I had a wish in my mind. It
wasn’t just a hope or a dream - a real wish. And it wasn’t something that I
could never attain. I believed I would achieve it one day but times changed, I couldn’t
see the tide anymore, it was hard to accept the fact that my wish would forever
remain in my heart as a wish and just a wish only.
I wanted to visit France in my
life. Not for the reason that my love to see that country is abundant and
overflows from my heart or not that there is any magnanimous task that I should
finish there before my time in this wonderful world comes to an end. It is
simply due to the fact that “I learnt French” and I wanted to go to that
country and try my best to converse in a foreign language (English is no more an
alien language to us).
Of course, I wanted to see Eiffel
Tower, Musee du louvre, Notre Dame Cathedral, or take a stroll in des Champs
Elysees. They may not be the best places in the world to see. But during my language
course, I read about those places, wrote about them and even imagined stories
happening around them and submitted my assignments to showcase understanding of
their culture, food, habits etc. So after spending so much effort in learning
about a country and their language, why shouldn’t I wish to go there one day?
The chance did come, almost
touched me and flew slowly away like a feather with a mysterious smile on its
face. I wondered; don’t I deserve more? Didn’t I put enough effort so that the
feather would land on my shoulders and take me to faraway place, where I wished
to go? Just before quitting my job I was
working in a project for a company, based in Netherlands. I had all the chances
in world to go to Netherlands and if I had gone there, I surely would have visited
France.
But I couldn’t do it because I wasn’t
allowed to fly. Yes, times have changed; I wasn’t how I was earlier; my
physical condition needed monitoring, I needed care and attention, and so…!! So
near yet so far; my wish would always remain in my heart only as a wish.
I have experienced and learnt a
good lesson in life. It has its own way of toying with us. Wonders suddenly
sprung up from nowhere. Our minds should feel it and responsibility lies within;
either feel happy about it or not; take the sweetness out of it or not, and can
even wonder – ‘hey, why didn’t I wish for this to happen?’
I met my college batch mates
after 24 years today. I was expecting an exciting, cheerful noon session but I never
thought it would make me ponder over few thoughts that were slightly disturbing
me in past. When I saw them, I felt my past; I felt the vigor of my youth; My stupidity,
my mistakes, my undisciplined life during those days, what should I have done
and what I shouldn’t have! Ideally, I should have covered my face with
embarrassment, closing my ears so that I wouldn’t hear their mockery of my
youth.
But what happened was entirely
different. Here is a bunch of my old friends, cheering me up with stories of
past, showing kindness, reminding me their willingness to help and not the
least, pushing me to stay strong and fight. What more could I wish for!!
So, now I wonder! Which is more
important: my wish to visit France or kindness and a pat of friendship with a
wonderful smile? I think I will go for the second.
My sincere thanks to everyone – for
arranging, participating and spending time with me. It has been years since I had
such a happy day. I wish there’ll be more…. I wish!
