Ayush got up from his chair when his name was called out. It was his graduation ceremony and three years of college passed by really quickly but fortunately for him he always had a plan. Adjusting his suit buttons, he made his way on to the stage to receive his degree in English. His classmates cheered for him but it was more of an obligation because he didn't really make friends as his dad always taught him to focus more on studies rather than waste time in creating a big social circle.
At twenty one, Ayush was living his best life. He was an all-rounder during his school days- mastering every sport except for cricket and getting straight-As till the day he passed out from his school he was at his entire life. He was loved by his teachers while the case wasn't exactly similar when it came to his peers. His mother hugged him after the ceremony while his father maintained his distance. It wasn't rocket science to figure out that all his life Ayush just wanted to make his father happy, even if it meant overlooking what he really wanted to do with his life. His mother would often complain to her sister how Ayush should take it easy but she too kept her distance from her husband.
Ayush's father was a Major General in the Indian Army and he too worked hard to be where he was. It was no secret that he expected everyone in the house to maintain discipline as if it were an office. Ayush silently followed everything his father asked him to do, which also meant preparing to join the Indian Army. When the family of three reached home after the ceremony, his father didn't waste any time announcing, "I will be retiring in a few years so you know you don't have much time left, you understand me son?" Ayush just nodded and went to his room.
If Ayush's room could talk, it would ask him to take a break too but the room being able to talk seemed more possible than Ayush taking a break from everything. He got undressed and opened his laptop to prepare for the exam that would determine if he was eligible to join the profession his father had pretty much mastered in.
Among other things, Ayush loved running. He didn't realise it yet but it was more like his coping mechanism rather than something he really loved. That evening, he ran fifteen kilometres, the most he had run in a very long time. When he reached home his father enquired where he was. Ayush checked his watch and gave a weak smile. "I just ran fifteen kilometres dad." His mother tried not to show her worry and instead smiled at the two men in her life.
The day of the exam arrived and Ayush seemed confident. He told his father the exam went well but his mother knew something was wrong. When they were alone in his room there was a long silence until Ayush broke down. His mother hugged her son and waited for him to speak. "I intentionally wrote the wrong answers because I don't want to join the Army mom." His voice broke but he continued, "for once I want to do something I want to do but I am so scared of him."
A fortnight later Ayush's father was told that his son didn't pass the exam. The last time Ayush had seen his father that angry was when he was twelve and he wasn't able to get the few math questions correct. It was at that moment he knew who he really was.
Seven years later...
"I want to dedicate this award to my father. He didn't show up today but I hope he is watching me tonight. This one is for you, dad." Ayush smiled and walked down the stage. He hadn't quite anticipated he would be one of the most prominent writers of India. A week ago he was told that his book, 'A Leap Not Taken', won the National Booker Prize. His readers often asked him if the book was based on his real life story but he always just smiled and didn't reply. Ayush's mother hugged him after the prize ceremony and he felt a little nostalgic. They both were thinking the same thing but no one talked about the elephant in the room.
A month later, hundreds of people gathered for the retirement party of Major General Aditya Kumar. When it was the main man's turn to give a speech no one quite expected that he would read from a script. Only the few people in the front rows could make out the man was reading from a book. Ayush was shocked to see his own book on the podium and before he could process, his father went on, "I have never been a fan of reading books for pleasure but this particular book captivated my heart and was a testament for how the last thirty years of my career were like. I might give you all a spoiler but I am also confident that most of you have already read this book considering the author-my son- won the National Booker prize a month ago."
Ayush felt everyone staring at him but his old man proceeded, "I will read out the last paragraph now," adjusting his spectacles, he read, "I don't deserve the full credit for this book. I simply came across a draft in my old man's room which was half finished. I just knew I had to fulfil my father's long lost dream of becoming a writer." Ayush tried his best to not cry.
The father-son duo didn't keep a distance when they came face to face after seven long years. The embrace didn't quite make up for the lost love but as Ayush's running coach always said, 'every finish line is just a new starting line.'
