Two months passed and today was the day the results were to be announced. I stayed at home feeling restless and anxious, my heart raced with every passing minute. Then I received a call from Arjun, asking me to meet him at the gym.
I was in no mood to train for the day, but I didn’t question him. I got ready quickly and headed to the gym.
When I arrived, Arjun and the master were standing together, deep in discussion, with a laptop open in front of them. They both greeted me warmly and the master asked me to begin my training as usual.
I shot Arjun a suspicious look but moved on without saying anything. I started with stretching and then got onto the treadmill, trying to keep my racing thoughts under control.
An hour later, Arjun called me over and handed me a box of sweets. I raised my eyebrows in confusion and he silently turned the laptop screen toward me.
There it was, my name on the results list. I have passed with 68%. For a moment, I couldn’t breathe. I covered my mouth with my palm, overwhelmed by shock and excitement.
“Congratulations, Meera, S.I,” Arjun said with a smiled and he offered me the sweets.
The master congratulated me as well, pride clear in his eyes. With trembling hands, I called Akash and then my mother and shared the news that changed everything. Their happiness and tears only made my own eyes well up.
After thanking Arjun and the master, I left the gym and bought more sweets on the way. I headed straight to the NGO office and distributed them to Zarina madam and the other women. They congratulated me warmly and their blessings filling my heart.
As the joy slowly settled, reality followed. This was only the beginning. The next challenge, the physical test waited ahead. I knew what was expected of me and the master had been preparing me since day one, yet my nervousness refused to fade.
Still, this time, it was mixed with confidence that I had cleared the first step.
A month later, the notification finally arrived and I stared at my phone for a long moment and my fingers trembling as I read it again and again.
TNUSRB – Physical Measurement & Physical Fitness Test. The date, time and venue were clearly mentioned.
My heart pounded, not out of fear alone but anticipation.
This was the moment. All those early mornings, aching muscles, sweat, tears and silent prayers had led to this moment.
On the day of the test, I reached the ground before sunrise. The place was already crowded with candidates and their faces were tensed and eyes filled with hope and nervous energy. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that I had prepared for this.
The officials first conducted the Physical Measurement Test. All our height, weight and chest measurements were taken meticulously. When my turn came, I stood straight, holding my breath.
“Qualified,” the officer announced and relief washed over me.
Next came the Physical Fitness Test for women, the part I had trained relentlessly for. The standards echoed in my head to achieve 2 stars in each category.
300 meters run – 33 seconds
Long jump – 3.75 meters
Shot put – 5.50 meters
One by one, we were called. When it was time for the 200 meters run, my heart thudded loudly in my chest. As the whistle blew, I ran, steady, focused, remembering every instruction the master had drilled into me. My legs burned, lungs screamed but I didn’t slow down. I wasn’t just running towards my dream, I was running away from all the pain, abuse and hurt I had faced in my life. I want to leave them long behind me and I need to do it.
I crossed the finish line within time and qualified with two stars.
Next was the long jump. I dusted my palms, took a deep breath and sprinted forward before launching myself into the air. I landed hard, sand spraying everywhere.
The official measured and nodded but I shook my head with disappointment. I hadn’t reached the line to win stars. Still I qualified.
There was a break and I returned to the canopy and saw Arjun and master waiting for me.
” I did get through the running but I couldn’t touch the line to get 2 stars in long jump. what if i miss in shot put too ? ” I said wiping my face with a towel. Arjun pried the towel from my face and gave me food and fresh juice.
” Stop over thinking Meera. you can do this, don’t let your fear or insecurity take over. You have come long way to give up so easily. Just one more step towards your dream. Don’t give up ” he said and I nodded my head sipping the juice.
After the break, the candidates were called finally for the shot put. At my turn, I picked up the heavy metal ball, its cold weight pressing into my palm. I positioned myself and remembered my stance, twisted my body and threw with all my strength.
The shot landed beyond the mark and I raised my fist in air. I stood there, chest heaving, sweat dripping down my face, as the official marked my score.
Two-star performance, he said and for a second, I didn’t understand what it meant.Then it hit me that I had exceeded expectations once again.
Tears welled up in my eyes not from pain, but pride. I closed my eyes briefly, thanking every struggle, every sleepless night, every person who believed in me when I doubted myself.
This is only the beginning, Meera, I told myself. I walked out of the ground with sore muscles, blistered hands and an unshakable belief. I was closer than ever to wear that uniform.
The officers on the ground appreciated my performance and their words felt like a reward for every drop of sweat I had shed. With a heart full of pride and disbelief, I returned to Arjun and the master. The moment I saw them, my emotions broke free. I thanked them both, tears rolling down my cheeks, tears of relief, gratitude, and joy.
“I knew you would do this,” Arjun said proudly.
“Let’s go home. You must be exhausted and need rest,” he added, picking up my duffle bag.
I took an auto and reached home, my body finally gave up in to the fatigue. After a refreshing bath, I lay down on the mattress, feeling every muscle ache but this time, the pain felt satisfying.
That night, Akash called me and I told him everything about the test and my performance. He was overjoyed, his happiness clear in his voice. With this stage completed, all I could do now was wait for the call for the Viva Voce and then, finally, the medical test.
Life slowly settled into a new routine. I started working from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and every morning, before the world woke up, I continued my workouts at home holding on to discipline, patience, and hope, knowing I was closer than ever to my dream.
Days turned into weeks, and finally, the day of the Viva Voce arrived.
I had prepared well, yet the moment I entered the room filled with officers, my confidence wavered. Answering questions in front of them made my body shiver despite my efforts to stay calm. I wore a crisp blue shirt and black formal pants, my shirt neatly tucked in and my hair tied back in a ponytail. I carried myself with confidence, hiding all the fear and nervousness swirling inside my mind.
I don’t know how those fifteen minutes passed. It all felt like a blur. When I finally walked out of the room, my hands were cold and my body trembled. I couldn’t remember half the questions they had asked or the answers I had given. Fear and restlessness wiped everything from my mind, leaving me completely unsure of my performance.
I returned home feeling drained and defeated, only to find Arjun waiting for me. I explained everything to him and my shoulders slumped as I spoke.
“Don’t worry, Meera, you’ve given your best. I truly believe you would have done well, so don’t think otherwise. We’ll wait for the result. And even if things don’t go our way, there’s always a second chance. I know you, you won’t give up. Now relax.” he said gently.
He handed me a bag and smiled. “I know you wouldn’t have eaten anything, so I brought you lunch. Have your food and get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.” he said and with that, he drove away, his smile lingering in my thoughts.
” I haven’t even said that I would give him a chance, yet he’s doing everything he can to keep my spirits high, What am I supposed to do with this man? ” I thought.
Then a fear crept back in, ” What if I don’t clear this round? What if I have to wait and go through the written exam, physical test and Viva Voce all over again? ”
The thought alone scared me. I knew it was irrational. There were so many people who never gave up, who attempted again and again despite failing multiple times. And here I was, panicking just because I wanted to clear everything in my first attempt.
“God, I’m going insane”, I thought, closing my eyes and tryied to calm my restless mind.
The following days passed in a blur. I was completely lost in my thoughts about the results. Each day without any news felt like a silent confirmation of failure. I began preparing myself mentally for a second attempt and the thought of managing life with a reduced income while going through the entire process again terrified me.
In between, disturbing news surfaced, reports that the commission was involved in a scandal, allegedly accepting money to recruit candidates without merit. That night, I cried uncontrollably. For the first time, I felt my hope slipping away. It felt as though my dream was crumbling right in front of me.
I stopped eating for two straight days. My body grew weak and I was on the verge of losing consciousness at home, my mind and heart exhausted from fear and despair.
Then my phone pinged. With trembling hands, I picked it up and the notification was from the commission.
I was being called for the medical fitness test. I blinked repeatedly, unsure if I was dreaming or hallucinating. I read the message again and again, my breath caught in my throat. It was real. I had been shortlisted for the medical test.
A weak smile spread across my face as tears filled my eyes, this time, tears of relief.
Gathering what little strength I had left, I sent the message to Arjun, Zarina madam, and Akash. Only then did I order food to finally break my hunger strike, my heart felt lighter than it had been in days.
Hope, it seemed and had found its way back to me.
Arjun called me immediately and I couldn’t help but chuckle when I saw his name on the screen.
“Congratulations, Meera. Didn’t I tell you that you’d get through? I’m so happy for you. And I’m sure I’ll soon see you dressed in a khaki uniform. You owe me a treat,” he said and his excitement was evident.
I smiled and my heart swell, “Thank you, Arjun, for trusting me. You’re the first man in my life to feel proud of who I am and to believe that I could achieve more than I ever thought possible.”
He smiled softly on the other end. “You’re a star, Meera. And one day, I want to be your sky.” he said and fell silent after that and my cheeks warmed at his words.
“Stop blushing and get some rest,” he added lightly.
I smiled to myself and cut the call, my heart lighter than it had been in weeks.
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