Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.
The narrative depicts a man’s reflection on his retirement after three decades of work. On his last day, he reminisces about the routine he was leaving behind and experiences a mix of emotions. Despite a life spent avoiding risks due to his timid nature, he recalls a pivotal moment when he rejected a job offer out of hope for better opportunities. While this decision brought hardship, he ultimately feels no regret. The story highlights themes of reflection, life choices, and personal growth, culminating in a conversation with a tree he cherishes.
The day started as usual. He got up in the morning, had a cup of tea, and after a while, routinely rose to finish his morning chorus. After cleaning his teeth, he took a refreshing bath and waited for the time to go to work. Ostensibly, it was a routine, but somewhere in the back of his mind was the fact that it was his last day at work. It was the month-end, and he had to retire.
A car stopped at the door and gave a usual honk. It was the signal that the vehicle had come to pick him up for the office. Picking up his small fancy handbag, he went out of the house. The driver, who was waiting for him sitting in his seat, quickly got up and opened the door. “Good morning, Sir!” The driver said smilingly. It was his routine. “Good morning,” sitting on the back seat, he replied and reciprocated the smile. The engine growled, and the car rolled on the road.
After serving for about three decades, he was to retire from the job. The feeling of leaving a place that had become a part of his life lingered in his mind. It was the way of life, he thought.
It was the same place where he used to come daily, but today, it looked different to him. He tried to see the place with his eyes wide open. Everything was the same. People were moving here and there, typewriters were making the usual sounds, computers were normally running, printers were making unique, weird sounds, and papers were moving from table to table. That day, he saw them with a mix of amusement sitting in his chair. The chamber was the same he proudly had spoken about often, sometimes garrulous boasting about his position.
His life was smooth except for a few years when he faced many difficulties. It became an easy ride after he was settled in the job and was involved in it. He did not risk his life, partly because of his past background and mainly because of his timid psyche. After getting into the job, he almost walked on a tightrope, balancing himself and avoiding the ire of superiors. He was always terrified of losing his job. Till the time he was fluent at work, the terror was deep, but then it gradually faded. He used to do his work with fluency and on time.
Subordinates routinely came to him with papers. They would consult and seek his opinion on various matters. It was part of the job, but that day, it appeared not normal. Maybe it was his preconceived notion, he thought and rubbish his thoughts.
After office hours, his subordinates organised a close group tea party. He was facilitated and showered with praise and good words. He felt overwhelmed.
The next morning was normal. He accommodated himself with his new innings. The driver did not come to pick him up from the office. He felt a vacuum. It had to be overcome, he thought. After some time, he drove his car and went to a park.
This was his favourite place where he usually came and spent quality time in the company of plants and the natural world. He had developed a special affinity with a Ficus tree. It was a lone tree with a straight, stout trunk and a dense crown. The tree was the house of many birds and wasps, which relished its juicy fruit and dispersed its seed. The tree shook its crown on the slightest blow of air, rattling its leaves.
Whenever he happened to visit that park, the tree was his companion. He used to visit it, feel it and silently converse with it. He treated that tree with utmost affection and talked to it in a manner as if it had a voice.
“Hello! How are you?” he said to the tree in a voice that, it seemed, came from a deep trench. “I am a free man now”, he continued, saying further, “I’ll have enough time to talk to you.”
Barely had he finished his sentence, a heavy voice startled him. He alarmingly saw around but found none. “You look happy, but are you?” asked the voice. As he was looking inquisitively everywhere to see who was speaking, the voice guffawed and said, “I am here, right in front of you.” After a brief pause, the voice continued, “Look at me; I am your friend, Ficus Tree, talking to you.” He was amazed. The tree he used to monologue with was speaking!
“You didn’t answer me,” the tree said. “Are you really happy?” the tree repeated its question and waited for his reply. “Not really,” after a brief lull, he said and elaborating his point, he told his friend about various things he was uncomfortable with. The tree listened to him carefully. When he stopped, it said, “You often shared many things with me. Tell me now if you have taken risks in your life”.
He became pensive. His journey has been straight, but the path was bumpy and thorny. He did not deviate from his path. Did he not take a risk? He thought. Venturing deep into his past, he came across an incident.
“Yes, I misadventured once, but that was, I think, not a risk. It was more of an emotional obstinacy rather than a calculated one,” he said to the tree. The tree nodded softly and requested him to narrate that part of the story to it.
He started narrating the story of a time when, in lack of money, he had to skip meals often. He fondly remembered the girl who used to come and give him something to eat from her lunchbox. The days were difficult, and she was like a wisp of cool breeze. He was struggling to get a job.
After repeated failures, he got an interview letter from a company. He did well in that. Once he was sitting in his room when the postman handed him an envelope. It was the appointment letter for the post he had applied for and appeared in the interview. Though he needed a job, he chose not to take up that offer. It was not the thing he was vying for. He wrote a letter to the management and sought some time beyond the last date of joining on the pretext of his illness. The time was granted.
He was unwilling to leave the city then. He had appeared in some other more lucrative job offers and was sure to get any one of them, so he decided to relinquish the appointment offer. That was, though, an immature decision, but he stuck to that. He couldn’t assess the future and opted an uncertainty.
The age was slipping fast, and soon, he would be overaged for any job. Nevertheless, he didn’t give up and continued with his struggle, appearing in several examinations and interviews. Though he often couldn’t clear interviews. Repeated failures, rejections and shortage of time made him irritable. He slipped into loneliness. Except for the kind girl, he would avoid meeting people. As time passed, he became desperate.
Ultimately, the scorching heat mellowed down. A cool breeze soothed him when he received an appointment letter. He readily accepted that, as there was no chance. He will avail of a better offer even after joining it, he thought. He shared it with the girl, his close friend. She was happy for him.
He stopped speaking. After a brief silence, the tree asked him if he was regretful of his decision to leave the maiden job. He replied in negation. He confessed that though it appeared to be an immature decision that caused great hardship, it proved unworthy later. Now he has no grudges about that.
Finished saying it all, he again became quiet. There was total silence except for the psithurism of leaves and the humming of occasional bumblebees. A pair of hornbills was gliding in the sky. He raised his vision. The leaves of the Ficus he was talking to were quivering in the breeze.
A crow cawed nearby. Perched on a branch, it was making a sound. It’s call broke the chain of his thoughts. He looked around. The sun had started its downward journey. Sitting on a bench under the Ficus tree, he had been talking to himself. No one was around. He slowly got up and returned home.
-END-
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