Poetic Justice

Year 2002, Oct:
A lanky young boy with an unsure demeanor walked in the campus of KIIT, an engineering college in Bhubaneswar. But he was starry eyed dreaming of doing silly little things. One of the things he did was publish an inter campus magazine called Akanksha in his 3rd year . He was the chief editor then.

On the magazine unveiling ceremony, which was attended by more than 200 students at the open air amphitheatre, he was asked to address the gathering. Never before had he spoken in public. He was given a rousing welcome and called onto stage. With pride swelling his chest he walked onto the stage and felt the world at his feet. With heart thumping, adrenaline pumping, how much he had craved for a moment like this. He walked through the stretch of the stage and faced the mike. And then he looked at the audience for the first time. It looked like a sea of heads each one poring on him. The two hundred odd people looked like two million.

He went blank and stared at the sea with horror. Blood drained out of him. Time was suspended for eternity. His mind raced. He fell silent for half a minute. So was the audience. And soon the whole crowd cheered with applause. An applaud that was meant to boost him. He mumbled ‘sorry’ and walked out of the stage. The heaviest steps he had ever taken in life. Steps of shame and disgrace. Back stage he let out a loud shriek and cried like a kid. An honorable moment had turned into a moment of ignominy. He was heart broken. He was crushed.

Year 2010, Feb
Venue was the same campus of KIIT. The crowd had gathered again to listen to him. This time they had paid to listen to him. This time he didn’t fall silent. This time he didn’t go blank. This time the audience cheered not out of sympathy, but out of approval.
The boy had redeemed himself of the ignominy after 7 years.
The boy was me. And I am proud.