Later in the silence of the day, my own mind did a flashback of the scene in my home when the results were announced around this time two years back.
My younger fellow, Akhil, had been an average student who had sometimes shocked us by going below the average line . I had always dreaded attending the PTA meetings held post exams. The teachers were kind enough to say nice things about him before the negative remarks.They said he was the most well behaved boy in the class, that he was very talented and then would add "only complaint about him is that he is not working hard enough in his studies"
When I was a teacher for a short stint ,in the same school that he studied in, I used to get daily updates from all his teachers.One of his teachers told me that I don't have to worry about him."He knows how to survive. Don't go by his marks.He will eventually do well in life."
But unfortunately our education system and the society we live in, rates a child on the basis of his marks.And a student scores only if he puts the required matter on paper.
His pre board performance was miserable and I realized I had to take charge once again as I had in his younger days. He had tuitions for Accountancy. The tuition Sir promised to do his best to help him with the subject. English and Physical Education he could manage on his own.I took the responsibility of dealing Business Studies and Social Science. Economics , I left to the father, since it was his subject..
And together we started preparing for the battle. There were notes everywhere. Definitions pinned up , pages in the textbooks flagged, white board on the wall highlighted and placed right in front of his bed, to help him review and recollect before he fell asleep and as soon as he woke up.I was confident he would do reasonably well in the two subjects I taught him.But was not sure about Economics . His father had never got too involved in the studies of the boys.
He finished his exams and after every exam he would say it was 'ok'. 'Okay' was another word I dreaded when it came in connection with his exams.
After the board exams he gave his IHM entrance exam too, the results of which came soon and we were relieved to see he had fared well.Admission in a good college was assured.The Board results were announced ..He had done reasonably well in all other subjects but had flunked in Economics!!
It was a huge blow for him and for the two of us.He had got a compartment and had to reappear in a month. This time his Dad took things more seriously and the father son duo worked harder. The IHM admission date had passed and they wouldn't wait till the compartment results came. By August the results were declared and this time he had fared very well !
All these days he had been occupied with his books , now suddenly he had nothing to do. The misery of the failure and loss set in then. All his friends had sought admission somewhere or the other.He too, could have , in some college in Kerala , but we didn't want him to be away from us just yet. Those were days of melancholy for him and I feared he was brooding away all the time. I had always accepted any adverse situations as a choice of God and I drilled the same thought into him.
"Whatever happens , happens for the good. You stop thinking you have lost a year, instead think that you have gained a year. A chance to better yourself, to improve , to groom and prepare for the years thereafter.Make the best possible use of it and you will be thankful for this opportunity you were given,someday"
Together we browsed on what he could do.He got enrolled for a French class at Alliance Francaise. Then I suggested he do a short term course in Photography, which he readily agreed to.We already had a DSLR camera , he learnt more about it theoretically. And at the end of the course, he along with his other senior course mates made a photo expedition to Pushkar where he covered the 'Pushkar mela'. He went for more such photo walks, travelled, learnt to speak Hindi like a local guy , and above all made plenty of friends.
Seeing his pictures, somebody suggested a job for him. The offer came from 'Namaskaar India ' an offshoot of 'Incredible India' and a group that promoted tourism.They offered him a salary of eight thousand plus travel perks.He travelled more and stayed away from home,worked in places like Rishikesh, Shimla, Nainital and other parts of Delhi .The free time he had, he used to take more photographs and explore the places.With the money he earned he bought more equipments for photography.
On a not so busy day he happened to view this message inviting participants for an ad contest .The ad was for a face wash and the topic 'whacky ways of waking up a friend'. A young actor friend of his propelled him to try it. He even suggested some good concepts. Two other friends agreed to act for free. With nothing to lose, Akhil also agreed to make an entry to the contest. He made one film and the company hosting the contest asked him to make more.So he made three entries in all , each with a different concept.
A year had passed after the bad result day and he made a go at the IHM exam once again .The results showed he had done well this time too. After the counselling , he was assured of a seat in IHM college in Gandhinagar. His bags were packed and the train was at 5.30 in the evening.
At 3.00 pm he received a phone call from the ad company stating that of the 3 entries he had made, two had won the prize.The first prize was a grand prize of one lakh rupees and the second prize of forty thousand rupees!!!He had won both !
His joy knew no bounds! The taste of success was sweet. He left a few hours later for his new destination , with new promises and new goals to achieve, His delight added a spring to his step.
As I waved Goodbye to him with tears in my eyes, unsure of how he would do academically but happy that the year gone by had been eventful and fruitful for him, the words of his teacher came back to my mind "Don't worry.He will do well in life".
He had gained a high level of confidence with the achievements he had made, earned a whole lot of new good friends, had a decent bank balance and loads of happiness. The one year experience,which he considers the best time in his life so far , had equipped him to face his life ahead and the blessings and good wishes of the many who loved him, I knew, would steer him through successfully all way through ahead in life . God Bless Him !
Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. What seems to us as bitter trials are often Blessings in disguise.
