Neerav was dreaming of the famous Jimmy Page concert when he heard his father shouting over his mother. He ran out of his room and was devastated to see that time and again, his mother has to bear for his bad marks in the mock test of the IIT coaching institute he was in. His father said, "I don't know what is this son of yours going to do in his life with such a low rank!", and threw away his mark sheet. And, as always his mother was standing at the corner of the couch and was listening to his father with her head held low. "There you are! So, how was your royal nap Mr. Prince, why don't you go back and sleep again. Don't worry, your father is here to work all his life for you", said his father in lethal sarcastic tone. "Papa please, I am sorry, but ...", Neerav tried to explain but his father cut him in between, "What sorry?", he shouted now, his mother startled, "I work day and night so that you can study well without having any problems and financial issues, but, you just don't want to study. Why have I admitted you for in the best and most expensive coaching institute in the city for? To see that you score like a loser! Look at Adhiraj, he is among top 25%. Why can't you be like him?". Neerav knew that it had been two years of him explaining to his father that his ambition was to be a professional guitarist ,but, to his father, this profession was good for nothing or just a ""waste of time". Neerav had no interest in doing engineering from even the worst college, IIT was not even close, he had always dreamed of having a huge international concert of him as the lead guitarist playing his self composed metal music, but, he knew that his father cared too much about the society to understand his own son's dreams. "What kind of image do you think you'll create on Raghav. Two years more and he'll be ready for IIT too", said his father breaking Neerav's thoughts. Neerav argued, "But how can you decide what is he going to do? What if he likes something...", his father cut him in the mid again, "I am your father!!". Neerav was puzzled over the fact that being a father gave someone the right to decide what a person has to do with their own life. "He is an intelligent boy. He will score good. I know", said Neerav's poor mother to save her son from his father's scolding. "Well, then ask your intelligent boy to keep that instrument of his inside it's case and study harder. Or else someday I'll throw it", said Neerav's father over his mother's statement. "Ma! You know i don't want to..", Neerav's mother held his hand before he could say anything, and then signaled him to keep quiet. His father switched on the television and switched to the news channels and said, "Go and study harder, I want better marks this time, And dare you touch that useless instrument of yours before getting a better rank". Neerav's mother collected Neerav's mark sheet which was spread all over the floor and took Neerav to his room. "Maa you know i want to be a guitarist. Why don't you make him understand I can't do this IIT", said Neerav, kicking the corner of his bed with anger. Neerav's mother closed to door hastily to make sure that his father couldn't hear anything. "Look son, guitar is good for a time-pass, but, it can never give you careers and earnings like engineering do. Do as your father has asked you to. He knows the world better than you. It's best for you son, it'll be good for all of us. You'll get a secure future. Please understand", explained Neerav's mother, "But maa..", Neerav opposed, "Enough arguments Neerav! Try and understand, your father has a lot of expectations from you. What will he say to the society if you don't get into a good IIT branch", said his mother. "Oh! The almighty IIT!!!", Neerav exclaimed throwing his hands up in the air. "I'll call you for dinner after an hour, now study and make your father proud. And don't play your guitar at night. You'll disturb your father. Okay?", said his mother while cleaning up his study table. "My son, study well", she kissed his forhead and left the room without even having a hint about Neerav's watery eyes. Neerav looked up after his mother left and he saw a photograph on his wall in which his mother and father were standing beside him when he was getting awarded for playing the best guitar in the regional guitar championship. He noticed the big smile on their faces. And then he looked at his chemistry book. Two minutes later he wiped off his tears and got up to touch his guitar, play it's string one last time for the night and then looked at the Jimmy page poster on his wall. He looked back at the photograph and whispered, "If only you could understand!". He looked down and then went to his study table and opened his chemistry book.
The society's "opinion" once more, won over the huge dreams of another beating heart.
