Bandhan-2009

As I walked back to my room from the AC2 Lawns, I closed my eyes. “Let me imagine a world without vision”, I spoke out loud. Ten steps into the 200 meter walk I fell. The shrubs gently pierced my skin, and a small drop of blood oozed out. But I was determined, I didn’t let go. It was an important lesson I wanted myself to learn. And so I got up. Pictures started to flash in front of me: Potatoes, brush and onions. I choked-I could clearly see the children and their eyes. And suddenly I was in my Corporate Finance class, studying Miller and Modigliani Irrelevance Proposition. For the first time I could relate to the theory. In a perfect world, the distribution of wealth would not matter. We would all be happy in our own world. We would be clapping our hands, whenever we felt happy, we would share our joys. We would shed tears. But this is not a perfect world the MM Irrelevance did not apply here.
Suddenly I hit the wall, I opened my eyes for the first time in 10 minutes, I was nowhere close to where I expected. My head felt several notches heavier. I felt the need to go back. I had to see the children again. I wanted to tell them, how they make me realize what a petty man I’ve been. They make me want to scream; to every friend of mine who I’ve seen getting depressed on not getting an A, or not getting an ELP. But I couldn’t muster the courage; I couldn’t look eye to eye. How I admired each and every volunteer, who could ‘share a smile’; for I couldn’t. May be all I can do is Accounting, and feel happy every time I do it well.
I closed my eyes again. I knew where my steps will take me. I tripped on something. It was a potato. A few kids clapped. I felt lighter. I opened my eyes; I was in the lawns again. I was ready to play. I was ready to 'share a smile'!