Kinjal knew nothing except Maths. One can call him a ‘Mathematics-Maniac’. He studied in class IX and being a good student, was very serious. Whenever he got spare time he would sit with his favourite Maths note-book and at a go, within an hour, he could complete 30 sums, which would be the toughest 30 sums imagined by the mathematicians too. This tremendous passion for Maths came from his parents, who were in the teaching profession. His mother was a Maths teacher in a renowned school of Kolkata and his father, a professor of Maths in one of the city’s finest universities.

Interestingly, throughout 2016, Kinjal’s Maths textbook remained his relentless companion. Sadly the year also was about to end but his yearning for Maths didn’t change at all. His parents were glad to see the love for Maths but at the same time they got scared for their son too.

His endless longing for Maths made him blind to choose other hobbies like his friends had. He didn’t like to involve himself in outdoor activities not even reading storybooks. Till class IX he had only read school English textbooks and rapid readers. He had no interest in reading Bengali novels too. It was indeed a crucial reason to be worried. Although, Kinjal excelled in the subject, but his general knowledge was weak and he didn’t even know that a writer called Enid Blyton actually existed, leaving aside reading books of Agatha Christie or J.K Rowling.

As always, this time also he was going to get a new-year gift. For a change, he thought that this time that his parents will choose the gift instead of him deciding what he wished. He had enough of Maths books. So his parents took a wise decision accordingly. They bought the perfect possible gift for their son.

It was the 1 January 2017.The clock had just struck 12, Kinjal found a newly packed paper parcel lying on his study table. It looked like that once again a Maths book awaited his fate. He was a bit disappointed as he had expected something different this time. Still, with utmost patience he slowly unwrapped the paper covering and what peeked out of the half opened parcel was a brand new storybook, Tintin it was.

It was a matter of a few days when a new desire got ignited in Kinjal’s life. With the existence of Maths, Tintin too became his beloved companion. Now he couldn’t live without it. Like a ray of hope this new-year turned Kinjal into a fresh leaf.

Coordinator, Class X, Gokhale Memorial Girls’ School