Always look up in life

Nine and a half year old Pawan’s parents had recently died in an accident. He was sent to his grandparents’ place in the countryside. He was resentful of everything at first and cloistered himself in his room. Although his grandparents wanted him to be with them but Pawan preferred to be alone. He wanted to come out of his parents’ death tragedy in his own way. And he missed his old friends deeply. So he did not want to talk to anybody. He least wanted to include anyone in his feelings.

“Pawan”, his grandma Mrs. Toshi called him, “come here son. Dinner is ready. We are waiting for you.”

Pawan did not reply. He quietly kept watching out of the window. His bed was near the window. He could lie down and enjoy the twinkling stars at night.

‘My parents are somewhere there in the galaxy of the stars’, he thought. His mother, late Mrs. Jalani used to say he remembered, that the people whom we love dearly, when die they twinkle like stars in the sky. He could not know when he went into the soothing arms of sleep while remembering his dear dead parents.

Really the loss of one’s parents can never be compensated. No one in the whole universe can take the place of our parents. Poor little kid, he has to live without them.

“Thud”. Pawan heard the noise outside the window. He got up fast and heard the children talking and laughing in the front field. Their ball had hit the window sill. And now the ball was missing. Pawan looked out of the window and found the morning pleasant. The children were running and shouting. They had to complete the remaining overs and the ball got lost.

“Hurray! We got our ball,’’they exclaimed with joy. After sometime their coach too joined them. Mr. Right, the coach seemed very affectionate towards them. He was very patiently guiding them the intricacies of the game – how to hold the bat, how to swing and spin the ball ; which area is best suited for the fielding. Mr. Right was directing them and Pawan was just noticing them.

After a gap of fifteen days, Mrs. and Mr. Toshi got Pawan admitted in a school. Although he did not want to go to school after his parents’ demise, but even then he took admission. He always remembered his parents and their teachings. Mrs. Toshi often said, “You should never repent about your past. Think about the future. Whatever God does to us, there is some good hidden in it.”

Pawan started attending classes. In the beginning he did not enjoy it but gradually he tried to adjust with the school atmosphere. By nature Pawan was a quiet and reserved child. The loss of his parents has made him more serious. Even in school, he did not talk to anyone . He had made no friends. Just school, assignment and his room ---this was his life.

One day in school, there was a cricket match. The school team lacked one bowler. The teacher made an announcement in the assembly, “We desparately needed a bowler for today’s match.”

Pawan heard it. But he did not react to it. After the school, the match was to begin. Pawan had not practised the match for the last many months. He just minutely watched the children who played near his house.

The school match started at due time. That was a practice match amongst children. The final match was to be played three days later. Pawan went to the field and sat in the spectators’ row. Once the match started, he could not resist himself from the active involvement. But he did not get enrolled in the team. Suddenly he was hit by the ball at his feet. He picked it up and threw it back to the fielder.

“What an action in bowling!”, somebody commented. He was Mr. Nair, the school team coach. He called Pawan and asked if he wanted to join. Very reluctantly, he said yes to the proposal. And this was the right step he made.

From that day onwards, Pawan daily waited for the children to come to the field, in front of his home. And he joined them for practice. Mr.Right too noticed his real potential and encouraged him. Now Mrs. and Mr. Toshi were very happy that their grandson had come out of the tragedy.

One night , Pawan went off to sleep and as usual he was remembering his parents. Suddenly he felt somebody saying something, “Child, always look up in life.”

“Father…Mother”, Pawan just could not believe upon his eyes and ears. Tears came rolling out of his eyes. He felt as if his parents were talking to him.

“We have not left you son. We are just near you—in your memories, in your heart, in all the good work you do we are with you. Don’t ever cry in life. There is always a better tomorrow waiting for you. Come on, get it. Put your best in everything you do.”

And Pawan felt as if he got everything – new life, new energy .He decided not to be morose anymore. Happily he went for match practice. He did everything with a new gusto. His coach, his teachers all saw a bright future ahead of him.

He got selected as a bowler for his school team He played for that school and for the city club. He brought many laurels for his team. He became everyone’s pride. People loved him not for his game only but for his affectionate nature too. Never he lacked his family although he often missed it. His school had become his extended family, he was there for them whenever they needed him.

Years passed by. Mrs and Mr. Toshi too were overjoyed with Pawan’ success. Pawan has been selected for the county match team. That fine morning, Pawan was going to leave for a county match. After that match his name was to be finalised for the national team. Mrs. Toshi had tears in her eyes when she kissed Pawan on his forehead. Her grandson was going away from her for two days. She loved him so much that could not imagine her life without him.

“Pawan, my son”, she sobbed, “how I am going to live without you?”

“Grandma, you all have been my pillars of strength. You don’t have to be weak.”
Pawan said and left the house after kissing her.

After Pawan had gone, Mrs. Toshi went in his room. She called Mr.Toshi. What they saw in the room’s wall, their hearts felt proud. A family photo was hung just opposite the bed. Below that ,there was a poster saying,
“ALWAYS LOOK UP IN LIFE!”