Angad Dreads Going Back To School

RECOVERY FOR Angad Chhabra is all about confidence. He has been in the midst of headlines ever since a 'stray' bullet struck him at the Air Force Bal Bharati School and he has not grown tired of it.

"He doesn't mind the attention one bit," says a relieved Inderjit Kaur, Angad's mother, a few hours after her son was shifted from the ICU. "In fact he seems to love it."

The pampering is not without reason. Minutes before her observation, her 13-year-old son made a terrible statement for any school-going child. Something every parent in the capital would dread. "I am scared of school and would not like to go back there," murmured Angad. "You know I got shot there and all that, and that frightens me."

 

His mother, however, is quick to stifle the fear. "It was only an accident, beta. There is nothing to be scared of," she reassures. He agrees, though a trifle half-heartedly.

Angad does, however, vehemently deny being scared because he had ever seen anyone bring a weapon to school. "Students sometimes bring mobile phones. They are small, can be easily concealed and no one at school gets to know about it. They do so basically to show off," he says. "But I have never seen anybody bring a gun, not even the seniors."

Angad's condition has been improving since the past 48 hours. Though the bullet is still lodged within his chest , doctors say his condition is stable. The intravenous tubes have been removed and the blood clot around the bullet is reported to be slowly dissolving. If all goes well, the operation will be conducted soon. "With God's grace, everything should be alright soon," Mrs Kaur said.

Angad is not the least worried. "There is bullet lodged here," he says pointing toward his chest, "but I do not feel a thing," he says in a nonchalant manner. What he enjoys more after being shifted out of the ICU is that " I can now meet all his friends and relatives who were not allowed to enter the ICU."

When he is alone, he spends time chatting with his best friend Aman, or watching television, which is a treat these days since he can watch the cricket matches without worrying about examinations.

"I was supposed to appear for my science exam the day I was hit. And tomorrow there is a Hindi exam scheduled. Now that I am here I would not be appearing for either," grins Angad.

He also added that he would not mind avoiding both exams and making it straight to the next grade. A remark which was welcomed by everybody present.