Sunday, August 21, 2011

SHATTERED DREAMS

Yesterday I met Prateek after almost 5 years. We used to stay in the same locality. His father was in high profile government job. He did not go beyond hello hello terms with anyone in the locality which I learnt later from someone that he felt others may seek favours due to his position. His mother was educated but did not mix much due to some complex of being from a small town. He and his year or so younger sister, Namrata, were in one of the top schools. They were friendly and paid due respect to everyone. He was a tall handsome boy and Namrata too was very good looking tall girl. They both excelled in studies as well as in other extra curricular activities. He was keen to be a fighter pilot in Air Force while she was keen on becoming a doctor and join Air Force. They used to be quite frank in talking to me. They were in 11th and 10th respectively when we shifted from there about five years ago. He was preparing for NDA.

I was surprised to run into him in our market. He is the one who recognized me and touched my feet. That is when I recollected him. When he straightened I saw a huge scar on his forehead. While we were walking I noticed he was limping. When I looked at him questioningly asking what was he doing here as I thought by now he would have been in Air Force. He told me that it was not so and it is a sad story. I told him to share it if he felt like it. This is what he told me.

After 12th examinations were over, he joined classes to prepare for SSB interview as he had cleared written examination for NDA. There he came across a couple of boys of the same age who belonged to affluent families. They became close friends and spent a lot of time together. After a couple of weeks of their newly found closeness, he was invited for a party at house of one of them and told that as it will go on late, he should tell his parents that he would be staying over there for the night. On reaching there he found that there were no elders in the house. There was mixed group of about 20 odd youngsters with girls being almost as many as boys. Loud dance music was on with subdued lights and liquor was being consumed. He was compelled to have beer inspite of his saying that he had never had any alcoholic drink earlier. After some time he felt getting light headed and in mood for whatever be there. He mingled with girls and danced. He found himself getting excited as he saw a lot of couples getting cozy. The girl who was with him most of the time encouraged him to kiss and it lead to more cumulating in their making out in the bedroom. Next morning his friends pulled his leg at being such a fast lover. He told that this introduced him to new joys and his friends introduced him to a couple of more girls with whom he got physically close.

A month or so later when he and one of those friends got through SSB interview as well as medical, that friend threw a party to celebrate it. He was told that there will be a number of siblings so he should bring Namrata along. He was reluctant but thought that since he was going to be there and would try to avoid drinking, it would be safe for her. So they joined the party which was supposed to end by midnight. Parents of his friend after meeting the youngsters left for their own outing. So it was again only young lot which was there. However the number this time was just 6 boys and 5 girls including them. He was forced to have beer but he restricted it. One of the girls with whom he had been close stuck to him throughout. Even in that dim lit atmosphere and couples whirling around he tried to keep an eye for Namrata who seemed to be enjoying company of other girls as well as attention of some boys. She was having soft drink. He saw that the girl with whom he made out for first time was with her most of the time. After an hour or so he found her to be little more jovial than normal and frequently laughing loudly. He became cautious of this and tried to be as close to her as possible but the girl with him kept pulling him away while dancing. Little later he saw Namrata being lead by the girl who kept company with her towards upstairs where the bedrooms were. They were followed by two boys, one being his friend who did not succeed in SSB. Namrata was stumbling and giggling all the time. He rushed to her but found himself blocked by some boys. They told him not to be a spoilsport and let those boys have good time. He told them that she was his sister. They laughed and told him that the girls you made out with were also someone’s sisters. They pushed him back and that is when fight started. He yelled out loudly for Namrata and on seeing what was happening she rushed to him. He told her to get out of that place and contact home or police. The boys started hitting him all over. He fought back but was hit by whatever came handy to those boys. He was hit hard on forehead with something hard and before he lost consciousness he saw police persons entering the house. He suffered head injury apart from fractures of couple of ribs and leg. A steel rod had to be put into his leg to strengthen shattered bone which made the leg shorter leading to limp. That is why he could not join NDA shattering his dream of being fighter pilot in Air Force.

He completed graduation and MBA. He was with a MNC in sales side. Namrata was however safe and was undergoing MBBS. He ended his talk by saying that how sad it was that he never thought that those girls with whom he made out were also someone’s sisters.

31 comments:

Unknown said...

how ironic indeed...and it's a lesson everyone learns on a daily basis...I mean to have similar parameters of judgement!

Chandana said...

Life sure is un-predictable... Really scary incident. At least nothing worse happened to both of them..

Irfanuddin said...

"SIRF EK GHALTI INSAAN KO KYA SE KYA BANA DETI HAI".....Sad indeed....and a lesson for youngsters.

Furree Katt said...

i think Prateek's story should serve as a lesson to everyone. i feel really bad for him, though. i'm glad he was able to save his sister in time.

Rià said...

This is so sad.

hamaarethoughts.com said...

very Sad...whole career came down..
its ironic..Kids in their young age want to have fun ..sometime even at peer pressure ..not knowing the results..its a perfect story ..to be read and morals to be taken!
Sad!

viddhi said...

sad and true ! a lesson we youngsters need to learn.
thanks for sharing .:)

Neeha said...

That's so sad.
Men are some times so dumb seriously.

Arooj said...

a real story with a factual moral.

Chakoli said...

hmmm.... so true!!

Tongue-fu Lady said...

life is a very strict disciplinarian, with an element of surprise!

Jyoti Mishra said...

u've just narrated in instance which is commonplace. Youngsters spoiling their dreams and aspirations just because of bad company.
A poignant read !!

Jigyasa said...

This is very sad & upsetting...but indeed a very suitable piece for commonplace......everyone shall read it....the anxiousness and curiosity shall be controlled & preserved as there is always a right time of each right thing.....thnx for sharing Uncle J.

Lady Whispers said...

This makes me sooo soo sad...sometimes just one mistake makes u dreams shattered :( Thats why one should always be sure of right/wrong even if in the teens

Live2cherish said...

The last line shook me up for sure and am like for real?

Sakshi said...

A lesson that all men need to learn. That when they leer or lech or rape a woman, they should realise that, they too have a mother, a sister sitting at home!
How I wish, that this realization hit him sooner than anything else!

Alka Gurha said...

Your real life stories teach valuable life lessons.

Jack said...

UPASNA :

You are so right. One should have same parameters. Take care


T G A F A :

They were lucky not to suffer something worse. Take care


IRFANUDDIN :

We do not realise that a small misstep can lead to such results. Take care


FURREE :

I too hope that lesson can be drawn from this. Take care

Jack said...

RIA :

It is truly very sad but however one can draw solace that Namrata was not harmed. Take care


HARMAN :

It is so sad that with little laxity from parents, youngster can give in to such peer pressure which can cause immense harm. Take care


VIDDHI :

I hope that right lesson is learnt by youngsters. Take care


NEEHA :

Sad and I agree with you. Take care

Jack said...

H M :

I sincerely hope that moral is seen in right spirit. Take care


CHAKOLI :

I share what has been seen or told reliably to me. Take care


T-fL :

Life teaches one correct path in own ways. Take care


JYOTI :

What you say is the unfortunate truth. Youngsters mar their career by falling into unwanted company. Take care

Jack said...

JIGYASA :

I really hope that correct lesson is drawn. Take care


S G :

It is need of the hour that proper guidance is available to youngsters. Take care


L2C :

Does that not show double standards we live in? Take care


SAKSHI :

How I really wish that stage comes! Take care


ALKA :

I do try to bring out what ails our society with hope that we may be able to change such unwanted happenings. Take care

vinny said...

Uncle,
realisation came at a tough price...hope ur stories highlight virtues and awaken conscience.

Celestial Dreamz said...

an enlightening incident ... teenagers should go through it ... thanks for sharing.

Suruchi said...

it is with an easy and indifferent eye that we view others and what we view ourselves with!

sad it the state of modern youth!

Jack said...

OLD FOX :

He learnt it the hard way. Hope youngsters do realise what a discretion may lead to. Take care


C D :

I too hope that lesson is seen by youngsters. Take care


SURUCHI :

Double standards play havoc.
Take care

Aparana Pitale said...

Your posts really have good teachings... i had Goosebumps... gr8 that you shared, its a lesson for everyone to learn.. :)

Gowthami Nandigala said...

So sad...ut sure it is something to learn..thnx for sharing

Amrita Tanmay said...

ओह ! ऐसी घटनाओं को कहानियों में पढ़ा करती हूँ. आजकल अखबार में भी मिल जाता है. क्या हो रहा है आजकल. किस पर भरोसा किया जाए,ऐसे दोस्तों पर ..?

Jack said...

APARANA :

I agree it is so scary. I hope that it is helpful. Take care


GOWTHAMI :

It is really sad but at least Namrata did not get harmed. Hope that it does convey right message. Take care


AMRITA :

KISI PAR BHI VISHWAS KARNE SE PAHLE ACHCHHI BHANTI PARAKH LENAA AWASHYAK HAI. Take care

Erratic Thoughts said...

It's terribly sad and scary at the same time.
If you don't think before acting, Life has its way of coming bak at you and it can be really cruel sometimes.
Indeed, a lesson for every youngster...

Jack said...

E T :

So true, one should always apply mind fully and then act as per conscience. Take care