A flash of light glared my eye. Suddenly, I found myself into this conscious world. I tried to remember where I am right now, only to find myself on the streets of my hometown. A tear drop rolled down my eye, there must have been a dribble of such drops. My eyes were misty. Disturbed, perturbed and vexed by thoughts of my future, I had lost my power of thought. My power of analysis seemed to be waning. It had been a tough day; in fact instances that very well challenged my little self.
Mediocre performance in every step of life. I didn’t know what my mettle was. People say everybody has a talent. I didn’t know my talent. I was just flowing and moving on, as my life moved on. It was not what I wanted, but it was what my life wanted. And a plethora of questions, but nobody to answer. It never happened with me before, and I couldn’t understand myself. Nobody cared to think about me so much, so as to make me realize my talent.
I noticed some struggling people on the road. People who fought day in and day out just to survive and flourish, with a hope of getting prosperity one day. Here are some of them:-
• A labour (maybe) had a very sound sleep on the footpath, felt as if a heaven for him.
• A vendor who used to sell some sweets had a very bad day and was counting his pennies.
• An auto rickshaw stopped by me looking for a passenger desperately for his vacant vehicle.
• A small child carried four buckets brimming with water, on a cycle.
• A handicapped person with no legs was on a block of wood with four wheels and moved slowly.
• A carpenter was working overtime and was desperate for a very small project.
• A rickshaw puller with three passengers and two extra children, tried to wrap up his days’ work with the best deal.
These people were very simple people but seemed like warriors. I was startled to see their energy, their ebullience. It was a kind of overwhelming feeling. Anyway, I had failed in an interview and my failure seemed to be dwindling down because of these buoyant personalities.
It started raining, a perfect time of the year for the rains to come. The ambience became so tranquil that I could hear the rain drops falling. People started running for shelter and I don’t know why, but these rains came as a joyful surprise to me. Maybe, because my tears were lost in these rain droplets. I wanted to enjoy the rain but the grave aspects of life had to be given a good thought. I decided to walk down to my home.
I reached home; my small little puppy sprang upon me and licked me, tried desperately to flaunt his new ball. I was very upset, at the opportunity I missed and messed that day. I went to the bathroom, had a quick shower and yelled “Mom, feeling hungry, had a very tough day”. I didn’t want to do anything, I just switched on the television and it was the “Discovery channel”. I was just shocked to see how people reach the North Pole, where the temperature is 50 degrees below the zero degree (the temperature at which water freezes). Icy storms that end in two or three days. “What drives them to reach there?” This question puzzled me and I switched off the television.
I had great food, but there were many questions that had to be answered before I slept that day. I asked my mother to oil and massage my head. I don’t know but it definitely has some magic that can charm and invigorate you. I asked my mother, “Mummy, why do people want to live when they have nothing with them?” What an innocent question from a son to his mother!! She replied, “When people have everything with them, then they have nothing to live for. It is the problems that make a human life interesting”. Too stodgy at that instant, I got it though. What followed was a night awakening introspection and retrospection.
“Gaurav, get up!!!! It’s very late, here’s your newspaper”, my mother said. I always have a habit of welcoming my new day with a newspaper. I tried to recollect what happened yesterday and my spirits circumscribed. I read my horoscope, which I believe is incumbent for everyone; I rushed to the editorial section. I was reading an article and had a feeling of déjà vu. “It’s my article”, I squalled at the top of my voice in exhilaration. I was so delighted to see my article right up there. I was extremely happy and yes it was a matter of pride. My cell phone rang and a very heavy voice comes from the other side. “Well done, boy!!!! You have your space here and you’re working with us now”, said the editor of ‘The Indian Express’.
“This was my mettle, this was my talent,” I realised. Just above my article I saw a quotation from William Shakespeare. “Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in his head”. I wondered it was for me. I quickly went to my mother touched her feet, called up my father and said “Papa!!! Your son is working with the Indian Express now”.
