions." "Turn to page 65, chapter 9, Para 4, line 2..." "Confusion..." "Or poor "fine gross motor skills"." "Does Ishaan have problems in buttoning his shirt or tying his shoelaces?" "Yes." "Yohaan, can he catch the ball when you throw it to him?" "He can never judge the ball." "Because he can't understand the size, distance and speed all together." "A ball, how big, from how far and at what speed coming towards him." "Until he analyzes all this..." "It's too late." "Think about it." "A child just 8-9 years old." "Can't read." "Can't write." "Can't do day to day normal things." "Can't do what other children can do very easily." "What would he go through then?" "His self-confidence must have been shattered." "Hiding his inabilities with stubbornness." "Surely, it's been hell for him." "Wondering why he can't do things." "Thinking why don't they just leave him alone." "That's what children learn from adults." "And now he can't even fight that." "I'm sorry to say that he has stopped painting." "It's very sad." "Why only Ishaan?" "There's no answer to that." "It's a neurological disorder." "It can happen to anyone." "Sometimes it can be genetic." "To make it simple, there's just some wiring problems in his brain." "So you're saying that my son isn't normal." "That he's mentally retarded." "What kind of a person are you?" "Look at this, Mr. Awasthi?" "This quick mind is playing with thousands of thoughts through colors." "Way more than your or my abilities." "But what's the use of that?" "What are you seeing from it?" "What should I see?" "What will he become when he grows up?" "How will he compete with the world?" "Will I keep on feeding him his whole life?" "I know this." "There's a cold world out there." "Everyone wants to grow toppers and rankers in their homes." "Everyone wants No. 1" "Doctor, engineer, management, less than that is unacceptable." "Right?" "Think about this." "Every child has his own quality, own expertise, own desire." "But no, everyone is busy stretching the finger to make it long." "Keep on doing that." "Doesn't matter that you break the finger." "What are the options?" "No options." "There's no way." "If you want to race horses, then breed race horses, damn-it." "Why do they give birth to children?" "Putting the weight of your ambitions on your child is worse than child labor." "And when the child can't carry the weight..." "When will they understand that every child has his own capacity to lift the weight." "He learns eventually." "Every child has his own pace." "Five fingers make a fist." "Why are we dreaming to settle these little ones into the mainstream?" "Friends, I'm going to tell a story today." "A story about a boy." "There was a boy, don't ask where." "He couldn't read and write." "Even after so many tries." "He couldn't remember that "y" comes after "x"." "Words were his enemies, used to dance in front of his eyes." "They used to tease him by dancing and moving around." "Studies used to make him tired." "His mind was full, he was a starter bull, but the letters were a disco to him." "He failed in exams." "He was a victim of the burden of his studies." "People called him an ass and stupid." "The boy took everything bravely." "And one day, he did something genius." "Everyone was shocked when they heard his theory." "Tell me, who was that boy?" "Albert Einstein." "Correct Rajan, Albert Einstein." "A genius and great scientist who shocked the world with his theory of relativity..." "Now tell me what's this?" "No, no." "Its not an ordinary helicopter." "The great artist inventor, Leonardo DaVinci" "Who?" " Leonardo DaVinci" "Yes, he made this picture." "A working sketch of a helicopter." "But when?" "ln the 15th century." "400 years before the first airplane could fly." "Do you know, Leonardo DiVinci used to have difficulties to read and write." "He used to write like this." "Can you make anything out of it?" "Now read it." "My name is Ram Shankar Nikumbh." "Ishaan, turn on the light please." "Who was the great person who lit the world with electricity?" "Edison." "Thomas Albert Edison." "Correct Ishaan." "He too was a victim of "abcd"." "Sit down, Ishaan." "No, leave the light on." "Let Edison's light shine on us." "Everyone must know this guy." " Abhishek Bachchan." "He too used to have difficulties in studies during childhood." "Now see, he is a blast." "There are more examples." "Pablo Picasso, famous Cubist painter." "He used to say, "lt looks like my uncle's nose in reverse. "" "Who's the father of Mickey Mouse?" " Walt Disney." "Correct." "Walt Disney." "He too was confused about words, so he put his art into cartoons." "Neil Diamond, a popular singer who used to write songs about the shame of his red report card." "Agatha Christy, famous mystery book writer." "Can you believe a writer, who was unable to read in her childhood?" "But, why am I telling you all this suddenly today?" "To show you that, there were gems in the world who changed it." "They were able to see the world from their own unique perspective." "Their minds were a bit different." "People came in their way." "But still they won." "And they won such that the whole world saw it with awe." "Today's art class will be dedicated to all those geniuses." "We will go outside remembering them." "And we'll make something different." "Anything." "Pick anything you like, rock, wood, junk, anything." "Come on, out the door you go." "Ishaan, one minute." "Rajan, you can go." "Do you know there was another name besides all those I mentioned?" "Perhaps that name is not that great." "But he too had the same problem." "That name is Ram Shankar Nikumbh." "I too had difficulties in reading and writing." "My father never understood me." "He thought I was being naughty, and wasn't paying attention." "He thought I would not succeed in my life." "What could a duffer and idiot become?" "Whatever I am today, I'm in front of you, Ishaan." "Shall we go?" "Did you go to my home?" "Hey, it's moving." "Can it fly?" "Will it?" "Who made it?" "Is the Principal present?" " Yes sir." " Ok, stay seated." "I wanted to talk about a student." "Ishaan Awasthi, 3rd "D"." "He's a new student." "Some other teachers are also complaining about him." "I don't think he will complete even a year." "No sir, he's a smart boy." "He has just some problem in reading and writing." "You know about "Dyslexia"." "You've made our job easy." "I was confused what to tell his father." "He came through our trustees." "Good, good." "Then Special School is perfect for him." "Isn't it?" "No, sir." "He's a child with above average intelligence." "He has every right to study in a normal school." "He just needs a little help from us." "All children around the world who have problems study in a normal school." "And these children have the right to study in a normal school." "Under the law of rights of education, every child gets this right." "It's another thing that there are many schools who don't follow this law." "Nikumbh, tell me one thing." "How will this boy manage here?" "He will." "But oly if the teachers help him a bit." "Where's the time for teachers to do that?" "To attend one child among 40 children?" "lmpossible." "Sir, it won't take as much time as you think." "2-3 hours a week." "And he has to just pass all these subjects." "His real destination is something else." "So, all the subjects that we teach are useless but yours isn't." "No, sir, I didn't mean that." "Please sir, look at his paintings." "Its a battlefield, a soldier digs a tunnel and turn the page, and he escaped while digging." "What an idea?" "Confident brush strokes, such bold use of colors." "Very bold." "Look at this sir, a flip book, a story about going away from home." "What an idea?" "From just an 8 year old boy." "Sir, there are only a few who could think that way." "Sir, just one chance." "He needs this chance." "Or he'll lose his faith." "What do you want from me?" "For some time, his spellings and writing should be ignored." "He should take his tests orally." "Education is real be it oral or written." "Along the way, I'll also work on his reading and writing." "They will improve gradually." "I don't know if by following a temporary teaacher I am doing permanent damage." "Now add 3." "Very good!" "Now add 5." "What did you get?" "Very good!" "Now subtract 11." "Here's a question." "Have you ever painted after you finished your schooling." "What?" "Painting competition." "For students, teachers, everyone." "Seriously, what's the meaning of art?" "Its meant to release your emotions." "If you're happy, your hand will reach for all bright colors." "Lunch was bad, you'll end up using all dark and dull colors." "I'll be back in two minutes, friends." "Sorry, there's little space." "How come you're here?" "I was passing by." " Have you met with Ishaan?" " No, not yet, I will meet him." "First I needed to talk to you." "My wife has been surfing the internet for a few days." "She has read all the information about "Dyslexia"." "We just wanted to you tell you that." "Why did you want to tell me?" "So you don't mistake us as parents who don't care about their children." "To care." "It is necessary, Mr. Awasthi." "It has the power to cure." "It's a medicine that relieves pain." "It's a security when a child thinks someone cares about him." "One hug, or one lovely kiss." "To show that you care." "To tell him, "Son, I love you"." "To say, "..." "If you have any worries, you can come to me..."" ""..." "It's ok if you made a mistake." "I'm here for you."" "To care." "Isn't that what it is "to care"?" "Mr. Awashti." "I'm happy to hear that you think you care." "OK, I'll leave now." "Mr. Awasthi, has your wife read about Solomon Islands on the internet?" "I don't know." "For farming, they don't cut down the trees." "Instead, they stand around the tree and start shouting at him, cursing at him." "After some days, the tree gets weak." "And dies by itself." "There has been great gems in the world who changed it." "They were able to see the world from their own unique perspective." "Their minds were a bit different." "People didn't like that and they came in their way." "But still they won." "And they won such that the whole world looked with awe." "What a fair they have arranged?" "Look, I have arrived." "Where's your Ishaan?" "I've been dying to meet him." "I don't know, I don't see him." "Rajan, where's Ishaan?" "I don't know, sir." "He left the dorms before everyone else." "Really?" "Hey, Nikumbh, you've pulled me into this too." "You should try this, it's fun." "No way, I can't do this painting thing." "I will put so many letters and fill it with letters." "I've come here only for Headmaster to see my presence." "I will be here for 5-10 minutes only." "Its an honor for us that you've come." "Where do I have to sit?" "The children will show your sitting place." "Children, come here." "Show Sir his sitting place." "My special guest, Madam Lalita." "Teacher, painter, my guru." " Hello" " Hello" "Have you seen Ishaan?" "No sir, he must be with Rajan." "Rajan, where is he?" "I don't know, sir, as I said earlier he left before everyone else." "Where have you been?" "Come here, sit." "Do you have colors?" "Sir, haven't you left yet?" "You were leaving in 5 minutes." "What are you painting?" "Its a frog, duck and a banana." "ls it a frog?" "How's my painting?" "Look at it." " Absolutely beautiful, sir." " First prize, sir." "Amazing!" "What a wonderful morning." "Going through the colored glasses of windows we reached our childhood." "Praise be to God." "I saw others' childhoods too." "He will take compulsory lessons from Nikumbh Sir." "Isn't it a joy, Sir?" "But not only me, Sen and Tiwari Sir will too, these two had bad paintings as well." "All right." "Oh, and about Nikumbh, I just remembered ...that we won't have to look for a new art teacher." "Nikumbh Sir, along with the Tulip School, will also teach in our school." "Now, what you have been waiting for..." "I'm going to announce that." "Let me come to the results of the Art Fair." "Our special guest, Madam Lalita, was in a real fix." "It was a tie." "She wanted to award two paintings as the best." "That wasn't possible." "Because I decided that the ...winning painting will become the front cover of the school's yearbook." "Now, there can't be two front covers." "So what to do now?" "Madam was in deep confusion." "After thinking a lot she came to a conclusion." "She selected the student over the teacher." "Yes, children." "Your Nikumbh Sir has been defeated." "And the student who defeated him little, 9 year old, Ishaan Nandkishor Awasthi." "Applause." "Here's your Ishaan and here's his painting." "Just look at it!" "What a masterpiece!" "He's a very talented boy." "I'm really happy to have him in my school." "Have you met his teachers?" "No sir." "Please go ahead and meet them, they'll give the progress report." "First we thought something was wrong, that he won't be staying here." "But what improvements he made." "What a pick-up pace he had." "Wonderful." "Here's his progress report." "I can't believe all this." "Thank you." "What?" "What happened?" "I can't find words to thank you." "He's a lovely boy." "Just look after him." "Come back early after holidays."