In plain words
I was the monitor of our class. Even now I am this ‘big’. You can imagine how much more I was in those days. Every day, before Iyengar came to our class, I had to fetch a tamarind switch and keep it in a corner. That day, as soon as he came into the class, he took up the stick: “Hey, Rāju! Come here”, he said. I went boldly. For I had done nothing wrong. “Why did you see me and slip into the side lane?” he asked. “Sir! I did not see you. My notebook is in that boy's house. I went to fetch it”, I said. I told only the truth. “Did you really not see me?” he shouted. I said that I had not seen him. “I will beat you”, he said. “If you feel like beating me, beat me”, I said.
Recognising that I was telling the truth, he called me near: “Rāju! You are not that kind of boy. But I grew angry that you, who never do wrong, might be doing wrong. I know that you do no wrong. Tomorrow, when you go home, come to our house once before you go”, he told me. Their house was on the very road I took to my home. As he had bidden, I went to their house the next day. I stood on the veranda, since one should not enter without the guru's leave. He told his wife, “A boy named Rāju will come; bring him inside”. She came and asked: “Dear boy! Is Rāju you?” “Yes, mother!” I said. “Your sir is calling you; come inside”, she said. I went inside. His love knew no bounds. He put two pakoḍās on a small aluminium plate: “Rāju! I scolded you for no reason and meant to beat you. To make amends for that wrong, I am making friendship with you”, he said.
You see! Our goodness, our sacred qualities and our truthful words melt and move anyone, however great. “Sir! Where are you, and where am I! What is this friendship of yours with me?” I said humbly. To that he: “My dear! Do not keep such a distinction. That is why I am making friendship with you. Age and learning do not matter most; the heart matters most. You are a very good boy”, he said. “My dear! Are you studying well?” he asked.