Lost And Found

Prologue

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“Look, son, if you have to live here, you will have to listen to what I say. All this passion for music, performance is all ok as long as your studies are going on nicely. Just think of how will you live. Music is yet not matured in our country. See the number of people struggling to make a mark. Do you think you can survive this? The problem with your generation is that everything is taken for granted. As long as you are in your dad’s hotel, you can afford to do whatever you want. Once you step outside, you will realize how tough this world is. So, make your base in science and maths strong. I want you to take up science in your +2 level, followed by engineering and later on an MBA. You are set for life. You better take your studies seriously. You can only excel at something if you put your heart and soul in it. Off you go now.” Completing his words, Dr. Arora left the room leaving Mohit with little choices.‘

“But Ma, Mrs. D’Souza said I can do very well in theatre and music, that I have the gift of gab in this field. I really don’t understand what is the problem with dad. I mean I am doing my studies properly na, so where is the problem. This is an all India cultural meet for the schools. I will represent my school. Can you imagine ma?” argued the fifteen-year-old Mohit with his mom. “Look beta, this is the year of your boards. This is an important year in your academic life. If you don’t do well, how will you get science in your + 2 levels?”, explained Mrs. Arora patiently to her child. “But, this is not fair. Dad is thrusting his unfulfilled dreams on to me.”, retorted Mohit. “I don’t want any more arguments on this Mohit. We love you and want your best.”, signed off Mrs. Arora.

‘You can only excel at something if you put your heart and soul in it’ is what resonated in his eardrums. Seething with anger, he threw away the script of the Shakespeare based drama he was set to play the next week in the All India Annual Cultural Meet representing his school. Little did Mohit realize, those words which made him very angry today as a boy of fifteen years, will go on to change his life as he goes through the course of the real stage drama, called L-I-F-E. 

Chapter 1 – The Awakening

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“Run beta, run”. He could hear the known voices saying it out loud to him. Humph humph …humph. He could hear his own breath buzzing in his ears. His feet were getting cramped, yet he kept running. He wanted to turn back and take a look at the thing he feared so much, how far was it away from him. But did not dared to disobey the instructions to run. Dusk was setting in and the winds grew stronger. One could see the thunder and lightning at the horizon. Yet he kept running. He ran with all that he could, as fast as he could and he ran for the fear of the unknown. But wait, what is this he sees in front - there is no more land left to run. The winds grew stronger and stronger and it echoed against the mountains. The heart pounded as heavily as it could. Streams of sweat started trickling across his spine, a few droplets appeared on his forehead as well. The thing was closing in on him and fast. He wanted to run again, but there was no more left to run and before he realized, he saw a huge black shadow dawning on him. “Arrrghhhh”, he started to shout.

Startled by his own voice, Mohit woke up. The sweat across his spine and forehead was evidence of his fear. ‘Was it for real?’ – Mohit thought to himself. He could feel his throat went dry. Pressing the power button of his mobile, it was 04:00 hrs in the morning – another 3 hours before he trudged himself out of his bed and gets prepared for Monday and the week ahead. Getting up to have a look outside his window, he could see it was still dark. The horizon sky was bedazzled by the distant lightning. Seemed the sky mirroring his thoughts, Mohit sighed.

It was the last chance to save his respect. For the last three months, Mohit was unable to crack a single new deal for his company. Sales target were becoming difficult to attain with every passing quarter. The bullish green graph had eluded his life for quite some time. He wasn’t enjoying it anymore. Not that he was doing badly either. But there was something missing in the monotonous humdrum of life. It was the last week of the quarter. He had to make the final conversion of the week to meet his monthly target. All the certificates and trophies decked in the showcase by his bed were laughing out loud to him. No, they were screaming out to him, making fun of the past which made him believe life will be a smooth sail.

Gathering enough strength to look away from the trophies, he lit up a cigarette. Ahh.. those five minutes of respite from the reality. Looking at himself in the mirror, he saw he had grown a few strands of whitish hair on his head. The dust-laden guitar laid far away in the corner – neglected. “Mohit, you alright?” enquired his flatmate. “Oh yes, am absolutely fine. Was not getting sleep..” and his words drowned in his thoughts. “Chal yaar, so jaa. Kal tera presentation hai” was all that Mohit could offer to his flatmate.

The mobile buzzed. 05:00 hrs. A Whatsapp message from Preeti – ‘Don’t forget to talk to mom dad this week about our marriage – Love you to the moon and back <3”. Disposing of the cigarette butt, he replied - ‘Will do, don’t worry <3”. Double tick, yet to turn blue. Closing the instant messaging app, Mohit turned on the Gallery app on his mobile. He whizzed past the moments he spent with his friends. NEXT. Akhil, Nilesh, Mona, Preeti – besties with whom he was always very happy. NEXT. At the B-school annual fest in IIM – A. The moment seemed to come back alive. NEXT. Music is all that he cared for. He always wanted to perform. Perform live at those concerts where people swoon at you. Pretty girls going gaga over you. Not that he lived for the adulation, but he found happiness in swinging his head wildly in the air and perform to his heart's content. 06:00 hrs, unable to keep himself awake anymore, he dozed off to the mystic ‘la la land’. 

(To be continued....)