Krish had always been the kind of person who believed in doing things with a pure heart. From a young age, he had a strong sense of integrity, and he prided himself on being a loyal friend and a caring son. But life, as it often does, had a way of challenging even the best of intentions.
It started in his final year of college, a time when everything seemed to be falling apart, and Krish’s world turned upside down. His professors began questioning his abilities, often misunderstanding his quiet nature as a lack of intelligence. He’d always been the one to sit in the back, not because he didn’t care, but because he preferred to listen and understand before speaking. Still, the more he tried to prove himself, the more his efforts were ignored or dismissed. No one took the time to understand Krish.
Things at home weren’t any better. Krish’s parents had always been proud of him, but his ambition to become a writer was met with skepticism. His father, a businessman, had a different idea for his future — one that involved joining the family company. Every time Krish mentioned his dreams of writing, his father would wave it off as a childish fantasy. He thought Krish was wasting his time with something so uncertain, while his mother simply wanted him to follow the safe path.
Krish felt the weight of their dismissive words each day, but he never gave up. He’d sit alone in his room, writing short stories, pouring his soul into each word, hoping one day his passion would be understood. Yet, when he would share his work with anyone, they’d either not read it or criticize it with little thought. His closest friends began drifting away, unable to understand the pain he carried.
The worst came when Krish had to face the consequences of a misunderstanding with someone he cared about deeply, Riya, his childhood friend. He had always been there for her, offering support, and being her confidant. But one night, a small argument over a trivial matter escalated, and soon enough, Riya was convinced that Krish had betrayed her trust. The truth was, Krish had never meant to hurt her, but a misunderstanding tore them apart. Krish tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen. And just like that, someone who had once been his closest ally was now a stranger.
The insults and the cold shoulder from those he cared about stung deeper than any physical wound. Yet, Krish never once let his spirit break. He continued to wake up every day, putting on a brave face, even though it felt like the world had turned against him.
One evening, after yet another rejection from a publisher, Krish found himself standing by the lake near his apartment. The cool breeze whispered through the trees, and the sound of the water crashing against the rocks reminded him of how small he felt in the grand scheme of things. He had never felt so isolated, so insignificant. For the first time in a long time, Krish asked himself if it was all worth it. His dreams, his struggles — were they even worth pursuing anymore?
But as the sun set, painting the sky with vibrant colors, Krish remembered something his grandmother had once told him. “In life, Krish, you will always face storms. But you are not the storm. You are the tree that stands tall despite it all.”
He wasn’t the storm. He was the tree.
With renewed determination, Krish made a vow to himself that night. No matter how many times he was misunderstood, rejected, or ignored, he would stand tall. His dreams mattered, and though the road ahead seemed endless, he knew that no one could take away his will to fight.
Over time, Krish began to find his own path. He started writing more, reaching out to smaller publications and independent platforms where his voice could be heard. Slowly, his work started to gain traction, and he began building a small but supportive following. And then, one day, one of his stories went viral. A literary agent reached out to him with an offer. Krish’s dream was finally within reach.
But more than the success, Krish felt a sense of peace. He had learned that life would never be free of struggles, misunderstandings, or the pain of being ignored by those he loved. But he had also learned that no matter how much the world tried to knock him down, he had the strength to rise again.
He wasn’t defined by the people who misunderstood him or the setbacks he faced. He was defined by his ability to stand strong and keep moving forward, no matter what.
And in the end, Krish realized that true success was not in the applause or the recognition, but in the strength to survive, to keep fighting, and to remain true to himself, no matter how many storms he faced.
It started in his final year of college, a time when everything seemed to be falling apart, and Krish’s world turned upside down. His professors began questioning his abilities, often misunderstanding his quiet nature as a lack of intelligence. He’d always been the one to sit in the back, not because he didn’t care, but because he preferred to listen and understand before speaking. Still, the more he tried to prove himself, the more his efforts were ignored or dismissed. No one took the time to understand Krish.
Things at home weren’t any better. Krish’s parents had always been proud of him, but his ambition to become a writer was met with skepticism. His father, a businessman, had a different idea for his future — one that involved joining the family company. Every time Krish mentioned his dreams of writing, his father would wave it off as a childish fantasy. He thought Krish was wasting his time with something so uncertain, while his mother simply wanted him to follow the safe path.
Krish felt the weight of their dismissive words each day, but he never gave up. He’d sit alone in his room, writing short stories, pouring his soul into each word, hoping one day his passion would be understood. Yet, when he would share his work with anyone, they’d either not read it or criticize it with little thought. His closest friends began drifting away, unable to understand the pain he carried.
The worst came when Krish had to face the consequences of a misunderstanding with someone he cared about deeply, Riya, his childhood friend. He had always been there for her, offering support, and being her confidant. But one night, a small argument over a trivial matter escalated, and soon enough, Riya was convinced that Krish had betrayed her trust. The truth was, Krish had never meant to hurt her, but a misunderstanding tore them apart. Krish tried to explain, but she wouldn’t listen. And just like that, someone who had once been his closest ally was now a stranger.
The insults and the cold shoulder from those he cared about stung deeper than any physical wound. Yet, Krish never once let his spirit break. He continued to wake up every day, putting on a brave face, even though it felt like the world had turned against him.
One evening, after yet another rejection from a publisher, Krish found himself standing by the lake near his apartment. The cool breeze whispered through the trees, and the sound of the water crashing against the rocks reminded him of how small he felt in the grand scheme of things. He had never felt so isolated, so insignificant. For the first time in a long time, Krish asked himself if it was all worth it. His dreams, his struggles — were they even worth pursuing anymore?
But as the sun set, painting the sky with vibrant colors, Krish remembered something his grandmother had once told him. “In life, Krish, you will always face storms. But you are not the storm. You are the tree that stands tall despite it all.”
He wasn’t the storm. He was the tree.
With renewed determination, Krish made a vow to himself that night. No matter how many times he was misunderstood, rejected, or ignored, he would stand tall. His dreams mattered, and though the road ahead seemed endless, he knew that no one could take away his will to fight.
Over time, Krish began to find his own path. He started writing more, reaching out to smaller publications and independent platforms where his voice could be heard. Slowly, his work started to gain traction, and he began building a small but supportive following. And then, one day, one of his stories went viral. A literary agent reached out to him with an offer. Krish’s dream was finally within reach.
But more than the success, Krish felt a sense of peace. He had learned that life would never be free of struggles, misunderstandings, or the pain of being ignored by those he loved. But he had also learned that no matter how much the world tried to knock him down, he had the strength to rise again.
He wasn’t defined by the people who misunderstood him or the setbacks he faced. He was defined by his ability to stand strong and keep moving forward, no matter what.
And in the end, Krish realized that true success was not in the applause or the recognition, but in the strength to survive, to keep fighting, and to remain true to himself, no matter how many storms he faced.
