Chapter 25

Cracks in the Foundation

The days that followed Rahul's conversation with Ananya brought a sense of clarity and peace in one part of his life, but new challenges soon surfaced in another. His passion for game design grew stronger, and with his internship thriving, he felt more in control of his path than ever before. However, something was shifting at home—something he couldn't ignore.

His parents, who had been his silent pillars of support through his recovery, seemed distant lately. Rahul noticed it in the small things—the way his mother would sigh heavily at the dinner table, or how his father would glance at him, then quickly look away. Conversations that used to be light and filled with concern for his well-being now felt forced, weighed down by unspoken disappointment.

One evening, after a long day at the studio, Rahul walked into the living room to find his parents sitting together in quiet conversation. Their voices were hushed, but the tension in the air was palpable. His mother glanced up when she saw him, her expression unreadable, and his father looked away, his face hardened with something Rahul couldn't quite place—was it frustration, or worse, resignation?

"Rahul," his mother started softly, her tone gentle but firm, "we need to talk."

Rahul's stomach tightened. He could feel the weight of whatever was coming, but he wasn't prepared for how heavy it would actually be.

### The Conversation

Rahul sat down across from his parents, the silence stretching uncomfortably between them. His father leaned forward, clasping his hands together, his face lined with worry and something else—something that Rahul hadn't seen in his father's eyes before: disappointment.

"Rahul," his father began, his voice low, "your mother and I have been talking. We know you've been through a lot with the accident, and we've been patient, but..."

His mother cut in, her voice softer but tinged with sadness. "But it feels like you've lost your way, beta. You're not the same as before, and we're worried about your future."

Rahul blinked, taken aback. He had expected something like this, but hearing the words still hurt. "I'm working hard, Mom. I've been focusing on my internship, and I'm finally finding something I love."

His father shook his head. "But what about your studies? What about your degree? Rahul, you had dreams before all of this. You wanted to make something of yourself. Game design… it's not stable, it's not what we expected from you."

Rahul felt his frustration rise. "I'm still figuring things out, Dad. I'm not giving up on my future, I'm just... I'm finding a different path."

His mother sighed, her eyes filled with worry. "We understand that things have been difficult, Rahul. But you've been distant lately. You hardly talk to us, and it feels like you're drifting away."

Rahul's heart sank. He hadn't realized how much his focus on his work had made him retreat from his family, but at the same time, he couldn't shake the feeling that they weren't trying to understand his dreams. He wasn't the same person he had been before the accident—he had changed, and so had his priorities.

His father's voice interrupted his thoughts, now laced with frustration. "We're not saying you can't follow your passions, but you need to be realistic. You can't keep wandering aimlessly. We've always supported you, but it's time you took responsibility. We're starting to lose hope, Rahul."

Those last words stung deeply. Rahul had always sought his parents' approval, even when he didn't show it. He had believed that they would always stand by him, no matter how uncertain his path became. But now, hearing his father admit that they were losing hope in him, it felt like a blow he wasn't prepared for.

"I'm not wandering aimlessly," Rahul said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm working towards something, but it's just not the path you wanted for me."

His father didn't respond, only looking at him with tired eyes. His mother wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, her voice shaky as she spoke. "We're not giving up on you, Rahul. But we can't keep waiting for you to figure things out. We thought… we thought you'd be on a different path by now."

Rahul stood up, his chest tight with a mix of hurt and frustration. "I don't need you to wait for me. I'll figure it out on my own."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked out of the room, his mind racing. He had never felt this disconnected from his parents before, and the realization that they were losing faith in him felt like a weight he wasn't sure he could carry.

### Lingering Disappointment

In the days that followed, the atmosphere at home grew colder. His parents didn't confront him directly, but their disappointment hung in the air like a storm cloud. Rahul noticed his mother avoiding long conversations, keeping her words to simple pleasantries. His father, once a figure of quiet strength, now seemed distant, barely acknowledging Rahul's presence when they crossed paths.

Rahul tried to bury himself in his work, but even his sketches and designs couldn't fully distract him from the growing tension. Every unfinished drawing felt like another reminder that he was letting someone down—that despite his efforts, he was failing to meet the expectations of the people who mattered most to him.

One night, as he sat at his desk, staring blankly at his sketchbook, a wave of frustration washed over him. Why couldn't they see that he was trying? Why did they always measure his success by traditional standards—grades, degrees, stable jobs? Couldn't they understand that his journey was different?

Rahul slammed the sketchbook shut and leaned back in his chair, staring up at the ceiling. He felt stuck—trapped between wanting to follow his passion and the need to prove himself to his parents. The weight of their disappointment was crushing, and no matter how much he told himself that he didn't need their approval, deep down, he knew he still craved it.

### A Growing Rift

As the weeks passed, the rift between Rahul and his parents only grew wider. His mother's quiet disappointment and his father's silent disapproval were like invisible barriers, pushing Rahul further into himself. He avoided family dinners, opting instead to eat alone in his room, and the once-warm conversations about his day were replaced by awkward silences.

One evening, as Rahul sat in his room, scrolling through his phone aimlessly, a notification popped up—a message from his cousin, Rhea.

**"Hey Rahul, are you okay? Mom told me that things seem tense at home. I'm here if you want to talk."**

Rahul stared at the message, feeling a lump form in his throat. He hadn't spoken to Rhea in a while, but she had always been the one person in the family who understood him. She, too, had faced the weight of expectations, and she had chosen a path that diverged from what her parents had wanted for her.

After a moment, Rahul typed a reply.

**"Thanks, Rhea. I'm just… feeling lost right now. It's like no matter what I do, I can't make them understand."**

Her response came quickly.

**"I get it. Trust me, I've been there. But you've got to remember that this is *your* life. You're not living for their approval. You're following your own path, and that takes courage."**

Rahul smiled faintly, feeling a small sense of relief. He wasn't alone in this.

But even with Rhea's comforting words, Rahul knew that the tension at home wasn't going to disappear overnight. His parents had built their expectations for him on a foundation of love and hope, but now, that foundation seemed cracked. And until he found a way to reconcile his dreams with their hopes, those cracks would only deepen.