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