When you follow your heart…

Year 1997
The atmosphere in the Bahl house was tense. Something unusual had happened two days back. It seemed that Dr Bahl and Dr(Mrs) Bahl had been taken in a shock. The Bahl couple — the best doctor couple combination of a cardiologist and a gynaecologist — proud owners of numerous degrees and felicitations both national and international immediately felt all their hard work and pride biting dust in a moment’s time. Reason their seventeen year old son had shared his intention of becoming a musician and dedicate rest of his life to playing and synthesising music after his class 12th!
A doctor family of many generations, Rishy Bahl was the only son of Mrs and Mr Bahl whose shoulders bore the heavy burden of carrying the family tradition of picking up medicine and becoming a highly paid medico in the country. While they were fine having him pursue music as a hobby and extra curric for which he was gifted with best of instruments and allowed to appear for international university examinations but nothing beyond that made a way through the parents mind. Rishy’s left side of brain was as logical and competent as his right side was creative and fertile which made him perform well as a science student as well as excel in piano recitals too! Something which was becoming a bane for him.
Under parental pressure, Rishy had filled in forms for all entrance examinations including dentistry too and was blackmailed to appear in all of them. One day as he returned back post appearing in one of the exams — he felt extremely frustrated and torn. Though he had tried his best to ensure that he isn’t successful in any of the exams — yet shuddered to think about what if he made through any of these exams, what if he never got a chance to pursue what he wanted to do with rest of his life. He felt tormented. He decided to put his step down that day and explicitly say “no” to everyone’s playing with his life. He was determined to confront everyone who came his way that day!
However destiny had its own plans. At that very moment — his phone rang and he had to rush to hospital. Mr Bahl, the cardiologist had a massive attack! Though his team saved him, but the incident killed the thought and the courage that he had mustered to confront his parents about his dream about life. Well, as the results of various entrance examinations came out, it seemed his efforts in ensuring that he failed in them were successful. However, considering the happening at home — Rishy proposed something to his parents, that day a deal was locked. A barter was done that day! That seemed the only way Rishi could live his dream.
Year 2003
His chain of thoughts broke as his name was announced at the felicitation. The final year batch of dentists was getting felicitated today with their doctorate. Young medicos were beaming with happiness and excitement for the next phase of their lives. Some of them would join a reputed hospital while others would start their own practice. But there was one person — who simply felt free today as he wove the plans to just play his piano incessantly. Yes, today was the day of his independence. His part of barter had been fulfilled. After Rishi received his degree — he handed it over to his parents and said — “For you — mom and dad. My part of deal is done and now please let me be free. I want to leave and pursue my dream.”
Yes, six years back this was the negotiation that took place between the son and his parents.
Mrs and Mr Bahl were speechless, they had thought that years of hard work and efforts would change their son’s mind but in vain. Rishy had done his bit to ensure the family tradition and his parents pride in their circles remained and now they had to keep their word. He was now Dr Rishy Bahl.
Rishy went ahead and pursued his dream and passion to become one of the best musicians in city, country and then was acknowledged world wide.
May 2017
It was the annual piano concert of my bestie’s son. I was just accompanying the mother-son duo as the son was performing and at some point in my life I loved playing piano so much. Rishy was the chief guest. As he addressed a pack full of audience with his story — he had only one message for children — To listen and follow their heart and more importantly for the parents — to encourage kids to live their dream instead of pushing their own dreams and aspirations! How lovely..
What could have been a better way to pass on to a lovely message from someone who didnt stop but went ahead to chase his dream and passion — a musician who happens to be dentist! Someone who followed his heart.
My chain of thoughts got interrupted! Buzz, buzz — I silenced it — my mobile. It was my boss looking for an update. With some courage, I switched off the phone. I was thinking about what I had wanted to do but couldnt many years back. How I could but didnt follow my heart!
(Inspired by the incidents in the life of Mr Ricky Kej , Grammy award winner — a renowned musician and conservationist with a doctorate in dentistry! His speech and story at my child’s piano concert inspired me to write this to pass on the message, hope it moves you also and touches somewhere deep in the heart! Please click on the heart icon and like it to spread it across:))
Because it’s important to listen and follow your heart!
Also published at https://www.mycity4kids.com/parenting/parenting-is-fun/article/when-you-follow-your-heart
