Aaryan was once a young man with a heart full of dreams. Growing up in a modest family in Mumbai, his parents had always taught him the value of kindness, compassion, and hard work. They lived in a small apartment, just large enough for them to be happy but humble enough to remind them of the importance of gratitude. Aaryan's father, Raghav, was a self-made man who ran a small electronics repair shop, while his mother, Sunita, was a respected school teacher. Together, they provided Aaryan with a stable upbringing and encouraged him to dream big.
Aaryan excelled in school. He wasn't just intelligent but also compassionate. He was the kind of person who would help his classmates with their studies, offer his lunch to a homeless person, or spend hours volunteering at local shelters. His friends admired him, and his professors saw a bright future ahead of him. He had everything: a supportive family, good friends, and a girlfriend who loved him dearly.
Meera had been the love of his life since college. They met during a charity event where Aaryan was volunteering, and she had been captivated by his sincerity. Their love story was the kind that inspired those around them. They were inseparable, making plans for the future, talking about traveling the world, and building a life together.
But life, as Aaryan was about to learn, didn't always go according to plan.
One day, while Aaryan was away at university, he received a phone call that would change his life forever. His father had collapsed at the shop and was rushed to the hospital. Aaryan dropped everything and hurried to be by his side. At first, he believed it was something minor, just exhaustion from long hours at work. But the truth was much worse.
His father had been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The doctors explained that the treatment would be long and expensive, with no guarantee of success. Aaryan's world crumbled. His father had been his pillar, his guiding force, and now that pillar was fading. But Aaryan, always the optimist, refused to give up hope. He would do everything in his power to save his father, no matter the cost.
For the next several months, Aaryan's life revolved around hospital visits, medical bills, and juggling work and university. His friends, at first, offered their condolences and support. They told him they would be there for him if he ever needed anything. But as time passed, those words began to feel hollow. When Aaryan reached out for help—whether it was a hand with work or just someone to talk to—his friends started making excuses. They were too busy, too overwhelmed with their own lives, and slowly, they drifted away.
His best friend, Rohan, who had once been like a brother to him, stopped answering his calls. The friends who used to hang out with him at every opportunity were nowhere to be found. Aaryan had given so much to them, always there when they needed support, but now, when he needed them, they were gone.
Meera, the woman he thought he would marry, tried to stay by his side, but even she began to waver. The stress of watching Aaryan's life fall apart weighed heavily on her. She watched as the man she loved became consumed with his father's illness, losing himself in the process. Their conversations, once filled with laughter and dreams, turned into long silences or discussions about medical treatments and financial struggles. Meera loved Aaryan, but she wasn't ready for the life that was unfolding in front of her.
One evening, after another long day at the hospital, Aaryan returned home to find Meera waiting for him. Her face was pale, her eyes swollen from crying. She couldn't hold back her tears as she told him that she couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't live in this constant state of uncertainty, watching Aaryan's life spiral out of control. She needed stability, a future she could count on, and Aaryan's world had become anything but that.
Aaryan's heart shattered. He had always believed that love would see them through anything, that they would fight their battles together. But now, the woman he had loved more than anything was walking away. Meera told him she would always care for him, but she couldn't stay. She kissed him one last time and left, leaving Aaryan standing in the doorway of their shared apartment, broken and alone.
The days after Meera's departure were a blur of pain and numbness. Aaryan's father's condition worsened, and the medical bills piled up. He had no one left to turn to. The friends who had once celebrated life's highs with him were nowhere to be found in its darkest moments. Even his family, as supportive as they were, could do little to alleviate the burden he carried.
Aaryan's father passed away a few weeks later, leaving him with a mountain of debt and a heart full of grief. The funeral was small, attended only by close family. The friends Aaryan had once considered brothers didn't show up. Even Rohan sent only a brief message, claiming he couldn't make it because of work.
It was in those moments, standing at his father's grave, that Aaryan felt something in him break. The world had taken everything from him—his family, his love, his friends. He had always been the one to help others, to lift them up in their time of need, but when he had reached out for a hand, all he found was emptiness.
A seed of bitterness began to grow in Aaryan's heart. He had lived his life believing in the goodness of people, in the idea that kindness would be returned. But now, standing alone, he realized the truth. The world was cruel, and those who gave without asking for anything in return were the first to be abandoned.
---