Sky is the limit

Wrote this piece for a competition in TCS. The topic given was 'Sky is the limit' and this is all I could come up with. And yes, did manage to bag the 3rd prize ;)

Year 2030

15th Dec

‘Yes Jake, deployment will be complete by tomorrow… Yeah... Ciao.’ Abhinav with a smile on his face replaces the receiver of his phone with a click. ‘Well… That went fine. Now need to get home ASAP’. He leaves his workplace and gets into his BMW to drive to his apartment building in Manhattan. He reaches for the Stereo to switch between the FM channels, when he observes the date. ‘Oh… This Sunday is 21st Dec! Totally forgot about it!!!’

17th Dec

Abhinav has completed his Security check and is seated in the JFK Airport Lounge awaiting his flight to India. He has his passport and tickets in one hand. To make sure he has his car keys safe, he fumbles through his jacket when his fingers brush across something cold and metallic. He pulls it out.

‘Ah… The pen…’

Year 2008

21st Dec

Dec 21st is the day there is an annual get together at St.Peter’s Orphanage, Mumbai. The day when all the former inmates come to visit Fr. Francis and spend the day with him. Fr.Francis was in his office when Abhinav had first come to the Orphanage. Abhinav was not alone. He was with other five boys who lives also took an ugly turn on that fateful night. Abhinav had lost his parents in the infamous 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. With all his relatives dead, he had no ray of hope. It was then, when Mrs.Sheila, a social worker, brought Abhinav and the other children to St.Peter’s Orphanage. Sensing the anxiety of the children, Fr.Francis handed a bar of chocolate to each one of the boys. He introduced them to the other children in the orphanage. Abhinav soon became friends with the other kids. Fr.Francis used to teach them various subjects. Fr.Francis came to know that Abhinav was passionate about studies especially Mathematics. Abhinav always scored the highest in class. He knew Abhinav had the potential to rise beyond the rest to reach immense heights and become a great engineer some day.

One day Fr.Francis called Abhinav to his office. He handed over a wrapped package to Abhinav. Abhinav was surprised to see a Black Parker pen when he unwrapped the package.

‘Wow… Thanks Father. Thank you so much!’

‘No Abhinav, You deserve it. Turn it over…’

Abhinav sees something inscribed on the pen cover. “Sky is the limit” read the words.

‘What does this mean Father?’

‘It means that nothing can stop you from reaching great heights. Sky is the limit for your ambitions and dreams. Whenever you feel low, always have a look at this pen’

“This is the final boarding call for passengers booked on flight 372A to Mumbai. Please proceed to Gate 3 immediately. I repeat. This is the final boarding call. Thank you”

Abhinav puts the pen back into his pocket, picks up his hand luggage and slowly walks towards Gate 3 with a smile on his face and says ‘Sky is indeed the limit’.