Story- Shaping dream into reality!

Smiling lightly, I stepped inside my home and towards the Dining room where my parents were sitting, sipping tea. “Hello Maa Papa, here’s my Graduation Certificate! See…” I forwarded them the Certificate and found them happily congratulating me for completing my B.Com. in First Division.

I didn’t wait to get back the Degree in my hands but after reciprocating the hug I ran to my Room.

Crawling into the quilt, holding a magazine I sat thinking about the future plans I made, which my parents were not accepting since I told them about it. Would they still not like being talked about? Would they approve of my choice after I completed my Graduation which they wanted? I seriously hope they do or atleast listen to me and understand that my wish is to join army, become soldier, and dedicate my life to my nation.

~

“Can’t you stop ranting this Ayesha?”, he shouted back.

Holding his shoulder, “Papa please? Mujhe nahi karna job, nahi kholna koi business, I want to join Indian Army! See meine graduation complete kar liya hai… ab to..please?”, I pleaded again.

My mother shut me and supported Papa which frustrated me more.

“Ayesha tu jaa apne room mein. Tu koi army join nahi karegi bas! Aur haan tujhe job nahi karna thik hai, aage nahi padhna thik hai..hum force nahi karenge… lekin tu Army join nahi karegi…sochna bhi mat!”, she calmly spoke but was interrupted by Papa.

“Army join karwaane se better hai hum teri shaadi kar dein.” And this held me frozen at my place. Looking hopefully at my Mom that she would stop but vain, my expectations went in vain when she agreed to him.

~

Rejecting every proposal which was kept forward to me became a headache for my parents. Not just they were frustrated, they stopped talking but kept shouting, making me understand every now and then that I should leave my stubbornness.

Things were not sorting out but turning complicated since I didn't bent towards their wish .For them, this was a formality to make me married so that I put off my obstinacy and for me to get married to a person who would not support me, meant a stop to my dreams and thus I kept lingering on marriage proposals.

~

Weeks passed this way and nothing happened. My parents had left no stone unturned to make me agree and so did I but fact was I was reaching nowhere. A point had come when even I got tired of everything that was happening around me. My relatives, my parents, everyone mentally forced me to think otherwise, they would not pay heed to me and would shut me up and there were nights I was locked inside a room so that no friends meet me. Mentally things were going to a null point where I found no scope of rising. I was circled among a bunch of people who opposed me and this was mentally discharging; nights had passed so vulnerable that I cried hours with no one beside me.

To leap forward in my life some plans, few decisions were necessary to make. And the time to decide for myself came.

~

Hearing the door open, immediately I pushed the Army Entrance Preparation Book beneath my pillow and held some magazine up till my face.

“Ayesha! Chalo dinner ke liye…” , my Mom left after ordering.

“Hmm! Aa rahi hun…” , shutting the magazine I followed my Mom.

At the Dinner table;

Gulping the last bite on my plate, I thought to break the silence among us.

“Mom Dad, mein…ohh please listen to me…kuch aur baat karni hai aapse…it’s not about my dreams!!” before anyone would think of interrupting I thought better to clear what I was to share with them.

“Hmm better, bolo..”

“I know I have been rejecting every proposal and genuinely mujhe koi pasand nahi tha but now I think it’ll be a waste if I don’t marry now… atleast kuch to achha hoga aage…So okay, I am ready to get married!”, as I finished and met their gazes, it gave me a weird feeling seeing them shocked and smiling at the same time.

“Ayesha achanak aisa kyun? Tera bhaagne ka plan to nahi hai na!!”, snapped Dad. 

“ Nahi bhaag rahi kahin… ab shaadi ke liye ready ho gayi hu na..relax!”, calmly leaving my chair I replied.

~

A week later,

Families talked; decision made; they approved; I said a yes.

Looking at my parents’ happy faces then, my lips curved a little upwards too.

I sat on my study table, my eyes fixed on the engagement ring my fiancé had slid into my finger 2 hours ago. Two lives would soon be hitched; one relation would be named for ever still few answers knew no limits; many questions were yet unanswered.

The thought of sharing my dreams with him and expecting a positive reaction was a mere hope but how would I start was the question revolving continuously in mind. Not everything was going to be easy was the accurate possibility about my future with them. For if they say a yes what should I expect from my parents’, smiles or anger? And for a no, who would come to me and handle the turmoil of my sentiments? Ahh, will everything fall into right places or will I only have to join the cracks myself!

~

All these questions were bugging me when another fact stroked me badly. How could I forget that a married woman is not eligible for army. Argh. if I get married, my dreams would shatter which I will never be able to tolerate. I definitely need to stop. I'll have to talk to Shaurya. He'll understand, maybe.

"Sh.. Shaurya ! I need to talk to you now!! Kuch bohot important baat hai..", I sighed as he agreed.

Taking my cell, wallet and bike keys, I drove to his place.

~

Shaurya sat on the next chair by me, "Hey why are you so tensed?"

I gulped nervously, "Please… please listen to me calmly. I don't know how will you react but…please."

He nodded and urged me to speak, " Shaurya woh… I didn't tell you something.. Actually I… I wish to fulfill my dreams.."

"Ayesha speak. No need to be nervous!", his smile gave me a hope.

Nodding at him I continued, "I always had a dream of being a soldier, join Indian army, serve my country but my parents didn't allow, they still oppose my wishes. You know, it's my passion to protect our nation, stay at peaks, fight the terrorists and above else safeguard our people.. B.Com and everything I did just for my parents, I thought they would agree and let me pursue my dream after graduation but no...they didn't and rather decided to get me married…mujhe laga shaadi ke baad sab thik ho jayega but…ek problem hai Shaurya ..", my eyes were turning moist while he kept listening, "Married women cannot join Army. Only unmarried ones are eligible!!"

His face was numb, no words but his eyes fixed on me which made me nervous.. A fear of being criticised shook me mentally seeing him..

Before I shook his hand, his face lit up with a smile, confusing me, " Shaurya ? Why…are you reacting this... way!! Please bolo…"

I flinched a little as he held my hand, "Ayesha! What if I say I won't let you fulfill your dream? Will you leave everything or still agree to be my wife?", words choked inside my throat hearing him, my vision blurred with water..and he spoke again chuckling, "Hey hey listen, you won't have to do anything...because I support your dream! Infact this is a proud thing."

He was smiling looking at me and I couldn't digest his words, "Will you..you… sacrifice y..your li..life for my dream?? I…I... ". 

"This isn't sacrificing, it is supporting your fiancé’s dream and trying to fulfill it.", Shaurya immediately replied to which my eyes gave up and tears rolled down my cheeks.

Giving me a tissue, he nodded a no to my crying but I couldn't control shedding tears infront of him, "S…sorry… for hiding, sorry for this!! Thankyou, I am so grateful to you!! But.. Shaurya … marriage..??”, I asked. 

“Umm.. We’ll talk to parents, okay, today only! Actually let’s go…”

~

“My parents, I don’t know but something definitely goes wrong with them when it’s about me. When Shaurya and his family approved and have no problem in waiting for few years, why can’t my Maa Papa understand!! This is limits!! Why is it so difficult to know where my happiness lies.. Am I no deserving? Have I done a crime by asking for their understanding? Oh yeah, maybe it is me who needs to behave, right! It’s me who should listen each and every bit what they say and have no opinion about my life. It is bound to be their decision that what I must do and when I should get married. God, are you there?? Kya karun mein huh?? Har baar kuch na kuch hua aur kahin se mere dreams shatter hue, kyun? Kyunki mein desh ke liye kuch chahti hun? Is it a crime to live into hearts of people as a martyr?? I understand lagta hai darr, kahin mar na jaun border pe fight karte karte… unki beti marr jayegi, shaadi bhi nahi hui hogi, koi future ka pakka nahi…. Huh? Yahi darr hai, I know… Aur agar yeh nahi to kya? Society bolegi ladki ko yeh sab shobha nahi deta hai… sirf ghar chalao, years and years till your last breath, do the household chores and wahi kaam karte kart eek din mar jao… kya isse better yeh nahi hoga ki mein kuch achha kar ke apni life spend karun… jo mujhe achha lage woh karun… kya yeh mere family ke liye proud moment nahi hoga??? Shayad nahi… isliye hi to mujhe jaane nahi de rahe, soldier nahi banne de rahe hai… who chahte hain mein shaadi kar lun… koi job kar lun… to thik hai…yahi sahi… mein wahi karungi…ab koi dream nahi dekhungi khud ke liye… koi nahi janta mein kitna helpless feel kar rahi hun… toot gayi hun puri tarah se… ab arguememt, fights tolerate nahi kar sakti mein… apne parents ko isse zyada kya bolun …agar issi baat se unhe khushi milti hai to fine, ab meri life dedicated to my in laws, my husband and my new life kyunki agar mere koi kaam me unki blessings nahi hongi to vaise bhi wo unsuccessful nahi rahega, better is to go what destiny has planned for me…”, I felt vulnerable as the forms of army examination lay torn on the floor and my dream crushed into my heart.

~ 

It was one week ago when I celebrated my and Shaurya's 25th wedding anniversary.. It was a simple cake cutting celebration with our families and my pretty Arya who managed to make it more beautiful with her arrival, though for a day only. Arya is busy, she is busy living a life I had dreamt of, she's fulfilling my wishes happily and we are proud of her.

"It's such a proud moment to wake up on Independence Day and watch my soldier leading the parade on Raj Path.", Shaurya smiled at me.

"Yes! She made us proud." 

"See, the determined look on her face, the way she's walking ahead with devotion and pride. I'm so happy Shaurya!!", I pleasantly kept my head on his shoulder as he held my hand.

~

"Mumma!!! Listen!!!" I jerked stunningly when I felt Arya bounce on my back, hugging me tightly.

"Haan say say!!", I stopped her by turning to her. 

Her eyes were glinting with excitement, "Selected!!!! Army!!! Finallllyyy!!!", I stood fixed on my place as she flung the sheet infront. Realisation took over a minute and I embraced Arya as tight as possible and pecked her head lovingly.

"I'm soo happy. I'm so proud of you Arya!!! Congratulations!!! My Arya will be a soldier!!” I couldn't express my happiness in words.

Arya smiled, "Yes yes yes! Aapka dream pura hua Mumma. You did it. Leaving all those comments, society talks, you encouraged me. To kya hua aap nahi ban paayi Soldier, your Arya will be one."

"Yes. Bohot tough hai but I know you'll do it. Dedicate them your life Arya!", I cupped her face.

"No worries now, bas ab training ke liye chali jaungi mein!!! Aur kuch years mein dekhna Leader banungi. Country ko represent karungi!!" I had tears, she frowned, "Mumma, don't you ever cry ki I'm away from you… Jab bhi possible hoga we'll talk and I'll come to meet my lovely family. Don't you want me to be daring? But.." I was surprised, "But? Arya?" She looked down, "But what if I had couldn't reach upto the level? The best?"

I let out a sigh, "You have to be strong, and you can do it. Whatever may happen, you won't go weak… the journey is forever. Just be brave and strong."

Arya nodded, "But then it applies to you'll too. Ag…Agar mujhe kuch ho bhi jaye na to rona mat. Proud se apni Arya ko salute karna!" Words felt less to even say something, so smiling lightly, I kissed her forehead. "Go and tell your Dad, he is in the office." I chuckled as she jumped happily to share the news.

~

…And that was the moment, 4 years ago, I thought it was me exclaiming with joy, sharing my happiness with everyone. It was a beautiful feeling to have realised that my dreams were safely taking a shape of reality, she was running on the path I’d dreamt of and today my heart filled with sheer contentment seeing Arya in the prestigious Independence Day ceremony. I bless my soldier a long life, just wish to find her smiling, healthy, and safe in the next meet because everything there is uncertain. Sitting miles away from her, within me resides a fear of losing her but what overpowers the fear is her confidence, her smile and the fact that if she loses her life's battle, she would have sacrificed her soul for hundreds and that would be something to be proud of, not a martyr myself but mother of a martyr..Isn’t it?

-END-

Would love to read reviews on this.
-Sakshi :)