Short Fiction 5 min In competition

One Dream, No Backup

Vishal Makawane

"What's your backup plan?"

That was the question everyone asked Arjun the day he announced that he was preparing for the UPSC Civil Services Examination.

But Arjun had already made his choice. There was no Plan B.

Born in a small rural town, Arjun grew up in a simple middle-class family. His father, a government clerk, believed in hard work and honesty; his mother managed the home with quiet grace. Life was not a bed of roses, but it was rich in values. His father had a dream — "One day, my son will sit on the other side of the table." That dream became Arjun's purpose.

Arjun studied in a government school where the medium of instruction was the regional language. English was just another subject in his textbooks, not a language he could speak fluently. From a young age, Arjun had been known for his sharp mind — first in school, a topper in junior college, and later, a University topper in his Bachelor of Arts. For him, failure was something that existed only in others' stories. But destiny, as he was soon to learn, loves to humble even the brightest minds.

After graduation in 2003, Arjun decided to pursue the dream that had lived in his father's eyes for years — "One day, my son will sit on the other side of the table." Yet, this dream was not just his father's anymore. Arjun wanted to serve the nation, to make governance people-oriented, transparent, and fair. With that purpose, he set his eyes on the UPSC Civil Services Examination — India's toughest examination.

He knew what it meant — three stages: the Prelims, the Mains, and the Interview. All stages to be cleared to find a place in the final list. Millions appear, but success rate is just 0.2 to 0.4%. "It's like surviving three monsoons without an umbrella," his friend joked. Arjun laughed but knew the storm he was walking into. The journey demands more than intelligence — it demands endurance, discipline, and resilience.

Before facing UPSC, Arjun initially tried for some regional-level competitive exams but faced repeated failures. He realized that if he wanted to make a real difference, he had to aim higher. So he moved to Delhi, the hub of UPSC preparation.

The transition was not easy. The capital city was dazzling and daunting. The traffic honked in a language of its own; even tea stalls buzzed with "UPSC talk." Coming from a small town, Delhi felt like another planet. The first few months were a struggle just to adjust.

Most coaching classes were in English — a language he could barely speak fluently. Though the UPSC allowed regional languages as a medium, Arjun decided, "If I want to grow, I can't stay in my comfort zone." So he chose English as his medium.

His routine was legendary. He read English newspapers with a dictionary on one side and a cup of watery hostel tea on the other. "Some people drink coffee to stay awake," he'd laugh, "I read economics!" Days began before sunrise and ended past midnight. Yet, there was joy in the struggle — a silent fire burning within him.

In his first attempt, he cleared the Prelims but fell short in the Mains. For most, it would have been a heartbreak; for Arjun, it was proof that he was getting closer. "Not a failure," he told himself, "just an incomplete victory."

He went back to his books with even more focus. In his second attempt, he again cleared the Prelims but couldn't clear the Mains. This time, the silence in his rented room felt heavier than books. It had already been several years since his graduation. His friends had stable jobs, steady incomes, and some were even getting married. Relatives began asking uncomfortable questions — "How long will you keep trying?" "Why don't you take up a job?" The social pressure was mounting, and self-doubt began to creep in.

One evening, unable to hold back, he went home. Sitting beside his mother, he broke down, his voice trembling, "Maybe I'm not meant for this. Everyone's moving ahead — friends are working, marrying, earning. Years are passing... What if I fail again?"

His mother held him close, "You've never failed, Arjun. You're just learning how strong you are."

Later that night, he sat alone on the terrace, staring at the stars. His thoughts echoed,

"Should I give up? Should I settle for something else? Maybe Plan B isn't such a bad idea..."
But then came his father's calm voice from behind, "Son, if you keep a Plan B, you'll run to it the moment Plan A gets tough. Don't give your dream an exit door."

Something shifted that night. Arjun looked up and whispered a prayer, "God, if You've brought me this far, I know there's a purpose. I'll give my best in this moment, every single day. The future — I leave it to You."

From that day, he stopped worrying about results. He became fully devoted to the present. "Today is my only chance," he'd remind himself, "and what happens in the future will surely be for the best."

He studied not out of fear of failure but out of love for his goal. He improved his answer writing, joined mock interviews, and practiced expressing ideas clearly. He learned to smile even under pressure. When someone asked, "How's the preparation going?" he'd grin, "Still alive — so far, so good!"

Then came the third attempt — his make-or-break moment. He gave it everything — his time, his energy, his prayers. This time, he wasn't chasing success; he was living his purpose.

And when the results of the 2009 UPSC Examination were announced, there it was — his name on the final merit list. Arjun had done it. He had cleared all three stages and secured his place among the nation's top civil servants.

It had taken six long years, filled with rejection, doubt, and endless perseverance. As he held the result, tears filled his eyes. He thought of his father's dream, his mother's comforting lap, his failures that became his teachers, and the divine grace that guided him through.

When a journalist later asked him, "What kept you going when everything seemed lost?" Arjun smiled and replied,

"A Plan B gives you comfort — but comfort often kills conviction. When there's no backup, you fight with everything you have. That's when you truly discover your strength."
Today, Arjun serves as a senior officer, working to make governance more transparent and citizen-focused. But beyond the title and success, what defines him most is his journey — the courage to walk a difficult path without a fallback, and the faith to keep going when nothing seemed certain.

He often shares his story with young aspirants who feel lost after failure. He tells them, "Sometimes the best plan is to have no Plan B — because that's when you learn what you're truly made of."

Arjun's story is not just about cracking an exam. It's about what happens when you remove your safety net and commit wholeheartedly to your dream. When there's no Plan B, every setback becomes a lesson, every challenge becomes a test of character, and every small progress feels like a step closer to destiny.

Having no Plan B doesn't mean being reckless or ignoring practical realities. It means believing in yourself so deeply that you don't give fear or doubt a place to rest. It means channeling all your focus, energy, and willpower toward a single purpose — until it becomes a reality.

A New Kind of Literary Pulse

A New Kind of Literary Pulse

One Dream, No Backup

Vishal Makawane

Vishal Makawane

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