When we were young, we had dreams and expectations. We imagine things, we keep thinking about what we want to be, what we want to do, what makes us proud and happy and what we will become.
In school where everyone toyed with an idea of becoming a doctor, engineer, pilot, etc. I dreamt of becoming a journalist. Since I was always interested in writing it was an obvious choice for me. I believed writing allows a person to express himself which he may not be able to speak aloud. All my friend and teachers knew about my passion and they were confident enough of me meeting my goal someday. After passing out from school I decided to get into commerce stream following with two years of post graduation in journalism. I had planned my years in advance. My parents supported the idea and always motivated me. Things were doing well until I stepped in Degree College. This world totally seemed new to me. I would wonder if I could survive here, but as the days went by I had made a good number of friends. After the first term examinations all my friends decided to work part time so that they can fill their pockets with some extra cash. My parents were against the idea of working in such an early age, they wanted me to concentrate on my studies and therefore I was not permitted. They all got selected into one of the BPO’s. Meanwhile I continued with my writing stuff. When the second term started I could hardly find my friend in the college. They were all busy with their jobs and were not ready to resign. What made them stick over there was the amount money they were being paid. They worked the whole week and then partied on weekends. Even I was invited in couple of parties and it was real fun. Though we all were still in college, the fact was they were earning good money and in front of them I felt like an unemployed person. This sometime used to give me an inferior complex. I had started feeling restless and lonely in the college. Then there came a point when even I decided to join my friends. Even I wanted to earn and spend like them. I did not want to miss the party. My parents were not ready to give me the permission but with some heated discussion or I would say an argument they finally agreed. I got myself landed in the same BPO were my friends were. All of us worked very hard but partied even harder. Life seemed to be so easy. I was enjoying. Though my mother was happy, my father still seemed to be a bit annoyed but I hardly had time to make him understand. Days went by and it was close to three years since I had got employed. One fine day I received a mail from my school friend that a reunion is planned and every one is invited. The reunion had been scheduled in the evening in our school auditorium. Went I went in I saw all the grown up faces, they were all dressed up and looked wonderful. I greeted all my friends and my teachers who all were present. We all remembered our school days. Some memories brought us smile while some brought tears. Mrs.reshma, one of our teachers then came up with an idea. Everyone was supposed to tell what they did after they left their school. All of them were thrilled with the idea. Some had done their MBA and were working for MNC, some had done their medical, some were marketing managers, and some were doing their higher studies. It was my turn then, and as thought everyone expected me to be a journalist in one of the leading newspaper. All I did was stand in front of them and fumbled with words. I couldn’t say anything because I hadn’t still cleared my graduation exams. I had then realized that in chase of money and fun I forgot the way towards my goal. I had destroyed my career and dreams. After the reunion when everyone was leaving Mrs.reshma held me back and asked what I did after passing out from school. Something inside was prompting me to tell her my story and I found myself telling it without any defenses. I saw myself loosening up, becoming lighter and lighter in front of her. Tears were coming continuously while I was telling her my story. She did not talk much, only listened patiently and kept helping me to open more and more. In the end I had emptied everything. She then said, “You cannot change your past. Things do change, but it cannot really take away the dreams. We still have to dream on, to visualize our desire, our wants, our vision of our future, even when we are considered too old for such things.” Her words had really melted me down and I decided to start all over again and over come my dreams because it is always said that it is never too late to run behind your dreams.
KUNAL.S.PRASAD
