When I am studying my 10th class at Jaladanki ZPHS school, this real story happened in my life.
Myself and my sister studying the same class. I guess it is 1977. Because of lack of benches, my self, my sister, and Rama Murthy used to sit in a bench. Rama Murthy is tall and is a school peoples leader(SPL). I am the youngest and shortest in the class.
Usually during prayer time, students will be standing in accordance with their height. So, I used to be in front row during prayer time and will be the first one to return to class room after the prayer. One day, when I entered the class room I found 22 rupees, I simply pushed into my packet and then under the soil of our table. I am in very joyous mood. I was thinking about how to spend that money. Literally, having lot of plans. Shall I buy deepawali pistal? Shall I buy new geometry box. Shall I bug large golis(round spheres of glass)?. Ho, my god so many ideas.
About 11.00AM, Rama Murthy started weeping, not really as he is SPL. He is controlling himself a lot. He reported to the teachers that he has lost 22 rupees. That money what he lost is to pay his 10th class examination fees. Of course, last day is approaching. Our Telugu teacher, Sri Penchalaiah garu, was very furious. He made every one to stand up and allow to check by Rama Murthy. While checking, Sri Penchalaiah garu asked Rama Murthy to check me in light vein as I am his pet student. "Babu, will not do that. Leave him. I know him very much". These are his words. (I still owe a lot to him. He is the man who nurtured my hand writing during 7th class summer. He himself purchased a pen and made to practice writing during the summer. Otherwise, my hand writing is horrible before that. People used to say Kodi Gitalu). No use. He started explaining the story of "Gandhi and how he accepted his cheating in front of his father", etc. I did not come out yet. Those days, 22 rupees are quite big amount. I remember at that time, my father used to get his monthly salary as 390 rupees. Rama Murthy is from a farmer family and studying 10th class with lot of financial constraints only. So, he is almost devastated. In every class, there will be some students who are noted as little notorious and funny. Teachers and Rama Murthy are having suspicion on them, teachers started taking special classes to them, and some CID's are kept on them also. But the naughty (nasty!) fellow is mine!!!.
We used to have social studies class in the evening session. Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma garu teaches that course and I am also his pet. In fact, his Mrs. (Sakunthla madam garu) used to give special treats to me whenever I visit their house. Also, social studies is my favorite subject. During those days, I used to be voracious reader. I read "Veyi Padagalu of Viswanatham garu" by then. Mahabharatam, Muslim Rulers stories, Madhu Babu stories, what non-sense(except those X branded) all books I used to study along with another my Junior Mr M Satyanarayana. We both studies 24 parts Maha Maya story. I am not sure whether Rajamouli has read it or not. We used to rent and study those books. So, I used to have good skill in Telugu writing. I got few prizes for Telugu essay writings and also for Telugu Padyam singing(funny). Thus, I used to write social studies examinations with nice telugu wordings. Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma garu used to correct my paper first. Many a times, I used to get 25 out of 25(Of course, I am now opponent to pouring marks). My answer sheet used to be an yard stick.
He also, started explaining about how bad to grab others money. He started saying that, he lost the money and may be you have seen it and took. It is not your mistake. So, return. He arranged a secret dropping approach also in a box. He kept a box in a class room, and allowed one person at a time and asked if any one is having that money they can drop in the box. But no use. I am thick skinned yet!!!. No. I did not return. That day went on fine. Money is under the soil of our desk. I am under tension!!!.
I returned home in the evening. I am too restless. I wondered if some one takes that money?. Ho, my god!!. About 6.30PM, I returned to school grounds and verified that money is safe. That night, I got lot of dreams on how I have to spent that money, ... Also, my inner things are different. I know I am doing a bad thing. The other side is my dreams. Even I got some temperature also.
Next day, I ran to school soon after waking from the bed. I checked again, money is safe. Relaxed!!. Returned home and again returned to home. Suddenly, I got shivering? What happens if the cleaner who cleans class room and gets that money!!???. Usually, Raphi, Mastan are the cleaners in our school who cleans class rooms by 7.30AM. So, again I rushed to school and stood far away from the school and started watching them. Thank god, they did not see that money. Returned home and took breakfast and rushed again much before than the daily time. Verified the money and relieved.
Like this, two days passed away. My sister discussed in the home about Rama Murth loosing his money in the school. My mother also took class to me and my sister, how bad to keep things of others with us. She might have told lot of epic stories also. Last day for examination fee has approached. Rama Murthy is almost weeping. In fact, this fellow, myself, Kondapa Naidu, Suhasini all joined 6th class directly after 4th class. Also, myself, Rama Murthy, Subba Reddy, Hari Narayana are the one who were in Composite Mathematics scheme. That way, I have lot of association with him. But in front of money, will those associations will topple? No. Not at all. Every one is sorry for Rama Murthy. That night, I have decided, I should not hold that money and spoil his life. Lot of internal debating, and finally I came to this conclusion. But how can I give, If I give directly, I will be the culprit? So, lot of debating internally. May be the reading habit of Madhubabu detectives saved me!!. Next day morning, when all of us in the class room, teacher did not yet arrived. I slipped my books purposefully from my desk and started collecting them from ground. As I mentioned, myself, my sister and Rama Murthy in the same bench, and I kept money also under it. One end of the bench is my sister, and the other end is Rama Murthy and I am in the middle. When I try to gather my books from ground, he also tried to help by bending. I know where the money is. Somehow, I was able pull that money and "Shouted Rama Murthy, see your money is here". Thats, it. He was in hilarious mood. All were very happy. He lifted me and expressed his happiness. I have relieved. Thank god. I did not spoil his career. In fact, during my school days, my friends used to ask me to select (fingers) which questions will come in the exam. Funnily, majority of the times the ones which finger I select used to appear in the exam. Some used to say, mine is golden hand. Rama Murthy, Sri Mallikarjuna Sarma etc., quoted this and praised me for identifying the money.
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Few weeks back this fellow Rama Murthy came and I met him Vizag Railway station. Yesterday Kondapanaidu called me and we were chatting about our days. Thus, Yesterday night, I got all of these incidents in my dreams. Thus, I am writing this story. Hope you love it.
