I asked the 15-16 year old boy who came to our house for delivering milk.
He proudly said, “Yes in 8th class."
Only in 8th class, huh must have failed twice. I thought.
"Do you get time for studies????.........".I posed my customary question.
He smiled and said, “Actually I take out time for it."
"At what time you start delivering milk?" I inquired. He was not having dairy. He was working for a person having dairy.
"I have to say 'good morning' to cows at 5 am, and it takes nearly 4 to 5 hours to deliver milk in 10 to 15 houses, I get free at 10 am.” He answered.
"And when you wish 'good evening' to cows?"
"Same time in evening.” He grinned.
" So when do you get time for studies?" I kept vessel of milk to one side, and looked at him.
He was smiling...
"What????" I asked.
"Didi sa you are a teacher.Hai na"
"Eh!! Yes....." I said.
Well, I was not at all surprised how he came to know this. God knows how people came to know about my being teacher. He put his cycle one side and stood in front of me, it seems he was not in a hurry. I was so pleased that after knowing that I am a TEACHER he didn't run away .I gave milk vessel to my maid to take inside and turned towards him, the deadly combination of a teacher and moral instructor within me was eager to shower words of wisdom.
"My school is from 10am to 3pm, and I don't think attending school every day is necessary."He said.
What a thinking!! Just wait boy.....moral instructor whispered, whom except me nobody can hear.
“I attend school twice or maximum thrice a week.But didi sa, apart from delivering milk, I have many work at home. I have three siblings all are younger to me; mother, father both are laborer ; they leave home early morning, and return home late. So, I have to take care of chores." He continued.
I interrupted him, “And you eat tobacco at such a young age?”
He was not ready for this one; paused for few seconds; cleared his throat and then answered, “I work so hard, it gives me energy!!!!.”
“What rubbish!!! Who told you that it gives energy? If you want energy eat healthy food."
“Healthy food is not for us didi sa, you can afford it,but poor people like us can not . I am selling milk day and night but my brothers, sisters are not getting even one glass of milk. We manage
roti sabzi and that’s enough for us.”He said wryly.
"Your parents know about your eating tobacco?” I felt disgusted with his answer.
"They too eat tobacco."
I looked at his face, he was telling me all this without any hesitation.
"See........ after eating tobacco you feel like your appetite is over, so one doesn't need the so called 'energy food'." He was explaining as if I was his student.
"You are completely wrong; if you will continue to eat this rubbish thing it will give you nothing except sickness. It is written on pouch also "eating tobacco is injurious to health”. Stop eating it; it kills a person slowly. Its not tobacco that gives you sense of full appetite, it’s your mind set." I explained.
He gave me expression as if I was talking in foreign language. He looked at me with question mark.
But I was not in the mood to give up, I asked, “How many times you failed in school exams?"
"Once ONLY! But my friends have failed twice, I am quite intelligent."
Wow! great, this is called confidence……
“And I manage to get near about 45%.” He added.
“Good.” It was my genuine response.
This boy works for 8 to 9 hours a day without holidays, take care of home and siblings, and attend school also. If he manages to pass, it is more than enough. He needs encouragement and support, rest all he will do by himself. I thought.
“Study properly. Once you get a degree , you can get good job. So try to concentrate on studies.” I advised..
“Hahaha”, he was showing me his yellow teeth shamelessly, "Job…..I am doing job, my parents are uneducated still they have job, so I think one doesn't need a degree for getting job, I am doing job without a degree. Hihihi.”
My blood started boiling after hearing his answer, I thought of stopping conversation and to ask him to run away from my sight, but then I heard a inner voice PATIENCE.
Yes! You all get it correct it was voice of moral instructor. I suppressed my annoying feeling and managed a smile on my face. I pretended to him as if I was not at all affected by his stupid “hi hi hi”. I could give myself an Oscar for my effort !
“I am saying that with proper education you can get GOOD job. I am sorry to say this but your parents and you; all three are earning, but still can not fulfill the needs of family”.
Yellow teeth were invisible.
“So now you understand the difference between a job WITH degree and WITHOUT degree.”
He nodded his head, with moist eyes, he looked at me and said, “No one…didi sa no one....has asked me about my studies till today except you. Every body is asking about my work, my income . I love studies…I WISH to be a graduate …but...I am eldest son of my family I have to support my family….actually I want to work in bank…..”
He was becoming sentimental.
There are two important E’s in life- Education and Earning. For most of us education comes before earning. We should really thank our parents. We never had to worry about our food, clothing etc and we were never forced to leave our studies and earn a living.
But for poor people only EARNING is important, with or without education.
To change the topic I asked him, “Why you want to work in bank?”
“I want to remain surrounded by money…….”
Although he said this seriously but I could not control my laugh.
“Ok I wish you good luck.Say no to tobacco. I think you are already late we are talking for about last 15 mint.”I said.
“Oh yes! I am getting late, namaste didi sa.” And he paddled his bicycle as fast as possible.
After a week that boy disappeared, I came to know that his relative took him with them for a GOOD Full Day JOB(which means he has to sacrifice his studies). But still I am not able to forget his words, I love studies, I WISH to be a graduate ,I want to work in bank.......
