“I Chose a Different Path – And That Doesn’t Make Me Lost”

They say success has a shape: a framed degree, a 9-5, a stable paycheck, a matching family WhatsApp profile picture.

But what if that shape didn’t fit?

Preeti’s POV

Every morning I wake up to chai and comparisons.

“Mihir just bought a new car.”
“Mihir just got promoted again.”
“Mihir is sending money home every month.”

And me? I write SEO blogs in my pajamas, sipping lukewarm tea between client calls, trying to explain to my mom what keywords even are.

I didn’t take the CAT, the GRE, or the government exam route. I didn’t want to.
I took my words, my laptop, and the guts to bet on myself.

But no one claps for that at family functions.

They just ask:
“So what do you do again?”
“When are you getting serious about your career?”
“Are you still doing that… online thing?”

I nod politely. Smile. Let it pass.
Because I know something they don’t.

I have peace. I have freedom. I work with global brands, I take breaks when I need to, and I never have to fake enthusiasm for corporate hierarchy.

But none of that matters to them.

Not when my brother has a suit, a fancy job title, and a LinkedIn full of claps and congratulations.

Still, I chose this life.
And I’ll keep choosing it — every day, every email, every word.

Because I’m not here to follow someone else’s path.
I’m here to write my own.

Preeti’s Mother’s POV

I don’t hate what Preeti does.

But I don’t understand it either.

When Mihir comes home, he brings gifts. Preeti brings attitude.

He says “I got promoted.”
She says “I’m doing fine.”
He sends money.
She sends reels.

And sometimes I wonder—did I raise her too freely?

I didn’t want a daughter who argued. I wanted a daughter who listened.
Like the Sharma girl down the lane. Or like Mihir.

But Preeti is… different. Loud, proud, too independent.
She doesn’t ask for approval.
She just does.

And I worry.

Because the world is not always kind to women who don’t fold.
But she never folds.

And maybe—just maybe—that’s what scares me.

Mihir’s POV

They always pit us against each other, even when we’re not competing.

I respect what Preeti does.
She’s gutsy.

While I’m tied to my desk, she’s flying to Bali on client money. While I’m chasing KPIs, she’s closing five-figure contracts in her joggers.

But I see how they look at her.
Like she’s lost.
Like she’s rebellious.

Truth is—she’s the most fearless person I know.

If anything, I envy her.
She lives life on her own terms.
And still manages to love them through all their disapproval.

That’s something no job title has ever taught me.

And in the end…

Preeti didn’t become what they wanted.
But she became herself.

She no longer waits for praise to validate her choices.

She sets boundaries now. She turns down underpaying clients, walks away from people who don’t get it, and still finds time to water her plants and light incense before work.

Her parents still don’t understand “freelance” or “SEO.”
But she’s okay with that.

Because her success isn’t built on applause.
It’s built on alignment.

And that, finally, is enough.