A dream come true
January 2012
By Life Positive
Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a teacher, a lawyer or a doctor. I studied very hard, so that I could fulfil one of my dreams. I passed my SSC with good marks and decided to pursue higher studies in science from a good college. I got admission in one of the best colleges in the city. But on the very first day, in the laboratory, a dead cockroach was placed in front of me. I flew out of the laboratory, and that was the end of my science dream.I joined the arts department in the same college and studied very hard. Two other dreams were still alive in my mind. I completed graduation with flying colours, but could not go for post-graduation since my family demanded that I earn a living. I took up a job in a bank therefore, but alongside I joined morning college to study law. But before I could finish my law course, I was married.
Since I was required to take care of my husband’s big family, I had to give up my law education halfway. Meanwhile, a daughter was born to me and I got too busy taking care of six people in the house.My dream seemed to be going further and further away from me. But I did not lose hope. When my daughter was two years old and started going to school, my husband encouraged me to join college. I joined the Kalina campus and started pursuing MA in economics.I completed my first year with great enthusiasm and I got good grades. But, in the second I became pregnant again. When I was seven months pregnant, I had to appear for the exams. I found it very difficult to sit for hours at a stretch to study, but I did it because my last dream seemed so close to me.
During exams, it rained heavily, and I was late twice for the papers. But the supervisor considered me due to my physical condition.Strangely enough, when the MA results were declared, my number was nowhere to be spotted in the newspaper. My heart sank. All the people in my family thought I had failed. But there was a faint hope inside me telling me that there could be a mistake in the newspaper. So I went to the university and requested the clerk at the university office to crosscheck. He paid no heed. By the end of the day, I was in tears. The clerk took pity and decided to check. And lo, I had passed in the second class, with 11 grace marks, the highest given by the university! Tears of joy rolled down my eyes.I returned home happily! But nature had in store another pleasant surprise for me. When I was close to reaching my house, I met a woman who asked me if I was a student at the university.
When I replied in the affirmative she asked, “There is a vacancy for an economics teacher where I am teaching. Are you interested?” I was dumb for a moment. ”Yes” I replied.I wonder, should we complain about our unfulfilled desires and give up hope or should we keep dreaming and working towards fulfilling our desires, irrespective of when, where and how they get fulfilled?
Rashida Jiwani, Mumbai