2 I am Raees

During those three years in college, Dev had his best time of his life. He became flamboyant and started calling himself Raees, or rich.

It was an all boys college and the hostel was nearby. Due to alcoholic tendencies he started to bunk classes and spend days at hostel, eating, drinking and merry making.

Soon the school Principal came to know about this and called his father, Bali. Bali, due to his hard work and intelligence climbed the corporate ladder and became the general manager of three collieries under the coal industry in the east. Even the coal mafia used to fear him. His name was known by all. But his continuous efforts in self improvement and negligence towards Dev, made Dev what he was, a spoilt brat.

So when Bali was called, he wanted Gopi to hop along. In the Indian scenario context to family life, all good traits that a child gets, is because of his father and all bad qualities are because of the mother. So when a college Principal calls for the parent, normally everyone is of the thought process that maybe the child has done something wrong. So as to put Gopi, to blame, like most Indian fathers', Bali came 40 miles via car.

When the Principal told him about the misdeeds of Dev and his accomplices , and that if it continues, Dev needs to drop out from college, Bali got worried.

He was egoistic. Any attempt to his glorious self esteem if hampered , would bring a negative impact in his career ladder. He was eyeing the seat of the Director, in, a multi billion conglomerate under the Indian government.

So what he did was unthinkable. Money being the most important thing in the world that is powerful and which everyone wants to acquire in one's lifetime, he stashed some notes under the Principal' s table, and asked the Principal, to just make Dev clear the degree of college and the rest would be taken care of.

This made Dev think that he was the King of the world and his insensitivity to emotions, and people increased. His friends started asking him money in the form of loans, which he readily gave, as he thought friends are important, .... the more, the merrier. Yet, they used to either return it in late payments or not at all, which did not bother Dev to the least bit. Any social gatherings in Raipur city, Dev was to be found.

Three years passed by, and Dev returned back home, by passing graduation but with low grades. None in the family uttered any word, in fear of facing the wrath of Bali.