It was the last week of the third year. All the fests, arts, sports and other activities were over. The whole atmosphere of college turned studious. Everyone was busy preparing for exams. Xerox shops nearby had a huge rush. Final years were busy preparing their main project and third years, their mini project.
By then Avi and Serah had become great friends. They prepared for the exams together and helped each other. There were no official classes. Still, they came to college every day.
“It was a Friday, right?” Serah asked Avi who was still immersed in thoughts.
“Yes, it was. I clearly remember the day. That day changed a lot of my thoughts and attitudes.” Avi replied. Serah nodded.
That Friday, it was the last Friday before the commencement of semester exams. Avi and Serah went to nearby Xerox shop to take copies of some notes. They were waiting in front of the Xerox shop and a heated discussion on education started.
“Do you really think our college education is worth it?” Avi started the topic very randomly.
“Why? Why did you say that?” Serah asked with a questioning look.
“C’mon, you know we learn more from the campus than the classrooms. Many of the lower GPA students have more knowledge than the higher GPA students. There are some exceptional cases. But still!”
“Yes, I agree with you, but partly. Education is still the key Avi. Everything we learned from outside started from the classrooms. You learned to code from a website, right?”
“Yeah, I learned it all alone.”
“You may learn it alone, but your education equipped you to do that Avi. If you don’t know anything about a programming language or what a programming language is, how are you going to study it?” Serah argued.
“This is all for argument sake Serah, you know those hours we spend in classrooms aren’t worth it” Avi.
“Yes, it is! You know in the coming ages, AI may replace classrooms. But many scholars argue against it. Do you know why? A classroom isn’t simply for knowledge. It is beyond that. Learning isn’t the only thing that is happening there. “
“I don’t understand, what do you mean?” Avi asked.
“See Avi, a classroom has different types of people, some you like, some you don’t like, some you hate, some you agree, some you disagree, you learn to live amidst of all these people without hurting anyone, still have your attitudes and opinions. That’s how we are supposed to live in a society. As I already said, a classroom is a miniature version of what’s ahead of us in life. A failure in exams equips you to have courage in accept the failures in life and prepare well for next exam.
“Brother, you don’t value your education, because you’ve got some. Ask someone who didn’t receive one, he will tell you its value” A voice was heard behind them. Avi and Serah turned and saw a teenage guy wearing some old clothes and with some stationary items in his hand. It was evident that he was a street kid. It was Ajay!
Avi’s face turned red. He shouted at him “Who the hell are you? How dare you to eavesdrop our conversation and speak in between us?” Serah was startled hearing Avi speaking in a loud voice. Avi pulled his collar.
“Calm down Avi, he did nothing wrong. Just leave him” Serah tried to calm him down.
“No Serah, how dare he. Look at him, look at his clothes, stupid” Serah held his hands and shouted, “Stop it, Avi, you are behaving like an uncivilized one now.”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to...” Ajay started apologizing.
“Shut up, just shut up” Avi shouted again.
“You please leave Ajay, please. Never apologize for something you didn’t do” Serah said to Ajay.
“You know him, you are friends with him Serah, really? This filthy guy. Didn’t you get someone else to be friends with?” Avi asked in shock.
“Yes, I know! Because I choose friends for their character, not their caste, colour or financial background. You know what Avi, right now he has my respect more than you. I didn’t expect this from you.” Serah was on the verge of crying and left. Ajay also left the place with head hung low. Avi stood there for minutes and it took him a while to realize what had he done. It was then he noticed that some students nearby were staring at him. Avi left the shop in silence. He searched for Serah in the entire college and found her sitting in the lover’s corner. Avi sat near her.
“I’m sorry Serah, I’ve done a huge mistake. I judged a person by his attire and misbehaved, I’m really sorry!” Avi’s sound cracked.
Serah turned her face away from him. But Avi continued.
“You know from childhood, I was taught that, don’t go near people like him. I was never allowed to play with boys in the colonies, my mom always scolded me for befriending lower caste students in my class. I’ve overcome most of such thoughts, but somewhere in my mind is still there that we aren’t supposed to speak to street kids, you know? I was trained to hate such guys.” Avi spoke his heart out and tears started rolling out of his eyes. He covered his face and it was then he felt Serah’s hand on his shoulder.
“I understand Avi, but you aren’t a kid now. You know what is right and what is wrong. Do you realize how much did you hurt him?” Serah asked in a soft voice.
“Yes, I do, and I am sorry, extremely sorry! I don’t know what had happened to me. I’m really sorry Serah!” Avi wasn’t able to control his tears.
“You should be sorry Avi, not to me, but him. You know Avi, Ajay has a great desire to study, but he can’t because he doesn’t have money to buy food, let alone books, uniform, and other stuff. He should be respected Avi because he doesn’t beg. He works hard to earn money. I met him a few weeks ago and sometimes I buy him food. We didn’t realize his suffering because by God’s grace we have everything. Parents, good food, formal education, everything. There are unprivileged guys around us. And if we could help them, that’s the greatest thing” Serah said in compassion.
“When did you do all these things? I hadn’t had a clue!” Avi said in astonishment.
“You know what they say, what right hand is doing shouldn’t be in the knowledge of left hand” Serah smiled, got up and started walking. She went ahead a few steps and stopped. Avi knew she had something else to say.
“You know Avi, we are humans, we learn from mistakes. And it is never late to correct a mistake.” Serah walked away to the inside of the college.
Watching her walking Avi realized what she meant and he wondered if anyone else could explain so simply to him.
Avi kept gazing at Serah and it was then Ajay woke him up from his thoughts.
“C’mon guys, it’s time to inaugurate my new venture, a place of education for street kids ‘The Magic land’. I started working on it last year. After my graduation, I wanted to do something for people like me. Luckily I found some people who agreed with my thoughts and agreed to work with me. An old man gave us this old resort of this and some college students helped us to paint it and renovate it.” Ajay said to Avi and Serah.
Serah and Avi rose from their chairs.
“So you finally managed to get money for your education? Avi was very sorry for that day Ajay. I am glad to see you like this, you know I...” Serah started talking. She was cut in between by Ajay.
“You haven’t told her brother?” Ajay asked looking at Avi.
“Tell what?” Serah looked at both of them in confusion.
Avi stood there and smiled.
“Avi came back to me after a year, He gave me enough money to buy books and other stuff. He made me promise that I will not tell anyone, but I didn’t expect that he won’t tell you. It's because of him, I’m here today!” Ajay said to Serah, a sense of gratitude reflected in his words. Serah looked at Avi in surprise.
“Someone said me, that it's never late to correct a mistake. It took some time to find the correct way.” Avi said.” That incident changed my life, but I forgot his name”
“You never told me, Avi!”
“You know someone also told me that what right hand is doing shouldn’t be in knowledge of left hand” Avi smiled in satisfaction. Finally, he got the feeling that he corrected his mistake.
Ajay led Avi and Serah to the inauguration stage. A little kid lighted the lamp and inaugurated the institution. Avi and Serah were happy and they were saying goodbye to Ajay.
“You know, in this place, we will teach the basics and let the kids explore the world. This won’t be a simple education institution, but something will lead the generation to light, to knowledge, science and life will be taught, just like both of you wanted.” Ajay said in gratitude.
Both of them said goodbye to everyone there and promised that they will be back whenever they get time.
While walking back, Avi held Serah’s hand.
“Thank You, Serah! Thank you for making me a better person, thank you for understanding me and correcting me, thank you for making me who I am today! Thank you for everything!” Avi was emotional and his voice shattered.
“ However better person you become, you will always stay as an idiot” Serah laughed and made the situation lighter.
They were back in the garden while walking Serah paused for a moment and asked “ Hey Ajay said you gave him a good amount of money. How come you have this much money? You didn’t even buy college t-shirt that year!”
“I was saving up for a special farewell gift for a very special person, a dress which costs a hell lot of money. Yet I wanted to buy it for her. Because I know she loved that dress. I was almost close, but then I met Ajay again. My mind said not to give it to him, but heart said this would make her happier” Avi passionately continued. He walked ahead while Serah stopped.
“What, what happened?” Avi looked back and asked.
Serah slowly walked towards him, came close to him and whispered in his ears “maybe God knew, she never needed a farewell gift, maybe she wasn’t meant to leave your life.” Avi blushed and shouted happily.
“You knew? “
“You never said, idiot!”
“I was afraid, I was afraid that I’ll lose you, your friendship”
“But I am not perfect.”
“I don’t need a perfect one. I need someone who understands me and makes me understand my mistakes, helps me to become a better person.”
“What if I didn’t come to this place?”
“Why do you think I convinced you to take this break and accept the invitation? I know you would come”
“You idiot, I’ll kill you...” Both laughed, held hands and started walking towards the car.
As they walk, they realized a Gift that was never bought redirected their life...
