That Neha would take over the family business, was something no one ever gave a second thought to. Her parents were confident that after their retirement, Neha would run the family eatery in Sampaje, a small village in Karnataka. But Neha had always dreamt a different life for herself, away from such small-town monotony. She had other dreams—she wanted to explore the opportunities of city life, particularly in Bangalore, where she hoped to build a career.
However, even after living in Bangalore for an entire year, things hadn’t gone as planned and hoped for Neha. She was struggling with her job and found herself missing home more than she had anticipated. The initial thrill of city life had faded, leaving her feeling uncertain about her decision to move away. She hadn’t spoken to her family in a very long time, weighed down by her guilt over the many arguments she’d had with them regarding her reluctance to join the family business.
One evening, as Neha returned from another challenging day at work, she was surprised to find her mother and brother waiting outside her apartment. She rushed to her mother’s arms, tears streaming down her face.
“Ma, I miss home so much,” Neha choked between sobs. Her mother held her tightly, whispering, “We miss you too, beta. ”
Later, relieved from all the tears shed, the trio sat down in Neha’s living room. Her brother said, “Neha, we want you to know that we support you, no matter what. And we can see it’s been hard for you here.”
Amidst fresh sobs, Neha confessed, “Yes, I regret leaving. I miss Sampaje, I miss all of you.”
Her mother stroked her hair tenderly. “There’s no need for regrets, Neha. You followed your dreams and we are proud of you no matter what. Just remember, you have a home where you are always welcome.”
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