Few years back when I was coming from a tour and got down at kota railway station and was waiting for auto rickshaw. Suddenly a person waved his hand towards me. He came near to me and said “Nilesh sir, I will drop you at home.” Since he addressed me by my name, I didn’t ask further, was surprised to know that he knows my name.
He introduced himself father of my student who was studying in class 9th. He told me that he has shifted to kota because of his son’s studies and sold his little agriculture land to manage money towards coaching fee. He was running auto in kota since he was not educated and shared his dream was that both of his son should get into JEE. His elder son was in class 9th and younger was in class 7th. He put elder son in our coaching but was not able to source funds for his younger son so did not call him from village. His elder son despite being topper in his village was facing difficulty here because of language and second there was tough competition here.
I asked him to meet me next day in office. He was very pleased to get personal appointment. He came to meet along with his son to my office. I asked my staff to give me his all test records. His elder son name was Aakash and he has just managed to get passing marks in our selection test. I looked at Aakash, he was in white shirt and gray trouser, didn’t have any expression on his face. Looked confused, I tried to speak to him but hardly got any response from his side. His father did the talking on his behalf. His father had a much insight about his academic position. He shared the Aakash has a problem with few teachers who speak very fast in English because of hindi medium background he was not able to comprehend.
I assured his father that I will provide teacher separately till he is at ease in class. Thereafter he became a very regular visitor to my office; however he was very hesitant in entering in my office and used to wait hours and hours outside. I also used to meet incidentally on road, where we used to have a casual discussion about Aakash studies.
He often had a list of chapters where Aakash was having difficulty and a possible solution to it. I used to provide extra books, extra sheets whichever he asked for. I rarely checked Aakash’s performance because of my initial perception he barely manage to clear even our selection test.
Almost after six months, he entered into my office along with his son. I found the Aakash in a must better condition. He showed the performance report of his son to me. I was surprised to see that his son has moved to top batch and was amongst the top 10 percentile of the class 9th students and was doing exceedingly well. This was close to the miracle for us to see a student who could barely clear our entrance test was amongst the top 10 percentile.
But Aaksah’s father had something very special in his mind. He asked me for one set of IIT JEE study material for his son Aakash. It was a very unusual request for a 9th class student. He wanted his son to start solving IIT JEE sheets. He came with a list of topics, which he needed in physics, chemistry, and maths. I reluctantly agreed for it. I also asked him to call his younger son to kota and assured him that he didn’t need to do any worry for him.
We kept on meeting, however the timegap increased when Aakash came to class 11th, I came to know he joined bansal classes. I was slightly disturbed to know that he made Aakash to join bansal. In the mid of session again he met me at railway station, took my suitcase and put in the auto. Since I was little unhappy because his son was studying in some other coaching now. He broke the silence by saying that his son was admitted on 100% scholarship for two years so he had no other choice but to put in Bansal. I asked him why he didn’t come to me if there was any issue. He folded his hands and said,” Nilesh sir, we are already so much obliged of you. You have already waived off the younger son’s fee. You have also helped Aakash so many times by providing books, teachers. I felt hesitant to ask further favors. I got another angel like you whose son is the topper at Bansal classes. When I told him about Aakash, He spoke to bansal and got me 100% rebate in the fee. Infect this new angel is providing extra material in the form of books & notes.” He summed up with tears in his eyes.
My entire negativity washed away by hearing his story.
We didn’t speak on the entire way. He dropped me at home and put my luggage in front of the gate. I took out my wallet and took rs.100 note to him. He stopped my hand and left without saying anything. I stood there for 2 min., not knowing what to say.
Two years later, I almost forgot this incident. Never met him in those 2 years. In the evening I was strolling outside my house. A auto stopped in front of my house, I would recognize auto wala and Aakash, both were looking happy. Aakash touched my feet and his father with folded hands expressed me greetings. There were carrying a sweet packet.
Aakash was selected in JEE 2010 with about 6000 rank and this was most emphatic moment for them. His father said all in a single breath.
He had a very calm face that day and he pointed out to his auto and said I will run this auto for more 2 years till my younger son gets in JEE. Since I have witnessed his struggle in kota for around 4 years so it was easy for me to understand the satisfaction and accomplishment which he must have been feeling inside.
It was yet another story of extra ordinary parenting and sacrifices made by parents for their wards.
I asked my both the kids to touch his feet and seek his blessings. I was wondering 10 years down the line when Aakash will do well in his professional life, people around him will never know the man behind him.
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