Rude Ruby Robot had no friends. The reason for that was she was a very rude robot. She would push and shout if she didn’t like anything or anybody. Not only that, she was also selfish. She never shared her bolts and screw 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 asked the class, ‘Which year did India become independent?’ Everyone raised their hands. Rude Ruby Robot excitedly raised her hand too.
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. All the other robots were helping Billy while 3R bounced up and blurted, ‘I know. I know the answer. It is 1957, Miss.’
The teacher sternly replied, ‘You are wrong, 3R. The answer is 1947. Besides, you pushed Billy. Apologise to him, at once.’
‘I won’t,” 3R retorted rudely. The entire class gasped.
‘Leave the class, Ruby.’ The teacher punished her.
Rude Ruby Robot wheeled out of the class. She stood outside with a stubborn look.
When the class broke up, Billy Robot came up to 3R. ‘Will you be friends with me?’
3R looked at him in surprise. ‘Why? Nobody wants to be my friend.’
‘I do,’ said Billy, ‘We will do history together. And other things too.’
‘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 and help each other.’
‘Do they?’ Nobody had told 3R this.
‘Yes. It is called teamwork.’
Ever since that day 3R and Billy became the best of friends. They played and studied together. Billy helped 3R with history and 3R, who was good at Math, helped Billy with sums and tables.
3R was never, ever rude to anyone. She shared her pencils, crayons, books, the crushed steel spring rolls her mother packed for school, with everyone. In fact, all the robots started liking her so much that they started calling her 3R---the Rocking Ruby Robot!
Copyright @ Sutapa Basu 2015. All rights reserved.
