Sunday Story: A Tough Choice

Akrity had finally made up her mind—she had never felt as clear in her life as she had during the three hours she had spent in the exam centre. It was crystal clear to her what she wanted from life, and she had already started laying down a plan for how she was going to achieve it, but there was one barrier she had to overcome, and a big one at that—her fiance.

Akrity had been a simple but brilliant girl all her life. She was a bright student since school and always topped in her school and college as well. Because of her agreeable and simple nature, her parents thought for her—they decided what was best for her, whether it was the course she should pursue, the career she should pick, or the man she should tie the knot with.

Until six months ago, her parents’ thoughts had been her thoughts. But one day, someone introduced her to the potential power of her own thoughts and how liberating it felt to find one’s own voice, one’s own self. And ever since she started listening to that voice, she discovered a life she had no idea existed up until that point.

While Akrity had finally started feeling alive, this new discovery was not sitting well with her parents—to them, it felt as if their authority was being taken away from them. Akrity started becoming persistent with her questions, questioning their thoughts, disagreeing with them, and putting her own forward. And this seemed like an energy-draining exercise for her parents. They first tried to engage in the “dialogue” as far as they could and then started to ignore it completely altogether. But then, when it was getting too much for them, they pulled out the Brahmastra every Indian parent had—getting their daughter married while she was of “age”.

Akrity’s parents got her engaged right in the middle of when she was preparing for civil services. She had reluctantly agreed to it because A) she herself was not quite sure of it and wanted to give it a shot and B) her parents had told her that she could continue with her preparations. So, she met the man her parents had selected for her and after spending some time with him, agreed to get engaged to him.

Ever since she got engaged, her preparation had started taking a seat further back with every passing day. And so had her newfound thinking brain. And this especially pleased her parents—for them, it seemed as if they were succeeding in bringing their daughter back on track.

And then came the day of her exam. While she did not fare too well in the current attempt, sitting in that exam hall, going through the question paper cleared the fog of her mind like a gust of wind clearing the atmosphere—civil services was what she wanted to choose. 

Getting out of the exam centre, several things were running through her mind. Choosing civil services would mean giving up on a lot of things, but the biggest worry was that choosing civil services would mean calling off her engagement.

Akrity discussed these worries with her closest confidant, her maternal uncle. He was the one person who was always by her side and encouraged her to follow her dreams. And he was no different even this time. The moment she divulged her desire to pursue civil services, he applauded her decision and encouraged her enthusiastically to follow her dreams. He assured her that he would take care of everything else; all his ask of her was to not crush her dreams for the sake of someone who did not even deserve it. 

Her uncle’s words filled Akrity with the confidence and surety she needed to go ahead with the decision. The only worry she now had was that of ensuring that she cracked the exam in her next attempt.

Liked this story? Here’s another that you might enjoy while sipping your evening tea—Flying High