Chapter 2: Past life [II]: Bitter Truth

In the end, Sam managed to convince his parents to allow him to move to a different hostel during his 5th grade summer holiday, as he understood that he would need to stay in hostel until he completed his education up to the 10th grade. With their agreement, he left his hometown and went to a new town for his studies from the 5th to the 10th grade.

Life at the new hostel was an improvement for Sam. He now had the opportunity to visit his home once a year during the summer holidays, that started when he was in the 8th grade. These changes marked a positive turning point in his life.

Sam also realized that he needed to stand up to the bullies himself, as he understood that he ultimately had to depend on his own strength. He began working on building his biceps and abs, striving to become strong enough to face the bullies head-on.

From the age of 1 to 10th class, he primarily spent his life studying in the hostel. As a result, he lacked a deep understanding of the world and society. He couldn't even tell which years different crops were planted.

In the end, he achieved excellent results in his matriculation exams, but his knowledge was limited to books. This young teenage boy, Sam, had taken his first steps into a city after his matriculation, that was much more crowded than his hometown.

How would he manage to survive in this new environment?

After passing his matric exams, Sam didn't have the chance to take a few months off to explore a famous city. Instead, he was sent to the city to pursue higher education, specifically for the 11th and 12th grades, along with IIT JEE preparation.

He studied the 11th grade in the city while also taking IIT JEE courses. However, during this year, he came to a realization that he knew too little beyond his studies. Despite this, he made the conscious decision to focus on his academics, understanding that he could engage in societal matters once his education was complete.

But life had a different plan for Sam.

After finishing the 11th grade, he returned home for a brief period. Unexpectedly, the coronavirus pandemic emerged. Initially, Sam perceived it as just another ordinary infectious disease, but he was mistaken. It turned out to be the pandemic of the century.

Due to the pandemic, Sam had to stay at his mother's mother's house, where my mother's sister's son also resided alongside him. Sam had to continue his 12th-grade studies from there. However, something unexpected happened. Sam, rather than concentrating on his 12th-grade coursework and IIT preparations, became engrossed in a game called BGMI. He spent most of his time on the game, often with his mother's sister's son.

As time passed, the moment for the 12th grade and IIT JEE exams arrived. Sadly, Sam hadn't completed his 12th-grade studies, and as a result, he couldn't take the exams, leading to an automatic failure by the board. Hence, he also couldn't give IIT JEE exams.

During that time, Sam became acutely aware of the harsh realities of society. All along, when he excelled in every aspect, everyone praised him and supported his mother. However, the moment he made a single mistake, all his relatives, including his mother's sister and even his maternal grandmother, turned their backs on him.

But the situation didn't end there. One day, his mother's sister called him and advised him to stay away from their son or they would became like him. This was the moment that hurt Sam the most. Despite his stoic demeanor, he was deeply affected, merely nodding his head in response before walking away.

Sam fell into a deep depression for an entire year following that incident. He forgot to re-enroll in the 12th grade, resulting in another wasted year. He became the example of what not to do, as his mother's sister had warned her son.

His mother shared all these hurtful remarks made by their relatives with him, showing what they were saying about him. In response, Sam would only offer a bitter smile.

Sam had come to realize the cruelty of society.

That year, when he was idle, he observed society keenly. He even ventured outside the state without informing his mother, only to discover that she had sacrificed a great deal for his education through hard work after observing many things when he went the outside the state. His once-cold heart thawed as he grasped the magnitude of her care and understood that his mother couldn't always be with him due to her commitments.

However, Sam has one point to make about this: Every parent has good intentions for their children, but sometimes, their well-intentioned decisions can inadvertently rob their child of happiness, leaving them tormented.

Sam found himself in this very situation, and he realized he couldn't blame his parents. It's just that his heart had grown cold and filled with disappointment because they never truly understood his pain, opting to send money instead of engaging in meaningful conversations.

This experience also made him realize how fortunate he was to have a mother who cared for him and fulfilled his every wish, especially when he wandered to another state and witnessed the stark realities of society. He came to understand that one's face is only significant during school or college, but knowledge is paramount for a good life.

Regarding reputation, he grasped that as long as you have enough money, you can be considered a good person, but if you can't even afford to eat three meals a day, it's better not to ask for help.

During that time, Sam also comprehended that money is the most important and reliable caretaker.