Arjun spent his Saturday moving between chores. He cleaned the house, tended to the garden, and, when exhaustion took over, napped more than he intended. Yet, as night fell, rest eluded him. Lying on his small bed in his dimly lit apartment, his mind wandered to the choices that brought him here. Why had he taken this job? What was he truly working toward?
Three years ago, everything changed for Arjun. It was during the annual festival in his home village. The celebration filled the air with joy, but the night before he was set to leave for the city, he had trouble sleeping. As the village lay quiet under the moonlight, he slipped out of bed and headed to the kitchen for water. That's when he heard hushed voices coming from his parents' room.
Curious, he crept closer and leaned against the doorframe. His father's deep, worried tone cut through the stillness.
"What do you think our son's future will look like? His internship is ending, and he's dreaming of starting his own company," his father said, the weight of concern evident in every syllable. "But I'm scared. We've mortgaged everything except this house for his education. The loans… the people… they're already knocking on our door after every harvest, asking for repayments. If something goes wrong with his plans, what will we do? We won't even have money for emergencies."
Arjun's heart clenched as he listened. Until that moment, he had believed his family was doing well. They had always presented a picture of stability, shielding him from their struggles. But now, their words painted a starkly different reality. Tears welled in his eyes, but he held them back, not wanting to reveal his presence.
Back in his room, Arjun lay awake, his mind racing. Memories of his father's quiet sacrifices surfaced. He recalled the times his father had endured insults, bending over backward to solve problems without letting his family feel the weight of them. That night, as silent tears fell, Arjun made a decision that would change his life: he would put aside his dreams of a startup and focus on securing a stable job to ease his family's burden.
The next morning, he woke early, packed his bags, and approached his father. Without hesitation, he transferred his savings to his father's account.
"Use this money to repair the house," Arjun said firmly.
His father's eyes widened in surprise. "No, son. This money is for you. Use it to build your startup. Don't worry about us; we'll manage."
But Arjun shook his head. "Father, I'm not starting my business yet. I need experience and savings first. This will help you make the repairs. Please don't say no."
After a long moment, his father reluctantly agreed. As Arjun boarded the bus to the city, he glanced back. His father stood at the gate, tears streaming down his face—tears of pride and gratitude. Arjun's chest tightened, but he bit back the words he wanted to say. There was no need to speak them aloud. His actions were his promise.
From that day onward, Arjun threw himself into his work. He rented a modest apartment and lived frugally, determined to clear his family's debts. Three years passed, and though he had only managed to pay off 30% of the loans, the difference was palpable. The relentless knocks on his father's door during harvest season had ceased, and for the first time in years, his parents smiled more freely.
On this quiet Saturday night, as Arjun lay in bed, he reflected on his progress. "Maybe three more years," he thought, "and if I find a better job, I can finish clearing the loans and start saving for myself."
Tears welled up again as he remembered his father's face that day, the mix of relief and pride etched into his features. Arjun wiped his cheeks, but the tears kept coming. Eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a restless sleep. The pale moonlight streaming through the window illuminated his face, revealing the dried streaks of tears on his cheeks.
And so, beneath the watchful gaze of the moon, Arjun's resolve only strengthened. His dreams could wait. For now, his family's happiness was enough to carry him forward.