When the storm taught Rahul a lesson
P. SUBRAMANIAN
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Kansi was the boatman's son and he had one wish. That he would be able to attend school.
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P.SUBRAMANIAN
Rahul lived in a fisherman's colony on the banks of the Cauvery. People in the colony were poor and illiterate. But Rahul was fortunate. His father was a rich businessman. He wanted his son to be well educated. So he sent him to a good school in a faraway town. Rahul was very haughty since he was the only one in the whole colony who attended school. He taunted the other children and made fun of the elders since they could not speak English.
Everyday Rahul had to cross the river the reach his school. Kansi, the son of the boatman used to ferry Rahul across the river to his school. Kansi could not go to school since he father was poor and he was very sick. It was up to Kansi to earn money for the family. But all the same, Kansi was ambitious. He too wanted to go to school and study. He used to plead with Rahul to teach him to read and write. But Rahul was very proud and said, "Kansi, my friend, it's below my dignity to teach someone like you to read and write. You must remain a boatman all your life and not aspire to become an educated person like me. Forget your ambition." Saying so he would laugh. This made Kansi very angry but he controlled his emotions.
A mishap
One day, as usual, Kansi was ferrying Rahul across the river. Suddenly the sky became dark and it started drizzling. Gradually it became a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds. Ultimately, it became an intense storm and Kansi's boat drifted out to sea. Kansi's boat was tossed about in the ocean. He realised that his boat would capsise any moment. He decided that he would have to abandon the boat and try to swim to the shore.
But, when he told Rahul of his plan, he was surprised to learn that Rahul could not swim. He pleaded with Kansi to teach him to swim so that he could save his life. Kansi remembered how Rahul used to humiliate him when he wanted to read and write. He said, " My friend, don't you think it is below your dignity to learn swimming from a poor boy? How come you haven't learnt swimming at your school? Only god can save you now." Saying these words, Kansi jumped into the sea and swam away.
But when Kansi reached the shore and safety, he regretted his actions. He knew he was too harsh on Rahul. So he swam back and finding Rahul brought him to safety. Rahul had learned his lesson. With the help of his father, he started a free school in the colony, thereby helping all the kids to study.
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