In 2020, as the globe stalled because of the pandemic, I was at life's crossroads. Working in Mumbai, I travelled to visit my parents in Lucknow to be left helpless by the announcement of lockdown made by our honorable Prime Minister during March that year to protect us from getting infected and to control the situation across the country. The seemingly temporary leave resulted in an unlimited stay. My life, like that of millions around the world, was thrown into uncertainty.

At first, I did not believe in destiny. Like everyone else, I lived the day-to-day, assuming that the outcomes of life were a result of my decisions and actions. But as the pandemic progressed, I started observing a change within myself. I started to believe that at times, the path of life is out of our hands. It was like destiny had a blueprint that I was not aware of at the time.

When my work was no longer possible because of the lockdown, I had to shift. I ended up working in a private hospital as a COVID warrior, assisting those who were infected by the virus. During the pandemic, I was overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, but I did not have the time to think about my own sorrow. The year was also dominated by a sad loss—my grandfather died in the middle of the pandemic. But I couldn't afford to stop and mourn; I had to prioritize the urgent demands of the people around me.

As I worked at the frontlines of the crisis, I was constantly pondering life and its uncertain nature. I had put my trust in the wrong individuals in my life, and I had been betrayed in ways that left scars that ran deep. But in the middle of the pandemic, I realized that maybe my suffering had brought me to this point. It was as if I had been selected for this purpose—not to sit in my own sorrow, but to help those who were hurting. I was presented with the chance to change things, and for that, I was more than grateful.

There were moments when it felt like I was not in control of my life, but then I realized that maybe this was the exact reason why I had been put into this situation. The pandemic compelled me to step out of myself and into others' lives. It filled me with a purpose I never could have imagined. Although I didn't know what the future held, I felt comforted by the fact that I was doing my part for something greater than myself.

During my time working in the COVID ward, I monitored patient care and managed administrative tasks as non-clinical operations personnel. I reflected on my own mortality. I used to tell myself, "If I die here, at least those who know me will call me a warrior." But, amazingly, I survived. I emerged from the ordeal with a new sense of purpose—no longer was I just existing to live my own dreams, but I was now existing to serve others, to be an instrument of good in a world that so needed it.

Now, when I look back at those troubled days, I know that I have changed. My perspective of life, fate, and suffering has changed. I do not view the struggles I encountered as obstacles; they were stepping stones that led me to where I am now. I am no longer living for myself, but for something greater than myself—a cause that I hope will motivate others to transcend their own adversity and discover their own purpose in the midst of it.

Though my path has contained periods of extreme sorrow, I feel that I have become a better person from all that I have endured. Life apparently had different ideas for me, and I have come to accept them.

This is only one chapter of my life, a snapshot of how my outlook has changed and the way I look at life now. There's a lot more to follow, and I hope that my story will encourage at least one person to live life despite their barriers and find meaning, even during the most difficult moments. So, keep watching for more as I go on to tell the rest of this story.