Chapter 1: Light Inside the Darkness
In a small village in Murshidabad, there lived a boy named Arian.
The village was simple and quiet. Mud roads, endless green fields, and darkness covering everything after sunset. Life there was slow — and for most people, dreams were even smaller than the village itself.
Arian's father was a daily wage laborer. His mother worked in other people's houses. Earning enough money to eat twice a day was already a struggle. In such a life, dreaming big felt almost like a crime.
But Arian was different.
Since childhood, he would look up at the sky and wonder,
"Will I live like this forever? Or can I become something greater?"
He studied in a government school. He was intelligent, hardworking, and quiet. But poverty followed him everywhere. He didn't have new books. He didn't have a fancy school bag. Sometimes he had to borrow notes from his classmates.
One day, his teacher asked him in class,
"What do you want to become when you grow up?"
Arian stood up slowly and replied,
"Sir… I want to become an officer."
The classroom burst into laughter.
One boy mocked him,
"Look at yourself first! Then dream big!"
That day, Arian returned home with tears in his eyes. He felt small. He felt weak.
But his mother placed her hand gently on his head and said,
"Never listen to people who laugh at your dreams. If you dream, dream big."
That night, something changed inside him.
He made a promise to himself —
No matter what happens, he will not give up.
From the next morning, he woke up at 4 AM to study.
He went to school during the day.
In the evening, he helped his father at work.
At night, he studied again under a dim light.
People in the village slowly began to notice him. There was a fire in his eyes — a fire that refused to die.
But life was not ready to make things easy.
One evening, his father suddenly fell seriously ill. He had to be admitted to the hospital. There was no money. The family had to take loans.
Now Arian stood at a crossroads.
Should he leave his studies and start working full-time?
Or should he continue fighting for his dream?
That night, staring at the dark ceiling, he whispered to himself,
"I will not stop. No matter what happens… I will fulfill my dream."
And that decision was about to change his life forever.
(To be continued…)
Chapter -2 The Weight of Responsibility
The hospital corridor smelled of medicine and fear.
Arian stood silently outside the ward where his father was admitted. Machines beeped softly. Doctors moved quickly. His mother sat on a bench, holding the edge of her saree tightly, her eyes red from crying.
The doctor came out and said,
"He needs proper treatment. It will cost money."
Money.
That word felt heavier than anything else.
That night, Arian could not sleep. He stared at the cracked ceiling of their small house. Rainwater marks covered the walls. Everything looked fragile — just like his future.
The next morning, without telling anyone, Arian went to the local market.
He asked a shopkeeper,
"Uncle, do you need someone to help after school?"
The shopkeeper looked at him.
"You're still a kid."
"I can work hard," Arian replied firmly.
From that day, his routine changed.
4 AM — Study.
7 AM — School.
4 PM — Work at the shop.
9 PM — Study again.
His body felt tired. Sometimes his hands trembled while writing. Sometimes he felt like giving up.
One evening, while returning home, he saw some boys his age laughing, playing cricket, enjoying their teenage life.
For a moment, his heart felt heavy.
"Why is my life like this?" he thought.
But then he remembered his father lying on the hospital bed.
He remembered his mother's silent tears.
And he remembered his dream.
Days turned into weeks.
One day at school, the principal announced a district-level scholarship exam.
"Only the top student will get full financial support for higher studies."
The entire class looked at the topper — Rakesh.
Rakesh was from a rich family. Private tutors. Expensive books. Everything Arian didn't have.
Someone whispered,
"There's no way anyone can beat Rakesh."
Arian clenched his fists under the desk.
That night, under a weak yellow bulb, he opened his old books and said to himself,
"I may not have resources…
But I have hunger.
And hunger is stronger than comfort."
He studied like never before.
While others slept, he stayed awake.
While others rested, he kept fighting.
Exhaustion became his friend.
Pain became normal.
The day of the scholarship exam arrived.
As he sat in the examination hall, his heart was beating fast.
He closed his eyes for a moment and whispered,
"This is not just an exam. This is my chance."
And then he started writing.
Little did he know — this exam was about to test more than just his knowledge.
It was about to test his belief.
(To be continued…)
The Fight for a Dream
Chapter -3 The Day of Judgment
The morning of the scholarship result arrived with an unusual silence.
The entire school buzzed with excitement. Students gathered near the notice board even before the teachers arrived. Some were confident. Some were nervous.
Arian stood at a distance.
His palms were cold. His heart was racing. For weeks, he had studied harder than ever before. He had sacrificed sleep, comfort, and even his childhood. But deep inside, a small voice whispered—
"What if it's not enough?"
Rakesh walked into the school with confidence. His friends surrounded him.
"This scholarship is yours," one of them said.
Arian lowered his eyes. He didn't want to hope too much. Hope sometimes hurts more than failure.
Finally, the principal came out with a sheet of paper in his hand.
The crowd went silent.
"This year's district scholarship winner is…"
A pause.
Arian felt like time had stopped.
"…Arian Khan."
For a second, he thought he heard it wrong.
The students began whispering. Some looked shocked. Some couldn't believe it.
Rakesh stood frozen.
The principal continued,
"Arian has secured the highest marks in the district. His hard work and discipline are an example for everyone."
Tears filled Arian's eyes. Not because he had won.
But because for the first time in his life, his struggle was seen.
He remembered the early mornings.
He remembered the shop work.
He remembered his father's hospital bed.
When he reached home with the news, his mother could not speak. She simply hugged him tightly.
His father, still weak but smiling, said softly,
"I knew you would do it."
That night, the same village that once laughed at him now spoke his name with respect.
But Arian knew something important.
This was not the destination.
This was only the beginning.
As he sat outside his house under the open sky, he whispered to himself—
"If I can win this battle… I can win bigger ones too."
The fire in his eyes burned brighter than ever.
Because now, he no longer doubted himself.
And a boy who stops doubting himself…
Becomes unstoppable.
(To be continued…)