Early next morning, Raj's phone rang. It was from Rini. He answered it instinctively, knowing that it was her. "Sir, this is Mehta. Rini's dad". "Yes sir, how are you", Raj replied. "I am good. Rini spoke to us about you. That she had called you up. Wanted to thank you for being there for her. She has been through a lot lately. Made a few teenage mistakes. Things did not go as expected for her. I guess life will teach her along the way". "Yes, Mr. Mehta. She's a bright student. I am sure she would be able to pick up the pieces and very soon be her usual self. She had also mentioned how supportive her parents have been", Raj responded. "Thanks sir, for speaking to her yesterday. She had plans to run away, probably end her life. Something had triggered her past memories to re-surface. Had you not listened to her patiently, all of us would have been regretting today," continued her dad. "Thank-you for saving our daughter".
Then it struck Raj. How important was that conversation yesterday. How significant were those few minutes speaking to a youngster on the verge of taking an inappropriate decision – may be giving up on life. They come with their own insecurities and pressures. Higher incomes, latest technology, fashion trends, independent rooms at home, etc. may have made life easier. However, this lifestyle had its own set of complications for the youth of today. We need to reach out to them, be available to them, tend to them to get through the turbulent youthful years in the years before they mature, and become confident citizens of tomorrow. Even adults make mistakes or take wrong decisions while going through various phases of life – finances, investments, jobs, relationships, marriage, child-rearing, to name a few. And we learn from it and emerge stronger. That's what we call gaining experience. So why shouldn't we be supportive of youngsters when they make mistakes or things do not go as expected for them?
Truly, Raj had developed a valuable insight today.
YOU ARE READING
The New Girl in Town
Short StoryThe new girl in his college seemed strikingly different. There was a certain mystery around her. Raj was the same with all his students. Going about his professional duties, he gave her equal attention. One call from her gave him a new insight. And...
