Aarav Sharma looked out over the metropolis from the balcony of his little Bengaluru flat. The sky became pink and orange as the sun sank below the horizon, but Aarav's mental turmoil was anything from calm. His parents had been waiting to celebrate the job offer email from a prominent IT company, which was still glowing on the screen of his laptop, which was resting on the table behind him. His heart wasn't in it, though. He was also working on a draft plan for a digital business that specialised in making environmental friendly devices.

Aarav was startled out of his reverie by the buzzing of his phone. Meera was the one.

"Where are you, dude? Remember that we're meeting at the coffee house? As usual, Meera's voice was sharp. She was frequently the voice of reason in Aarav's life and had been his best friend since college.

"Yes, I'm on my way," Aarav said, reaching for his keys.

Meera was fidgeting with her cup of chai at Coffee House, where she was seated at their usual corner table. Her keen eyes looked around the room as if assessing each newcomer. She radiated a tough, no-nonsense aura while wearing trousers and a flowy kurta. Kabir was sitting across from her, absorbed in his thoughts while strumming an unseen guitar on the table. With his dishevelled hair and tattered leather jacket, Kabir, who had always been the trio's dreamer, looked every bit the struggling artist he was.

As Aarav slid into the seat next to Meera, she remarked, "You look like you're carrying the weight of the world."

"Old tale," Aarav groaned. "My parents want me to accept the IT position." I'm not certain if I ought to.

Kabir leaned back in his seat and said, "Let me guess." "I take it you're considering that startup idea once more."

Aarav rubbed the back of his neck and nodded. "It goes beyond that. It's the anxiety. What if it doesn't work? What if I let everyone down?

Meera leaned forward, a fierce look on her face. "Hey, life isn't about choosing the right course of action. It all comes down to making a decision and sticking with it. Aarav, what do you want? Not society...not your parents!

Kabir interrupted Aarav as he was about to reply.

"Let me share something with you before you respond to it. I've been performing at The Rusty Strings, as you are all aware. Well, I blew it last night. Like, screwed up. I can't remember the words to my song. He gave a sour laugh. "But what do you know? For the first time, I was unconcerned about what the crowd thought. Just being up there doing what I love made me happy.

"And from that, what did you learn?" With narrow eyes, Meera asked.

With a softer tone, Kabir remarked, "That failing at something you love is better than succeeding at something you don't."

As Aarav took in Kabir's remarks, a glimmer of insight appeared in his mind. However, Meera's phone rang before he had time to think about it. She let out a sigh as she looked at the television.

It's my mother. She will most likely give me another scolding about accepting that Mumbai PR position.

"Have you not yet informed her about the fellowship?" Aarav enquired.

Meera gave a headshake. "Not just yet. The opportunity to produce important films is what I know I desire. However, disappointing them is difficult. They have given up so much for me.

Kabir remarked, "Parents always want what's safe." "But sometimes you lose yourself when you play it safe."

The café hum filled the void between the three companions as they sat in thoughtful silence. Both of them were at a turning point in their lives and were not sure which way to go. One thing was certain, though: they couldn't continue to postpone the difficult decisions.

Aarav was at home later that evening, gazing up at the ceiling. He could still hear his father's voice from a chat they had a week prior.

"Aarav, stability is crucial. I've put a lot of effort into providing you with a life free from hardship. What would make you want to discard that?

His father had not grasped Aarav's attempts to convey his startup idea. "It's too dangerous," he had declared. "What if it doesn't work?"

Aarav reflected on Kabir's words as he lay in bed. It's better to fail at something you love than to succeed at something you don't. Perhaps it was true, but it was a frightening concept.

The following morning, Aarav decided on something. He declined the offer from the IT company via email. After that, he started working on his startup plan.

Meera also faced a challenging talk. She nervously pushed rice around her plate as she sat at the dinner table with her parents that evening. At last, she inhaled deeply.

"A fellowship to produce documentaries has been offered to me," she stated. "I've always desired it."

Her parents looked at one another anxiously.

Her mother questioned, "But what about the PR job in Mumbai?" "It's a solid, good opportunity."

"I understand. And thank you for all that you have done for me. However, this is my dream. I must give it a try.

Her dad nodded and moaned. "We'll back you if that's what you desire. Just assure us that you will exercise caution.

Meera's eyes filled with tears. "I swear."

A few weeks later, Kabir's show at The Rusty Strings brought the three buddies together once more. The café was crowded this time. As Kabir took the stage with his guitar slung over his shoulder, Meera and Aarav let out loud applause.

Kabir remarked into the microphone, "This song is for anyone who has ever been afraid to follow their dreams. Remember, it's acceptable to feel afraid. Don't let it deter you, though.

Aarav and Meera smiled at each other as Kabir's voice filled the room. Though they each made a decision—their own decision—they still lacked all the answers. And they felt free for the first time in a long time.