From the dark to the dawn

It is early Sunday morning, and Shalini is lying awake, tossing and turning in her bed, smiling as she thinks of her fiance, Mohit. They had a short yet sweet encounter last weekend, albeit in the company of his friends ( you can read about it here ). Despite not having any ‘alone’ time together, the memory of it is refreshing and worth preserving. Just then, her reminder rings, and tone of it shakes her out of her reverie. “The promotion exam is in 1.5 hours, at 10.00 am," it says.  Shalini has prepared for this exam thoroughly. She is determined to move forward and climb the ladder of success in her career. Being an ambitious woman, she aspires to have a career filled with dignity and respect. Moreover, the icing on the cake would be if she is transferred to Bangalore, Mohit's city, which is an added incentive for acing this promotion test. Taking a deep breath, she fills herself with energy on this otherwise lazy Sunday, ready to tackle the challenge ahead. She jumps out of...

It is a hot summer Saturday afternoon in June and half-day at the office. Most of the staff has already left. Shalini is unhurriedly making a list of her unfinished tasks. A while later, she looks at the clock ticking at 14.10 hours and starts working again. She belongs to Jhalawar District and moved to Jaipur last May for the job she cracked from her MBA college. In Jaipur, she lives in a 3-BHK rented apartment with her two flatmates, Shikha and Rhythm. Both are working and amicable. On weekends, they party and go to pubs that Shalini is not very fond of. Shalini got engaged to Mohit recently. Mohit is working for an MNC in Bangalore and getting married in December with him. Her parents found him through a matrimonial ad. Mohit is soft-spoken, ambitious, and intelligent. He is perfectly tall and dark. Three months prior, she knew nothing about him. After talking daily for half an hour to him she knows he talks less, listens more and values time. No doubt he is so successful. He never ...

There was a girl,  who used to sleep deep, Now, the slightest movement in her room wakes her up. There was a girl, who did not care for her messy room, Now, carefully folds every piece of cloth. There was a girl, who spoke till her heart emptied, Now, focuses more on listening. There was a girl, who used to fill her up with chocolates for every skipped meal, Now, chooses healthy food for every meal. There was a girl,  who did not give a damn to speed limits and speed brakes, Now, drives her car slowly and avoiding any crates carefully. There was a girl, who dreamt randomly without caring to complete them, Now, adds meaning to her ambitions. There was a girl, who lived with on her own terms with no rules, Now, abides by every rule she sets for herself. She was a girl then, Now, she is a mother. She knows her actions have more effect than her words,  She learns to be responsible and mature everyday.

There was a girl whose parents gave her the chance to study and learn. They motivated her to choose her path and weave her dreams. She fueled her dreams with hopes and desires. She dreamt of ambitions, creating value and financial independence. She grew up. She loved her career. Of course, there were ups and downs, disappointments and dissatisfactions. Still, at the end of the day, she knew she could still live up to her dreams if she kept trying. She got married to a charming guy who supported her dreams and career. Eventually, she had kids. She never contemplated how much dedication her children required from her. She always thought of having kids and raising them as a temporary condition rather than a permanent one. She thought she could also sail this boat. Naive she was, she did not know it was easier thought than done.  For time being, she tried to manage everything - home, children, and work. As she still had a place for her dreams in her mind. But slowly, she started to fee...