"Whats your goal in life?", the interviewer asked in my HR interview during our campus placement. I was foxed, clueless.I wanted to protest by saying that this is an out of syllabus question, but alas! that wasn't my engineering exam, that was HR interview, the Dinner with the Devil.

"I don't know", I replied honestly. I was scared with the thought that he will now show me the door.

He looked at me disdainfully and uttered, "When you decide to go for a vacation , first you decide the destination and buy tickets.How will you celebrate the vacation if you don't know the destination, your goal? If this is true for ordinary vacation then in game of life where stakes are high shouldn't you set goal for your life? Or do you wander aimlessly for your complete life?"(He mugged this from some motivational book, I came to know later)

I was answerless, No one, neither my parents nor my 'learned' teachers had ever told that there should be goal for life. Still I somehow answered shylessly, "Well, I am living this life for the first time and I don't have any past 'life' experience to set any lifetime goal for my this life?"

He was furious but more surprised at my audacity, still he answered, "Young man, you should think now that why do you exist?What you are going to do in your life? How do you want to be remembered when you leave this earth?"

I really didn't understand the need of such long term thinking, I have never thought of my life beyond one semester(as most of Engineering students do). But still I thought this wise man might be right and I laughed at my ignorance.

To complete the remaining formality he asked the last question, "Do you want to ask anything about me or our company?"

I took this opportunity to turn the tables and asked shylessly "What is YOUR goal in life?"

He threw an brilliant answer at me, "I want to be HR head of of a leading MNC and eventually become CEO of the company. Also after my retirement I want to form an NGO and give the society back what I received from it, to work for poor and underprivileged. And when I leave this world I want to be known as a true person who lived his life fullest."

What an answer!! But I thought was it well prepared and mugged up answer or did he really meant it. He concluded the interview and as expected I was shown the door.

After that I am still searching the elusive answer, should we leave life by facing day as it comes or have a lifetime goal and pursue it relentlessly.

I expect thoughts of all of you. Please help me to find the real answer. Please help The ignorant, the curious child....