The Legacy of Seán – Part 1: The Orphan’s Plight

Chapter 5: The Drumming Dynamo | Episode 12

By the middle of November that year, Kevin had successfully acclimated to his new school. His local guardian, Mr. Chirag Batra, accepted the duty to regularly oversee Kevin’s activities and diligently report back to his foster father. Though he did not live in the same town, he regularly visited the boy and Malika Gupta for updates. This vigilant monitoring stemmed from Kevin’s tendency to engage in certain extracurricular pursuits that his foster father strongly disapproved of.

While academics and occasional tutoring were deemed acceptable, any involvement in entertaining activities that could divert his focus was strictly forbidden. The watchful eyes of Batra, whom Kevin used to call Uncle Batra, aimed to ensure Kevin’s adherence to the established boundaries and to prevent any unwarranted distractions from his primary academic pursuits.

So, the boy found some new hobbies to pursue. On Sundays, after completing his routine with books, he used to venture out on a leisurely stroll through the unknown neighbourhoods. These walks were driven by his internal curiosity to explore the town and its people, his way of seeking entertainment and enjoying the fresh air. Sometimes Annie, Sam, Bob and Nori also joined him in his adventure.

Kevin had another hobby, a secret one, that he kept concealed from his friends. The boy loved music. When he was just a toddler, his foster parents noticed his fascination with rhythm and melody and presented him with a toy drum and stick. Kevin used to carry them wherever he went. It became his constant companion, a source of comfort whenever he was alone. As he grew older and continued to nurture his love for music, he received a more substantial drumming set as a gift from his patrons. This larger drum set and a box full of cassettes, containing his favourite melodies, accompanied him to Stourbrook and were carefully kept hidden in the basement from the prying eyes of his peers. Even his schoolmates were not aware of the fact, although they were regular visitors to his place of stay.

Kevin played his drums whenever he needed an outlet for his emotions, a way to express himself when words fell short. Over time, the small basement of the Henderson Cottage became his private space to practise.

And when he was in a happy mood, yet alone, Kevin found bliss in the company of his Walkman. He even gave a nickname to his cassette player, Frankie, imagining it to be his pal. At night, just before going to bed, he would plug in his earphones and immerse himself in the melodies of his favourite tunes, allowing the music to create a soothing backdrop to his thoughts. And when he wasn’t listening to music, Kevin often hummed a few lines of his beloved notes.

Kevin was the type of person who always sought an outlet to reveal the depth of his creativity and artistic soul in the form of spontaneous musical interludes. But his over-enthusiastic attitude towards his musical pursuit was often frowned upon by his foster father, who thought it was a waste of time, at least at the stage when the boy was supposed to remain immersed in his higher studies. Yet, in keeping with his nature, the boy constantly sought chances to defy the prohibition.

So, when one Sunday, while entering the Cilian’s Grocery Store, as his keen eyes fell upon a poster announcing a musical contest, its content at once became a catalyst for conflicting thoughts in Kevin’s mind.

On that particular day, Kevin was specifically requested by Aunt Gupta to pick up some rations from the store. The kind lady was dealing with a recent bout of gout, which rendered her immobile for the time being. As Kevin reached the grocery store, the poster at the entrance of the nearby restaurant attracted him. It announced a musical talent hunt contest among local school students by an eminent magazine brand. The accolades and prize money were nothing short of substantial.

Kevin got immersed in a mental calculation, carefully weighing the advantages and disadvantages of participating in the contest.

If I participate, Papa will surely scold me. He doesn’t like me getting involved in any sort of competitions, Kevin murmured to himself, carefully placing some ripe tomatoes into his cart. He picked up some more vegetables and then came to a halt in front of the crate of pomegranates.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice Annie was standing beside him, two crates away. She was observing with an amused frown as Kevin clutched a pomegranate in his hand, and with pouty lips locked in a comical stare-down with the fruit. It was as if the pomegranate had presented a complex maths problem, and Kevin was determined to solve it through sheer concentration.

The boy’s mind was actually in a confused state. Considering the personal and private nature of his musical talents, he was questioning himself whether to share his cherished musical skills with the public or preserve them as a private solace.

Bemused by Kevin’s unintentional fruit dilemma, Annie decided to creep closer to him and whispered into his ears, ‘Are you trying to count the seeds inside the pom, Kevin?’

The abruptness of the question caught the boy off guard. He made a hilarious little jump like a startled mouse who just heard the “meow” behind him. He turned around and looked at Annie with a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

‘What’s bothering you, Kevin?’ Annie asked.

‘Er…nothing,’ Kevin answered hesitantly, shaking his head. He wasn’t prepared to unveil the inner workings of his mind, as he wasn’t the type who easily shares his secrets. Instead, he gathered his groceries, spent some time with Annie chatting about their usual topics of discussion and then headed home.

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