I belong to a village, so there was only a limited scope of studies because we have a limited facility up to high school or at most up to grade 12th. But I wanted to go for higher studies and become a chartered accountant. I was good at my studies, but there was no one to support my ambitions, so I could fulfill my dreams of going to a good college and studying commerce.
Whenever someone came to visit us from the city, I would talk to him and get all the information about how to go to a college in the city and where to live. My mother knew about my dreams and she always encouraged me, but that was all she could do. Incidentally, my father’s only brother had taken up a job and was living in the city with his wife, so my father did not want me to leave the village for higher studies. My father wanted me to work with him at his farm.
After finishing my pre-university, I thought I should go to the city and get admission into a commerce college to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a chartered accountant, but that was a costly affair. My father did not want me to go for higher studies and even refused to support me financially.
But I was keen, so I asked my uncle for his support and left for the city. I soon realized that my uncle and aunt’s behavior was not what I was expecting, even though they allowed me to live in their house. But I was missing the warmth.
One day, my aunt asked me to bring vegetables from the market. I went and brought vegetables of my choice, which my aunt did not like, saying the other family members did not like to eat them.
But, Aunt, I like these vegetables that I’ve brought. I thought what I heard from her was a little rude. "Tell me about your choice on the day when you earn yourself."
I felt bad because I was not expecting that from her. However, I had big dreams, but, I knew that fulfilling those dreams would not be easy, and I was thinking either I would have to do what my uncle and aunt told me to do or find an alternate arrangement.
So I applied to join the college hostel, but I could not understand how I would meet my fees and hostel expenses. Now I have limited myself. I neither talked much to anyone nor went anywhere else. One day, when I was on my way to college, I saw a board with the words "We need courier boys."
I thought it was my chance to earn money. I thought by staying at my uncle’s place, food was available but not of my choice. My self-respect was badly hurt. In such a situation, I needed that job, and the very next day I reached the place where I saw that board.
"Will you do this work that will require you to work from morning until night and the pay will not be to your expectations?" the manager inquired.
I thought in my mind that any salary would be enough for me, and I said yes. I thought my uncle and aunt would be happy after hearing this. Finally, I got a room allotted in the hostel.
I used to work for 2 hours in the morning and for 3 hours after college and would be busy with my studies in the evening. I was also enjoying this work because, even though it gave me the satisfaction of being self-dependent, I was able to satisfy myself that I made a living for my own life.
One day, I had to go to a faraway area to deliver a courier. After searching, I finally found the place where I had to deliver the parcel. Due to the blistering sun, I was feeling thirsty, so I asked for water. The lady recipient of the parcel gave me water happily and said, "You are working so hard in such hot weather." That lady spoke to me so lovingly that it reminded me of my mother.
It had been one month since I started doing my work and I had gotten my first month’s salary. The happiness of the first salary was so great that I could not understand what to do with this salary. But after paying the hostel and other expenses, there was not much left. However, I managed since I kept my expenses at a bare minimum.
I was happy with just one thing. My manager was happy with my work because I never took leave and was doing my work with complete honesty. I never asked for more money nor made any excuses.
No matter how far the courier had to be delivered, I always reached it on time and never disappointed our customers. In such a situation, soon the manager increased my salary.
One day, I went to a posh colony to deliver a courier, and there I saw a lady in the temple. This was the same lady who once gave me water to protect me from the blistering sun. She was happy to see me and wished me success.
I was happy now because my salary had increased and my management appreciated my work. Once, I had to deliver an urgent courier for a customer. I was trying my best to get it to him, but heavy rain was stopping me. However, I delivered it on time. The customer was so happy that he wanted to tip me, but I refused because it was against our work ethics.
A few days after this incident, I was to deliver a courier to the same house. On reaching there, I saw that the door of the house was open and a woman was lying unconscious on the floor.
There was no one else in the house. So hesitantly, I entered and managed a few spoons of water in her mouth and dialed the last called number on her phone. After that, a man reached there in no time. I was surprised to see him because it was the same person whose parcel I had delivered that rainy day, the person who wanted to give me a tip. He was the son of the fainted woman, as he said, "This is my mother."
He was grateful that I called him, and he said so many other things while trying to bring her back to sense. I could hear him say, "You are a very promising boy, and honest." If you wanted to, you could have left my mother in this condition, but you did not do it because you are a kind man. " I was feeling embarrassed but kept quiet.
I said, "Sir, this is my mother’s teaching, and your mother is a kind lady." You know, I did this minor job because I get happiness and I believe that being good to others always pays. "
By then, the lady had regained consciousness and was feeling better. That person asked all about my education and what I was studying. He said, "If you want to, you can join our coaching institute." I will see that my institute will provide you with free training for the banking services preparation exams.
I was pleasantly surprised because the fees for that coaching were very high and I might not be able to do that with my earnings. I thanked him for his support and said, "I am very grateful." This was a great help, as it is very expensive.
He said, "You leave all this to me." You are an honest person, and that’s why I want to help you join our institution. We know that only because of people like you, this country will get good citizens.
I couldn’t believe I’d be able to get the coaching I’d hoped for free. I was on my way to a new journey from the job of an ordinary courier boy.
Soon after, along with my studies, I joined the institute and my banking training started. My mother was glad hearing about this, and so was my dad, uncle, and aunt. They all came to meet me and expressed their happiness.
Now I feel that if we do any job with genuine passion and sincerity, then the result is always positive. Even though I had taken up a job as a courier boy, I always worked with enthusiasm and got whatever I wanted with honesty and sincere dedication beside keeping my desires under control and requirements to bare minimum.
If a person has passion, then he can easily reach his destination. There will definitely be obstacles in the way, but a sincere and honest person can easily overcome those obstacles.
Today, I am a qualified accountant who worked in a bank until last year. I do not have a regular job right now, but I am hopeful, as I am already in the list of shortlisted candidates for three different financial institutes. However, I am engaged in share trading as a sub-broker from home and manage my expenses easily.
