MY DREAM BECOMES A REALITY

Chapter-4

It had been four years since I started working with Joe. One Saturday evening, Joe and I were at the inn. A strange gentleman came in. This gentleman did not know me. But at the very first glance, I recognized him. He was the same tall, dark gentleman whom I met on the stairs the second time I visited Miss Havisham. He remained silent for a while with his hands in his pockets. Then, he spoke with sense of authority, “I am informed that there is a blacksmith amongst you.”
“Here I am,” replied Joe.
The stranger asked Joe to join him and Joe did as he was told.
“There is a boy named Pip working with you. Where is he?” the stranger asked.
“I am Pip,” I replied at once.
“I want to have a private chat with both of you, guys. So can we go to your house?” asked the stranger.
At once, the three of us started walking towards our house. Both of us were walking in silence trying to figure out the reason for his (the strange man’s) arrival.
All way long, the strange man kept staring at me. On reaching home, he broke the silence by introducing himself as Mr Jaggers, a well established lawyer in London.
“I have some business to share with you. I am acting as a confidential agent of a certain person. Now, Mr Joe, I have an offer to make you free of your apprentice. You would not mind canceling your contract with Pip, if it were for his good,” explained Mr Jaggers.
“I would never be a hurdle in Pip’s way,” Joe answered.
“Do you need any compensation for such an act,” asked Mr Jaggers.
“No,” replied Joe.
Mr Jaggers said, “I have been instructed that this boy will come under very rich hands. Thus my owner has asked me to take him away immediately from his present place of work and be brought up as a gentleman.”
I was very excited about what had been said. My brain had stopped working. My dream had become true. I would be what I always wanted to be.
“But there are certain conditions attached to this agreement,” said Mr Jaggers.
“Firstly, you must always bear the name Pip. Are you willing to do so?” asked Mr Jaggers.
“Yes, I am,” I replied at once.
“Secondly, the name of your philanthropist will remain a secret till the person chooses to reveal it to you. You will never ask or enquire anything about that person. Do you agree?”
“Yes, I do,” I replied.
With a sigh of relief, Mr Jaggers continued, “Well, let’s get down with the details of the agreement. You can consider me your guardian from now and I am placed with a sum of money in my hands which would be enough for your education and maintenance. Are you ready to be placed under suitable tutor by me?”
“Yes,” I said.
“There is a person Mr Matthew Pocket who’ll be your mentor,” he added.
I immediately understood; he was a relative of Miss Havisham. “What do you have to say about it?” asked Mr Jagger.
“I am very much obliged to you for mentioning the name of Mr Pocket. I would be glad to be mentored by him,” I said.
“When will you come over to London?” he asked.
“Right away,” I said.
“No, you need to get some clothes stitched for you before going to London. These clothes of yours are not going to make you a real gentleman. You’ll need some,” he mentioned. Saying these words, he handed 25 pounds over to me.
Joe kept looking at us.
Mr Jaggers now talked with Joe.
“Suppose I offer you a compensation for the loss you would suffer because of Pip’s absence, what would it be?”
“Nothing,” Joe said, “You can take Pip free, with his services. I need no compensation, for we have always been, are and will remain best of friends.”
I always felt proud to have Joe in my life.
After all this conversation, Mr Jaggers was about to leave when it suddenly struck my mind to ask him something.
“I beg your pardon sir,” I said, stopping Mr Jaggers.
“Yes, Mr. Pip,” he said.
“Would you have any objection if I take leave from anyone I know, before leaving for London- I mean in the town?”
“No, not at all. You can take anybody’s leave,” Mr Jaggers replied.
“Thank you, Mr Jaggers,” I said.
I knew that I had to take Miss Havisham’s leave. When I reached home, it was silent as if nobody resided there. Joe was sitting on his chair facing the burning pieces of coal. My sister also rested in the corner of the room and Biddy sat beside her. I sat down before the fire. There was silence all around for a long time. The longer I kept silent, the more it was difficult to speak and look into Joe’s eyes.
At last, I broke the silence and asked Joe whether or not he had informed Biddy about it.
“No,” replied Joe, “I want you to tell it to her yourself.” Saying this, he continued to gaze at the fire.
“You had better tell her, Joe,” I replied.
“Pip’s going to be a gentleman. His fortune will change. God will bless him for it,” Joe immediately turned towards Biddy and said these words.
Biddy stopped her work and stared at me. Joe looked at me too and I also stared at them. Both of them congratulated me with pinch of sadness. I felt unambiguously hurt.
I talked about the conditions of the agreement already discussed to Biddy. She nodded her head and continued her work. She made her best efforts to make my sister understand the situation. But she failed every time she tried.
Watching Joe and Biddy cheerful and then imagining the future, I began to be more gloomy and dissatisfied, not with my good fortune but with myself. I wasn’t feeling comfortable from within. I was happy, but didn’t feel it. I was feeling restless. From time to time, I was looking out of the door. I remembered the past days at home, when, during summers, this door remained open to fill the room with fresh air.
Five more days!! I exclaimed when we sat for dinner on Saturday. “It is just five more days and they will pass soon,” I said to Joe.
“Yes, Pip,” said Joe, “they’ll go soon.”
With a sense of air I started to discuss about my preparations for going to London, i.e. regarding my clothes and shoes. ‘What should I do with the tailored clothes? Should I try them here or directly send them to Uncle Pumblechook?’
Understanding the dilemma Biddy said, “You’ll show them to us, won’t you?”
Getting the answer I agreed with Biddy quickly and said, “I shall bring my clothes here one day before leaving.”
Biddy said nothing more and I went to my room. I started to notice it and the things inside again and again. I also imagined my new changed and grander rooms that I would stay in. Looking out of the window, I saw Joe who was having a cigar. With every movement of his I felt he would miss me. With every smoke of the cigar I felt the blessings would come out of his heart. Then, I closed the window and put the lights out and crept into the bed. I couldn’t sleep for a while. Still, I managed to have a sleep but couldn’t have a sound sleep.
I decided that, after ordering the new clothes, the first thing I would do was to go and meet Uncle Pumblechook. The news reached him too as he came at the forge and heard the news there. He was waiting for me anxiously to bless me and to congratulate me. I had been called for lunch. The meal was prepared by him. Uncle Pumblechook was waiting for me outside his house to welcome. Seeing me, he smiled broadly. He blessed me with all good fortunes and wished for me a good healthy and a successful life.
“Well deserved, Pip; well done,” were his words all the time.
That day, Uncle Pumblechook seemed a totally changed man. He was addressing me again and again to be his ‘Dear friend’ and said, “You are a blessed child. You deserve to have a gentleman’s life.”
There was nobody stopping him that day. “You must be hungry. You must be exhausted, my dear friend. Come, let’s have lunch. See, here are chicken, the pork pie and meat too. I hope you relish all these things,” said Uncle Pumblechook.
After the lunch, we raised toast to my new life.
He, then, felt sad for my sister who loved me so much but was unable to understand what was happening.
I was a bit indifferent because of the thrill going inside. I was counting the days left before my journey to a new improved life. On Friday before I left, I tried the new clothes and went to Miss Havisham for taking her leave. The usual relative opened the door and said, “You! Why have you come here?”
“I am leaving for London tomorrow, so I’ve come to say goodbye to Miss Havisham,” I replied.
Miss Havisham was walking in the room, leaning on her stick.
“Well Pip,” she said.

“I am leaving for London tomorrow. I thought you would not mind my taking leave of you,” I said.
“You look licentious, Pip,” she said, moving around as if she was a fairy who was making me her final gift.
My fortune has changed since the time I saw you last, Miss Havisham,” I whispered, “You have obliged me; I am grateful to you, Ma’am.”
“Yes, yes,” she said, looking at the relative who was jealous of me. “I have seen Mr Jaggers; I’ve heard about him, Pip. So, you are going tomorrow,” she asked.
“Yes, Miss Havisham,” I replied.
“Mr Jaggers will be your guardian?” she asked again.
“Yes,” I replied back.
“Good luck and goodbye Pip,” she finally said.
She stretched her hands and I went on my knees and put them to my lips. I had not thought how I would bid adieu to her but it came naturally. So, I left my fairy godmother with her hands on the stick standing in the midst of the dimly light room.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
I was to leave early next morning. So, I got up early. I hurried my breakfast and got up saying, “I must leave now.”
I kissed my sister’s head who still didn’t know what was going on. I kissed Biddy and put my arms around Joe’s neck and said goodbye to all.
I took my little portmanteau and walked out. The last thing I saw was Joe throwing his old shoe after me for luck and Biddy throwing another old shoe. I wanted my hat but Joe waved his right arm crying, “Wow!”
I walked away quickly, thinking it was not so weird as I imagined it to be.
All of a sudden, tears started rolling down my cheeks. All that I knew lay behind me had suddenly become very deal to me. The very thought of separation from my near and dear. Ones made me sad. I even thought of returning to the forge. After I had cried a bit I felt better. Somehow, I managed to control my feelings. I walked through the streets and boarded a coach board for London. The mists had all risen now. The great wide world lay spread before me.

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