Hare who dares – The story begins like this :
It was a busy Monday morning in higher secondary class of the New High School. The result of math scholarship examination was about to be declared. The class was full of excitement. Many students crossed their fingers and prayed to God in their hearts, while many other students were tensed, whereas some of them were at their own ease.
The teacher came into the classroom to declare the result. A student named Kabir used to be the best student in mathematics in the school. He always scored full marks in math and was the pride of the school.
When the teacher announced the result, everybody was shocked and surprised that Kabir had failed by one mark in mathematics. Kabir became very upset and sad. He also felt guilty and rejected. This was a great breakdown of his life. “Why did this happen to me only,” Kabir asked himself. But he was unable to find any answer.
After this incident, Kabir’s parents started scolding him and blaming him. Teachers criticized him in front of the class. His friends started making fun of him.
This was too much to bear for Kabir. He isolated himself from everyone and everything. He decided not to take part in any competitive exams in future because he started feeling that competition was not his cup of tea.
Eventually, Kabir stopped taking part in extra-curricular activities in school. He started avoiding his friends and hardly talked to teachers. He lost the charm of his life. What a miserable life he had! Kabir labelled his life as a “FAILURE” forever and accepted this label as a reality of his life. He started believing that he was not capable of anything. He lost confidence in himself and dared nothing. He felt he had no choice, no freedom, no energy, no fun and no laughter in his life.
After few days Kabir met a new coach of karate at his school. His name was Mr. Dev. The new coach was appointed for a week as the school’s regular coach had gone out of town on some business. Mr. Dev was full of energy, enthusiasm and had a very charming smile.
During karate coaching hour, Mr. Dev observed a very cute, but sad looking child sitting on the ground. That child was Kabir. Mr. Dev did not like the suffering, sadness and dullness on such a cute face. He decided to interact with Kabir.
“Hello dear; what is your good name?” Mr. Dev took the initiative and asked Kabir.
“My name is Kabir,” he replied without any intention for further communication.
“Well Kabir, why don’t you take part in the karate tournament this time? You have a very good physique,” Mr. Dev continued the conversation.
“No, I don’t want to,” was Kabir’s short reply.
Mr. Dev asked, “What is stopping you, dear?”
“It’s no use. I do not want to add my name in the list of losers,” Kabir answered in low voice.
“Who said you are going to lose,” Mr. Dev asked with a smile.
“I know I will lose the tournament,” Kabir replied very seriously.
“But how can you say that you are going to lose the tournament without taking part in it,” Mr. Dev asked. He was not ready to let Kabir go without knowing the reason for his rejecting the offer.
“Because I do not want to take any risk,” Kabir replied.
“Do you know what risk is?” Mr. Dev wanted to keep interacting with Kabir.
“Risk means a chance of failure,” Kabir answered timidly.
“Can’t you see there is an equal chance of success as well?” Mr. Dev asked as he wanted Kabir to see the other side of the coin.
“But what if I lost the game?” Kabir asked with doubt.
“Then go on to the next attempt. Life is not just a single attempt. Life is a much bigger game.” Mr. Dev replied and put his arm around Kabir’s shoulder. “Life is a bunch of attempts. When you learned to walk for the first time in your childhood, how many attempts did you make?
“Countless.” Kabir replied.
“Now if you hadn’t taken efforts to stand up every time you fell down, you wouldn’t be able to walk today. Wasn’t it fun to keep trying for various things in our childhood? Then what happens to us when we grow up?” Mr. Dev smiled.
With his easy manners and soft voice, the new coach had put Kabir at ease.
“Kabir, tell me, why do we participate in any game, tournament or competition?” Mr. Dev asked.
“To win,” Kabir answered very innocently.
“We participate not only for winning, but for fun, for the excitement, for the joy of participation. Winning and losing is not always the significant part of a game,” Mr. Dev said and sat down on the bench. Kabir followed him.
Kabir was fascinated by this new coach’s way of talking. After a long time he had such long conversation with someone.
“Can you name any human being on this earth who wants his or her life to be powerless, joyless or full of suffering?” Mr. Dev asked and tightened his shoe lace. “Do you like to live this kind of life?”
“Nobody on this earth likes to live such a miserable life,” Kabir replied honestly.
“But it seems you are leading a life which you do not love or enjoy,” the coach said looking straight into Kabir’s eyes.
Kabir was stunned. He thought, “I have just met this man, but it seems like he knows everything about my life and problems.”
“How do you know that?” Kabir asked with surprise.
“That is least important,” Mr. Dev replied. He did not want to go into Kabir’s past; he only wanted to enable Kabir to come out of his suffering. He asked, “Do you want to lead a life you would love?”
“Can you give me a solution to my problems?” Kabir asked. A new hope was now rising in Kabir’s heart.
“I can’t give you any solution because it’s your life. I can only support you in doing a simple exercise, that is, inquire within you. Ask yourself what you want in life.” Mr. Dev was very straightforward and clear in his conversation.
There was silence at either side. Kabir’s conscience started inquiring within him, “What do I want in my life?” Kabir closed his eyes and took few minutes. Mr. Dev was able to see the struggle going on in Kabir’s heart. A few minutes passed.
Kabir opened his eyes and eased himself a little. “I want to be happy, powerful and successful,” he said in a firm voice.
“Do not just say it. Declare your intention to the world that whatever may be the situation, you will live your life confidently. Commit to yourself that you will get your intentions fulfilled,” demanded the energetic coach.
Mr. Dev looked into Kabir’s eyes and said, “Believe me; the moment you commit to yourself, the entire providence and circumstances move too. Unexpected things can occur that would otherwise seem impossible.”
“Do you mean miracles will happen?” Kabir asked excitedly.
“Yes, miracles happen when you believe in yourself,” Mr. Dev said with confidence.
“You are amazing, sir. How can you be so powerful, confident, happy and full of energy? Will you share your secrete with me?” Kabir asked with some hesitation.
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