That Appreciation...

"19/07/2015 

A painter paints a beautiful masterpiece so that admiration pour out from each of its beholders. A writer wants his novel to get all good compliments from his readers. A director wants his movie to snatch the 5 stars from the critics......."

Snap! The diary closed with a bang, and was pushed below into the drawer, as the light creeped into the darkness of the room. 

"What are you up to in midnight? Why are you out of your bed?" intrigued Mrs. Hamilton, looking at the blank dullness on Harry's face.

Through swollen eyes, Harry replied, "Nothing Mom, some school stuff which l forgot."

"Complete and sleep soon. Here's water. Good night." 

Mrs. Hamilton went back downstairs, also did Harry return into his world, dictated by his philosophy and his deliberations.

Harry was just like a normal kid, or an average kid- average in academics, average in sports, average in his friends circle. But he had high hopes from himself. This was natural. Reason - influential parents. Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton were renowned lawyers in the city, so was his grandfather. They wanted Harry to continue the family hierarchy. But, all they got was average results. They wanted him to excel, but the world doesn't run as per our wants. There was no single day gone, when Harry didn't receive the motivation-coated scolding from either his mom or dad or both. These scolding takes form of thrashings during result declarations. 

Things went on like this for years. Harry was now in 11th grade. And things were as constant as years ago. Even mountains would change shape within that span of time. The constant impel from parents to put in more efforts, however had mitigated. They were reluctantly trying to accept their fate. But, then something happened.

It was mid-terms; the results were due on 18/07/2015. As usual, Harry was accompanied by Mr. Hamilton to school. Harry got a grade B2. He has been hitting on the same grade since last 4 years, or since the inception of grade system. 

"I need to attend an urgent meeting before lunch. You come home by your own.” Mr. Hamilton said and trotted down the stairs, talking over his phone. 

Harry sat there, gazing at the commotion in the classroom. The room was full with the children and their parents. He looked closely at one of his classmates, Nichole, sitting near him. Nichole was a good at Mathematics and fared well enough in other subjects. But this time she had got barely passing marks in all subjects except in maths in which she topped our class. Her parents were happy. Simply happy. 

"Maths helped you to sail through the exam, HaHa, keep it up, Nic!” said her father, tapping Nic's shoulder. Nic was also happy. 

"Everyone was happy except his parents." He thought. Never before he felt this. Never before he ever thought about this. Why now then? 

A night before, he was wandering around in the basement. He suddenly heard some footsteps in the adjacent room. Due to wooden doors, it was all clearly audible. 

"I don't think he will ever do anything in his life" said Mrs. Hamilton.

Mr. Hamilton heaves in a deep breath, and says "I agree. But nothing can be done. He is a dead rock to all our sayings."

"He will only invite insults from society on our upbringing. Let’s just send him abroad. The pain of parting is nothing in the face of such disgrace!" exclaimed Mrs. Hamilton in a stern voice.

"Keep it soft, he might be somewhere near."

"Let him listen, he should know, how disheartened his parents are just because of him."

Harry immediately ran to his room, and jumped into his bed. He buried his head under the pillow and wept. That night, he couldn't stop thinking about this. So was the scene the next day in school. This had already started a storm in his mind. He opened his diary after his mother left and continued writing.

"..... The purpose of doing a work is to excel and showcase your talents to all. The admirations coming with it are all milestones in your path to success. All these admirations and compliments look so naive in this treacherous world, yet far more precious than they seem to be. Every creation needs an appreciation as a benchmark that his efforts are not in vain, and that he will ultimately make his way to his goal. They are just a reminder that- So far, you've been good with your efforts and conviction. And if you keep up the pace, you won’t end up disappointed. The entire world's system runs on this basic latent principle.

     But there are the two persons, whose appreciation is divine. This power can whip all odds. The two persons are our parents. The day they appreciate you, ardour your work, the purpose of life is fulfilled. But, I am not fortunate enough....."

His crave for that appreciation changed him overnight, and over time transformed him into something different from inside. But nothing could change the perception of his parents. They already had decided to send Harry to Belgium once his 12th grade was completed.

    He wanted to make his parents appreciate him. He was resolved and thought, "The 12th marks would be the best and last resort to make my parents happy. I will study hard and make it happen." 

A year passed. He did study hard, reduced his time wastage, and didn’t go out to play. Fared well in school exams. Got promoted from B2 to A1. In one test he even missed A2 by just 2 marks. The 12th exams started knocking at the doors. He burnt the midnight lamp each night. His parents were stunned to some extent, but not curious. He appeared for the exams. Expecting a score of minimum 90%, he was relaxing, imagining the day of results and the smile on his parents face, again and again. He couldn't control his emotions and impatiently waited for results.

The results came out; his percentage had dropped to 78%. He was shocked and in languish. His parents had "we knew this would happen" expression. 

As destiny would have doctrined, the drop in percentage was not due to inadequacy in his labour, but in carefulness of some concerned authorities. The results showed he failed in English, which is a mere impossibility. Might have been some problem in the answer sheet, but who sees that. If your parents can't, no one can ever.

With no talk or agreement, the tickets were booked, luggage packed, arrangements made, and the next day Harry was sent to Belgium, to study in a not-so-good college of commerce, for his undergraduate and master’s degree.

Years went by. Actually 7 years. Harry had matured. He had found his passion and was pursuing it. He had moved on from his 12th grade marks and had realized they only mean a trifle. The only agony he had, was of not seeing his parents for so long time. The only contact between them was when his dad came to give him his quarter-yearly allowance. That's all. He hadn't seen his mom for 7 long years. He still had the crave for that appreciation.

He completed his masters and moved to London for his doctorate.

Years passed. But remember, destiny is a blind woman, attracted not to chivalry, but to scent of hardships.

"......15 years of parting was too long a time. But when I look back now, I believe it was apt for me. If I had been in their situation I would have also got disheartened. But see now, whatever little success I have achieved, I owe it all to my dearest parents. What I am today also attributes to my crave for "That Appreciation". Hope you all have a good time with my book. Thank you for sharing your valuable time at this book signing event." 

A tear drop rolled down his cheek, as he looked up above, and thanked his two immortal shrines of inspiration.

While he was climbing down the podium, a little girl shouted with delight, "Sir, autograph please."

"Sure, my dear."

He signed on the first page of the book, and took a long gaze at its title-"That Appreciation". 

It was quite a long journey from average Harry to being the author of this worldwide best-seller. Sir Harry Hamilton is what the world calls him now. He smiled, and two persons far up above felt proud.