Dancing Hat

“Oh ho...Where should I throw away this hat now?” Sonu asked his friend Romi in an annoyed tone.

“Throw away! Are you serious” Who would throw away such a lovely hat with red and white dots? And that fur is just awesome.” Romi exclaimed

“But this hat plays some really naughty tricks with me” Sonu replies with a deep sigh.

“I don’t believe you.” Romi was amazed.

“You must be joking.”

“I am not joking .Whenever I tell a lie, this hat gets on my head and I start dancing.” Sonu sounded disappointed

“This must be a creation of your imagination and no one will buy such a stupid claim.” Romi dismissed his claim in a dismissive tone.

“Believe me. Every word, I am telling you is soaked in truth and you must believe it.” Sonu put his hand on Romi’s shoulder.

“Yesterday I met an old man who asked me the way to museum but I told him the way to Zoo.”

The same old man crossed my path in front of school this morning. He looked annoyed and cursed me.

He said that whenever I would tell a lie, this hat will get stuck on my head.”

“But why should I believe you?” Romi did not appear convinced.

“Why don’t you check it for yourself?” Sonu invited Romi for a trial.

“Why not?” Romi appeared quite excited.

“I did not have milk in the morning.” Romi giggled and winked at Sonu.

The hat took off, floated in air, circled Romi and landed on his head. The hat got attached to his head and a slow music started emanating from the hat.

Romi started tapping his feet and then he started swaying to the beats of the music. Within no time Romi was swirling and dancing to the tune of the music. He was trying hard but was not able to control the dancing.

“Save me Sonu….I have landed myself in serious trouble.” Romi had started crying now.

Sonu was setting relaxed on a couch and was enjoying Romi’s dance.

“Only a truth and a real truth can save you from turning into a Michel Jackson.”

Sonu giggled

“Pardon me for the lie. I had one big glass of milk in the morning. Please spare me.”Romi cried.

The hat rose up from his head, circled him and flew off to a corner table.

Romi whispered to Sonu,”Let us find some way to dispose it off safely.”

“Don’t utter such words. Even if it hears any such plan, it is going to capture you and then you know…”Sonu stopped abruptly.

“I think, it’s getting late and I must take your leave.”Romi rushed out of the room with flying speed.

Sonu had a very uncomfortable evening and extremely tensed night. He made deliberate attempts to avoid speaking lies with his mother though he found it very difficult.

He avoided his father and retired to his bed quite early.

Next morning, he reached school in a very pensive mood and remained aloof to avoid any discussion with his friends.

In the class room, when he opened his school bag, he found the hat sitting next to geometry box. Before he could close the bag, the hat jumped onto the bench.

Soon covered his face with his two hands, he was scared of the outcome and before he could warn anyone it started.

The hat was jumping from one head to another. There was music and dance and widespread chaos. Entire class was confused and sudden abrupt dance sequences were creating vociferous laughter all around.

Finally Sonu stood up and announced, “If any one among us utters even a word of lie, this hat will descend on his head and then what can happen has been witnessed by all of you.

A wave of silence swept through the class and even the air stood still for a moment. All the students were puzzled.

Class teacher zoomed into the class room and shouted,” Why have you raised the school at your head. Even a zoo will be put to shame. This noise is unbearable.”

When we were young students of your age, we maintained strict discipline and maintained silence in our classroom. “He continued unabated.

Before he could understand anything, the hat had landed on his head. All the students were now enjoying the unusual dance of their teacher.

(published in The Hindu on 4th March 2016)

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