Kartik's Diwali

It had been a few days since Kartik arrived at the hostel, but he was still restless. He felt homesick and often I teared up.

- Kusum Agarwal

Kartik lived in a small house with his parents and little sister. As the elder sibling and only son, all his demands were quickly met, which made him somewhat stubborn.

He did not heed his parents’ words, nor did he take cate of Parul, his sister. He always got into fights with others.

If any demand was not met, he immediately became angry and took out his anger on Parul. He would hit her in anger. She would go to their mother to complain, and she would scold Kartik, but it fell on deaf ears.

Kartik’s mother loved him, but she did not want him to become an arrogant boy.

Fed up with his bad behaviour, his parents decided to send him to a hostel. They thought its disciplined and restricted life would bring about a positive change in his behaviour.

But Kartik did not want to go to a hostel. When his parents told him, he cried bitterly. He felt as though they were punishing him for his behaviour.

He thought hostels were like prisons where children were locked inside four walls, and their every move was observed. Don’t do this! Don’t do that! Don’t come here! Why did you go there? They would poke them for every little thing. And he would have no facilities like those he got at home.