School is a place to study

'Excuse me,is this the way to Hari Lal's house,' a well dressed man asked a farmer who was busy on his farm.
'Yes this is the way,' snapped the irritable farmer who seemed to have been engrossed in his thoughts, now deeply disturbed.
'What have you got to do with him? Are you another bank officer?,' the farmer asked suspiciously.
'Oh no, i am here to see one of his daughters. You see her name is...'
'Bitiya, isn't it. Why have you come here to see that troublesome girl,' the farmer asked his curiosity risen.
'You know Bitiya? Wow! Actually i have come to see her for...'
'Of course i know Bitiya and her two sisters, Chanda and Rajjo,' growled the irritated farmer. 'First the bank hounds us and now you.'

The man understood that the farmer was deeply worried about something.

'Well, i am here to see Bitiya and her family. It is a decision they have to make and since i have met you, her father, maybe we can discuss this in doors.'

'Ah so you realized i am the father of that little troublemaker now did you.'
'Why, what has she done,' the curiosity of the stranger now piqued.

'Well i have three daughters as you know. The youngest is Bitiya. The first two are so responsible and this one, what can i say. The first two know their responsibilities towards our family. They know the financial condition of their father and help in every way they can and on the other hand that girl is engrossed in her own world. She is stubborn just like her mother and...' suddenly the farmer fell mum.

The stranger still couldn't understand. 

'Well, Sir, I am here to discuss about... 

'Discuss about what? I don't even know where you come from? Who sent you here?'

'Sir, the village school headmaster directed me here.'

'Oh now i get it. You are from that rotten school. That building is the one which is the cause of all my troubles. I sent all the three girls there and one is enough to give me trouble for the rest of my days.'

'Oh, which class do Chanda and Rajjo study in? The headmaster never mentioned anything about them!'

'Which class do they study in,' the farmer asked back echoing the stranger's question.'They do not go to any class there. They help in preparing and serving the mid-day meals. Helps in a little earning and they get to eat a proper meal also.'

The stranger now stood stunned on his spot, his brow furrowed.

'If those two work over there, then what does Bitiya do?'

The farmer laughed out of scorn.

'She doesn't do a thing out there. Not a bit of work. That is the trouble. She STUDIES out there.
Up until now the Village Panchayat was handling the expenses of her studies. Said she was bright. What is the use? She passed her tenth standard with flying colours and now awaits for further studies. She has been badgering me to send the other two also to the school for studies. Who will handle all that?Now she thinks she will go higher up and touch the sky. She doesn't realize that her dreams have got limits.' 

On not getting any response from the stranger, the farmer snapped.

'I have been yapping about like a mad man. What were you here to discuss?'

The stranger smiled and answered.

'Sir, you daughter is very well aware of your limits. Fortunately she is not aware of her own. She had written a scholarship exam two months back and has passed with as you described "flying colours"!'

It was the farmer's turn to stand stunned.

'Sir, you sent your daughter to school for the right reason. School is a place to study.'