Two years passed.
Raju was no longer the shy boy who once feared interviews. He had completed his Higher Secondary through distance learning and was pursuing graduation. His confidence had grown with every challenge he overcame.
One afternoon, his company announced an internal training program for team leaders. Only employees with strong performance records could apply.
Raju hesitated.
Am I ready? he wondered.
Then he remembered the pond behind his house, the rejection letters, the crowded train to Kolkata. If he could survive all that, he could face this too.
He applied.
The training lasted three months. It included communication skills, leadership tasks, and problem-solving activities. For the first time, Raju spoke in front of a group confidently. He shared his ideas clearly.
At the end of the program, the manager called his name.
"Raju, you are promoted to Assistant Team Leader."
For a moment, he could not speak.
The boy who once searched for any job was now leading others.