Friday, November 12, 2010

The Boy Who Was Too Shy To Confess " I Love You "


There once lived a boy, who was so severely gripped by cancer that he hardly ventured out of his house. He lived alone with his mother. He had lost his father, years ago again due to cancer ( which was herediatery in their family). The boy was denied permission to go out alone, since the tenacity of his disease was such that often it left him gasping for breathe, years of chemotherapy had taken their toll on his body, and he did not have the strength left in his limbs and confidence to walk alone....

The only friend, the only companion the boy ever knew of was his mother, who was also the leading cancer therapist in town. No friends,  No relatives, No one to care for. Only loneliness, and pain.. The boy often wondered, " Why am I like this? Why can't I go out, enjoy, party, like other young people? I want to see the world, the blue sky, the green meadows, flowering fields, The Sun setting down the horizon.." He often expressed his wish to his mother, but his mother knew of the truth... The truth was that the boy had only A FEW DAYS TO GO.... ( She would sob silent tears but could she fight his destiny ? Did her love had that much power to save him of his anguish? )

One bright, sunny morning, the boy pestered and managed to convince his mother that he would just walk up to the next street  Music store and come back. His mother admininstered him a glucose injection, and forewarned him to return in 5 - 10 minutes. In his heart, the boy was so happy ! After so many years he'd finally get permission and he was now out of his confinement. He greeted the people passing by, smiled at the vegetable vendors and was feeling as a bird who just freed herself from the shackles of slavery and incarceration...

He walked up the steps of the music store. This  was one of the biggest stores in town. It housed all genres of music - Rock, Pop, Jazz, Soft, Trance, Classical to name only a few. His eyes caught a beautiful sales girl who exchanged smiles with him. ' She must be of my age ' , he thought. Black, shiny untied hair, lips the color of a rose, skin complexion as white as a lotus, he thought he met a fairy. For the first time in his painful life, he felt love....

"Yes,Sir. How may I help you?", the girl exchanged another of her smiles. The boy froze for a moment. Her voice sounded as if the nightingale was singing a melodious tune to greet the advent of spring. " I, I.... I would be gr-gra-grateful if on-only you help me find some goo-goo-good soft music", he stammered. "Sure, Sir why not." She handed him few CDs. "Yeah, that one please." The boy mustered enough courage by now to talk. " Can you please wrap it for me ? "   "Yes, Yes. Please wait here, I'll be back in a jiffy" said the girl flashing her smiles again, as she went. The boy could'nt describe the feelings he had in his heart. " I feel love, yes I feel it. I feel I'm in heaven today. I feel for her, Yes I do. I'm in love.", he thought to himself. " Sir, here is your CD. Sorry that I made you wait." , the nightingale sound interrupted his thoughts.  "Oh, No issues at all." Both of them exchanged smiles and the boy left for his home.

"Oh, Lord. Today I just met someone. Someone that would brighten up my lonely, painful life. Someone that would bring spring and dispell off the autumn set in my heart. I FINALLY FOUND SOMEONE.", the boy thought that night. Following morning, he once again cajoled his mother for a walk outside to freshen up his spirits.. His mother let him off with a warning, " Come back within 5 minutes ! ". Again the same music store. His eyes searched desparately for his girl. There she was in a corner arranging the CDs neatly on a rack. "Hello, there. I just decided to come down today to tell you that I really liked the CD", the boy exclaimed groping for words. The girl smiled. It sent the bells ringing in the boy's heart. " Can you show me some more? " . " Sure, why not ". The boy selected his choice, requested her to wrap it and left.

This went on for days. Every night, the boy would decide, " Tomorrow morning, I will express my love for her. I will ask her out. " But everytime he met her, his confidence gave in. He could just exchange only pleasanteries. One night over dinner, he shared his thoughts with his mother. His mother was glad. What her love was not able to achieve all these years, of making the boy's life worth was achieved only in a few days by a girl.. She asked him to express his feelings to her.

Early next morning, the boy glided off to the store. Same old story, both exchanged smiles. He requested for a few soft music CDs, chose one and asked her to wrap it.
"Oh, How am I gonna say ' I love you ' ? How Am I gonna ask her out? I don't have the courage. "  Thinking thus, he decides to leave a note for her...
"Hi. I'm Harry. Just wanna say that I like you and I wanna go out with you. Would you?".. the note concludes with his contact number.. He darts off, leaving the note on her desk. He awaited her call. But she did not. He waited. He realized that love was not meant for him, and that feeling left a void in his heart.. 

Days passed and months. Every day, the girl at the store would stare out of the window waiting.Waiting for him. He never came. In her heart, she too liked the boy. But she could'nt confess her feelings. One fine day, she mustered enough courage and called the boy's home. The boy's mother picked up.
"Madam, I'd just like to inquire about Mr. Harry. He is one of our regular customers. I wanted to inform him about some cool soft music that's up on our racks, it arrived recently..."
" Harry cannot talk to you. He left for his heavenly abode 2 months back." The only sound that the girl could hear from the other end was a wail and tears falling, a mother crying for a departed child. The receiver went dead. The girl tried to call back again and again and again, but she could not re-connect........

The mother went into the boy's room. Lo and behold . What did she see? She sees dozens of wrapped CDs in the boy's cupboard. She un-wraps them all to check them.
She finds a withered rose within each and a note......

" HI, I'M SARA. JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I LOVE YOU AND WANNA GO OUT WITH YOU. WOULD YOU?".... THE NOTE CONCLUDES WITH HER CONTACT NUMBER.........................................................  

Friday, November 5, 2010

WILL POWER

Will Power...

It is said that the sub-conscious mind of a man has so much power that a man can even lift mountains if a man so desires and has faith in himself. This is what is "Will Power" and this story serves a befitting instance........

Shyam was a little boy who lived in the slums of Mumbai. His family could barely manage to make both ends meet. His mother used to wash utensils and clothes in several households. Shyam's dad was a drunkard who would beat his wife each night and extort money from her to fulfill his virile fantasies. As a result, often they had to sleep on an empty stomach. Shyam used to work in a dhaba near his house, he also was the local newspaper boy, in order to supplement the family income. Shyam's mother, though illiterate understood the importance of education, and so she had enrolled his name in a Municipal night school. Classes used to commence at about 7 in the evening and went on till 10:00 in the night.

Shyam's mother had great expectations from her son. She wanted him to become a " Computer Engineer ". Each night, she used to shed silent tears and looked up to the moon-lit sky as if to say something to the Lord, " Lord, I will never asked you anything for myself. I don't want my son to go through whatever I have been through all these years. Poverty is like a disease, it corrodes you like anything. Please make my son a successful man.."

Shyam was a very hard-working and studious, ambitious boy. He knew that his mother wanted him to be someone great in life. He also had faith within himself,within his abilites and capabilites. His day started each morning at 6:00 AM where in he used to drop newspapers at the doorsteps of few nearby localities. Then, he used to join his duties at the dhaba where he served and did the dishes. He used to work so diligently that even the owner of the dhaba mumbled blessings for him.. In the evening, he used to rush off to the school with a pencil and slate in hand. Books, he could'nt afford, so he used to listen attentively to whatever was been taught. After school, he used to settle down on the pavement and memorize his lessons, practise maths problems on his slate.. He NEVER studied in his home. His father used to abuse and beat his mother, spanked him , WAS STUDY POSSIBLE IN SUCH AN ENVIRONMENT ?

Came the S.S.C (Similar to CBSE, Delhi Board)  board exam. Shyam was toiling hard at the workplace and he burnt the midnight oil. He was confident of his success. Even his school teacher was expecting him to top.. This time around, he even had books, which he had bought with the money the dhaba owner had given to him (He treated him as his own son). Shyam put his heart and soul into each subject, he did fairly well in each of his papers.... And when the results were announced, he was in seventh heaven... he HAD TOPPED THE MUMBAI DIVISION WITH 96% MARKS........... Shyam's mother welcomed him home, she had tears of joy in her eyes. Shyam touched her feet.
" I am proud of you my son, may you reach the pinnacles of glory, hope you understand that EDUCATION is the only way out of all our woes..."

The Dhaba owner was so elated that he decided to take upon all the costs of Shyam's higher education. Shyam got admission in one of the top ranked colleges of Mumbai. All his batch-mates and class-mates were from an elite-class.. They used to tease him and hurl abuses at him. Shyam was undeterred. In his minds of minds, he had only one goal -  " BECOMING A SOMEONE - CARVING A NICHE FOR HIMSELF, MAKING HIS MOTHER PROUD."

Months went by and years rolled on. Shyam continued to top each exam even in his college.. Mr. Aiyer, Shyam's Maths proffessor was so impressed with him that he requested him to appear for entrance exam of VJTI, Mumbai ( top-most engineering colleges in Maharashtra.)  " But, Sir, ... Can I? I mean Engineering at VJTI would cost 50,000 Rs per year and I cannot afford...." . " Son, I will finance you, don't you worry, I will be there..", Mr. Aiyer said in a consoling tone, patting the boy's back...

With renewed vigour, Shyam began his studies. Again the place was the same, his old pavement. Mr. Aiyer asked him to come to his house for studies, but he refused..
Results were in the affirmative and Shyam topped the exam. He got an admission for Computer Engineering to  the topmost engineering colleges in Maharashtra. At home, his mother was crying happy tears.. Shyam hugged her and said, " MOTHER , I WON'T EVER LET U DOWN......"

Time flew.. With each day passing Shyam grew more confident of himself. Mr. Aiyer offered him all the financial support he needed. The dhaba owner also did his part. Shyam went on passing each semester ( In Engineering, there are 8 semesters of 6 months each - a total of 4 year course) with a distinction.. It was the 7th semester now. During this semester, companies approach colleges for placements, finding and recruiting talent... VJTI, being the top-ranked was no exception....

Shyam knew this was his ONLY chance. If only he could get a break in a MNC (Multi-National Company) he would be on-board with a lumpsum amount. NO. His aim was never MONEY. HIS AIM WAS MAKING HIS MOTHER HAPPY....

Microsoft was the first company on board. Shyam cleared through all the technical and written rounds and was now awaiting with bated breathe for a final round of interaction with the VP of South-Asian operations, Mr. Iommi. " Iss paar ya uss paar?" , he was thinking in his mind... His brain reminded him, " YOU HAVE TO CLEAR THIS, YOU HAVE TO, AND U MUST.. THINK OF YOUR MOTHER. OPPORTUNITY DOES NOT KNOCK TWICE IN LIFE."
"Mr. Shyam ? Please come inside..."

Mr. Iommi was a tall man with a husky , deep voice. He shook hands with Shyam.
Iommi: " So You are Shyam. I am very much impressed with your academics. You seem to have topped each exam, whats the secret of your success?"
Shyam: "To be very frank, I give every exam with ONLY intention... To come first in it.."
Iommi: " Quite Interesting. What is your aim in life? Money, fame, Luxury ? "
Shyam: "Sir, Money. I am from a very humble background. We barely manage to make both ends meet. My mother washes clothes and utensils, I myself work at a hotel. I had be through HELL all these years to study.. My aim in life is to make my mother happy, without her I could have NEVER REACHED HERE, I could have still been known as a local newspaper boy. My second aim is to help and educate all those children dwelling in slums of Mumbai. I would not like anybody been DEPRIVED of the their basic right, EDUCATION. EDUCATION MAKETH A MAN. For that I need money."

Mr Iommi smiled. He knew in his heart that he had found the guy he was looking for. Ambitious, strong, young, dashing and caring. He pulled out a paper.
"Boy, I hire you. You have been hired as a trainee programmer and would be posted to Bangalore. There you will undergo an year of training in latest technological trends and then you will be shifted to Redmonton, US the headquarters of Microsoft. Your starting remuneration would be about 5.5 K as per your currency.. After successful completion of 1 year, it will be 9K as per your currency. Don't worry about accomodation either in Bangalore or US, we will provide you everything - basic amenities. Your joining date will be a month after you complete your engineering course. Any question you wanna ask? Also, please sign here if you accept my offer, and keep this as a copy of your joining letter.. "

Shyam just felt his heart stopped beating. "What in the world?" , he could barely speak... Somehow he grasped and groped for words..... " I accept , I accept, No more questions, no more questions...." He signed the paper, thanked Mr. Iommi, darted off to his slum , whistling and smiling and singing... He barged in through the front door, desparately looking for his mother..
" Hi, Mom, I got a job, I got a job in one of the top computer industries in the world - Microsoft, my starting salary is around 5.5 lakhs.. ", he shrieked in delight..,
"I have been posted to Bangalore for a year and after that it will be America....!!!!!!!!! "
His mother lost her tongue. She was so filled with happiness tears welled down her eyes.... " May every mother on earth be blessed with such an ambitious son..."
" I owe you Mom, I owe you. I promise, I will be your support, and here onwards, you won't even shed a single tear of pain... THE ONLY TEARS YOU'D EVER SHED WILL BE THAT OF HAPPINES.........................." 

A Christmas Night

'Tis was Christmas Time. Streets of London were hustle and bustle with shoppers. Glistening Christmas trees, sounds of the bells ringing, Jingle Bell chants by the children filled the atmosphere with an aura of happiness and excitement. People were busy buying Christmas gifts for their loved ones, greeting cards, cakes, chocolates and other goodies. Santa was busy distributing gifts and exchanging smiles and kisses with the little children.. Even the street children were sounding happy and pleased 'cause there was something with Santa for everyone.. that thing was Love...

Richard, a  gentleman ( about 40) was also near the stores. Today, his daughter had asked him to buy her something she so wished to have , a beatiful doll with blue eyes and clothes decorated with strips of gold and silver. She had fallen in love with it and she admired it so much that she pestered him for it. As Richard neared the toy store, he saw a very young, sweet looking poor boy with tattered clothes standing next to the store with his grandmother. She was an old lady (about 70), freckled face wearing an torn, long overcoat. Both of them were staring at the doll. Richard approached them. Before they could begin to converse, Richard noticed that the boy and old lady's eyes looking worried and heavy, pain grit large on their faces. They appeared as if they would burst into tears any moment."Granny, please tell me. Are you sure we don't have enough money to purchase that doll?" The boy asked in a very deep,choked voice. The old lady did'nt reply. She appeared as if she was insensitive to any emotion and she never knew what it was to smile and be happy and content..

Richard could contain himself no more. "Boy, if you wish I could buy you that doll", he said looking first at the boy and then at the old lady. Richard continued," I'd thought that only girls like dolls....."  Richard's word were cut short... The boy said," Sir, This ain't for me. This is for my sister. I had promised her, that I would gift this doll to her. I love her very much. But, I don't have two things with me, money and time.I cannot afford to pay 250 dollars for that." Richard's heart melted seeing their plight. He made up his mind to help this poor boy, after all festive time DOES not mean only the rich should be happy and content.... OR DOES IT??

The old lady did'nt utter a single word. Richard said, " Fine, boy. I was about to purchase this doll for my daughter. But, I will now purchase it for your sister. But, on one condition. I promised my daughter that I would gift it to her , this Christmas. I will gift-wrap this doll myself and present it to your sister. I just want her to be happy, and I'd content myself into thinking that I made my own daughter happy. I understand your monetary situation, what about time? Why don't you have time? "
Boy: " Sir, whatever you said is not possible. My sister has gone to be with God a week back. " Richard's senses numbed. He felt his heart escape a beat.
He replied, " What in the holy name of Jesus, boy are you sane? If she's no more HOW ON EARTH WILL U GIFT THAT DOLL TO HER?"

The boy replied " Sir, I love my sister and I promised her the doll. I MUST gift her the doll. I love her."
Richard: "But, how will you...."
Boy: " Sir, My father said this morning that Mother was also going to go to be with God. So I thought that I will give the doll to my mother and she will in turn give it to my sister who must be waiting for her present. I've asked my father to make my Mother wait till the time, I'm not back with the doll. That is why, I don't have time..............
.................................."