Bhusaval - A Short Story

Rajiv Rawat felt the slowing of the train. He was sitting in the upper berth of 3-tier AC coach with a book in his hand. The book was on palmistry and though he had no knowledge inherited or otherwise on the subject; he wanted to develop palmistry knowledge and impress women students in his engineering college.
Rajiv was a student of electronics engineering from Gramsabha Engineering College (GEC) at Mavle village, about 50kms from Pune.
He got down from his upper berth after keeping the book suitably in his bag. He requested his lower berth passenger to make room for him to sit.
The old man in the lower berth gave some space and said, "I am Rakesh Ahuja, retired from Railway Engineering Services. Are you an engineering student?"
Rajiv shyly nodded his head.
The old man continued,"Which college ?"
To this Rajiv answered,"GEC, Pune".
"Oh!!", muttered the old man looking a little shocked.
The train reached Bhusaval.
Rajiv was thinking and wondering how people could be so irrational. The old man possibly thought he was a government college engineering student and seemed to be pained by GEC. His friends took leave for a month or more and managed to get into government colleges. He was regular and rational and felt ashamed at irrationality of people. He did not feel shy of his society in Delhi for showing confidence in him and his skills and allowing education. Education is tough and here are people with irrational minds.
Just then a beggar boy with twisted legs entered the compartment and asked for alms. The beggar boy was crying profusely. Rajiv went near him and offered him a 500 rupee note. He told him, "People are all irrational. No one will pay money. Take this and beg no more."
The beggar boy said, "People are irrational !! No sir, people are cruel. I get hit in my legs everyday, if I do not beg. I will take your money. But I will beg also."
The train gave a whistle.