A Family's Journey to Understanding and Support

Dreams bloom brighter when nurtured with love, not pressure,  

For happiness lies in finding one's own treasure.

In the busy city New Delhi, there lived a middle-class family that seemed like any other. Alok, the father, worked as a bank manager, while Asha, the mother, managed the household with love and care. Their two sons, Rakesh and Rahul, were the center of their world. Rakesh was in 12th grade, facing the pressure of upcoming entrance exams, while Rahul was still in 8th grade, enjoying his carefree days.

Alok and Asha had dreams for their children… big dreams. They envisioned Rakesh as an engineer and Rahul as a doctor someday. Like many parents, they believed these professions were the key to success and happiness. But dreams can sometimes turn into burdens.

Rakesh spent countless hours in coaching classes, juggling schoolwork and preparation for competitive exams like IIT-JEE. Despite his efforts, the results didn’t match his parents’ expectations. When the exam results came out, Rakesh hadn’t made the cut.

That evening, Alok and Asha sat him down. Asha’s voice trembled with disappointment as she said, “Rakesh, why didn’t you try harder? You’re wasting all the opportunities we’ve given you. How will you ever succeed if you keep failing?”

Alok added sternly, “Do you even understand how important these exams are? You need to stop being so careless.”

Their words cut through Rakesh like a knife. Tears welled up in his eyes as he whispered, “I’m sorry, Papa… I’m sorry, Mama.” He felt crushed under the weight of their expectations and his own sense of failure.

That night, Rakesh locked himself in his room. He stared at his books and wondered if he was good enough. The thought of disappointing his parents haunted him. He felt completely trapped, hopeless, and broken.

Meanwhile, Alok and Asha attended a party hosted by their friends Raj and Kavita. The evening was filled with laughter and chatter until Kavita brought up parenting.

“Asha,” Kavita said warmly, “I used to be so strict with my kids. I would push them constantly to perform better. But then I attended a parenting workshop that changed everything for me.”

Asha leaned forward curiously. “What did you learn?”

Kavita smiled. “I learned that children need freedom to make their own choices. We can guide them, but forcing them only adds stress. Since I’ve started giving my kids space to explore their own paths, they’ve been thriving.”

Asha sighed deeply and said, “Kavita, my son Rakesh couldn’t crack the entrance exams we’ve been preparing him for. We’re so worried about his future.”

Kavita placed a comforting hand on Asha’s shoulder. “Asha, listen to me. Your son’s mental health is far more important than any exam. Give him time to find his way. Support him instead of pressuring him.”

Those words echoed in Asha’s mind as she returned home with Alok. They walked into the house quietly and found Rakesh sitting alone in his room, staring at the floor.

Asha approached him gently and said, “Beta Rakesh… we’re sorry.”

Rakesh looked up in surprise. “Sorry? For what?”

Alok joined in, his voice softer than usual. “We’ve been too hard on you. We’ve been so focused on what we want for you that we forgot to ask what you want for yourself.”

Asha hugged her son tightly and said, “It’s not the end of the world if you didn’t crack these exams. You can take a gap year if you want to try again… or you can choose another path entirely. We just want you to be happy.”

Rakesh’s eyes filled with tears again, but this time they weren’t tears of sadness. He whispered shakily, “Thank you… thank you for understanding. You don’t know how much this means to me.” Then he hesitated before admitting, “I… I was thinking of ending my life tonight because I felt like such a failure.”

Asha gasped and clutched him tighter. “No! Beta, never think like that again! You are precious to us… Your life is more valuable than any degree or achievement.”

Alok nodded firmly. “From now on, we’ll support your dreams, whatever they may be. You don’t have to follow our plans… you can follow your own.”

For the first time in months, Rakesh felt a sense of relief wash over him. His parents’ words gave him hope.

The next year, Rakesh decided to take a gap year and prepare for the entrance exams again… but this time on his own terms. He studied at his own pace, without feeling suffocated by pressure or expectations.

When the results came out the following year, Rakesh had cracked the IIT entrance exam. He was overjoyed, not just because he succeeded, but because he had done it his way.

As he shared the news with his parents, they hugged him tightly and said, “We’re so proud of you, not just for passing the exam but for staying strong and believing in yourself.”

Rakesh smiled through tears of joy and said, “Thank you for letting me find my own path. I couldn’t have done it without your support.”

From that day forward, Alok and Asha learned an important lesson: their children’s happiness mattered more than societal expectations or comparisons with others. And together as a family, they moved forward with love and understanding, lighting their way.