The cold halls of the orphanage had taught Abhir many lessons—some harsh, some unforgettable. One of the earliest lessons was this: if you want something in life, you have to earn it yourself. No one was going to hand it to you. Especially not the rich.
From a very young age, Abhir had watched wealthy people walk into the orphanage. They would smile for pictures, donate things once a year, and leave with clean hands and clear hearts. But Abhir could see the truth behind their fake smiles. He had heard them say, "These kids are so lucky we're helping," as if their five-minute visit was a lifetime's worth of kindness. The caretakers always warned the children: "Don't expect anything from them. Just say thank you and smile."
Abhir learned to expect nothing. Especially not from people who had everything.
Still, he never let the bitterness of the world make him bitter. He focused on what he could do. And that was a study. Books became his best friends. He worked hard—waking up early, studying late, and doing small jobs in between. He helped clean the orphanage, ran errands for teachers, and later took up part-time work at a nearby stationery store. Every rupee he earned went into saving for college.
By the time he turned eighteen, Abhir had completed his education with above-average marks. He was proud—but quiet about it. While others celebrated their birthdays, Abhir packed his few clothes, collected his savings, and walked out of the orphanage with a simple thought:
"If I want a better future, I have to leave the past behind."
He rented a tiny one-room apartment on the edge of the city. It had no fan, no fridge, and barely any light. But to Abhir, it was freedom. For the first time, he could sleep without hearing babies cry or the loud whistle of the orphanage warden.
Life outside, however, was not easy.
Abhir began searching for jobs—good jobs, ones that matched his skills and education. He was smart, quick to learn, and fluent in English and computers. But everywhere he went, he heard the same words:
"We like your resume, but... do you have a reference?"
"You can get the job if you pay a little under the table."
Bribes.
It felt like, no matter how hard he worked, money was still the key to everything. And he didn't have that key.
He refused those jobs. Not because he didn't need them—but because he refused to pay to be treated with respect. "If a job starts with corruption," he thought, "what will it lead to?"
Days passed. Then weeks. And still, he remained unemployed.
One day, sitting in his small room, scrolling through social media, Abhir saw a post from Varun:
"First day of my new Photoshoot! Earning well, living better. Hard work pays off!"
Next came Rahul, boasting about his new position in a top firm company, and Soni, smiling with her ID card from a Fashion Studio. Even Sunny had landed a job in the film industry.
They were all doing well. Abhir smiled, looking at their posts. He even messaged them "Congrats!" with a red heart emoji.
But as soon as he put down his phone, he sat quietly, staring at the empty wall in front of him.
He was happy for them. Truly.
But when he looked at his own reflection, he only saw disappointment.
"Why not me? I did everything right... "Why is nothing working out?"
Abhir wasn't jealous. He was just… tired. Tired of always doing good and getting nothing in return.
Still, a small voice inside him whispered,
"Don't give up. Change begins now."
And that night, for the first time, instead of applying for another job… he wrote down a new plan.
He would not wait anymore for someone to give him an opportunity. He would create one.
Whatever came next, he promised himself he would change everything.