Part 16: Expect the unexpected!

‘May I come in, Sir?’

‘Yes, Hari... Good morning!’

‘Morning, Sir...I just came to give the poem and to say thanks!’

‘So... You have done it finally? Very good! But why thanks?’

‘No. I will say the details later, Sir. I'm getting late for my class. Here is my poem. Hope you will like it. Will see you later. ‘

‘Okay!’, he took the cover by my hand.

That day we did not have Kannada class. So, after the college hours, around 1PM again the same situation at the staffroom. Only he, economic lecturer and I were there. He told me to take a chair and sit. I followed his words

‘Sorry, Hari.I didn’t get time to go through your poem.’

I felt little disappointed. He was just observing my reaction. I did not notice that .He was smiling in his sleeves.

After two seconds he said, ‘I knew it, Hari...You would get upset if I say so. I simply lied. I read your poem that time itself.’

Even before I could say anything, he started to shower accolades. I was just able to understand his happiness. He was so happy. Me too.

‘I don’t know, Sir, whether this poem would emerge as winner in the contest or not. But I can say that this is the best poem among all poems I have written so far and it was possible only because of you!’

‘But it’s your work, Hari .And I am sure that you will be the winner again. All the best!’ he said.
He was right. It brought the first prize for me again at the district level.

Kayyara. K. Rai, a great poet of Kannada literature was the guest, showered praises on me. Everyone was spellbound and knew that poem would be the winner. But above everything that poem brought something additional, which was completely beyond my imagination.

It brought two wonderful people in my life as my colleagues in the future. Yes. There were two people sitting as the judges who later became my wonderful colleagues within the next two years.

Mr.Krishna swamy (Kishan Ji) and Mr. Ravindra Rao!!

At that moment I had no clue that about the fact the lines, which I had to read in front of everyone, later there would be someone else who would come with the same words to give his shoulder when I was so depressed because of the most dreadful tragedy of Kishanji’s life.

But first of all that poem broke the entire barrier between me and my Sir, Shiv Prasad, a true Brahmin by nature. He became my close pal.

Believe it or not, each and every day I used to wait for him until he comes out of the college so that we could go together till I catch my next bus to go to my office. He never asked me that why I should wait for him. In fact he wanted me to wait it seems.

I wish there were 48 hours in a day and all those 24 additional hours I could talk to him by which I could get more knowledge. So thirst I was to grab the knowledge. I don’t think I was discussing on the academic subjects any day. Many times we discussed the topics, which were not related to the academic at all.

And that’s how I found such a person after so many days with whom I could share everything without any hesitation. Yes, after so many days! Almost after a year!! That kind of friendship I had shared only with Dinesh. But here Shiv Prasad Sir was highly talented than Dinesh but the salary, which he was getting was very low. Can you believe it if I say, I was earning much more than him in my part time job.

Above all I was in such a reputed position at my job where I could appoint someone directly to one more reputed post with an attractive salary as my assistant. I felt many times to say about this to my Sir. But an unknown fear, which I had, was he might misunderstand me if I offer a job for him. I was in such a strange fear. For the first time in my life I had to face a situation where if I say something to my Sir by keeping his future in mind, there was a high chance for him to misunderstand that I am taking him for granted.

Many times he told about the lack of opportunities at the present situation and he was appreciating my intelligent decision of joining a multi national company along with my studies. In such confusion the academic year was coming to an end. I knew that I may not continue my further studies in Day College, as my responsibility was increasing at the office.

That year, as everyone’s expectation I received the best student prize once again. Memorable was my speech at the send off ceremony. I really don’t know what happened to me that day. I think the thoughts, which were in my mind since many days came out in the form of beautiful words that moved everyone’s heart. Because of those words I had put myself in another big trouble. It was totally unexpected. Can you guess what that trouble was?

Our college principal became a big fan of his student! That day he congratulated me and spoke to me. When I met him at his office he remembered the day when I came to get a seat for the first PU. Sincerely I had no hopes at that time that I would get a seat, as I knew how much I had struggled to get a seat in spite of having more than 91% marks in my SSLC.

Reason was very simple. The two years gap after my SSLC studies. I was not in a position to continue my studies, as I was from middle class family. I wanted to take science subject at Saint Aloysius, my favourite college, a very famous college in our district. But what about the money? Donations? Those heavy fees?

It was absolutely out of my budget but what about the dreams? They don’t have any budgets .Isn’t it? What to do to? Only two options I had.

Either one has to stop dreaming or else have to make their own way to reach their dreams!
I could never stop dreaming. So I opted for the other way. I seriously felt that I should not become a burden on my parents by expressing my dreams. Better I keep it in my heart or make my own way to reach that point.

When I told my decision about not to continue my study, my mom wept for almost whole week. My dad was shattered. They had high hopes. I knew and I could understand everything. I thought it was far better than seeing them throughout the year by filling all those heavy donations and fees. I reminded my parents that I did not mean that I would stop studies instead I wanted to study by my own money.

By god’s grace I got a job in BPL as sales executive. My salary was 900Rs per month. I accept the fact that it was very low. But it would be my hard earned money. And if it is our hard earned money then even if it is 1Rs. it makes a lot of difference!

My high school teachers were totally shocked when they heard that I was going for work instead of college.

It was really hurting me when I was watching all my class mates were enjoying college life. After all it was my own decision of experiencing the life instead of enjoying it. I was thinking by next year I can go to college as well by my own money.

But fate had some other plans. My elder brother was choreographing for kids along with his studies. He used to come around 9Pm in the night after his dance class.

That night he did not turn up .We waited. Waited … waited and waited. No news! Nothing.. Exactly at 11.50pm midnight our phone started to ring.

And in that a way we got that bad news.

My brother had met with an accident and he was admitted to the hospital!

This is what I would say expect the unexpected!


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