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Follow Your Dreams
>> Monday, February 11, 2013
Follow Your Dreams
They know the way.
A Short Story By G.S.Vasu Kumar
Partly Based on True Incidents
In a remote village, Gayathri had scored good marks in her PUC. It was a big achievement for her, as none had gone beyond SSLC matriculation in her village.
‘Let us get her married off. I tell you that it would be difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her, if she continues her studies further.’ Her mother told her husband.
‘No, Maa…I don’t want to get married now.’ She protested.
‘Then what do you want to do?’
‘I would like to study medicine and become a doctor.’ She said.
‘Doctor? Are you crazy? Where do you think we could get so much money which is required for your education?’ Her mother asked, bewildered.
‘I would be writing the entrance test and if I get through it, then I needn’t pay much.’ She said.
‘Why don’t you say something?’ Her mother said to her father.
‘She has a dream, so let her follow it!’ He replied.
‘Where would get money for her education? Would you sell your land or what?’
‘If it comes to that, I would surely do it!’ He replied.
‘Thanks, papa.’ Gayathri said overjoyed.
There was no power in her village most of the nights. She was studying with the light coming from the oil lantern. Finally, Gayathri wrote the entrance test and scored good rank in the same. She got the medical seat in one of the famous medical colleges in the city. Her father went to pledge his land with the village chairman, and get the money for her higher education.
‘Think again, Gangaram!’ Munshi Yadav, the village chairman said, after listening to him, ‘It was your dream to own this land. You had toiled hard to buy it. You may not be able to get it back again.’
‘I have thought, Munshiji,’ Gangaram said, handing him the land papers, ‘My daughter’s dream is more important than mine.’
‘Then God bless you!’ He said, handing him the money in return.
Later, at home:-
‘Papa, I am feeling really bad that you had to pledge the land for my studies.’ Gayathri said.
‘No, my dear...don’t feel so…I am happy and proud of you!’ He said, hugging her, ‘Follow your dream, it knows the way.’
‘Thank You, Papa.’ Gayathri said.
***
Munshi Yadav’s only daughter, Komal was studying B.A. in the town. She was childhood friend of Gayathri. Some people had come from the city to see her for marriage alliance. The boy liked the beautiful and shy Komal immediately.
‘Papa, I like her! Ask her if she likes me too?’ The boy told his father.
‘If you like her then we could go ahead with….’ Munshi said, with a broad smile on his face.
‘No, Papa!’ Komal cried on top of her voice, standing up on her feet, ‘This isn’t fair! You never asked me for my opinion… you never ever did! You always did what you thought was right for me…at least now, let me decide what I want to do?’
‘What do you want to do?’ He asked shocked. The smile just vanished from his face all of a sudden. Everyone in the hall was looking at her for the response, as if they were watching some daily serial on television.
‘I would like to continue my studies,’ She said, ‘I am not ready for the marriage yet!’
‘Komal Beta, you have done your PUC and now doing B.A…what do you want to study further? No one in this village has studied beyond SSLC..’ Munshi said.
‘I want to complete my graduation..Please don’t forget Gayathri is studying MBBS right now..’ She replied, sitting down in the chair.
‘Who is this Gayathri?’ The boy asked, rather surprised at the turn of events, which he never expected to happen. They had told him that the girl is a simple person and would agree to be a house wife.
‘How does it matter?’ His mother said.
‘Would you marry me, after your graduation?’ The boy asked her.
‘No, I want to do my post graduation next!’
‘Would you marry me after that? I could wait for you...’
‘No, I want to do my B.ED after that and want to become a teacher! I would like to stay in this village and teach. I am sorry for disappointing you all. Now, you all may take leave and look for some other girl elsewhere!’ She said.
‘Munshi! Did you call us to insult like this!’ The boy’s father stood up enraged, ‘I would see to that your silly daughter doesn’t find any boy to marry in her life!’
‘Please Premchandji...don’t leave! I would convince her!’ Munshi pleaded him.
‘First try to find a girl for your son and then talk about me. The marriage broker told us that you weren’t able to find a suitable girl for your son in the city. What happened? Did all those city girls reject him? Isn’t it the reason why you came so far to this tiny village to see me?’
The boy’s father just glared through his spectacles at the shocked marriage broker, and cried ‘Let’s leave!’
‘But..papa...I like her..’ His son murmured, catching one last glimpse at Komal, before leaving with his family. She was so beautiful in her anger too.
***
Sometime later, in the Mumbai city..…
‘I am really proud of you, my dear,’ Jayaram said to his daughter, Prema. Prema had scored 90 percent marks in her Third Year B Com examination, finishing second at Mumbai University.
‘What would you want to do next?’
‘Thank You, Appa. I would like to do CA.’ she replied, smiling at her father.
‘Even I would like to do CA along with sister, Appa,’ Dhanraj said, ‘you need not worry for the fees. I am joining a call center so that I could fund my higher education.’ Dhanraj was doing B.Com at that time.
‘Yes, Appa, It is better if he does it along with his B.com. Also I would have company for my studies.’ Prema added.
‘Good. I am really happy that my children are going for higher studies. ’ Jayaraj said, smiling at his daughter and son, ‘Every one should have some dreams to follow in their lives. One should never let their dreams go out of sight, and always keep working towards it, only then would they be able to achieve it!’ He advised his children.
‘Yes, Appa. We would keep this in our mind.’ Prema replied.
The tiny asbestos-roofed dwelling of 300 sq ft did not deter Prema Jayakumar from dreaming big in her life. Jayakumar Perumal had moved to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu’s Periyakollur village, found work as an auto driver and raised his family in cramped quarters in a Mumbai chawl. He has been driving autorickshaw for close to two decades to support his family of four.
Prema and her brother, Dhanraj studied CA together. They appeared for the exams together.
She could not control her emotions and burst into tears when she heard the news of her CA results. Prema, now 24 years, had secured the first rank in the examination conducted by the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in November 2012. It was her dream to clear the examination in the first attempt itself, but she didn’t expect even in her wildest dreams that she would get all India first rank.
‘Appa, Amma, It would not have been possible without your support and blessings. You have always motivated me,’ She said. ‘Appa, you have worked so hard so that can I realize my dreams, Now, I want you to retire and take some rest.’
‘Sure, my dear,’ Jayakumar said, flashing a broad smile at her, along with his homemaker wife, Lingammal. Jayakumar had toiled long hours every day to get good education for his children.
‘Dhanu, what do you think of your sister’s achievement?’ His mother asked her son, Dhanraj.
‘My sister is my hero, the source of my inspiration.’ Dhanraj, her younger brother said, feeling proud of his sister’s achievement. Dhanraj too had cleared the toughest examination with his sister.
***
Some time later, Gayathri had completed her MBBS . She had practiced in the city for sometime so that she could earn enough money to get her father’s land back. When she returned back to her village, she met her best friend, Komal, who had completed her post graduation and B.Ed. She was teaching in the school of her village.
‘Gayathri, we both did it!’ Komal said smiling and hugging her best friend, ‘You are my inspiration to follow my dreams. Now, I am inspiring many young dreamers at school to follow their dreams.’
‘Good, my dear friend,’ Gayathri said.
‘Gayathri Beta, here are the land papers. Please give them to your father.’ Munshi Yadav said, coming and handing it to her, with a broad smile on his face.
‘And here is the money due to you along with the interest, uncle.’ Gayathri said, taking the money from her bag.
‘No, Beta, I heard that you want to start your clinic in this village and dedicate your life in serving this village. I was moved knowing that. This money would help you to build that clinic. I have found a suitable land for the same. You and Komal have opened my eyes!’ Munshi said, refusing to take the money.
Later, in her house:-
‘Papa, here are the land papers! Munshi uncle refused to take the money.’ Gayathri said, handing him the papers, ‘Thank you, you told me to follow my dream, and I did it!’
‘I am glad you did it, Gayathri beta!’ Gangaram said, ‘Parvathi, what do you have to say about Gayathri now?’
‘I am very happy, what more can I say?’ She said, smiling at them.
***
On one Sunday, 13 foetuses were found dumped under Hairanyakeshi Bridge, near Sankeshwar town, 50 km from Belgaum, Karnataka. Some of them were underdeveloped 4-6 weeks old and some where fully formed. The police are looking at all angles, including possible sex-determination racket, as many of the underdeveloped fetuses are found to be female, according the health officers probing the case.
It is really sad that such incidents are still reported in our country, India. I think one should really feel lucky to have a girl child. She would grow up and surely make her parents proud some day like Gayathri, Komal and Prema of the above story.
I wished to have a girl child and was blessed with one last September on my birthday. I felt very happy to hold her in my hands, and would be proud of her whenever she achieves any little thing in her life. I would tell her one thing, and that is…
‘Follow your dreams. They know the way.’
They know the way.
A Short Story By G.S.Vasu Kumar
Partly Based on True Incidents
In a remote village, Gayathri had scored good marks in her PUC. It was a big achievement for her, as none had gone beyond SSLC matriculation in her village.
‘Let us get her married off. I tell you that it would be difficult to find a suitable bridegroom for her, if she continues her studies further.’ Her mother told her husband.
‘No, Maa…I don’t want to get married now.’ She protested.
‘Then what do you want to do?’
‘I would like to study medicine and become a doctor.’ She said.
‘Doctor? Are you crazy? Where do you think we could get so much money which is required for your education?’ Her mother asked, bewildered.
‘I would be writing the entrance test and if I get through it, then I needn’t pay much.’ She said.
‘Why don’t you say something?’ Her mother said to her father.
‘She has a dream, so let her follow it!’ He replied.
‘Where would get money for her education? Would you sell your land or what?’
‘If it comes to that, I would surely do it!’ He replied.
‘Thanks, papa.’ Gayathri said overjoyed.
There was no power in her village most of the nights. She was studying with the light coming from the oil lantern. Finally, Gayathri wrote the entrance test and scored good rank in the same. She got the medical seat in one of the famous medical colleges in the city. Her father went to pledge his land with the village chairman, and get the money for her higher education.
‘Think again, Gangaram!’ Munshi Yadav, the village chairman said, after listening to him, ‘It was your dream to own this land. You had toiled hard to buy it. You may not be able to get it back again.’
‘I have thought, Munshiji,’ Gangaram said, handing him the land papers, ‘My daughter’s dream is more important than mine.’
‘Then God bless you!’ He said, handing him the money in return.
Later, at home:-
‘Papa, I am feeling really bad that you had to pledge the land for my studies.’ Gayathri said.
‘No, my dear...don’t feel so…I am happy and proud of you!’ He said, hugging her, ‘Follow your dream, it knows the way.’
‘Thank You, Papa.’ Gayathri said.
***
Munshi Yadav’s only daughter, Komal was studying B.A. in the town. She was childhood friend of Gayathri. Some people had come from the city to see her for marriage alliance. The boy liked the beautiful and shy Komal immediately.
‘Papa, I like her! Ask her if she likes me too?’ The boy told his father.
‘If you like her then we could go ahead with….’ Munshi said, with a broad smile on his face.
‘No, Papa!’ Komal cried on top of her voice, standing up on her feet, ‘This isn’t fair! You never asked me for my opinion… you never ever did! You always did what you thought was right for me…at least now, let me decide what I want to do?’
‘What do you want to do?’ He asked shocked. The smile just vanished from his face all of a sudden. Everyone in the hall was looking at her for the response, as if they were watching some daily serial on television.
‘I would like to continue my studies,’ She said, ‘I am not ready for the marriage yet!’
‘Komal Beta, you have done your PUC and now doing B.A…what do you want to study further? No one in this village has studied beyond SSLC..’ Munshi said.
‘I want to complete my graduation..Please don’t forget Gayathri is studying MBBS right now..’ She replied, sitting down in the chair.
‘Who is this Gayathri?’ The boy asked, rather surprised at the turn of events, which he never expected to happen. They had told him that the girl is a simple person and would agree to be a house wife.
‘How does it matter?’ His mother said.
‘Would you marry me, after your graduation?’ The boy asked her.
‘No, I want to do my post graduation next!’
‘Would you marry me after that? I could wait for you...’
‘No, I want to do my B.ED after that and want to become a teacher! I would like to stay in this village and teach. I am sorry for disappointing you all. Now, you all may take leave and look for some other girl elsewhere!’ She said.
‘Munshi! Did you call us to insult like this!’ The boy’s father stood up enraged, ‘I would see to that your silly daughter doesn’t find any boy to marry in her life!’
‘Please Premchandji...don’t leave! I would convince her!’ Munshi pleaded him.
‘First try to find a girl for your son and then talk about me. The marriage broker told us that you weren’t able to find a suitable girl for your son in the city. What happened? Did all those city girls reject him? Isn’t it the reason why you came so far to this tiny village to see me?’
The boy’s father just glared through his spectacles at the shocked marriage broker, and cried ‘Let’s leave!’
‘But..papa...I like her..’ His son murmured, catching one last glimpse at Komal, before leaving with his family. She was so beautiful in her anger too.
***
Sometime later, in the Mumbai city..…
‘I am really proud of you, my dear,’ Jayaram said to his daughter, Prema. Prema had scored 90 percent marks in her Third Year B Com examination, finishing second at Mumbai University.
‘What would you want to do next?’
‘Thank You, Appa. I would like to do CA.’ she replied, smiling at her father.
‘Even I would like to do CA along with sister, Appa,’ Dhanraj said, ‘you need not worry for the fees. I am joining a call center so that I could fund my higher education.’ Dhanraj was doing B.Com at that time.
‘Yes, Appa, It is better if he does it along with his B.com. Also I would have company for my studies.’ Prema added.
‘Good. I am really happy that my children are going for higher studies. ’ Jayaraj said, smiling at his daughter and son, ‘Every one should have some dreams to follow in their lives. One should never let their dreams go out of sight, and always keep working towards it, only then would they be able to achieve it!’ He advised his children.
‘Yes, Appa. We would keep this in our mind.’ Prema replied.
The tiny asbestos-roofed dwelling of 300 sq ft did not deter Prema Jayakumar from dreaming big in her life. Jayakumar Perumal had moved to Mumbai from Tamil Nadu’s Periyakollur village, found work as an auto driver and raised his family in cramped quarters in a Mumbai chawl. He has been driving autorickshaw for close to two decades to support his family of four.
Prema and her brother, Dhanraj studied CA together. They appeared for the exams together.
She could not control her emotions and burst into tears when she heard the news of her CA results. Prema, now 24 years, had secured the first rank in the examination conducted by the prestigious Institute of Chartered Accountants of India in November 2012. It was her dream to clear the examination in the first attempt itself, but she didn’t expect even in her wildest dreams that she would get all India first rank.
‘Appa, Amma, It would not have been possible without your support and blessings. You have always motivated me,’ She said. ‘Appa, you have worked so hard so that can I realize my dreams, Now, I want you to retire and take some rest.’
‘Sure, my dear,’ Jayakumar said, flashing a broad smile at her, along with his homemaker wife, Lingammal. Jayakumar had toiled long hours every day to get good education for his children.
‘Dhanu, what do you think of your sister’s achievement?’ His mother asked her son, Dhanraj.
‘My sister is my hero, the source of my inspiration.’ Dhanraj, her younger brother said, feeling proud of his sister’s achievement. Dhanraj too had cleared the toughest examination with his sister.
***
Some time later, Gayathri had completed her MBBS . She had practiced in the city for sometime so that she could earn enough money to get her father’s land back. When she returned back to her village, she met her best friend, Komal, who had completed her post graduation and B.Ed. She was teaching in the school of her village.
‘Gayathri, we both did it!’ Komal said smiling and hugging her best friend, ‘You are my inspiration to follow my dreams. Now, I am inspiring many young dreamers at school to follow their dreams.’
‘Good, my dear friend,’ Gayathri said.
‘Gayathri Beta, here are the land papers. Please give them to your father.’ Munshi Yadav said, coming and handing it to her, with a broad smile on his face.
‘And here is the money due to you along with the interest, uncle.’ Gayathri said, taking the money from her bag.
‘No, Beta, I heard that you want to start your clinic in this village and dedicate your life in serving this village. I was moved knowing that. This money would help you to build that clinic. I have found a suitable land for the same. You and Komal have opened my eyes!’ Munshi said, refusing to take the money.
Later, in her house:-
‘Papa, here are the land papers! Munshi uncle refused to take the money.’ Gayathri said, handing him the papers, ‘Thank you, you told me to follow my dream, and I did it!’
‘I am glad you did it, Gayathri beta!’ Gangaram said, ‘Parvathi, what do you have to say about Gayathri now?’
‘I am very happy, what more can I say?’ She said, smiling at them.
***
On one Sunday, 13 foetuses were found dumped under Hairanyakeshi Bridge, near Sankeshwar town, 50 km from Belgaum, Karnataka. Some of them were underdeveloped 4-6 weeks old and some where fully formed. The police are looking at all angles, including possible sex-determination racket, as many of the underdeveloped fetuses are found to be female, according the health officers probing the case.
It is really sad that such incidents are still reported in our country, India. I think one should really feel lucky to have a girl child. She would grow up and surely make her parents proud some day like Gayathri, Komal and Prema of the above story.
I wished to have a girl child and was blessed with one last September on my birthday. I felt very happy to hold her in my hands, and would be proud of her whenever she achieves any little thing in her life. I would tell her one thing, and that is…
‘Follow your dreams. They know the way.’
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