The Childhood Dreams

When a boy grows up he has a lot of things to take care of; his studies, sports, friends, parents, and if he is a fat boy like Rehan he has to think about his increasing weight and the never-ending list of girls he awaits. Rehan was a very smart fellow; all knew this, his teachers, parents & friends. But all had to say one thing that he needs to work hard. This was out of Rehan’s reach and understanding. He could only work for goals, targets and he would always set up a realistic target (achievable easily). He always knew that to go to the next class he just needed grades, not high but passing grades. He could never see a reason to burn the mid night lamp to be in class which has both grade holders a 40% and a 90%, he always prepared himself for a 65%, his mother was very disappointed with this, she also had a dream to distribute sweets to the whole “mohalla” after her son scores a 90% in a school exam but Rehan always saved the money of his father, Rehan’s father was never a brilliant student but he was a great man, a man who stood by the thoughts he cared for, he even regrets sometimes some of his decisions but he always stands tall against every odd. He always said to Rehan, “I would not be glad if you scored high and never knew concepts and basics, neither I would be satisfied with you just passing, but I would take it proudly if you score less and know whatever you have read thoroughly”. Rehan’s father was very strict but as Rehan grew up he metamorphosed and became a friend to him. Rehan always looks upon for his father whenever he is in doubt, he is the greatest support system to Rehan, Rehan wants his life fundamentals to be as clear as his father’s had been. Rehan is very close to his mother, he confides every secret with his mother. Usually it happens that a child is either close to one of his parent but Rehan being social and pleasing to everyone was close to both of them. Rehan had a huge group of friends and was never interested in studying. So after standard 7th his mother gave up on him and Rehan argued to take tuitions as all of his friends did. The tuitions were more of a home assignments completing session than anything else, it was fun for Rehan, more friends more masti. Rehan had always thought that his only motto was to have fun; most of the time alone without spending money, because he never had money neither he felt the need. He was growing up (all round), he was now worried of everything that could increase his weight, but being Rehan it was a crime to set a control on anything so there was no scope for dieting it was always die till eating. Rehan passed the exams again he scored well this time a 68%. Now he was in 9th standard and the tutor got changed, it was his brother’s friend who used to teach a bunch of children along with her brother;sonu, (never understood why so many people were called by that name!!).
Rehan had a keen interest in music, he used to lock himself up in the store room and bang the cartons which stored groceries with the iron rods which were used for making ‘seekhs’. He used to go to a friend’s place just to see the cable tv shows which aired new music. He happened to ask for a drum set to his father and got a condition in place; “You score more than 80% marks and the drum set is yours”. Rehan’s father knew if he had to get Rehan going for something he had to provide him with a short-term goal. So the aim in 9thstandard was to win a drum set.
It was a new session; thanks to the diet control put on Rehan forcefully he had lost some weight but still weighted 69 kgs. Rehan joined the tuitions and this time his life was going to change. He met a girl in tuition she was called Nina, till now Rehan believed that girls are total time waste and they are an obstruction to the fun of your life but when he saw Nina his theories went for a toss as the testosterone started to act forcefully. His whole world was shook and he could just see Nina and say wow!! He had never seen such a beautiful girl personally and she was much mature for her age. She had the perfect body, beautiful eyes, skin tone to put a fairy to shame, hair dark-black completely contrast to her fair skin tone and a voice that could put Sunidhi Chauhan at shame. Rehan wanted to be with this girl, so next day he goes to his best of the friends and asks for advice. Boys being boys what could have they advised. They said “Darr mat, baat kar, setting jama, aur side mein lele”. Rehan actually knew that they would said so but Mr. Rehan wanted to give his friends a chance. Rehan had completely different fear within him; he wanted to impress her and be friends with her so he called up a lady friend of his and followed her advice. He started by giving a thought to friendship (only).The best thing about Nina was that she always found Rehan as good guy and never cared about how stupid he was. Everything was going pretty well, Nina and Rehan became the best of friends and they always used to share glances in tuition over their notebooks, Rehan had no idea what Nina thought of him, he knew that she cared. Rehan got ill one day and Nina managed to cancel that days class just because Rehan didn’t turn up,Nina also wanted to meet Rehan but her brother was a pain, he also studied under the same teacher, Rehan came to know all this after two weeks. Everything was going well between these two, Rehan was sure to get the Drum sets, this time he had prepared well for exams. It was only one month to exams when Rehan came to know that the papers are going to go to Ajmer for regional checking, he was tensed because he never had prepared for more than 70% marks this time he was eyeing an 80%. A month back Nina had told Rehan that she might shift to Hyderabad with her dad but she assured that she will come back after two years. One day Rehan gathered all his nerves and asked Nina for a coffee (he had only Rs 100 with him), amazed by Rehan’s confident approach she agreed but that coffee date never happened. During exam days, one evening after it had rained the whole morning, the climate was cool and pleasant, when teacher didn’t turn up from work and Nina could not go home because her driver had left, Rehan and Nina spent the best time ever, they just took a walk and Rehan being the resident of that area showed her around. Nina got cosy that evening and placed her arms around Rehan’s body, Rehan first time kissed a girl. Nina did not felt anything offensive but suggested Rehan to stay as a friend because she didn’t had any friends, Rehan obliged and they stayed as friends. Just after the exams next year Nina went to Hyderabad and never came back. Rehan lost a friend and now knew the importance of a true friend. He scored very badly that year a 70% and had to promise his dad that he will try for better grades next year. His dad was happy with his efforts and bought him a new bicycle.

He met a bunch of new friends the next session but Nina still holds a special place in Rehan’s heart. No matter if the grades were not great to get a drum set but Rehan now had Nina in his life. Later on Rehan got along with his new friends and started scoring average marks and went on to complete the H Sc in science stream. He wanted to be a doctor in the beginning but ended up being a Microbiologist. He pursued his music interest through his friend’s guitar and now can play a couple of songs. He also happened to take lessons to play guitar and his mentor was kind enough to let him sing for their band quite often. It was only Nina who knew that Rehan wanted to be a musician the rest just felt that he was interested in music. Nina had once said to Rehan before going that she will definitely come and visit him one day asking for his autograph after Rehan finished his performance on stage. Maybe that is the motivation behind Rehan performing at different occasions with a band in Mumbai in-spite of being very busy with his office and married life. Rehan very often finds himself typing Nina’s name in google & facebook just to get a hint where she is, after all it was his childhood dream...his first true friend...