The day for Board exam results had dawned. However, the palpable excitement was largely on account of the water gushing from the taps instead of its routine trickle. The newspaper took a backseat as the water filling exercise gave way to water utilisation activities such as gardening, washing etc taking the driver's seat to optimise the unusual bounty. Ensuring that the household was sumptuous with its water containers brimming, the reassured yours truly marched ahead for the daily grind.
Boarding the public transport with aplomb and wading the way through the human mass, a suitable place to stand was in the making as the kind denizen occupying an aisle seat vacated as though on cue. The heavy mass that constitutes yours truly landed on the seat with the elegance of a feather. Soon the young man seated beside punched out numbers on his cell phone to start intimating a couple of his buddies of the results. It was only at this point of time that the fact that the news had taken a back seat made an enlightening presence. The young man had apparently done well within scores of over 80 in Economics and Accountancy. But he was repeatedly ending the conversation seeking the roll number of one of his mates.
A couple of them congratulated on their scores but the eagerness was reserved for the particular mate who had evidently refused to share the prized possession of his roll number. It is for nothing that the proverb " Persistence Pays " has been coined and soon the number was found and dutifully scribbled on to the left palm of this neighbour who occasionally grinned at me. Yielding to the enthusiasm of this chirpy youngster, I ventured to congratulate him for which he nodded. Surfing the net on his cellphone, he exclaimed, " the bugger has made it!"
He then jotted down figures which were mostly in the thirties and one barely crossing the forty mark. He showed it to me with a sense of triumph and said, "You know he has made it!". Even as I was trying to fathom what this man was upto another conversation was struck on the cell phone, " Manju, Congrats! Really, Mother promise, I have seen it myself , you have made it! Let me tell your scores." Then after a pause, he said, " I am travelling in a bus. The person next to me is a stranger. He will tell you whether I am lying." Even as the sentence ended the cell phone was thrust in my hands and yours truly was called upon to recite the marks from the left palm. The sincerity of the man's friendship and his beseeching looks were too much for one to ignore. Discharging the duty cast and meekly congratulating the unknown recipient with discomfiture and offering my best wishes the gadget was returned to its owner.
Couple of minutes later, the bearings were regained and with an effort of composure yours truly saluted the true friendship of the young men. The eighties scored by him or the congratulations showered on him paled in comparison to the priceless clearing of the exams without the loss of an academic year by his dear friend. May this tribe grow! May also the tribe which promotes success in others grow!! May also the success of both the giver and the recipient grow manifold!!!
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