Challenges

Kavita took her car keys, locked the door and stepped out to meet her friends in the city probably for the last time.She had moved to the city 19 years ago, young, energetic, excited and moreover happy. Her marriage to Pravin had brought her to the city. Life was very satisfying until she discovered that Pravin was cheating on her. She was shattered, her marriage crumbled and she decided to go back to Indore from where she had come. She reached the restaurant. Poonam, Tina and Divya were already there. Kavita had made these thick friends in this city who shared her happiness and sorrow and stood by her when ever she needed them. Each of them were standing at a threshold.

Poonam had just lost her husband, companion and father to her ten year old son. Things were just the way she wanted, loving husband, settled life and suddenly this tragedy, just 12 years of togetherness.

Tina was going through an ugly breakup. She was in a steady relationship for five years with a man of a different faith. She put in all her efforts to convince her parents to approve the relationship, she some how managed to convince them, but he couldn't convince his parents nor could he go against them and held Tina's hand. She could not think of any other man and had refused all marriage proposals. She was heart broken. The friends chatted for long, shared their sorrows. Kavita said she was going to her home town but she was not happy, her son had also gone to Dehradun for further studies and she was left all alone and unhappy.

"My life is no different than yours," said Poonam.,"I know life becomes so difficult without a partner. Amit was my emotional anchor and financial backbone, this incident has crippled my life." She continued, "You two are victims of destiny but I am paying for my foolishness. I trusted that man and wasted so many years, rejected all good proposals there can't be anybody as stupid as me." Fumed Tina.

"C'mon girls, let's not waste time talking about our past, let's concentrate on the future. So tell me what are your future plans," said Divya.

Kavita said she was going to study further, she always wanted to do her post graduation but got so tied up with family responsibilities that she never got chance. She also wanted to do some social work, her husband never wanted her to get into all this. She had already enrolled herself in a dance class, she was always interested in dance. When she was a kid, her father never allowed and then husband did not allow. "I have started my business. I have always been in the comforts of my home, had never thought will have to work to make two ends meet," lamented Poonam. "How is your business doing?"asked Tina.

"By God's grace, I am doing extremely well, in a very short period, I have established myself quite well," Poonam answered.

"Good, I am only nursing my heart," said Tina.

"Girls, all of you are doing so well," said Divya.

"Kavita, you are getting to do so many things that you could not do earlier because your husband did not like it or your father didn't allow. Imagine, going back to college is so much fun, you will be living those days again where you had no responsibility. You are going back to a teenager' s life."

"I agree," said Poonam. "Look at me, I have to shoulder so many responsibilities."

"You too have a positive side of life, Poonam, if you had Amit always by your side, you would have never known your capabilities. In such a short time, you have carved out a place for yourself without any backing."

Poonam and Kavita realised that Divya was right.

"Tina, a good life partner definitely makes life easy but it is no assurance that you will be happy ever after, Poonam and I are apt examples in front of you," said Kavita.

During difficult times also there are good and positive things happening in life but the individual is so focussed on the problem that he is unable to see the positive things that the problems get along. In fact, Poonam and Kavita became confident to take up challenges and got aware of their capabilities, which would have never happened if things were fine. If one shifts his attention from the problem to the positive aspect that the problem brings along, he would be probably happy to face the problems and challenges.