Chapter 6: The Road Not Taken

I know that third chapter is nothing but a mess. Many said that it started somewhere and ended in a totally different place. Actually this chapter holds a good reason for the title of Chapter 3. If you can, then please remember the sentence
"I didn't know that my life's gonna take a big turn, the turn which opened the door to quench my thirst, the thirst of film making and travelling !!!
As you know, I was blended in film making throughout the third year. In no time, I became a final year student. We had a good picture about final year before entering into it. We thought that it would be the year of joy and fun. But we didn't know that it's the year where we've to decide our future. 'Deciding our future' is the easiest thing to say and the most complicated thing to do. I accept that the first week of the final year had many funny and joyous moments. But the total class was terrorized by one important incident which happened somewhere between second and third week. On one shiny day our fate walked right into the class in the form of our 'Placement Coordinator'.



"It feels so good to meet the final year students. I could see many faces of responsibilities. I guess many would have decided your future by now. Because this is the last and final chance for you all to decide 'what to do next'."

If we had ever heard this speech before final year we would have laughed our ass out. But I guess it's the timing. As he continued his speech, Everyone in that classroom was beginning to feel the fear about their future. That was the first time, I ever saw numerous terrorized faces in a single places. Nobody made a sound. After few minutes I felt the fear inside me.
'What the ... !!! What's that am so happy about? Even I didn't decide my future' I thought to myself. It felt so good at that night when I decided that film making is my career after watching 'CHILDREN OF HEAVEN'. But it was so scary to face the reality. That was the first time I ever thought about my family situation and economical background.

'Yeah! you have a good and creative dream ...
But what about money?
What about your family?
They have a huge trust in you. What're you gonna do to satisfy them?
Job is the only way that could satisfy them'

These are the voices I heard inside my head that day. I had literally no facial expression. Fear of future had captured me. By the time I regained my self conscience
the placement coordinator was still talking to the class.

"Okay ... this week 'Renault Nissan' is coming to our college for placements. So register with Placement department within tomorrow. Collect your preparation material and start studying for aptitudes. Remember, registering with us is more important. If you dont register, you're not eligible to attend any placements."



For those who don't know anything about RENAULT NISSAN, it is the leading car manufacturing company in India. The class was so silent even after he left. Everybody were lost in thoughts. Slowly the day ended and I had another sleepless night. I think it was 2 AM. I was sitting in the edge of the bed. Mom, dad and sis were having a sound sleep in the other room. I gently opened my DVD trunk. Each and every film smiled at me. 'LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL, BICYCLE THIEF, LE FABULEUX DESTIN DE AMELIE POULAIN, PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS, CINEMA PARADISO, MEMORIES OF MURDER, ZODIAC, ANBE SIVAM, RHYTHM' and the list goes on and on. I closed the trunk and closed my eyes. But I couldn't get even a single ounce of sleep. The dawn was so beautiful, the next day. Still I haven't decided anything. With an unclear mind I reached the college. Within a hour everyone in the class registered for the placements except me. I didn't know what to do.
"Have you registered for the placements ?" I was constantly asked by my friends.
"Not yet"
"What the ...why ?"
I couldn't answer the last question. I had only few hours left to think. Nothing interested me. The class was returning to its normal state. Many killed the time by mocking the teachers and then I heard someone mocking Mr.Selva Ganesh.
"Selva Ganesh have some set of rules and regulations" followed by laughter. Suddenly, I remembered something, something very valuable ... I guess many would remember

" I know that many of you don't like engineering here and even some of you might have interest and passion in some other field. Let me say one thing 'Its never too late'. The most easy thing to get in this world is success. You've to put only two inputs 'Hard work and Immense interest'. Remember the words ' Never too late '. But another most important thing, ' Enjoy everything you do, including BE ' Coming to the point, I'm your Engineering Graphics teacher "

NEVER TOO LATE ... NEVER TOO LATE ... Those words struck in my heart. All of a sudden, every damn thing became clear.

"Have you registered for the placements ?"
"Not yet"
"What the ...why ?"
"I'm going to do film making"
"Film making ??!!"
Now they didn't have anything to say. But I had lots. Now you know why Chapter three was named after Mr.Selva Ganesh. I thought I could explain all these incidents within chapter three.



That incident proved me an other important thing. 'My friends cared for me'. Some were so happy for me that I'm gonna do something which I love but some were so scared about my future. But I was so happy. But then, only one thing was bugging my mind. What am I supposed to say to my parents. But I had a plan. My parents know that I'm working on some videos in my free time. But they didn't know anything about my short films. That very evening I made my mom, dad and sis in front of the computer in a theatrical atmosphere with all the lights off. I must say that the trailer of my movie FEVER ABDUCTION came out very well unlike the film. I showed the trailer of FEVER ABDUCTION with full sound effect of my mercury woofers. As expected my family was so amazed to see the end credit as it said 'A KARTHICK FILM'



FEVER ABDUCTION TRAILER

"You made this ???" My dad's face was filled with questions and amusement. My mom and sis was equally happy. I showed all my videos and blogs. My poems, stories and scripts. My family spent some two hours reading and watching my works. My mom was so impressed, especially by Tamil stories and poems. After that two hours my dad said

"I didn't know that you're talented in this creative field"
"Yes dad ... I wanna take up film making"
My mom and dad was so silent for another few seconds. Then my dad gave a lovely smile and said
"I guessed this right at the moment when you made us sit to watch your movie"
I was eagerly waiting for his next word.
"When you said this same thing after finishing your 12th, I didn't allow you as I thought that you're just escaping from your math and science. But now, I've seen your real interest. So ... you're free to venture any road now. ALL THE BEST!!!"



Totally ... I totally didn't expect this from him. But it took me some more hours to convince my mom. Me and my sis were so happy. What started as a beautiful dawn ended as a beautiful dusk. I can't forget that day as it's one of the happiest day of my life ...