Beyond “Boundaries”

Can darkness enlighten?? Yes it could as this incident which happened to an 18 year old stands testimony..
“Sigh..Power cut again.. this is the umpteenth time it is happening this week.Wonder why my parents chose such a wretched area for building a home..” lamented the first year student who was pursuing his bachelor’s degree in engineering.. Just then, a middle aged man walked into the room with a candle in his hand..”Why are you upset?” ,he asked.. “I was working on my physics record,which is due for submission tomorrow,I was multitasking it ,watching my favourite programme on tv..and this t.v sucks big time..no features worth writing about..and yuck this t shirt is so sticky,I am dripping sweat like a shower thanks to this power cut,should go for better quality fabrics tomorrow…Life in coll is a bore,so much work,so little time to study….” The middle aged man gently smiled..”Wats that in your record?” he asked..
The teenager got perked up.. “Now, c’mon.. You can’t be expected to know all this..You were after all, if I am right a humble diploma holder in mechanical engineering..?? !” He said in a mocking tone..The middle aged person nodded ..his eyes intensely focused on the physics record..
“Is it not a vernier calliper that is used to measure the diameter of objects?? and you have got the jaws of the calliper wrong in your diagram”( and he went on and on about the vernier) The teenager was stunned.. “But it must be almost 3 decades since you finished your academics..how come you remember all these?” he asked.The middle aged man laughed… “Whatever you achieve after a struggle stays on forever” he said.. The teenager was now concentration personified..The middle aged man then proceeded with his story.

“I was the third son in a family of five.One of my sisters met with a premature end at the tender age of two when she was stung by a scorpion.My mom passed away when I was four.I was now in the company of my two elder brothers and a younger sister.My dad was working in the army and so he had neither finance nor time for us.My mother’s sisters were considerate enough to take my sister under their custody after my mom’s death.Me and my brothers had to shuttle between all my relatives places for food and shelter.My brothers were packed of to a remote village.I struggled with my schooling for I could not stay in a single place due to poverty..But I was mostly put up in Salem.It was a question of survival.For many nights, I was put up in just the verandah of my relatives’ place for there was no one willing to take me in.I was petrified.. I was just a school boy,stray dogs were on the prowl and ghostly dreams haunted me but still I had nowhere else to go.
The cinema hall was four kilometres from that place and my relatives had space only for themselves in those horsecarts.. I had to run behind the carriage for four kilometres non stop to watch a movie…but I will not blame them for this was my own fate..,this would not have happened had my mom not passed away..I carried on..Just before my tenth exams..I fell from the second floor of a building..Luckily God was kind enought to help me land safe on a stationery sand carrying lorry and I escaped with fractures.After those early struggles,I managed to clear my tenth exams.
I desperately wanted to study but I found no support.One of my uncles was benevolent enough.He agreed to pay the first term fees alone for my diploma .I promised him that I would find a part time job and manage the financial expenses of the rest of my course. I had two options to choose from a morning shift(8 - 2) or a noon shift(12-6).I chose the morning one out of sheer desperation because it meant that I could have my lunch at 2:30″ he said..
“But how does that make a difference?? asked the teenager
The middle aged man now continued with his story..
My uncle’s children were still in school and my aunt would not serve me before they eat..So if I come at 2:30 I could eat whatever is left over..I had to cylce a total of 16 kilometres everyday to reach my college and come back.I found a part time job in a watch company.I worked from four to eight and then I had to sit with my books and assignments.This was my daily routine.My employer was kind enough to permit me to sit with books in the shop when there were no customers.I was paid an HOURLY WAGE OF RS.2 for my efforts.
Those days,bell bottom pants were the trend and I yearned for it.I had to save from january till Diwali to get my self one!I did not sleep the previous night because I was so excited that I would be wearing it the next morning.It may seem trivial but it meant a lot to me..!
After all the trials and tribulations,I completed my diploma and got a job in a reputed firm in Bombay.My Dad was all but out of touch with us.
A few days before receiving my first month salary,I got a telegram stating that my Dad had returned form the army and was now seriously ill.I decided to visit him after receiving my first pay.But when I reached Salem railway station,I was sad to hear that he had passed away.My eldest brother was struggling financially and my other brother had turned into a wastrel.I had no time to think about myself.I managed to get my sister married to a doctor in Bombay.Soon,I too entered the wedlock and God sent my mother in the form of my wife.She proved to be my source of inspiration from then on.I got a transfer to good old Madras.We were slowly coming up in life.
It was always my dream to own a house.But our financial position did not permit us to purchase any land near the heart of the city,so we went for a plot in the outskirts.It was more than an hour’s drive from my office but I did not mind the struggle for I wanted my first born kid to have his/her own house to play around and grow up right from day one for I never had that opportunity..I was blessed with a girl.
Those days t.v sets had just started gaining in popularity and the Sunday movies in Doordarshan were quite famous.I used to constantly peep into my neighbour’s portion to catch a glimpse.My wife understood my wishes and started cutting down on her expenses and soon we were the proud owners of a black and white t.v which we had purchased in installment. We had another new arrival into our family to add to our joys,this time it was a baby boy.Now I am in a good position,and I am content as my daughter is now happily married and my son is coming up..
Wav..how lucky his son is.. how must he be feeling..!!!!!!
Well well well,the son was feeling miserable and too small .. for that teenager is this author(me) and that middle aged man is my father..!
Lets have a recap of my lamentation..
“Power cut again.. this is the umpteenth time it is happening this week.Wonder why my parents chose such a wretched area for building a home.. “(yeah the very house that my dad had built out of sheer sweat and toil)
“and this t.v sucks big time..no features worth writing about..”(when my dad could all but peep into his neighbour’s room to catch a glimpse)
“and yuck this t shirt is so sticky,I am dripping sweat like a shower thanks to this power cut,should go for better quality fabrics tomorrow…”(when my dad had to save for 11 months from his earnings to get a single pant)
“Life in college is a bore,so much work,so little time to study….”(The great man had to work after college and then do his academic work again..)
The power supply was restored,the artificial lights illuminated the entire house but my inner soul was enlightened in that darkness by my dad’s words.I kept on reminicsing about this during that night.. I even wept and this time I was not ashamed to do so..I realised that whatever I had considered my achievements till that time where only a small fragment..I still had a long way to go..
From a humble beginning as an apprentice , he is now the branch manager(south india) of DANCAL INDIA headquartered at Mumbai.(That he has stuck on with a single private firm for 35 years speaks volumes of his dedication and integrity).
I am no saint..just an ordinary individual( I don’t even know if I am a good one..!) and I would not say that I never lament or feel downcast and low, but each and everytime I do so,..This story strikes like a hard gong on my head.
It has been four years since that incident, and with God’s grace ,I have finished my Under Graduation and am now working as P.A.T in Cognizant Technology Solutions.A few days back,I got my first salary slip and as I was thinking about the list of goodies I wanted to purchase with it-A saree for mom,salwar for sis,watch for dad,dress and chocolates for my cute niece,Set Top Box to watch cricket… my mind goes back to that great man who could barely pay off his educational debts with his first wage..