The soft golden hues of the evening filtered through the curtains, painting Sana's room in a dreamy glow. The faint hum of the ceiling fan blended with the distant sounds of traffic outside. Sana sat cross-legged on her bed, her phone still in her hands... her eyes fixed on the now dark screen. The video call had just ended. Yet... her smile hadn't. It lingered-soft, shy, glowing.
Her fingers unconsciously traced the screen, as if trying to hold onto the moment a little longer. Her heart was still racing. Her cheeks still warm.

Sana (whispering to herself, smiling softly): Pagal ho kya Sana... itna smile kaun karta hai...

She hugged her phone to her chest and fell back onto the bed dramatically, staring at the ceiling with sparkling eyes. But before she could drift deeper into her thoughts-
SNAP!....A sudden voice jolted her.

Sana's mom-: bs ghuse rho uss phone mei.... Pta nhi yeh ldki pgla gyi hai.... Hrr vqt bs phone mei dekh kr muskuraate rhti hai....

Sana quickly sat up, startled, almost dropping her phone.

Sana-: kya hua mumma... Aap itna gussa kyu horhi ho...?? Ab maine kya krdiya....??

Her mother stood at the door, arms crossed, eyebrows raised, clearly unimpressed.

Sana's mom-: kuchh kr nhi rhi ho yhi toh problem hai....

The words hit.... Not harsh... but heavy....
Sana froze....Her smile faded slightly.....
For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
Sana was all speech less....She blinked, processing....Then suddenly-

Sana-: gajab beizati hai....

Her tone was half dramatic, half playful-but her eyes still carried a hint of confusion.
Her mom sighed and walked into the room, sitting on the chair nearby.

Sana's Mom-: ab tumhari studies bhi complete hone wali hai.... Kuch socha hai aagay kya krna hai??

Sana straightened up....This question....
She knew it was coming....
And she had her answer ready.

Sana-: haa mom.... Mujhe fashion industry mei kaam krna hai.... As a fashion designer or makeup artist....

There was a brief silence.
Her mom blinked once... then twice.

Sana's mom-: hobbies and time pass keliye theek hai pr as a profession keliye kya socha hai....??

Sana frowned slightly.
Her grip tightened on her phone.

Sana-: mom yhi mera profession bhi rhega....

Sana's mom-: kya mtlb??

Before Sana could reply-

A mischievous voice echoed from the doorway. Her younger sister leaned casually against the wall, smirking.

Sana's younger sister-: (teasingly) kya mtlb didi ko darji aur beauty parlor waali bnna hai....

Sana's eyes widened instantly.

Sana's mom gasped dramatically.

Sana's mom-: (dramatically) kya....?? Jb tumko yhi krna tha toh itne mehange college mei pdhane ka kya fayeda.... Koi zroort nhi hai...Teacher professor doctor yeh sb bno... kya darji bnogi ab....?? Samaj aur rishtedaaro mei hmari kya izzt reh jayegi...

Sana felt her chest tighten....That word again...."Darji....."It stung.....

Sana-: mom.... That's not darji.... I want to become fashion designer.... Dono mei farak hota hai....

Her voice wasn't loud.....But it was firm....
Still-Her younger sister couldn't resist....

Sana's younger sister-: (teasing)haa vhi pdha likha modern darji....

That was it.....Sana snapped....

Sana-: (snapped) aye... Tum toh chup hi rho... Didi smjhao na mummy ko....

At that moment, her elder sister entered, calm and composed as always. She observed the situation quietly... then smiled gently....

Sana's mom-: kya chup rho... Sahi toh bol rhi hai.... Apni dono behno ko dekho..... Tumhari badi behan well established successful scientist cum Professor at JNU aur chhotti behan AIMS delhi mei doctor ki pdhayi krrhi hai aur tum kya yeh hobby wala kaam ko profession bnaogi.... Mai logo ko kya bolungi....bdi beti scientist chhoti beti doctor aur beech wali darji....

Sana lowered her gaze.....Her fingers fidgeted nervously....Comparison.....
Again.....Always comparison.....
But before the silence could grow heavier...

Her elder sister stepped forward.

Sana's elder sister-: mom she's right... Yeh bhut acha aur trendy profession hai.... Agr iske pass skill aur talent hai toh krne do na jo isko krna hai.... Acha hai na hmare family mei ek fashion designer bhi rhegi.... Aur isme achi kamayi bhi hai....

Sana looked up instantly....
Her eyes sparkled....Hope....Relief....

Sana-: exactly.... Please krne do na....

Her mom looked between the two daughters.....Conflicted.....Thinking.....
Then finally-

Sana's mom-: acha jb tum dono itna bol hi rhe ho toh krlo....Pr beta.... Fashion designer bnne keliye bhi toh course krna pdega na....??

Sana's face lit up immediately.....
Confidence returned....

Sana-: haa kiya hai na mumma.... Aur mujhe iss field se related bhut sare awards and certificate + degrees bhi mile hai.... (proudly) Aapko pta nhi hai aapki yeh beti bhut talented hai....

Her elder sister clapped lightly, smiling wide.

Sana's elder sister-: arey waah.... Proud of you....

Sana's mom blinked in surprise.

Sana's mom-: yeh sb kb krliya tumne??

Sana shrugged casually, but there was pride in her tone.

Sana-: jb bhi free rhti hoo.... Toh aise hi online ya offline certificate courses and seminars mei participate krti rhti ho.... Isse meri CV bhut powerful bngyi hai....

Her mom's expression softened slightly....
A hint of pride....

Sana's mom-: chlo.... Kuchh toh acha kaam krti ho.... Pr beta yeh certificate sajakr toh rkhogi nhi.... Iska use krke job lena pdega.... Voh kaise aur kaha se milega....?? Uske liye toh mehnt krni pdegi na....

Sana smiled reassuringly.

Sana-: mom don't worry.... Jb yha tk aagyi hoo toh bhut achi job bhi mai krhi lungi.... Aap chill kro....

She stood up confidently... though deep inside, a tiny flicker of doubt existed....
Then she walked toward her room....

Behind her-

Her mom sighed deeply, still worried.

Sana's mom-: tum dono toh already settled ho... Pr sbse zyada mujhe iski hi hmesha chinta lgi rhti hai.... Pta nhi iska kya hoga.... Yeh bs apne life mei well settled aur independent hojaye.... Bs....aur mujhe kuch nhi chahiye....

Her elder sister placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Sana's elder sister-: don't worry mumma.... Hmari sana bhut talented hai.... I'm sure voh apne life mei zroor kuch bhut bda kregi.... Bs hmei usko hmesha support krna hoga....

Her mom nodded slowly.

Sana's mom-: voh toh hmesha kreinge hi..

Her younger sister chimed in, surprisingly sincere this time.

Sana's younger sister-: don't worry mom di is right.... Sana didi is super talented.... And fashion industry needs such kind of fresh talented people.... And I know voh bhut acha kreinge....

A small smile appeared on their mother's face.....Relief.....Trust....Hope.....

Meanwhile... in Sana's room...

The door closed softly..The cheerful confidence she showed outside...Faded....
Sana sat on her bed again.....
Her phone in her hands.....
But this time-No smile....Only thoughts.....
Heavy ones.....

Sana-: yaar mummy ko bol toh di ki job easily mil jayegi.... Pr kaise.... Mujhe aaj se hi pta krke vacancies mei apply krna start krna hoga.... Aise baithe baithe kuch nhi hoga....

She took a deep breath. Then unlocked her phone. Her fingers hovered for a second...
Before she opened job portals....Search bar.
Typing slowly-
"Fashion designer jobs..."
"Makeup artist internship..."
"Fashion stylist trainee..."
Dozens of results appeared.....Her eyes scanned quickly.....Some required experience....Some required portfolios.....
Some were unpaid.....
Her confidence shook slightly.....

Sana (murmuring): Competition itna zyada hai...

But then-Her gaze shifted.....
To her gallery.....She opened it....
Design sketches.....Makeup transformations.....Certificates.....
Workshop photos.....Her journey....
Her effort.....Her passion.....
A small smile returned.....

Sana (softly, determined): Main kar sakti hoon... mujhe karna hi hoga...

She straightened her back.....Opened her laptop....Started editing her CV....
Adding achievements.....Design portfolio links....Even small details....Every effort mattered....Time passed.....Minutes turned into hours.....The room grew darker....
But her screen glowed brighter....
And so did her determination.....
On her desk... a small BTS photocard stood beside her laptop....
She glanced at it unconsciously....
Her lips curved softly.

Sana (whispering): Bas ek chance mil jaye... main prove karke dikhaungi...

Her fingers resumed typing.....Click....
Upload....Apply.....One application sent....
Then another.....And another.....
Her journey had begun....Not easy.....
Not certain.....But real.....
And somewhere deep inside.....
A quiet belief whispered....
This was just the beginning.

                     ✴✳❇✴✳❇

😍Aaj keliye bs itna hi.... Aagey kya hoga jaane keliye.... Pdhte rhiye MY SECRET IDOL 💖 CRUSH-: the man I admire the most....😘

🤗Till then keep loving and supporting me and my story....😇

😅 THANKS FOR READING😁