RUDY

Toddler Rudy said his dad that he'll join Nostre Dame, Irish football team, and will dress up one day, and will become a football star. His dad giggled and considered it a passing fad in a kid's infant mind. Rudy was the younger son of a total of 5 siblings. Frank being the eldest, followed by Johny, two sisters and finally, Rudy. It was Pete, his childhood friend, the only one in the entire world of this toddler, who takes him and his passion seriously. They grew up together. Rudy being the youngest one in the family, had always been taken for granted. In addition to that, his dream of becoming a football star, made him worthless in the eyes of his family members, including his father, who wanted Rudy to join his factory and be worthfull like his brothers. No one ever takes Rudy's passion seriously, in addition to that Rudy's bad grades aggravated people's beliefs, that he is worthless and will go nowhere.

Rudy's father was a big fan of Nostre Dame and was a dream of Rudy to once get dressed and play for Nostre Dame and prove his mettle. "It’s the dreams that makes life tolerable." It was only his friend Pete, who had faith in Rudy's dream. Pete was more than a brother to Rudy. But, In a drastic accident in the factory, Pete became the victim of the blast that happened and he died. That incident left Rudy aghast. He decided to leave his family, his girlfriend, his home, place and decided to make his dream, on which Pete was having undoubted faith, to come into true. He went to Nostre Dame, an institution for aspiring footballers. It was not an easy task for Rudy to get an admission in Nostre Dame. In the world, where people manipualtes their thoughts, and speak what people wants to listen, Rudy speaks what he believed in and his speech is filled with earnest dedication and promise. Rudy live his dreams.

In Nostre Dame, Rudy met the priest, who gave him an opprotunity to get good grades in sibling High school "Holy Cross" and on the basis of his good grades, he'll get him admitted in Nostre Dame. Rudy discovered that he is suffering from Dyslexia, so it was not that easy for him to get top grades. Still, he worked very hard, but he faced disappointment in each passing semester. "Prayers are what we do in our time. The Answers comes in God's tym." Priest tried to motivate Rudy so that he can keep going and work hard to attain good grades.

Unsuccessfully, he was unable to attain the desired grades. His opportunity to get the support from the priest dimmed. "I'll work very hard, i'll not let you down." Rudy gave a last attempt to convince the priest. "You know, in the years of preisthood, i've discoverd two things. One, God exists. And two, I am not God." Priest made his point. Without a good grade, nothing was in his hands and so helpless. But still, priest saw a dedication and Promise in Rudy's words. The next letter from Nostre Dame that Rudy recieved was an astonishment for him. It says he got an opportunity to be a student of the elite institution. Rudy was delirious. He had proved his mettle by getting admission in Nostre Dame. He went to his father. His father proudly announced his achievement in the factory speaker. Rudy was proud of himself for making his father proud.

When a man achieve a milestone, he is faced with another milestone to achieve and prove his mettle again. Celebrations of getting into Nostre Dame was not even over, when Rudy realised that in order to attain his real dream i.e. to get dressed up for Nostre Dame football team, he have to compete with other contemporaries at the instuitution, among whom the final team will be decided. Rudy was not athlete structured. He was a puny among his contemporaries. The only thing he possessed was energetic posture, enthusiastic gesture and passion. More than that, he had an earnestness towards his dream. His contemporaries as well as all other people he come in contact with, fell in love with his earnestness.

"My father want me to once see me dressed up for Nostre Dame. This will be the best gift i can give to my father." Rudy beseeched in front of coach. "Is it only for your father." Coach enqired. "No. Since childhood, i've grown up hearing people say what i can do and what i can't do. I dont want to listen to them anymore." Somehow, by the love and faith that Rudy had grown in the fellow team members and the coach himself, Rudy got an opportunity to once get dressed for Nostre Dame.

The day arrived for Rudy to live his dream in reality. He convinced his entire family to visit Nostre Dame to catch the glimpse of his first game from the stadium."This is the most beautiful thing these eyes has ever seen." Rudy's dad said when he enetered Nostre Dame stadium, glimpse of which he had caught only on TV since years.

Game started. Nostre Dame and the opponent team equalled the score and few minutes of the game was left. Till yet Rudy didnt got an opportunity to enter the field as coach was not having so confidence in him to send him in such a situation of the game, being first match for Rudy. Few team members huddled up, started shouting "Rudy", "Rudy". Soon, the entire team started shouting his name. His parents sitting in the crowd could not believed their ears, that the entire team, the entire crowd was asking the coach in unison, to let Rudy come to the field at such a crucial phase of the match. Rudy had become a lucky charm for the team and the team members and soon of the crowd. Finally, Rudy get into the field. Nostre Dame won the match. Albeit, Rudy's contribution was not that significant, but still the incredible love he had developed in everyone, the faith of everyone in his presence, won the match. That was first and the last time in the history of Notre Dame Football that a player is carried off the field.

----The Shekhar