A FATHER'S FLAME...

A Father’s Flame

In a small village, nestled between crowded streets, lay the cremation grounds—a place of silence where Shambhu spent his life. He belonged to the Dom caste, a community responsible for cremating the dead. Day after day, Shambhu worked at the pyres, watching over the flames that carried souls from this world to the next. His hands were rough, marked by years of tending the fires, but his heart was tender, especially when it came to his daughter, Meera.

Meera admired her father, but her heart ached with a different kind of fire. She watched him, each day disappearing into the smoke and heat, year after year. She knew that this life was not meant for her. Her heart yearned for more. She wanted to wear a uniform, to stand tall, to rise above the ashes that seemed to cling to her every dream.

One evening, Meera sat beside her father near the fading embers of a funeral pyre. Her heart pounded in her chest as she found the courage to speak. "Father, I want to become an officer."

Shambhu’s hand froze mid-motion. He turned to look at her, his eyes filled with a mixture of pride and sadness. He sighed deeply, as if the weight of the world was pressing on him. "Meera," he began softly, his voice thick with emotion, "our people... we have always been here, with the dead. The world may not give you the chance to rise. But if this is your dream... chase it with everything in you. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise."

Tears welled up in Meera’s eyes. She could feel the depth of his love, the battle between his fear and his belief in her. She grasped his hand, their calloused fingers interlocking. "I won’t give up, Father. I’ll make you proud."

Shambhu nodded, though the tear that escaped his eye spoke of his unspoken fears.

Bound by Tradition

Growing up in the Dom community meant living in the shadows of others. People in the village avoided them, as if they were cursed for their role in dealing with death. Wherever Meera went, she could feel the silent judgment in their eyes, whispers that followed her like ghosts.

Her aunts would constantly remind her of her place. "Meera," they would say, "you will marry a boy from our people. This is how it has always been. There’s no escaping what we are."

But Meera’s heart rebelled against these words. She didn’t want a life dictated by tradition or caste. Her dreams were filled with visions of wearing a crisp uniform, saluting her country, and standing tall—not with ash-covered hands, but with the strength and honor of an officer.

Each night, she would study by the dim light of a lantern, her heart beating with determination. Her father would often sit beside her, silently watching, knowing that her fight was not just against exams, but against an entire world that didn’t believe in her.

The Struggle for More

As the exams approached, Meera could feel the weight of the world pressing on her shoulders. The pressure to marry, the expectations of her family, and the constant whispers from the community—it all made her dreams seem so far away. But every time she thought of giving up, her heart would remind her of her father’s tearful eyes, his unspoken hope, and she would push forward.

One night, after a long day of studying, Meera found her father sitting by the pyre, the fire low and quiet. She sat beside him, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. The flames flickered in the darkness, casting soft shadows across their faces.

"Father," Meera whispered, her voice trembling, "have you ever wished for something more? Have you ever wanted to escape this life?"

Shambhu turned to her, his face worn from years of hardship, but his eyes were filled with love. "Every day, Meera. But this is the life we were given. We have a duty, a place. But you... you are different. Your dreams are bigger than this fire."

Tears filled Meera’s eyes as her father’s words sank deep into her heart. She reached out, taking his hand in hers. "I will rise, Father. I will."

Shambhu’s hand squeezed hers, his own tears glistening in the firelight. "I know you will, my child."

Breaking the Chains

After years of relentless work and determination, the day finally came. Meera stood at her graduation ceremony, wearing the uniform she had dreamed of for so long. As she looked out into the crowd, her heart raced, her eyes scanning for the one face she needed to see.

And there he was. Shambhu stood at the back, his eyes filled with tears, pride radiating from him. He couldn’t believe it—his daughter, once bound by the ashes of their past, now stood as an officer, her dreams no longer just whispers in the night.

As she walked toward him after the ceremony, Meera could see the tears streaming down his face. She threw her arms around him, and for a moment, they held each other tight, the years of struggle, sacrifice, and love flowing between them.

That evening, they returned to the cremation grounds. Shambhu stood before the pyre, preparing to light another soul’s final journey. His hands trembled slightly as he lit the fire, but this time, he didn’t do it alone. Meera stood beside him, her officer’s badge shining in the firelight.

"Father," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion, "you’ve given me the strength to rise. This fire... it’s our legacy, but I will carry it forward in a different way. I won’t forget where I came from."

Shambhu smiled through his tears, his heart full. "And I will never forget how far you have come, Meera. You are my pride."

As the flames rose into the night sky, they both knew that the fire no longer symbolized their limitations. It was a flame that had sparked Meera’s dreams and lit the path for her future.

The End

Part 2 comeing.....