I can remember , it was the Sunday after noon of summer 2003 . A boy , barely with experiences of 11 springs was trying hard to beat the scorching heat . Life was being hard to him , his tender soul was quite scared. He was very disappointed , but still was trying to hide his emotions . He was not crying but he was sad . He took shelter behind the temple , under the Ashoka tree , away from all his friends , where no one can see him . He was innocent enough to think that tree would give him shades, even in his life . What an optimist , he was . Even his faith in god , could not give him way out of the trouble .Yet , He was thinking , still fighting with his emotions and with his loneliness . He was trying to come over his grief of defeat , the first defeat of his new Life . He did not had even the Beginner's Luck . He got admission to new school , the most prestigious school of his state , a few months ago . He wished for a decent start of his new Life . But , Life was being cruel to him . Its all because , back then he thought " Academic excellence is called Success " . I told you , he was innocent . It was not his fault . That is what he was told and sent to the hostel to live alone with no friends . He was told that you can only be successful , if you have good grades . So , for the time he was failure in his own eyes . He had nothing to hold on to . He was lost in his own thoughts . He was thinking , what will he say to his parents when asked about his marks in the recently conducted exams . Will 78 % be enough to satisfy them ? Will 23 rd among 85 boys be good rank to them . Will his parents scold him for he was 3 ranks down with respect to the previous exam ? The boy , was so terrified thinking all these , as if his parents will call him back and he will have no education anymore . No Education means No Life . All these time , he was moving to and fro down the road behind the temple that leads to museum , with Ashoka trees on one side and dinning hall on the other .
Suddenly , a man in saffron cloths , with that evergreen smile on his face appeared from no where . His very watchful eyes , behind the spects could easily see the tensed face of that boy. But the smile never left his face . With the same smiling face , he then asked the boy - " How is Keshavam Madhavam ? " . Yes , it was me . I summoned all my courage , and managed a fake smile . And told him that I am fine , maharaj . But he knew it . He knew i was faking . He smiled again and asked but why is it that you don't seem happy ? I could not hold myself longer and burst . Tears rolled down my chick , and it never stopped . I began narrating him my grieve . I got just 78% in my half yearly exams , even my rank was poor . And the worst feeling was for just 66 out of 100 in English . I told him whatever else was going in my head then . About how i was feeling , about my fears and willingness to do better . He was very keen to listen me and so i opened to him and told him everything . And he never stopped smiling all these time . After , I finished he consoled me like my father .And gave me hopes . He told me that he will help me do better . He will guide me . And asked me to come to his office next day . And talked after a few minutes , he changed the topic and sent me back to my dham ( dorm ) . And his words and love worked . I became happy and went to my hostel with hope and determination.
I was very eager to meet him next day in his office . Around , 10:30 a.m came Mantu da ( office help ) in my class and looked for me . He told me that Rajendra maharaj is calling me . I was a bit nervous but happy . With all my gentleness and nervousness , i sought permission to enter his office and the ever smiling face looked away from his computer and asked me to come in . I went near his desk and smiled . He again asked for my well being . And checked if i was okay ? To my surprise , he did not asked me anything about my studies and talked about all other things . And at the end he sent me back to my class with 2 toffees . And guess what ? even i did not care about my grades anymore . I was happy to get those toffees and went to my classroom . No more I feared . No worries of grades and studies . As if those toffees were some kind of confidence booster or something .Now , I can reason the logic behind offering toffees to students whenever you people used to meet us . He kept checking on me every Wednesday and Sunday . Whenever he felt , he kept calling me and stayed with me all the time like my father . And the result was profound . Next exam . I got 9th rank in the class with 90.3% . I got 46 out of 50 in English and 100% in Mathematics . That was magical . He did it , not me . He did it without teaching me maths or english or any other subject .
He awakened the thing i already had . And thats what teachers do . He made me believe in myself . He made me think i can do it , with his love and smile . He did not stop then only . He kept in touch with me even when i was reluctant to meet him sometimes . You know , when you are guilty you avoid facing your teacher out hesitations and fear of being scolded . But , He never gave upon me . And the result was even better , with me getting 96% in 10th board exams . I am really greatful to him for my good marks then . I left my school , after 10th and lost contact with him .
But guess what ? your real teacher never gives upon you . He called me day before yesterday and again greeted me with the same name " Keshavam Madhavam " . I can not express how great i felt then . Same love and care . Same voice . same motivating words . Nothing different . I can recall your smiling face , Maharaj . I can feel everything , i felt it before and i am feeling it right now . you have really been my mentor , my guru and my Best Maharaj .You called me just when i needed you . I am starting my new life . I was a waste for the last five years . Again i am going to start my new life . And again i needed my mentor for new life . Again you came from no where . This is miraculous . Thank you , Maharaj . Be my guru for my life ahead , for all my rest of life . I can not tell you , how great i felt when you called . Thank you for calling me . I need your blessings and words of guidance . Feeling , nostalgic !