Which Of Us Was Younger

When I left home to go to office, I saw that the car was punctured. I was extremely irritated. I was already late today because of the cold. There was an important meeting in the office at 11 o'clock, and this car got a puncture... I stood at the gate of the society, thought of calling a taxi. Just then an auto was seen coming from the front. He felt hesitation in his mind while giving signal to stop with his hand. The General Manager of such a big company should go to office by auto, but there was a compulsion at this time. The director was also going to attend the meeting. If I arrived late, there was a fear of spoiling the impression. The auto stopped. After telling him the name of the company, I quickly sat in it. After reaching a short distance the auto driver suddenly applied the brakes.

''Hey, what happened? Why did you stop?" I asked.

“Just a minute sir, the gentleman standing at the gate of the society has to be left at a distance.” The auto driver said politely.

“No, you can't do this.” I shouted in anger.

“Firstly, I am getting late, secondly I am paying for the entire auto, then why would I share the seat with anyone?”

“Sir, I have to drop them at the city library, which is on the way to your office. If you still have objection, you are free to catch another auto. I will not take even this much money from you." Feeling the firmness of the auto driver's voice, I became silent. Anyway, I did not like to touch the mouth of such small people.

He made the gentleman standing on the roadside sit on the seat next to him with great respect and moved ahead. For a moment, a thought flashed in my mind that I should make that elite looking gentleman sit near me, then thinking that I don't know who he is… I immediately shook this thought out of my mind. After a few kilometers we reached the city library. The auto driver dropped him there and moved ahead.

“Who is this gentleman?” Seeing his respectful attitude, curiosity arose in my mind.

He told, “Sir, this is Dr. Khanna, the retired principal of the degree college here. Sir has many favors towards me. I was very weak in commerce. Due to poor financial condition at home, he was unable to pay the tuition fees. For two years, Sir taught me commerce without charging fees, due to which I passed B.Com with 80 percent marks. Now, with Sir's inspiration, I am appearing for bank exams.'' ''Very good,'' I couldn't help but praise him.

“What is your name?” I asked.

“My name is Sandeep. Sir had retired three years ago. His wife passed away last year. Although the son and daughter-in-law live together, he still feels lonely, that is why he goes to the library every morning at ten o'clock. Sir, wherever I am in the city, I never forget to drop Sir to the library at ten in the morning and bring him back home at two in the afternoon. Sir also says that he will go himself, but my mind does not agree. Whenever he refuses to go along, I tell him that this is my Gurudakshina towards him and Sir's eyes become moist. Who knows, he keeps helping me under so many pretexts. Sir, I believe that we can never be indebted to our parents and teachers.

I kept bearing the blow of Sandeep's words on my soul without any silence. Those days flashed in my mind when I too was a student of the same degree college. Also Dr. Khanna's favorite student. Wanted to take admission in M.Sc Maths. In those days, father suffered a severe heart attack. Mom and I kept circling the hospital in despair.

Papa's life was saved after the tireless efforts of the doctors. Many days passed in this trouble and the last date for filling the form passed. At that time, I told my problem to Dr. Khanna and requested him to help me. Dr. Khanna talked to the management and got me admitted under special case and my year was saved from getting ruined. After leaving college, I completely forgot this thing. Even when Dr. Khanna came in front of me today, I did not even pay attention to him, being proud of my position.

Today my conscience was asking me who was the younger among us, the person who was paying Gurudakshina without caring about his income or the general manager of a company, who could not even recognize his Guru.