EVERY TOMORROW HAS TWO HANDLES...
Pic.: Nishtha Narryani
“Every
tomorrow has two
handles...
We
can take hold of it with the handle
of anxiety or the
handle of faith.”
Two
days ago, I received a call from Rama* . I had taught her, some thirty-two
years ago, when she was a twelfth-standard student. I hadn’t met her or heard
about her ever since.
The call Rama gave me was relating to her young daughter,
Prachi*. Rama sounded very concerned about her young-one. “Sir, my daughter is
a very creative and brave girl. But, when it comes social skills and
interview-facing skills, she has a big problem,” the mother said, “and this
fear and hurt of being rejected has affected her a lot and she seems depressed.”
A teacher and some parents had suggested my name to
Rama. And, when Rama learnt about it,
she was keen to meet me to discuss the issue.
Last morning, Rama had brought her young daughter to my
office.
Prachi, who had just concluded her BMM course from the
prestigious St. Xavier’s College in Mumbai, told me that though she had enjoyed
her course, she was never passionate about it. She spoke to me, at length,
about her school and college days, her deep dislike for the way some teachers
taught, assessed and labeled her, her resistance against the conventional pressure
from parents or peers... And, as she was telling me her story, Prachi came
about to me as a very articulate and clear-headed young-lady. The choice of the
words was impeccable; the tone and manner was extremely honest and graceful.
“Prachi, if you have to tell me, without even blinking,
what is the one thing that excites you the most,” I asked the young-lady, “which,
when you do, makes you feel absolutely happy, fulfilled and confident?”
“Travelling on my motor bike to all sorts of places,” Prachi
did not blink when she said this. “Sir, I have just returned from a month-long
adventure on my motor bike to Leh- Ladak region. I went with a fifteen-member
group of bikers; two girls and the rest all young boys!”
“And, what was the experience like?” I asked Prachi,
unable to believe that the same girl had been brought to me for fixing her
self-confidence and zest in life!
“Out-of-the-world experience, sir!” Prachi beamed, “I can
not still get over it.”
“So, where is the question of fear, rejection, poor
social-skills and so on?” I pointed to Prachi,
“I do not have even one percent of the courage, skill and the confidence you
have shown, beta, in that field. You
are a brave girl. You are the happiest and the most confident doing that; aren’t
you?”
“Yes, I am,” Prachi agreed.
“Therefore, beta,
just focus on what you love to do in life; put all your faith in it, love, and
passion in it... and do it,” I advised the young-girl, “that would take care of
the rest of your worries.”
During our discussion, Prachi told me about a short
course in Tour Organizing which is conducted by the world-leader in Travel and
Tourism, Thomas Cook. Prachi told me that she herself had found about it
through Net and her parents had promised to support her in it.
“Are you excited about it, Prachi?” I asked.
“Yes sir, I am,” Prachi replied emphatically.
“Why?” I probed.
“Because, I can see myself going around the world,” was
the quick answer.
“Doing that, can you see yourself happy and confident in
life?” I further probed.
“Oh yes!”
“Do you want me to teach you, dear, how to face an
interview or how to mix with different kinds of people in the world?” I teased.
My young-girl giggled!
“So much for the so-called depression!” I smiled in my heart, as I gently guided
Prachi to the door...
* The names changed
GERALD D’CUNHA
Comments
Tarun S.