The night Arjun turned eighteen, he made the most dangerous decision of his life.
He decided there would be no second option.
In a small two-room house where every expense was discussed in whispers, dreams were not celebrated — they were calculated. His father worked long hours at a modest shop. His mother stitched clothes late into the night to support the family. Stability was everything. Risk was a luxury.
And the Indian Administrative Service was the biggest risk of all.
"Keep a backup," his uncle advised.
"UPSC is not for ordinary boys," a neighbor remarked.
"First attempt? Impossible," his cousin laughed.
Arjun listened to everyone.
Then he quietly entered his room and closed the door.
He opened an old notebook and wrote in bold letters:
Target: IAS
First Attempt
No Second Option
He stared at the words for a long time.
Fear was there. Doubt was there. Reality was loud.
But something stronger rose within him — determination.
A second option creates a second mindset.
A second mindset creates hesitation.
And hesitation destroys ambition.
The next morning, at 4:30 AM, while the city was still asleep, Arjun was already awake. He switched on a small study lamp and opened his NCERT book.
The English felt heavy. Some concepts were unclear. Progress was slow.
But he did not stop.
If his language was weak, he would improve it.
If his concepts were unclear, he would master them.
If the journey was hard, he would become harder.
Days passed.
Friends talked about movies, relationships, and weekend plans. Social media notifications kept flashing. Invitations came and went.
Arjun chose discipline.
Morning — Study.
College — Focus.
Evening — Revision.
Night — Newspaper and vocabulary.
It was not glamorous.
But it was powerful.
One evening, while returning from college, he overheard someone whisper,
"Dream big, but stay within your limits."
He smiled.
Limits exist only for those who accept them.
That night, his father entered his room quietly.
"You're studying too much," he said gently. "Don't pressure yourself."
Arjun looked at his father's tired eyes and rough hands.
"This is not pressure," he replied calmly. "This is preparation."
For the first time, his father said nothing.
Because in Arjun's voice, there was conviction.
The journey had officially begun.
No safety net.
No alternate path.
No retreat.
Only one target.
IAS.
And Arjun was ready.