And they Challenged their destiny......

August 2011, a beautiful rainy day, when Mithi was born to Ruhi and Aman. The happiest day in their life to be parents of a cute angel. Their life was going smoothly. Both of them gaining heights in their career, earning handsome salary, having all comforts of life, and now proud parents of a daughter. It was just perfect.

Things were all fine, until one day, in December 2011, when Aman called up Ruhi, who was on maternity leave at her native town and said “Ruhi..I have got an Interview call for Kuwait. Should I attend?” Ruhi, Aman’s college time love, his wife and now mother of his beautiful 3 months old daughter…said excitedly ”Yes yaar...why not. Please go ahead…you have been looking for an International opportunity. This is all for our better Tomorrow and Mithi’s future. So just go ahead. All the best”. And Aman attended the interview, cleared it and was offered a job. He could not control his happiness. He called up Ruhi at the same moment and said “Wifey I got a job. Three months of training here in Delhi and then I go to Kuwait.” “Oh! That’s great news Aman. I love U”. That night Ruhi’s mind was full of questions. Trying to find answers within herself, she slept.

Few days after, Ruhi and Mithi reached Delhi. That whole night Ruhi just wept on the shoulders of Aman.” How shall I leave all alone without you??We have been together for 17 years. I can’t think of a life without you. How shall I manage home and office together?” and tears went on rolling down her cheeks. Aman held her hands and said “You remember, we always dreamt of a lavish life. I always wanted to set up our own Indian Restaurant out of India and you want an HR consultancy. A high standard living that we think and plan to give our daughter. I am going for our better future. In Kuwait the salary is Tax free and it is the most powerful currency in world. So just imagine the money we shall be making and we shall be able to make our dreams live. We shall be able to repay all our loans, give an international environment to Mithi. She is only 6 months old now, and it is a matter of 1 year. Next year you both shall be with me. You and Mithi are my strengths. If I do not succeed in this one year, then I shall come back to India and work here. Currently, there is no risk at all. You are working and earning a handsome salary. Heading your team and having a wonderful career now. Mithi is also not of school going age, so we can afford my going to Kuwait. And, after a year, you shall be in Kuwait, you shall also get a wonderful job and we shall be living together. So for our better tomorrow sweetheart, please do not dishearten yourself. Or I shall cancel my going and stay back in India.”

“You are right Aman. We need to take up this. Just the thought of getting separated from you made me break down. But for our future and for our dreams, we shall have to take this step. I am always with you”. Ruhi and Aman, both never believed in destiny. What they believed was their love, their confidence in themselves and each other and last but not the least, their hard work.

31st March 2012, Aman flew to Kuwait. With lots of dreams and aspirations, Ruhi and Aman started to settle down in their own life without each other. Ruhi had her parents to take care of Mithi. She was holding a middle management position in Human Resource in a big firm. Her responsibilities were growing. She earned a handsome salary and her career graph was always steep.

On the other hand, Aman was struggling hard to live alone without family. But he knew he was doing all these for them and for their dreams.

Once in morning and late night, Aman and Ruhi used to talk over phone. Aman always used to talk about Kuwait and the lifestyle over there.  Both got themselves involved in their work so much that they hardly found time for thinking anything else other than to work for their Future.

Days passed and months passed, it was about to be a year since Aman had left India. He was back to India to take Ruhi and Mithi. Ruhi said “I am currently at a key position in my Company. And also I see a wonderful career ahead. If I resign and go, then I shall loose all these. My job, my salary, my career. It is really difficult for me to take a decision right now". Hearing this Aman said in a soft voice “, Ruhi, I know you are a career oriented woman. Do not worry about job. Within few months you shall get a job. I have explored the market over there”

“But it is very risky. What if I do not get a job?? How shall we sustain on your salary only? Because we have planned a lot of things. Ruhi is also 2 years old and shall be going to school in next 2 years. We need to have financial back up for her. Shall I surely get a job there?” asked a confused Ruhi.

Aman said lovingly to her “Yes of course honey, do not worry. You have a wonderful experience and you are talented, you shall surely get a job”.

November 2013, Ruhi along with Mithi left for Kuwait. One part of her heart was very happy that the family has reunited again, but the other part was very confused, whether she would get a job or not. But she tried to overcome her fear and wanted to live that moment. They could not believe that they were together with their lovely daughter. It seemed that all their dreams were coming true. Their tomorrow was happy and all secured.

Couple of months passed and Ruhi started to hunt for a job. It was not an easy thing as they had thought. Ruhi was getting calls, but she was not satisfied as all those jobs were of lower rank than what she had in India. Ruhi was getting miserable day by day. Aman tried to explain Ruhi, that she can take up any job in Kuwait and once she gains experience, she can switch over to another job. But Ruhi was not convinced. She said “Aman, I cannot compromise on designation. That too a rank lower than what I had in India. But I cannot start as an Assistant Manager. I was a General Manager dear.”

They had put Mithi in a play school. Ruhi was getting frustrated. She started thinking “was my decision wrong? Did I mess up my professional life?”

It was about to be six months. Ruhi was not able to get a satisfactory job. Things got more worsened, when one day Aman came back home late, he was in a different state of mind. He seemed to have lost everything he had....his face was hung down. He rang the door bell and as soon as Ruhi opened the door, he hugged her tightly and tears rolled down his cheeks. She had never seen Aman in this condition. She got worried. “What happened Aman? Please tell me. My heart is pounting. For God’s sake..tell me”.

“I lost my job Ruhi..I lost it”…………cried Aman

“What??”..Ruhi screamed

“Yes, the oil prices have crashed and there is serious economic break down. They have chucked out around 1000 employees. We shall have to fly back to India” said Aman.

“Oh. Is that so?” Ruhi could not control her tears. All their dreams seemed to shatter in front of their eyes. Both of them were jobless. Their cute Mithi was sleeping, ignorant of what was happening around her. What are they going to do now? Somehow, Ruhi stood up. Wiped her tears and said “We are in a soup Aman, we know. But instead of crying we need to find a solution asap. Let’s pack our bags and fly down to India. I know we shall both get a good job there”. Aman just nodded his head and both went to sleep. Both knew that they shall not be able to sleep that night……..yet they tried to make each other sleep.

“We are coming back Mom. Aman lost his job.”Ruhi’s voice was shivering but she tried to have control; on herself.

Aman, Ruhi and Mithi flew back to India after couple of days. Though the family was happy to see them but was also tensed for their future. Aman asked Ruhi “Can you give me one more chance Ruhi? You gave me last time, can you give me again? I know I cannot work in India. I want to earn money. I can’t let our dreams get shattered like glass pieces. We have worked hard a lot. And an economic crash down cannot let us down.”

Ruhi held Aman’s hand and sad “Aman, I trust you and your hard work. But you see Mithi is growing. We do not have much bank balance. And it is depreciating day by day. We cannot afford any more risk. Let’s be here for few years and then we shall go back again. But let us first get ourselves settle here. May be this is our destiny”.

Aman gasped “How can you talk about destiny Ruhi? Have you lost your confidence? It is us who make our destiny and we shall do it again. I shall have our Restaurant and Consultancy in UAE for sure. Just give me one more year. Imran, my friend has seen a job for me in Dubai. I just need to go and join there, yes the salary is not very high, but since it is his uncle’s company, there is no loss of losing the job. I know life shall be tough for us. If I do not take this risk this time, we shall never be able to get a chance again. This is the toughest phase of our life, I know we are running out of cash, neither you are having a job nor I have got a good one. But still I am determined to go. Because I trust myself sweetheart. But believe me I shall set things right. Please be my support and trust me.” and Aman pleaded Ruhi.

“I give you this chance Aman. But remember, I shall never compromise on Mithi’s comfort. Money or no money, Mithi shall get the best things that she deserves and wants. Lat time when you went, we knew that it was a matter of just One year; but now we do not know when shall we be together again. How shall I make Mithi understand about your absence. It shall be so difficult Aman”.

“I know it shall be Ruhi. But we need to challenge our destiny to bring back our past life and make our dreams go live. And together we shall do this honey” said Aman.

A week after, Aman flew back to Dubai. It was the toughest time of their life. Ruhi though was looking for a job, but she was in a very small town in India. She was not getting any job. Having a break in her career made things worst for her. Also Mithi was very small, and her parents were very old. So she could not afford to go out to work as she had to take care of her. Aman, though got a job, but the salary was very less. Whatever he earned, he sent half to Ruhi and kept half for him. Neither Ruhi was able to manage nor Aman. But their will power helped them to overcome all these odds. Every day they both promised each other, no matter what, they shall make their dreams and future secure once again. Whatever they have lost, they shall get it back. And the biggest promise…if one breaks down..the other shall make him/her stand again.

Months passed and one year was about to complete, but Aman had not earned the amount that he had thought of. Ruhi again insisted him to come back, but Aman was determined to stay there and work more hard. Ruhi, day by day was getting frustrated and miserable. She was just able to bear their miserable economic condition. There was a time when she earned in 5 figures and today not even 100. She wanted to help Aman. But how? She had tiny Mithi to take care. So she could do only a freelancing or a work from job. She discussed this with Aman and he agreed. Aman had never stopped Ruhi from doing anything and was a very supportive husband. He always encouraged Ruhi for doing what she wished for.

Ruhi started to apply online, search for work from jobs, do free lancing. But all in vain. Her frustration limits were growing high. She used to scold Mithi a lot, though later she used to realize her mistake that Mithi was innocent. One evening when Ruhi was out in the market with Mithi, she saw a Barbie and started to cry for that doll. Ruhi knew that the doll costed around 2500/- and she barely had 15oo/- in her pocket. She was totally dependent on Aman for him to send her money. Mithi was continuously crying.  Ruhi had promised herself that she would not scold Mithi. Somehow she managed to console her and promised to get a new doll very soon. That was the day, Ruhi challenged destiny. She called up Aman and said” It’s enough now yaar. If I am not getting anything in HR, if a career break means a woman is useless, I shall do something else. But I shall not let destiny win over us”. And she planned to take English Tuitions. The place where she stayed had no good English Teachers. So she started with her niece for tuitions. And Ruhi worked hard. Made posters of her Tuitions and pasted in the vicinity. Slowly and gradually, she started getting English Tuitions. So many that she started to have batches at her home. She could now take care of Mithi, and work as well. Her elder sister said “Ruhi you are doing a wonderful job. Teaching someone is the best thing on Earth. You are helping in creating Future”. Ruhi’s self confidence was back. She asked Aman to now save money as she was able to manage home with her Tuition earnings.

“I am very proud of you Ruhi. You have always set your standards high. Now I shall save money, first for our consultancy and then gradually we shall move ahead” said Aman to Ruhi on his trip to India. It was 18 months since Aman had visited India because he never had enough to buy tickets. Mithi was going to nursery school. She asked Aman “Papa, why do not you live with us? I miss you so much and you know Mama cries a lot”. He could not hold his tears back. He said “Papa is making a big house for Mithi and very soon you and Mama shall be with me.”

Ruhi had an HR background and she was very good at writing. Aman suggested Ruhi to write blogs, small poems, stories. Ruhi thought that it was a good idea. And she can use her free time. This would also help her writing skills to grow. After a 10 days visit, Aman was about to go. But this time Ruhi was not crying. Rather she was standing confidently in front of Aman and said “Soon we shall be together. We are half way and another half shall be soon achieved. We shall win our challenge over destiny”. Aman kissed on her forehead and left.

This time even Aman was relaxed that Ruhi had found her way. Aman had shifted his job and was earning pretty good. But this time he did not repeat last time mistake. He first started to maintain his bank balance and keep a part for taking license for HR Consultancy. On the other hand Ruhi’s English tuitions were booming and she had become a blogger. She had started to offer freelancing as a blogger to start ups.

And one day Aman told Ruhi over the phone “There is a magazine of our community that is going to be published in Dubai. Why don’t you send your write ups?” She was excited and she sent her best two write ups. And to her surprise they got published also. One of her poems and a blog became such a hit that a small company in Dubai offered her a job there as a content writer. She could not believe this. Her feet were trembling when she heard that over phone. It was 4 years since Aman had gone to Dubai and they have been struggling hard to live their dreams. Though the offered salary was less, but Ruhi accepted as she knew that this was her gateway to UAE...to Aman...to her future…to their dreams

Aman had also applied for license for their HR consultancy. “We won Ruhi. We made our destiny. By the time you are here, we would have got our license for our consultancy and then plan accordingly. I just cannot believe that we are going to be together again” Aman was shouting in happiness.

This is true story of a couple. Both of them really worked hard to give their daughter a wonderful future. This story taught me a lesson that both husband and wife together, should support each other. Neither the husband nor the wife is always wrong. Both their families supported them in their bad times and also in good times. Instead of blaming each other, they stood as a strong pillar to the family. For becoming great parents, both as Mom and Dad, we need to be great ourselves. And then we can see our child becoming a nice Human Being.

This story also taught me to Challenge the destiny… We can either accept what we are getting in life or we dare to live our dreams for our better future. Life is not bed of roses always. If Ruhi and Aman would have wanted, they would have easily let Destiny win over them. But their will power made them strong. Odds and Evens are part of life, what matters is that a Husband and Wife always stand together with each other and give their children a good future.

Happy Reading!!!!!