Punyasloke Bose

Children Stories Drama Others

4.0  

Punyasloke Bose

Children Stories Drama Others

Obsession

Obsession

4 mins
252


Giri made his way slowly towards the exam centre. He was going to sit for the engineering entrance examination. This was his third attempt. He had to clear it this time otherwise his dream of a career in engineering would be in the doldrums. Giri's parents constantly egged him on. They also knew that if Giri cracked the test, he would not have to look back.

Giri's father was a private company employee and his income was meagre, just enough to manage the family expenses. So if Giri could manage a good job, it would be a great relief for his dad. As engineers command respect in the market and they all get good salaries.


But, Giri's past performance did not give much hope to his father. Only his mother animatedly supported Giri. Class twelve results were also not something to boast about. But Giri was good in Maths and that was the only ray of hope as Maths was a prime subject for engineering.

Giri's tuition teacher had suggested to look at other avenues after the second unsuccessful attempt. But Giri and his parents were obsessed with engineering. For them it was the be all and end all.


After the entrance exams were over, Giri was overcome with relief. As if a mountain of load had come off his shoulders.

Recently, to quell his doubts regarding his success in a course in engineering, Giri had enrolled for a college course in UG level science. This was also nearing completion.

Studying engineering had clearly become an obsession for Giri. This one track thought had made him myopic. He could not see the benefits of any other career. His friends who had switched to other courses after high school were progressing and doing well. Some of them even suggested to Giri to give the other alternatives a chance. But Giri had remained stuck steadfastly.

His graduation was completed before his engineering results could be declared. The engineering results were delayed due to some internal blotch.


Ultimately the results came out and this time Giri was successful. Although his rank in the merit list was at the bottom. His dream fulfilled, Giri was very happy even though knowing well that he would not get a good engineering course and not a reputed college. But he felt satisfied that he had been able to fulfill his life's obsession. His parents too were very happy.


Giri enrolled for an unglamorous engineering course at a not so ' must go to' college. Initially, Giri was totally at sea. The course material seemed so alien and so very difficult. Giri was having doubts about taking a decision that may prove to be too daunting. Very soon the first semester exams were all over and Giri fared very badly. He got 'supplementary' for most of the papers, that means he had to sit for them again along with the second semester papers.


Giri was lamenting having obstinately stuck to his decision and not being flexible enough. He was hearing news of his friends who were much mediocre to him getting good paying jobs now.

In between, Giri had applied for a job in a bank as a teller. He got the information from an advertisement in the paper. The bank called him for interview which he cleared and got selected.

Now, Giri was in a dilemma of what he should do. Should he continue with the engineering course or opt for the job. His father pressed him to join the Bank. Because in his opinion by the time Giri would complete his engineering, he would earn quite some money in the bank. Also, if luck favored, Giri could get a couple of promotions.

Ultimately with a heavy heart, Giri joined the bank as a teller.


Time has gone by. Two decades have passed. Giri has had his measure of success in the bank. He did good work and had good managerial skills. The bank rewarded him with a number of promotions. He had become a branch manager and even after that on the basis of good work he was now a Zonal Manager. On the family life also he had done well. He had married and was the proud father of two school going kids. Being now very busy, he did not have time to look back and reminisce about his failed engineering adventure.


But sometimes, when he got bored from his bank work then he used to think about the engineer he wanted to be. He then realized that the obsession was still there. Giri may not get over it in this life.


All of sudden Giri was woken up from his reverie by the ring of his telephone. His boss was on the line. He had called up to congratulate Giri for his next promotion.

Giri was happy, but the obsession may be still there.


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