So a dear friend from another city knowing my love for science intimates me about a lecture program on Astronomy that was scheduled to happen in my city.
Reading more about it got me looking forward to attending it.
It was expected to happen in a school auditorium. And the entry was open to all.
I called a day prior to the event to confirm and then decided to schedule my work for the day so that I would be free enough to attend and enjoy it.

The organizers had mentioned about arriving at a stipulated time, it took me an hour to reach there by car but I was on time. I found the venue completed the registration and walked up a flight of stairs to the auditorium.

As I entered I saw a couple of seats free as most were occupied and I was settled in.
There was a chair with a bag next to me. And there was a girl in the next chair. I sat there waiting for the program to start.

Many people walked past me searching for a chair but never thought of checking if the chair beside me was really occupied. The auditorium was soon getting filled up. And then a young boy came in and checked if the seat was empty. Because he asked he got the seat actually, as the bag turned out to be the young girl’s.

Just as we were are settling and waiting …within 10 minutes or so, there was such a sudden rush in the number of people entering the auditorium. Suddenly the hall seemed to be brimming over with people It was quite a sight as even the aisles were full of children and parents and elderly. And people were still pouring in. It soon turned almost unmanageable and overcrowded.

A lady came on the stage and requested people in the aisles to sit where they were standing but no one was ready. In fact, to be fair, it was getting difficult to even stand, let alone sit.
The lady then started off asking parents teachers to vacate their seats for the children, as the program was meant mainly for them. No one was ready to get up and give up their seats.

On hearing the heartfelt request, I instantly gave up my seat for a young boy standing next to me. I just couldn’t sit in my seat after that, but I noticed that except a few like me, most people sat glued to their seats. Perhaps they felt they had a right because they came in earlier than the children standing.

Perhaps we are all flummoxed what to do in situations like this and respond differently.
To my understanding, I discerned that the child of tomorrow stands to gain sitting there more than me for I went there only for my own interest in the subject but perhaps it would help impact or influence his future in a positive way.
So I willingly gave up my seat.

Unfortunately, I had to leave the place as it was filling in so much that it was turning claustrophobic to even stand anywhere. As I jostled my way out of the auditorium I had to squeeze through the crowd all through the flight of stairs and outside on the narrow road in the street to the venue as well. As people were still thronging in.

Although I sincerely missed the lecture I actually felt relieved to have moved out early on.
Clearly, the organizers had missed out on this that the venue was too small to accommodate this unexpected number of people. Looked like their good intentions of keeping the entry free resulted in this. Maybe they could have kept the entry fee for adults and kept it free only for children.

Anyway I had time in my hand and decided to explore a nearby mall and returned home.
A few interesting things happened there. But that is the subject of another post another time.

Just thinking…
Perhaps every moment of our life is predetermined.
Perhaps we are meant to be where we are.
I may have reached the venue on time got the seat but I never got to hear a lecture that I planned to. And since I gave up my seat on my own, I was solely responsible why.

Sometimes life challenges us
What you deeply desire
You may have to give up for another…
But there is always a reason why!

What are your thoughts? Would you have given up your seat or stayed on?
Would love to know…

Savvy