Meeting The Dreams

I always feel amazed when I look at my past. I compare my life today with my life then. And what I can see around is an air of optimism. An optimism that helps me dream my future. My present also is nothing but the future I dreamt of in my past.Today, thankfully, my dreams- that seemed bit futile then, have met the goal of reality. And that's why, my dreams for future no more seem futile.
Ten years back, in some big school present in a small town, a small boy could be seen crying in front of his senior- pleading him to allow him in the elocution competition. He was rejected. He waited for the 'next time'. And next year when the time came again, his pleadings began. This time he was told he would be informed. And just the next day, the boy found the list of selected students on the notice board. The boy was not even allowed the audition. He was unfit in the eyes of the captains for he had never participated in elocution earlier- and they felt his performance would lead their house to defeat.
The boy was broke. He waited for a ray of light. He ultimately found it a few years later, when he reached class 9- when a teacher praised him for his English. For the first time, the boy felt he got something he needed very much. His hidden shelf was getting transparent. His dark within found a tiny lamp of optimism.
That year, as usual, he was not allowed audition for elocution. But something awaited him- that he didn't know right then. On the day of the competition, once the main programme was over, the Principal invited students from the audience if they wanted to say something on any one of the given topics. The boy came to know it was meant for him. He rushed to the stage.
The audience chuckled and some even laughed when the boy came in front of the microphone. They must have wondered he would only make a fool of himself as he was not one of those regular orators. But by the time the boy ended his speech there was an applause from the same audience. He was recognised.
And then there was no turning back. By the time the boy left school, things changed to such an extent that when speech or writing-based item took place, his name was present there by default. The boy never denied any chance. He, however, never took part in extempore.
Time flowed. The boy completed his HS and joined college- in an entirely new place. Every face was new to him. But he knew he had to be a known face to those unknowns. And one day, he got the chance to kick-start his mission- when the teacher asked the students to present a seminar speech on a simple topic from the syllabus. The boy had no idea about seminar. But he still raised his hand. He was called. He faced his classmates and just said whatever he knew and personally felt about the topic. He was now a known face among his classmates. But his reach had to be widened.
He fell in the eyes of the college seniors and union members when he presented a speech in the teachers' day. A few days later, somebody from the college union phoned him and asked him to come to the college the next day, as a bunch of competitions was scheduled by the union that day.
Next day when the boy went to college, he was shown the list of competitions. He took part in essay writing.
When the programme began, one of the organisers asked him to take part in extempore as well. The boy denied straight away as he had never taken part in it, and secondly, he feared he could be given any topic based on that particular city, which he was yet to know properly. But the organisers said topics would be as simple as train or minibus or house. In order to keep their request, the boy said 'okay'.
And finally, the extempore competition began. The boy's turn came. He was asked topic a folded chit from the plate. He picked one. Unfolded it. He expected 'train' or'minibus' or 'house' to be written there. And the topic read-
"She is mine, but I am not hers."

The boy looked at the waiting audience and the bench of judges. He then went in front of the microphone. Taking a deep breath, he began. He told about a boy who loved a girl a lot, yet could not get her acceptance as she ran after a richer guy. He spoke with emotions as far as possible. And towards the end, he found an applauding audience and judges. When the results were announced, he was declared first in the competition.
And then, the ball came in his court. He was known for his speech and also his writing. In his final year he became the publishing secretary of the college.
Today, as the boy- that's me- is writing this blog-post, he still is looking back at the time that he feels has blown like a gust of wind.

My dream is getting fulfilled. Slowly but steadily, I know I can make it. For in order to pave the way to my goal, there is the presence of optimism- in abundance.