The ticket to free

A journey that begins alone spells the end of another, more precious one

Jay could not believe chat he had made it!

He was seated in a room with hundreds of other applicants, strangers in every sense of the word, yet with whom he shared a common dream. To be the chosen one!

\'<'hile the others used the 'waiting' rime to socialise or rehearse, Jay chose to ponder over the journey that had brought him diere. Only seventeen, he was mature beyond his yea.rs The dead, of his parents when he was eleven forced that on him His sister was only twenry-one when she accepted resporniibility for him and became his guarruan. For the nexr six yea.rs, she became his mother when he needed caring, and his father when he needed ruscipline. But he rud nor mind, for both d1ose roles brought with diem, her unqualified love.

And it was that very protective care that had resul ted in d1eic first fight, a fight that had lasted over three mond1s and continu ed to this day, so much so that even on this, his most important night, she was not there with him. Ir was the first time she had not been supportive. lt was the first time she had voiced an objection Even n o,v he could hear her words as clearly as if she was standing in front of him.

''.Jay, this is crazy. Yo u don't know what you are walking into," she had said vehemently.

"Didi, I know what I am doing. You yoursel f said that I am good. o, nor good, ilie word you used was 'best'," Jay had replied.

"Even the 'best' can be hurt. I do not want you to be hurr," she had said.

"But it's a o nc e in a lifetime opponunity. This could make my life. Please don't stop me, didi," he had pleaded.

"At what cost,Jay, at what cost?" she had questioned

"Didi, if I fail, I fail. But if I don't give ic a shot, I will always regret it," he had countered.

'

'You have your f-ISC corning up. It's better that you concentrate on that. That is more important for your future," she had said adamantly.

"I won't let this affect my srurues," had been his honest promise.

"Jay, fame brings wid1 it ' n otoriety' for there will be man y w ho will try co pull you clown, and money brings with ir greed' and a 'pretentious life'. We don't want diat. Surely wbat we have is enough I will always be there for you. You d o not need co worry about money," she had said.

"Didi, I am not doing diis for money. I am doing it so that l can use the gLfr that 1 have been given. le is useless hav ing a voice if n oone else can bear it. It is useless writing words that no -one else can r ead," he had said, desperate ly trying to rationalise his though ts.

" I know all that, I am die adult here But I also know of the clangers of which you are not aware. Nor many have walked on the path yoL1 are choosing, and come out whole at the end of that journey. You are complete. Don't go and shatrer yoursel f just to get known. You have real talent. Let time ruscover you," she had said.

" \Xl har i f diat time is now? \'(That if this is how ir wants to discover me?" be had questioned.

''\""har if you ace left dejected, humiliated or rusconraged? You have invested so much time. Why do you wane ro risk it all, for th is?" she had counter-questioned.

"Didi, what is really worrying you? You have always asked me to face life's challenges head on. You have always guided me to fight every barde, and yet at the first sign of competition you are asking me to run away. You know me bettei: than anyone else. Fame will not turn my head. i\fooey will not 'corrupr' me," he had said d etermineclly.

His didi was then silent.

" Didi, you wil1 not lose me," he had added when the silence was pro longed.

"Jay, do you not see how ruthless the selectors can be? Do you not see how they tear a person down when it suits them? Do you not see the emotional rollercoaster to which the canrudates are subjected? You won't suffer a.lone, I too will suffer, each moment and each hearrache with you," she had said emotionally "Ah didi, they do d1at if you not the best, and you have already said that I am the 'best'," he had joked, knowing that she was not convinced.

"Jay, whar will people say! That I ma de my li ttle brother go out and sell his talent because his parents were not there to protect him. Aud diat I left a minor at the mercy of judges who insult and ridicule the contestants co improve the eating or to demoralise an other judge's team ," she said, finally relayed her fear.

''lt is you who looked after me, not di e people you worry abou t. l only care what you di.ink. And I am strong e n ough to take what the judges dish out. I can cope wirh everyd1.ing as long as 1 know I have yom permission. Let me try Please!" he finally pleaded. After many silent moments, didi had finally relented. "Okay Jay, go. You have my permission and my ,;,;sh for your success, but I carmot come with you I cannot go through that pain," she had said with finality. She left the room while he watched his sister walk away from him, for die very fi.rst time.

Aud now be was here and his name was being called. Jumping our of his reverie, he rushed to the stage. Hjs heart was thumping. He looked at the three judges. They smiled and he introduced himself. He could see what they were th inking. Their thoughts were written across their faces. A n odi er kid wid1 a guitar thinking he was good and looking for fame! For the first time he stood a.lone. For die first time, his didi was not there.

As the hall fell quiet, he strummed the first chord. By ilie tinie he had completed hi s song, every person in the hall was standing, but more importantly he was receiving a sea.oiling ovation from ilie judges He had made it! And there, by the exit stood his didi with tears streaming down her cheeks. Holrung her was her fiaoce. They were to marry the very year his parents rued. With that tragedy, the two had put d1eir marriage on hold until he was e ighteen, so diat she could fulfil the respons ibility left to her One more year, and he would give her d1e freedom she so richly deserved. And tonigb t's victory was the ticket to that freedom.