Fourth Rank!!
In my school days, except the 12th Board and CET results, I was never topper in my class. But nonetheless, I was AMONGST the toppers. On every 1st May, the day when school results are declared in Maharashtra, I used to be very excited. But a result day is a damn stressful day for many. Expectations bring stress. I was never sad about my numbers. After going back home, dad used to ask " कितवा नंबर ?" [What is your Rank?], and I used to reply "Fourth!" (As usual). In our schools, from the ages, no one bothers about fourth rank onwards junta. Only the first three were felicitated and lauded. My father knew I was not exactly fourth, but he knew it very well that rank doesn't matter anyway. By most of the parents, Education is always compared with ranks and numbers on certificates. My father never forced me to study and get rank in school. After working as a teacher for more than three and half decades, he knew that numbers fade away, what remains ar...