Every action of ours has a consequence. And that consequence is based on what we did, how we did act, how we did think and what path did we choose for our journey. Destiny gives back everything it ever took from us and takes back everything it gave us. Amidst all this, there is one ultimate reality which cannot be altered however we might neglect it or whatever perception we possess on the world around us. Life of an individual undergoes evolution, by being churned in the vicious circle of all these facts. And my life was no different. The day I met with an accident, was the day that changed my perception towards the world forever and ever. As soon as my car did slide off the cliff, I lost my control on the brain, besides gravity. How much time was I left with? May be 15 seconds! And in those 15 seconds, I understood many things that my 15 year education did not teach me!
I recollected the
lives of 4 persons who were an integral part of my life. 4 different
‘persons’with 4 different mentalities and I am going to introduce them to you
all…
5 Year old me:
As earliest as I can remember. We were residing in one of
the best colonies and childhood was a fun filled one. Gully cricket, I Spy and
many more games used to carry forward our days besides the daily routine of
acting out a stomach ache drama so as to escape the tedious activity of
attending school. Everything was a cake walk for me.
17 Year old me:
Everything around me started making sense to me. On the
alternative days, my mother and father used to sleep on the floor to make
enough space for me on the bed. In a locality where people stand for ten hours
in front of a shop for the ration, my parents made me feel like we were in a heaven!
Sacrifices made by them and struggles taken by them were like a thick carpet
spread over on the path of thorns. That was the moment when I decided that struggles
would be my back pack from now on and I would never let them down. My vision
was clear, I decided that I shall not leave any loose strings in achieving my
dream of clearing the civils and I sacrificed my social life entirely from then
on.
24 year old me:
Became the first person from my locality to clear the civils
and the environment was festive all over the colony. The first thing I wanted
to do is to improve (provide!) the basic facilities of my society. But my
posting was done in a far away city and that came as the first disappointment
to me. I had to bribe a huge amount of 1000k to re-shift my posting to my area.
Our family was in huge debts then and I had to take the big risk. I know
nothing is more to me than the colony I was brought up in, but not more than my
parents’ comfort. They have suffered enough. As soon as my fix up my family
problems I would be starting with the development of the colony.
35 year old me:
I became a successful person, responsible son and caring
father. Got everything I wanted in my life. Of course drifted off my path a
little by taking the bribes and approving the projects. It all started because
of my cornered situation where I had to pay off all the debts and I wanted to
do that soon. Started taking some low profile harmless bribes. And it continued
as my desire to see my parents in a more and more comfortable position
increased, until we had a duplex in one of the costliest areas of the state.
And then came the responsibilities of being a husband and a father. Needed to
secure their lives first and that became my primary goal. This continued as
life gave me different challenges in different ages. Then one day, I did read a
news on my ex-colony which I swore to develop. A kid died due to infected
water, taking the tally of deaths to 13 that month. 13 deaths! That means a
huge distress to 13 families! What was I doing! I ruined everything just by not
holding on to my responsibility. I hardly slept that night and that’s the last
thing I remember.
Vivek Reddy
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