Chase The Dream

One day, Ravi was dashing home regardless of the crowd in the evening market back from school. When he reached home he hurriedly went to the kitchen to find his mom. Mom was startled on seeing Ravi back from school so soon. He usually used to idle his way back home, patting street dogs, climbing up trees, and trying out sweets from his favorite bakery. Ravi started talking at top speed without taking a breath. Mom could not make head or tail of what he was saying, so she stopped him, calmed him down, and asked him to repeat. “Mom, there is a cooking contest in school tomorrow and I have enrolled myself. I want to prepare my special salad that all my friends and you like. I am sure I shall win”. That night his mom helped him to fill his bag with all the necessary items for the salad.

The next morning Ravi was up early, already with his uniform on and his bag up to his shoulder. Mom was surprised “You are ready so early? On the other days, I have to push you out of the bed and ..........”Ravi interrupted “Mom, I don’t have time to listen to your big long stories, I have to rush now, or else I will be late.”He sped down the street taking extra care of his bag. Ravi was not good at studies and was always the bottom of his class. Mom was happy as at least cooking interested him. That evening Ravi came home holding a huge trophy. Mom was very proud of him but his father was not happy with his interest in cooking. He thought that cooking is a job to be done by women whereas boys like him should study hard and take up some better jobs.

After his 12th grade, his father insisted Ravi study medical science and give shape to his dream. But, Ravi wanted to take up hotel management where he would pursue his dream of becoming a chef. But to his disappointment his father did not agree with him; father said sternly that, he should become a doctor and support his family financially instead of wasting his time in learning how to cook. Ravi was upset but determined, “But I want to take up hotel management and become a chef. Whatever you say, I am going to do what brings me pleasure. It is my life, you cannot control it.”With teary eyes, he went into his room and shut himself up. Now, seeing Ravi being so stubborn father was infuriated and said: “You can’t live in my house until you listen to what I say.” Ravi was shocked by all these incidents. He always felt that his father would support him at all times.

That night Ravi took a very crucial decision which would probably change his life forever. He packed his bag with all the things he could find and ran away leaving a letter for his mom. Ravi just had the money that he had taken from his father’s wardrobe. He decided to stay in a dormitory with other unknown people. He felt lonely but was determined not to give up. His money was soon exhausted and he had to take up a job in a nearby cafe. He started baking varieties of cakes and some of the recipes were his own creation. The cafe became famous because of the variety of cakes one could find there.

One day, Ravi’s roommate suggested he participate in a cooking contest. He agreed because he wanted more money to pursue his career. With his exceptional skills in cooking, he won the contest. He was offered jobs from various star restaurants and he took up working for one of the best restaurants. He soon became very famous and celebrities started talking about his food. He started his own chain of restaurants named after his mom. He followed his passion and achieved what he aspired for and led a happy married life.

One day, he returned home to his parents. His mother was in tears after seeing him and rushed to give him a hug. Ravi went beside his father and sat down. His father started sobbing uncontrollably, his mom went and consoled him. At last, father spoke in a very low voice, “I am so ashamed of myself to have not allowed you to study what you like and pursue your career. I disregarded your thoughts, your passion, and only wanted you to be what I wanted. I don’t think that I am even worthy of saying sorry to you after you have become so successful.”He started weeping again. Ravi said “You don’t need to say sorry, because if you had not resisted me that day I would not have become what I am today. I have come to take you both to my new house where we all will live happily together.”His parents were delighted. They soon shifted to their new house and lived a contented life.

But Ravi did not stop in becoming a chef himself, he conducted seminars, workshops to tell parents how important it is to allow their children to do what they love, to do what makes them happy.