Rakesh !

It was raining. I was walking through the lanes towards Rakesh's house. For the third time I was going to visit his place. A bit annoyed.

Previously, I was promised that Rakesh would definitely come to the school after 15 days.

He didn't come.

Again I was promised by his mother " Didi, Rakesh pakka aasi school. Padhsi. abhi wo ghara koni." We waited for him for a month. He didn’t.

Today, I was determined to see what was actually happening with him.

He was a boy, studying in 7th std., who started working in 'chudi ka karkhana’ and never returned to school, same story as most of the dropped out students in a village.

I was walking with Rakesh's friend, asking him about Rakesh.
Rakesh was a clever boy and only literate child at home and so was his arrogance, evident. “ Didi, Rakesh ke pitaji.” My guide stopped and pointed towards a man at chaupal who was already looking at me and talking about me to the other man. I smiled at him, said ‘Namaste’ and went ahead. I sensed something suspicious. The same man came following us as I expected.

I entered Rakesh’s house. The man entered immediately after us. He was furious.

“Rakesh school koni aasi.” He shouted at me.

I swallowed anger and fear and asked him “ kya karega phir woh? ”

“ usko main dusre gaaw bhejunga kamane ke liye.”

I ignored him, looked at Rakesh who was pretending to watch TV.

“Do you want to come to school or work?”

He looked at his father and said “I’ll go to school.” Rage was manifested in his eyes.

“Harami kaise bol raha hain dekho. Sab hua hai padhai se.” the man lit a cigarette.

“ M********t, tu anpadh reh gaya. Isko bhi aisehi rakhega garib.” suddenly a woman's voice arose shocking me and the man. It was Rakesh's mother, talking back to her shohar  instead of taking care of his dignity, who further turned to me, saying, I’ll send him to school everyday. He won’t work until he passes his 10^th standard. 

I turned to his father. He came out with all possible reasons for not to let his child study; ranging from poverty to Rakesh’s irregularity in studies, his spoilt friends and what not.

After an infinite time had gone in shouting, abusing, arguing, I took a challenge on behalf of Rakesh saying that he would come to school regularly, would study hard for next two months otherwise his father would personally come and withdraw his name from school permanently.

For me it was a challenge, for Rakesh it was second chance, for his mother it was hope, actually an investment to live in better conditions.

The days passed, he was regular, studious, and sincere. My tasks in the village were over. I started coming once in a month but he stood by his words.

One day, on my periodical visit to a village, students from school told me about Rakesh’s wedding in the next week. I was shocked. I went to meet him at his home. Everybody was busy. I could see his father, revengeful at me. I couldn’t see his mother; she had found a better investment to come out of poverty.

I called Rakesh outside. He didn’t speak a word.

“tumne bataya nai.” I said.

“haan didi woh behen ki shaadi hain na to uske saath meri bhi…” his voice was deepening.

“ab tum padhai chhod doge phir”

“nahi nahi didi, bas ye 15 din school nahi jaoonga”

I patted on his back, smiled at him, silent, started to walk away.