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“Are you tense” – asked Mani. He was only 2 years older than others, but he already behaved like a man of 30. Self assured, calm.

“Mani: Have you been to such places before?” – Vipin asked. Damn voice – kept shaking so much, just nerves, that’s all. God, if only there was some wind. it was stifling.

“No he hasn’t – he just wants us to feel inadequate” – Joe mumbled in a barely audible voice to Amar. Amar cackled nervously – his throat was so dry that it came as a hiss. All of them burst out laughing. The pressure came down a little.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of. This is sort of like a rite of passage” – Mani said calmly & paraded them inside the Strip Club. “My father took me to one when I turned 18”. Vipin followed unsteadily on his feet, pondering this unusual father-son relationship.

This was their 1^st field trip to this strange town. For Vipin, Joe & Amar, it was their 1^st field trip ever. They had worked thru the week, setting up the new application. Friday evening saw them with nothing to do. That’s when Mani nonchalantly asked them out on a field trip of a different kind.

It was pitch dark inside the club. Slowly their eyes adjusted & they saw a large, cavernous room with muted lights. There was a bar, doing brisk business. There was a lighted stage. “Oh, here is where the girls…” – Joe stammered. “Yes”, said Mani tersely.

Tables & chairs were arranged around the stage, lighted discretely. They moved towards the chairs, in a daze. Vipin felt numbed. Strangely, all feeling had left him.

A smartly dressed usher received them & politely took their drink orders. “Do you think he’s a pimp?” – Joe wondered aloud to Amar. Amar cackled again. This was his safety valve, his mechanism to release pent-up pressure. Mani gave a piercing stare – if looks could kill, Joe & Amar would be lying in a heap.

Some drink was thrust in Vipin’s hands. He nursed it mutely, wondering what he was doing here. Joe & Mani were downing their drinks. Amar was shaking in his socks. “Can I drink this, uh, later?” “Suit yourself, you wuss” – said Joe.

The lights came on at the stage. A skimpily dressed young girl, not much older than Vipin’s sister, came on the stage. She had something on her hands. Vipin stared stupidly at it. It took him some time to realize it was a mike. She was belting out a Hindi film song. She was attractive in a cheap sort of way. She slowly danced around the tables, singing in a nasal voice.

When she came close to them - “Khapde Nikaal, Khapde Nikaal” – shouted a big, burly man in the next table. A vein in his temple was throbbing. “Yea, take off your clothes” – shouted Amar, frenzied. He was standing on his chair – the burly man laughed at him. The girl looked at Amar coldly & said – “I’m a singer, not a stripper. Get it?” Amar fell on his seat like a deflated balloon.

When the girl finished, 2 women entered the stage. “Aren’t they over-dressed” – asked Joe. “It all comes off” – replied Mani smugly. So this was IT. The air around was stifling. The stage lights turned a fiery amber. For some reason it bothered Vipin. If only it would turn a normal color. “Mani, the lights” – “Sshh”.

The women were not too young. They must be above 30, thought Vipin. He couldn’t fathom the expression on their faces. It looked strangely familiar though. What was it?

The music – was it a Samba? Vipin wasn’t sure. On his right, Amar was gulping one drink after another. The crescendo of the music increased steadily. The women started by removing their scarves in unison. The crescendo increased steadily, little by little. Vipin eyed the folks around him. Joe’s eyes had a glazed look. The big, burly man’s face resembled some animal’s. Jackal, perhaps.

An hour later, the friends emerged from the club. Nobody spoke. “I – need – to – stop” – blurted Amar. And he vomited copiously on Mani’s feet. “You Jackass!” howled Mani, losing his cool. Amar fell like a log. He then wetted his pants. “Its my mistake, buying drinks for mamma’s boys like you” – Mani gave him a kick.

Vipin noticed that Joe still had that glazed look. “What cute….” – Joe started, then stopped. His eyes flickered open. “Oh, God – why did I come to a place like this!” – Joe started sobbing hysterically. “What will my f-f-father think if he knew!”

“Vipin – Its left to you & me to drag these slobs back to the hotel” – grunted Mani. He looked disgustedly at his fallen friends. Joe kept sobbing – it sounded like a hacking, labored cough.

After reaching the hotel, Mani lit a cigarette. “I know now” – said Vipin. “What” – asked Mani languidly. He looked satiated. Joe had stopped sobbing, but the glazed look had returned. “They looked tired” – said Vipin. “Who did?” – Mani. “The, what do you call them, dancers”. “What? Look Vipin – you are the only one that hasn’t gone weird on me today. Don’t start now”.

Amar mumbled something in his sleep. Mani switched on the fan. A stiff breeze started.

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The students of Grade 2 were clearing out when Mr. Mansur entered the class room. “Boys & Girls – I’m taking you on Friday night to the Planetarium. Get these permission slips signed by your parents tomorrow”.

A general hubbub ensued. We are going to the Planetarium, We are going to the Planetarium! We are going to the Planetarium!! We are going to the Planetarium!!! Nobody was really sure what a Planetarium was, but it had an interesting name - it sort of rolled on your tongue.

Mr. Mansur raised a hand & the kids became quiet. Cindy raised a plaintive hand & asked him, “Sir, please Sir. Are there any monsters in this Planetarium?” Arun loudly sniggered – Girls were such scaredy cats. Aloud he said, “Cindy, you are stupid. Sir, please Sir. Can we get Cotton Candy there?”

Mr. Mansur laughed aloud & said, “No children. We’ll watch stars & planets in the Planetarium”. Oh. That didn’t sound too exciting. “We’ll get a special telescope. You can see the stars & planets real close”. Ok, this sounded better – definitely, some possibilities. “I’ll even let you operate the telescopes”. Hoo-ha, hoo-ha, hoo-ha, hoo-ha!! This was very, very thrilling.

Arun couldn’t think of anything else that evening. Why, there were only 2 more days. He went to the apartment complex where he lived with his parents & elder brother.

His elder brother, a 7^th grader, looked smug as usual & Arun decided that he won’t tell him anything about the trip. Nothing at all & wild horses couldn’t drag it from him. “Brother, do you know Mr. Mansur is taking us to the Planetarium on Friday?” John looked at Arun condescendingly & said, “That’s nice. Do you know that stars are made of big balls of hot gas?” Arun became indignant – gas indeed! Why, he must think I’m a fool. “John – the only gas here is the one you make after eating beans”. John returned with crushing dignity to his books.

After dinner that day, Arun looked at the sky. What the – there were no stars. They had gone somewhere. Clearly, this was bad. The next day, he told Mr. Mansur, “Sir, there are no stars left in the sky”. Bad, bad, bad - Gee, they had probably fallen down from the sky. They fell right into the gutters. The one-eyed cat in the school ate them. Binu started sobbing & a few others followed suit. Mr. Mansur told them, “We live in the city. Because of light pollution we can’t see the stars. You can see them from the Planetarium.” At this reassurance, they cheered up.

Friday evening & the kids couldn’t control themselves. Some of the boys danced on the table & chanted the refrain, “Innikku[1] – Planetarium, Innikku – Planetarium”. Ms. Singh, the Principal, walked in & looked shocked. She was easily shocked. The kids piped down, afraid that THE plan might be scrapped.

The Planetarium was on a hill & it was pitch-dark when they arrived. They silently made for the telescopes. Binu squeaked suddenly, “I can hear the stars!” There was a buzz of agreement – the stars were indeed making some sound. Must be the noise made by their incessant twinkling. Mr. Mansur told them, “Those are just crickets in the woods. And now, the telescope is pointing to the Venus.”

Soon, a mug of hot chocolate was served. They covered themselves with thick blankets & listened to Mr. Mansur saying cool stuff about various stars & planets. Mars was Red. Saturn had a ring. The Great Bear was not really a bear.

A very dreamy Arun walked into the living room that night. “I love star gazing & telescopes”, he announced to his parents solemnly. Immediately, a-meaningful-glance passed between his parents.

“I’m glad you are taking an interest in your plans, Arun”, said his dad happily. “Perhaps you’d like to take up Astronomy, son”, said his mom. “But really, you need to improve your scores in Math. They are abysmal & you certainly can’t get into a good institute if you don’t improve. Perhaps I can enroll you into some special classes & I’ll take you the Math Olympiad”. Arun looked perplexed.

“That’s silly, Rosie”, said his dad. “My son will become an astronaut. I won’t permit him to become a geek like your father. Arun – we have to work on your stamina & physique. You need to focus on energy building. Now, I know an excellent after-school tennis program”. His mother looked miffed. “Really, Ravi – why do you have to drag my dad into this? After all, it is for Arun to decide”

Both his parents looked expectantly at him. He thought that he had to say something – they wanted him to. But his mind had gone blank.

“I want to go to the bathroom”, he said. His mother sighed & said, “Wash your hands after use”.

[1] Tamil word meaning “Today”.

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If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you, But make allowance for their doubting, too;

If you can wait, and not be tired by waiting,

Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies, Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet, don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;

If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with triumph, and disaster, And treat those two imposters just the same;

If you can bear to hear the Truth you’ve spoken Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ‘em up. with worn - out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings And risk it on one turn of pitch - and - toss, And lose, and start again at your beginnings, And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your Heart, and Nerve, and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!” If you can talk with crowds, and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch; If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but not too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute With sixty - seconds worth of distance run - Yours is the World, and everything that’s in it!

And - which is more - you’ll be a MAN, my son!

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