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There were at least thirty
robots studying in Class 3. Most of them were friends. Only one robot, Ruby
had no friends. In fact, everybody called her Rude
Ruby Robot. The
reason was that she was a very rude. She would push and shout if she didn’t
like anything or anybody. Though her teachers, parents and brothers told her
to be polite, she would never obey them. Not only that, she was also selfish.
She never shared her bolts and screws sandwiches or oil bottle with any of
the little robots in her class. Everyone avoided speaking to her. Nobody
played with 3R, the name by which they called Rude Ruby Robot. One morning, the History teacher, Miss Suman Robot asked
the class, “Which year did India become independent?” Everyone raised their
hands. Rude Ruby Robot also raised her hand, excitedly. But the teacher nodded at Billy Robot, who had recently
joined their class. He was just going to stand up, when Ruby, sitting next to
him, pushed him so hard that he fell down. There was a loud crash and Billy
was in a heap on the floor. All the other robots were helping Billy to get up
while 3R bounced up and blurted, “ I know the answer. It is 1957, Miss.” The teacher sternly
replied, “You are wrong, 3R. The answer is 1947. Besides you have been very
naughty. Why did you push Billy. Apologise to him, at once.” “I won’t,” 3R retorted. The entire class of robot children gasped.
How could Rude Ruby Robot speak so rudely. But then, she was Rude Ruby,
wasn’t she? “Leave the class, 3R.”
The teacher said. After Miss Suman Robot could not have a rude child
in the class. She punished her. Rude Ruby Robot wheeled out of the class. She stood outside
the class door with a stubborn look. Whenever anybody passed her, she acted
as if she was enjoying herself. But 3R was quite unhappy to be punished. When the class broke up, Billy Robot came up to 3R. “Will
you be friends with me?” 3R looked at him in surprise. “Why? I just pushed you.’ “It doesn’t matter that you pushed me.,’ Billy said. ‘You
must be feeling sorry that you did, though you don’t say it.’ ‘But nobody wants to be my friend,’ added Rude Ruby Robot. I want to be your
friend,” said Billy, “We will do History together. And other things too.” 3R could not believe her ears. She looked at Billy for some
time wondering if he really meant it. Then she said, ‘But I will be rude to
you and then you will leave me, like the others.” “No, you won’t,” assured Billy, “Friends are never rude.
Friends work together. They play
together. They help each other.’ “Do they?” 3R did not know this. Nobody had told 3R. “Yes. Friends make a team. The work they do is called
teamwork.” After that day 3R and Billy became the best of friends. Their
teacher, their families and their classmates saw them always together. They
played and studied together. Billy helped 3R with dates, names and events in
history. 3R, who was very good at
Maths, helped Billy with sums and tables. 3R was more happy than she had ever been in all her life.
She had a friend like all the other children. She did not want to be rude or
selfish or stubborn. She changed. 3R was never, ever rude to anyone. She shared her pencils, crayons, books, the crushed steel spring snacks her mother packed for school, with everyone. It was fun to be with her and many children became her friends. In fact, all the robots began to like her so much that they changed her name. She began to be called 3R---the Rocking Ruby Robot! All Rights Reserved. Copyright@Sutapa Basu, 2015 |
