Rohan was born on a bright sunny day in the commercial heart of Pakistan, Karachi. As it has been said that it is the only day when your family is smiling and you are crying. 25th July was a lucky day for his parents. They were cherishing the day with the birth of their first child. The baby had a white oval face with dirty-blonde hair and hazel eyes. His beauty was something his parents had never seen. Congratulatory notes were received from various parts of the world. He was a child born with a golden spoon.

Gradually, with time, his loveliness and abilities enhanced. At the age of 3, he was enrolled into a boarding school for proper schooling and discipline. He was acknowledged to be a bright student his parents and teachers completely adored him. Even after the birth of his baby sister, an addition to the family, his value was not lost. His innocence and kind nature wrapped people around his pixie finger and there was no soul who remained unaffected from his charm. His days in boarding house were a roller coaster ride; as much as he loved to learn he also missed his parents and his life with them. Every year in school was a contribution in enhancing his personality and attitude. He was a sensitive kid; this was a charm to his personality, but as it is a good aspect in a person, it can also maneuver that into his biggest weakness.

During his time in the boarding school not one complain of ill behavior was reported to his parents. He took his lessons seriously and was keen not to disappoint his parents. They called once in a week to check on his progress and discern if he needed something. He waited impatiently for the days to fly and Friday to arrive and he could listen to his parents’ voice. However, it was not a routine for them to call every Friday they often were too occupied in their business affairs to keep a check on the calendar. His billionaire father valued his work a lot and inculcated the same behavior in his son but never understood why work overruled family importance. His mother on the other hand was a social benefactor and ran programs and campaigns for empowerment of women which kept her schedule busy and challenging. This was another reason which led Rohan to end up in a boarding school. His parents rarely visited him and their visits were always preannounced.

He was taken to surprise when on his way to class he was called to report in the principal office and more astonished to locate Mr. Hunaid Khalidi; executive assistant to his father seated in the administrative center. He was certain that something was wrong and the expressions on the visitor’s face were identical to what could be the reason to his unexpected visit. The next words of Mr. Khalidi to take him home immediately were sufficient to give life to his biggest fears. His father was killed in a hit a run accident and died on the spot. It’s no unusual situation at the roads of Karachi but it was enough to throw his life out of proportion. 

His trip back home was silent deep in thought of how would he be a comfort to his mother, but now standing in front of a woman; strong and tall at the verge of collapsing, made him question his own verdict. He then realized that his mother had more power to what she always revealed. She was ready to fight, fight for everything she was left with. She was now the man of the house and it suddenly gave her courage to take full charge of what she had inherited. This news was huge to shatter a woman deeply in love with a man who was her husband, but what the world didn’t expect was her to churn her weakness into her biggest strength. She would earn her heritage and make her husband proud. She will build this dynasty for her son and it will be his the day he turns 18. The next day she was officially the CEO of the multimillion business chain operating in over 40 countries across the globe.

This opened doors to her new life and she worked like a maniac building her dynasty. Her routine started with physical workout; her trainer was expected at 6.30 sharp. She had her breakfast scanning the newspaper at the terrace and left for office at 8:00. Time was money, and she valued every minute of it. She was a force of nature who worked around the clock her staff wondered when the woman takes her sleep. Her life revolved around book figures, buildings and technology. She often had breakfast with her son but the topic of conversation had always been the company. Rohan had forever been in awe of her mother and was endeavored to impress her, please her and keep her happy.

He celebrated his 18th birthday with his mother and dozens of other guests from the business sector to cherish his arrival in the corporate world. It dawned on him when his mother formally announced his stake in the business between the guests and he received their congratulatory greetings to strengthen the business bond with his abilities and knowledge when he joins his throne next morning.

In the crowd he was lonely, he was physically present but mentally he was smashed wondering had his mother never known of his career choice was she oblivious to the fact that he wanted to be a painter. He wanted to talk to her tell her what he wants but in that moment he saw his life wrapped up in a neat pile of reality. He had no emotional bond with her mother it was difficult to talk to her about feelings make her known to what he wants. The business was not his future but his rival to split him from his mother. He wondered about his friends and how smooth their relation with their parents was, and there he was stuck in a dilemma to start a conversation with his own mother; the only person he loved the most. After a long night of battle he was fighting with himself he surrendered and got dressed for office on time. His mother was pleased to see him by her side and satisfied with the fact that he had finally accepted his righteous claim.

It was when his stammering began and over the period of time it was obvious to be notified. This made his mother worry about his son and Rohan was immediately sent to visit Mr. Furqan Azam; their  family doctor. Two days later his mother was seated in the doctor’s cubicle to discuss the mental stability of his son. She was stunned by the questions the doctor asked if he was under any sort of stress or anxiety but she could understand none. She thought he was the luckiest child he had everything any boy would want to have at his age. What she failed to understand was the key to happiness of his son of what he truly wanted to be. He had everything but it was not a life he wanted to keep him fully satisfied.

He worked, however, it was not what he cherished; what lacked in the job was his passion which was locked with canvas sheets and colors. He had been a magnificent painter and whenever he painted he was lost in his work time flew in a blink of eye and he was filled with joy and life. It was a source of pleasure something born within him to inspire him and look at life from a different perspective.

With the passage of time he did not recover and his mother threw the words of doctor out from the window of her mind. The more hours he dedicated to work the more pleased she would be to see him engaged in work but what lacked in this picture perfect scenario was his happiness. He worked for the satisfaction of her mother but held no personal interest in it. It made him furious despite his dilemma to exert for her mother he wished for her mother to understand the missing puzzles.

His wish was granted by the fairy God mother and he confronted her mother with his career path. It hit like a storm and silenced with a rain of grief. His mother landed in a chair in disbelief she was dumb struck and could not comprehend what went wrong and why would he give away everything just to be a painter. He was no ordinary person he was born to rule not to be one of the mob. She loved her son and she had done worked days and night for his son to take over the business so she could retire in peace it all belonged to him. Despite her sanity hold her back to say the words she granted permission to put his paintings in a gallery. She was confident that the reviews of the critics will shatter him and he will be in the workplace where she knew he belonged but what she underestimated the talent of his son.

She expected him to be back to work in a few weeks but what she knew if the outcome may turn otherwise. The critics rated him to be the best painter and he was a famous for what he believed overnight. The morning newspapers covered the stories of talents and welcomed him to that world with open hearts. Where this made Rohan believe in himself and continue with his passion it hit like a cyclone to her mother. She had lost; nevertheless was it worth it was the question which lay hanging in the air. She locked herself in her room thinking and rethinking since day 1 where she lacked.

A few days later, Rohan was on aired for an interview with a famous channel in which he truly gave all the answers her mother had been searching within herself. She was an excellent mother she had always been but money and power had been a barrier in their relationship which separated and weakened their bond. The bridge was to understand each other know them better and live with the passion of their lives.

She learnt happiness does not comes from the growing numbers in your bank balance but some quality with her children chatting and laughing at dinner table in a free air discussing their day and  priorities. You cannot inflict your choices on your children because they are not you what they want maybe different from what you do. Guiding and mentoring them and to support them in every sphere of life is what make you a parent. She can make their choices they have make their own mistakes and learn from it. It is their life and they should own it was the lesson she understood well.

Rohan is a globally recognized painter today and she is the successful business woman of the year. She runs the business with her beautiful daughter Natasha who is just like her mother when it comes to business. However, Rohan is still 50% shareholder of the organization and often invest his free time discussing and exchanging ideas with his mother. Compromise is a promising word and this is how it has sorted out their lives and brought peace and happiness in their world. They are closely knit family they may not be physically present immensely but in the hearts they are always connected.