I walked in College with lots of nervousness. After spending 10 years of life with same batch mates whom you know since you were 5-year-old.Today I was entering a class full of strangers. But that nervousness was same for them too.I had different kind of nervousness.I had never seen such huge campus in my life.My school was two 10 classrooms located in slums mainly catering to kids of humble background.Where only English Teacher spoke in English. How will I cope with students from convents schools? Will they make fun of me? All these thoughts made be very dizzy. Although day went without any major embarrassment. My nervousness along with shy nature didn’t earn me many friends.
On the third day, I was early as usual being over punctual since my school days.That was the day, I noticed a Girl eyeing something through the window at one corner of the class.Who was she I didn’t know. She was unusually early and We were only two of us in the class.She at that moment had swept me off my feet and captured my heart. But it had only one problem, newly crowned princess of my heart did it without even glancing towards me.I am sure She will realise it someday.
That’s was the day I knew I was in love.I found out that her name is Ankita.Ankita was, of course, most beautiful girl I had seen. In my school, i never noticed any but in homogeneous school uniform you don’t have much choice.Ankita on other hand had impeachable dress sense.She repeated her dresses once in 60 days.On another hand, I had only three trousers, two shirts and one t-shirt. I wore them in alternate combination.That was one of many reasons I had a complex with everyone .I mostly kept to myself thinking I was irrelevant.
Ankita asked me for my notes, mostly because I had just scored handsomely in my mathematics exam, that was the first time we spoke. It was one of happiest moment in my life .. We spoke many times thereafter.But conversations were non-starters. I didn’t know what to talk about. Yes, No ,Hello and bye was 90% of the conversation.I was a shy kid and low on confidence. Always felt out of place among rich kids.I felt inferior hence kept quite not to make a fool of myself.
Days passed and I was getting frustrated. I knew I was going nowhere. Then on a College Rose day edged out of frustration, gave her Red Rose in front of the whole college crowd. Which she declined out of embarrassment. Now I had made Fool of myself in front of whole College. My Inferiority complex only grew . Whenever I walked through corridors of college , I felt everyone was laughing at me ..I was teased as Salman Khan, her favourite Bollywood star. I was such a jackass . I wanted world to end. My frustration grew day by day.
Once I was sitting all alone in college canteen . My classmate who was aware of my predicament came to me . He asked me why you have gone into a shell . I told him of my frustrations and inferiority complex.He asked me does keeping it to yourself and being quite will solve any problem .People will like you only if they know you . He told me whether anytime people refuse to speak to you or you never spoke to them. All your doubt are self-created. He asked me whether I had such issues in school . I said No . He asked me why .I told him I was the topper in school. Hence all teacher knew me .so did all students .So he asked why did you feel inferior here. I said because I am from a small school .He told me to concentrate on my strength of being good in studies .Not to feel inferior because of my humble background. Show the world your best quality .I thought about it .
I realized I was self-declaring me inferior. I all of class there was nothing that showed I was inferior. I also realized my studies took a backseat. to Win the race you need to run the race. I never gave myself chance..I tried to shake of myself and concentrated in my studies .I was first to raise hands when the question was asked in class. I used to prepare myself before hand . I realized this was what I was doing in school .This was my passion which gave me confidence . Slowly I realized I am talking to many people . They shared their doubt with me . Asked me questions or asked for help . It also helped me getting more grip on studies .Suddenly I had many friends. I was part of discussions and gossips.
Then when result were announced I was 5th on Merit List .I never ever thought when I would be on Merit List . I was my school topper but when I walked in College I presumed every other person is more intelligent than me, If it was not for a friend I would be living in denial .
Then One day when was standing eyeing through a window , I heard a familiar voice .I could recognize that voice even if I was hearing after a long time. The Voice, I never thought I would hear in my life. Especially after Rose day debacle . Ankita said Congratulations and stood beside me. I glanced in her direction I didn’t knew how to react . I said thank you.That was one moment changed lots of things .
Ankita and me went on to become great friends .Even today she tells her daughter about the guy who proposed her on a rose day .Her daughter teases me a lot.But still I love that moment between father and daughter.
I am thankful to my friend who guided me to my passion .I was on the verge of quitting that day . I would have changed college to avoid the embarrassment of facing the same crowd year after year. But on the contrary I bid goodbye to college as a meritorious student. Someone who was popular not only among his batch but also in among juniors and seniors .That was one of most important #SachchiAdvice in my Life.
