Rahil - The Don

"Mom , please tell me ten synonyms of the word 'ire'." Thirteen year old Juhi pleaded with her mom Ragini, an English teacher by profession.

"Juhi, l have told you tons of times not to expect any assistance from me while it's about your home task. You better consult a thesaurus or a dictionary."

"Okay mom."Juhi sprang up for her mom's cell phone.

"Don't you dare Juhi. Your eyesight has already become poor. Go take dictionary from my bedroom cupboard."Ragini's stern tone made Juhi reluctantly look for a dictionary out of so many English books. Ragini had treasured almost every literature and language related book since she was herself in matriculation.

Juhi was baffled to pick one out of more than a dozen dictionaries of different sizes that were arranged according to size by her mom. She selected for herself a black stiff covered dictionary having the title'The New Advanced Oxford Dictionary.' 

"Mom , who is Rahil-The Don?" Juhi uttered the moment she turned the first page of the dictionary.

Ragini, looked at her daughter with astonishment who was engrossed in searching for synonyms of word 'ire'.Once her assignment was accomplished she flung the dictionary on her study table and rushed out to play with her friends,as it was her daily routine in the evening.

Ragini picked up the dictionary with her shaking hands and turned the first leaf of the book to discover 'With love and respect for Ragini mam from Rahil- The Don ' Scribbled with a black gel pen with a careless stroke.

Almost a decade had been devoured by the mighty time since she had been gifted that dictionary.

Ragini had started her first job in a reputed private school as a PRT English. Within a week of her joining she had realised that she needed to groom herself up to meet the acumen of the rest of the staff members. She decided to give tuitions at home to brush up her own skills indirectly. 

In Ragini's first batch of eigth class she had around ten students. Four boys and six girls. Hardly a month had gone when a strong bond was established between her and her students. It was a coincidence that she had two Rahils in her class- Rahil Choudhary an extremely introvert boy and Rahil Kansal exactly opposite to the other. Rahil .K was an extrovert who was a member of his school's yoga team. He would often create nuisance in Ragini's class with his naughty pranks. Ragini's students entered eighth to ninth and from ninth to tenth. It was a wonderful journey on both the fronts for the tutor as well as her students. 

 Especially Rahil .K was deeply attached to Ragini. Whenever it was his English exam Unit, Half-yearly, Pre-Board or his yoga competition he would knock at Ragini's door at night to take her blessings. Sudden screeching of brakes applied to a bike would invite a pleasing comment from Ragini's husband who would smile," Your Rahil is here."

"How can you be so sure?"Ragini would wonder.

"Mam, bless me. I have a test."before Ragini could say anything Rahil would touch her feet and sprint towards his bike before being scolded by her.

"How can your parents be so irresponsible to give you a bike in X Class? Today l will call your mother for sure."Ragini would yell while Rahil would speed up his bike with a broad grin adorning his face.

The following year, in Ragini's batch a new boy Sumit came. He was a thorough gentle boy, whose finesse earned him title of being everyone's favorite. Rahil.K was envious of him and made him new target of his ridicule.

 Ragini was unable to control Rahil as all her efforts failed.Neither scolding nor entreaties worked in his case. Therefore, Ragini decided to remove him from her tuition group.

"Rahil, l have made up my mind since you don't obey me you can't continue here."

"Here, l will move to the other side."as always Rahil was least affected.

"I mean l won't teach you at home."Ragini had to mince her words.

"Okay mam teach me in your front yard." Rahil blinked towards his batch mates,who were all watching like mute spectators anticipating about what would happen. 

"Enough of your nonsense Rahil. You are very dear to me but since you are incorrigible and you have proven that it has become your habit to tease others, l can't handle you any longer. Tomorrow onwards you are not supposed to come here."

"I will come mam. I am your old student . If you have to remove someone remove Sumit." Rahil was as usual non-serious.

"Rahil if you will come l will stop tuitions for everybody."Ragini gaped at her own words.

With a heavy heart Rahil touched Ragini's feet and left her home.Ragini couldn't sleep that night. She pondered over her decision.Rahil had become so dear to him. 

"Good morning mam. Bless me l am going for a yoga competition and also promise me that you will allow me to visit your home once or twice in a month. I will miss you mam."Rahil was as usual vibrant.

"I will find a new tutor for you."Ragini smiled feeling free from the grip of remorse that had engulfed her.

"No ways mam. Ragini ,mam is and will be my only tutor."Rahil was looking extremely handsome in his sky blue track suit.

Three months elapsed. Ragini missed Rahil during her coaching hours. One Sunday evening while Ragini was relaxing with her family her door bell rang.

"Rahil, where are you these days? Have you started self study?" Ragini's husband patted him.

"No sir. Mam has thrown me out of her batch."Rahil smiled.

"Good evening mam.," Rahil bowed down to touch her feet, "Mam, l have won one more yoga championship."

"That's wonderful. I hope you are paying attention to studies as well."

"Yes mam. This is for you."Rahil was blushing while handing over a black stiff covered Dictionary to Ragini.

"For me."Ragini smiled.

"Yes mam. This is the prize l have got for winning yoga competition. It won't be of any use to me. I have given my autograph on it. It will remind you about me always. You will never forget me now."

"Rahil, for remembering you l don't need any gift. You will always stay in my heart. Give this to your parents they will be very happy."Ragini was reluctant to keep that dictionary.

"This one is exclusively for you mam. My trophies and medals are for my home." Rahil left with a smile.

"Rahil- The Don". Ragini smiled to read Rahil's autograph.

Half of the session was over when one evening during her tuitions Rahil took Ragini with a smile .

"what brings you here at this hour Rahil? What nuisance have you created now?"Ragini could sense something fishy.

"Please , save me mam. If papa will call you don't tell him that now l don't come to your home in the evening."Rahil was tormented for the first time.

"What nonsense? That means since last six months you are taking tuition fees in my name. You cheat. Never ever show me your face again. Rahil confess truth in front of your parents otherwise l wil come to your home." Ragini's stern tone demanded immediate silence in her batch.

"Promise mam. You will come. I will be very happy to receive you at my home. But, please save me.l promise l will score above ninety in English."Rahil begged .

"I won't . Sorry."

  By evening, Rahil revisited Ragini accompanied  with his parents.  He had confessed everything in front of them. Rahil's father requested Ragini to keep a track of his activities in the school.Ragini kept up her promise.Rahil passed tenth with flying colors and took non-medical in eleventh.

As there was a separate wing for senior secondary classes number of chance meetings in the school premises between Ragini and Rahil reduced. Though as usual before every exam or competition he would visit Ragini's home.

Once or twice during the combined school assembly of junior and senior wing Ragini was disappointed to spot him with a couple of boys who were considered an eyesore for the school, who flouted rules and regulations.

One more year passed. Ragini was busy with her own children and had bade goodbye to her coaching classes forever.Her children also attended the same school where she worked. 

"Good morning mam,"Rahil touched Ragini's feet in the school library where she had gone to return a book," I hope you remember that next week it's my birthday."

"I remember Rahil. How can l forget your birthday? "Ragini observed that Rahil was restless. Earlier Ragini had to bade him bye.

"Rahil ,do you have a class?"

"No mam. Actually, my friends are waiting."Rahil waved  towards his friends who shyed away from Ragini.

"I really don't like these friends of yours. Don't waste your precious time. You have a long way to go. Your parents have seen so many dreams for you."Ragini exhibited her annoyance in a calm manner.

"I will never let my family and you down. I promise. After my birthday celebration l will focus on my studies."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes mam." Rahil rushed away.

 Ragini had to take leave on Tuesday due to the arrival of some unexpected guests at her home. The first thing in the morning that struck her mind was Rahil's birthday. She prayed in her heart for long life and health of her dear student.She wished that she had not stopped Rahil from coming to her tuitions.  She had made up her mind that that evening she would pay a surprise visit to her dear student's home. It was for the first time when she was going to visit any of her students place. Hardly two hours had passed when she had bade bye to her children for school when She was serving tea and breakfast to her guests,a sudden beep of two messages one after the other grabbed Ragini's attention. Messages were from the school sent to her as a parent.

"Due to the sudden demise of a student your ward has been sent back as the school will remain closed for the day."

"Oh! Who could that be?"Ragini dialled one of her colleagues number.

"Hi! what has happened? I have just received a message."Ragini was fumbling for the appropriate words.

"One of the students of class twelfth has passed away. He was on his friend's bike who had lost control near community centre."Ragini's colleague took a deep sigh.

"Quite unfortunate. Parents must not give keys of their vehicles to children. By the way child was from which stream?"

"Non -Medical. Rahil"

"What Rahil? Who Choudhary or Rahil .K ?" Ragini was shaking terribly as both were dear to her. She wished she had heard wrong.

"Rahil. K" 

"Today was his birthday."Ragini sat on the floor tears dripping down her eyes. She requested her husband to take her to the cremation ground.But before she could step out of her home her Blood pressure dipped down. It took Ragini almost a week to visit Rahil's home to console his parents.

"See who is here. Rahil's English teacher is here."Rahil's mother was inconsolable. Ragini couldn't utter even a single word while Rahil's mother told all her relatives about how Rahil would flock to Ragini's house before every exam and competition.Ragini when saw a garlanded photograph of her favorite student in his sky blue track suit was mesmerized to see his smile. She cursed herself for not visiting Rahil's house when he was alive. She wondered to think of how he would have reacted to see her cross threshold of his house. Ragini wished she had never started coachings.

"Mom. Let me keep your dictionary back in your cupboard otherwise you will reprimand me later on. By the way ,you didn't tell me who is Rahil.- The Don?"

"Rahil  was a gift of the Almighty."Ragini closed her eyes to hide the tears which were trying to flow down her cheeks.