The Road Not Taken by U. Thanesh
“Excuse me. May I help you?” politely questioned a young
and beautiful girl. I was taken aback by
her personal charm and her polished language.
“Yes Madam” I struggled and finally recollected myself to answer,” I
have come here to meet my friend Mr. Raju, the team leader of this branch”. “Oh! Are you his friend? Then you are our guest. Come, let me take
you to the lounge” said the smart lady sporting a faded jeans and blue T-shirt
and guided me to an air conditioned room.
Entering
into quite a big room I stood amazed. “Please get seated sir. Make yourself comfortable with the magazines”
said the lady and ordered the waiter found inside the room to get me a cold
drink and then came close quarters. “Sir,
I am Chitra, the receptionist of this firm.
May I know your good name please?” questioned the lady in her harmonious
voice. “I am Suresh and nice meeting you madam” said I
and shook hands with her. “Sir, please
wait here. I will inform about your
presence to Raju who at present is attending a board meeting. It may extend for another half an hour so till
then you can just relax over here” comforted Chitra and handed a bottle of cold
drink to me. “Oh! Thanks” said I. “You are most welcome” echoed the assertive
response and after giving a smile she withdrew from the room. Watching her leave the room I started sipping
the drink.
“What a beautiful atmosphere! How nice that Raju has got into such a good
looking concern!” wondered I observing the things around the room. It was the first time that I was in such a
nice and cosy atmosphere. The pictures,
wall paper, floral arrangements, carpet and furniture of the room really
fascinated me. “How pleasant the room looks!” admired my aesthetic mind and I
totally forgot the passage of time.
Exactly at eleven my friend got into the lounge accompanied by the melodious
tune of the wall clock.
“What
a surprise! So, finally you have found
the way to our office. Then, how are
things at home?” questioned my friend.
Before I could think of answering his questions, he got himself seated
next to me and appeared as if he had something very important to convey. “Suresh” started Raju and continued in a firm
tone,” you are really wasting your talent there. See… I am just a graduate. In studies I was always below average in
college whereas you were the smartest of our batch” said my friend reminding me
of my salad days when every one regarded me in the similar disposition. Both in studies and in games I was always at the
top of the list. “Gone are those days” thought I and before I could respond, my
friend started to clear his throat as if he was preparing to give a big
lecture.
“Thank
God… I am finally settled. Nobody would
have thought that I would rise to this position. If I can reach this high level of social prominence,
you can easily outclass me? Why do you
still stick to the job which doesn’t pay you well? Why should you struggle so much without
getting the remuneration for it. See….
whenever we work here, we are task oriented and depending on the results we
produce we are given incentives which make us go all-out every time. I don’t
think you have this culture in your line of work. Suresh…..you can never think of enjoying life
in this ostentatious manner if you keep on fastened to your obsolete ideology. Why don’t you think about a change for your
benefit?” questioned my friend and looked at me for a confirmatory nod.
“No…. Raju we have chosen different
professions. You may be right when you
say that I am not successful but I am in high spirits with my life” said I to my
friend who was at the edge of his seat with wide eyes. “Come on Suresh. You are no longer a
bachelor. You have a kid too. Do you think you can provide a good living to
your family with your present pay? You will reach a five figure salary only in
2015. Why don’t you try to be practical?
See… how we are enjoying our life.
I have got all the comforts.
Apart from the fat payment we receive, we also have career growth. Our career would definitely suit your
personality. Just think about it. You
have an excellent opportunity which beacons you. If you desire to join us, you will be
certainly given a place. Please don’t
waste this opening. If not for you I
think you must accept this career for your family. Please give a second thought to it. Hope you would give me an encouraging reply
soon. I wanted you to have a look at our
work atmosphere. I think you would have
been impressed by our way of life. Now I
have nothing more to convey. Everything
is in your decision,” said my friend giving up his hopes of convincing me to
become his business associate.
After few minutes of silence, I stood up
signalling that it was time for me to leave.
He too got up and both of us emerged out of the lounge. Before bidding good-bye to me, Raju got me
introduced to few of his co-workers very proudly and then I walked along the
long line of cars parked and found my way out of the office compound.
“Should
I think of changing my profession as my friend desires? No. It can’t be. What is wrong with my vocation? I accept that it is not paying me well and it
is not that challenging as I expected but it gives me peace of mind which no career
in the world can give. Apart from that,
I get respect for practising the noble work. Definitely my profession can’t be
that bad. Otherwise Raju would not have
proudly talked about my designation to his colleagues. Things are bound to change. Hope government brings some regulations in
our profession and fixes a permanent scale of pay even in private institutions. If such things happen then our profession
would also become lucrative. At present thousands like me have nothing to do
but helplessly wait for the time to ripe.
Hope that dream becomes a reality at least next year.” With such
positive frame of mind Suresh got over his cycle and was on his roads towards
his self-financing college.
Pedalling
through the busy road, as Suresh reached the portals of the college, the theme of
the poem on which he had to give a lecture to his students The Road Not Taken appeared in his mind. Oh! What a beautiful poem that is! Thank God I have got a chance to handle such
a thought provoking poem to the young minds. Let God give me no more distractions
and bless me to serve my favoured profession” wished Suresh and after parking
his cycle near his college chairman’s imported luxury car walked briskly
towards his classroom