Shruti was a 25-year-old girl from a well-educated family, having always lived in cities, and was working as a software engineer. Aman, also 25, was from a small town in Bihar. Despite his humble beginnings, he had cleared the toughest exam in India and landed in IIT. He had always been a topper, excelling in school and ranking first in every competition. However, his life took an unexpected turn in college.

  Aman had a deep passion for teaching. Even during his college days, he taught school students and aspirants free of cost, believing that education was the greatest gift. But life wasn't always kind to him. In his final year, he received a dream placement with a one-crore package. However, he fell in love with a girl who ultimately betrayed him. Heartbroken, he lost focus, his grades dropped, and in the depths of his despair, he let go of the golden opportunity. As a result, he remained unemployed for almost a year before landing a low-paying job.

  People around him were cruel. They mocked him, saying, "Even after studying in IIT, what is your son doing? Nothing!" Their words pierced him, breaking his confidence further. He began to believe he was a failure.

  One day, Shruti’s parents visited Aman’s house with a marriage proposal. They conversed with him and asked about his studies and career. When they found out about his low grades in college, they questioned him. But Aman, carrying the weight of his past, simply replied, "I was preparing for UPSC, and I couldn’t focus on my college grades."

  The answer didn’t completely satisfy them, but they returned home and convinced Shruti to meet him. Shruti, hesitant yet willing, visited Aman’s house with her parents. When her father asked Aman the same question about his low scores, he gave the same answer, but there was guilt in his eyes. Shruti sensed that something was amiss.

  Determined to understand him better, she requested to talk to him alone. In a quiet room, she asked, "I just want to understand what went wrong. I just want to understand so that I can help you fulfill your dream."

  For the first time, Aman opened up. He spoke about his past—how he had been a bright student, how he had been on the path to greatness, but how betrayal had shattered him. "I was the topper of my college," he said, pain evident in his voice, "but I am nothing today. I am just broken."

  Shruti saw the pain in his eyes and said, "Aman, let’s do one thing—I’ll help you in every way to fulfill your dream. I am ready to marry you, but just give me one year of your life. Let’s prepare together for UPSC. If you succeed, we win. If you don’t, we’ll try again. But you won’t be alone. I promise."

  Aman hesitated. He had trusted once and been broken. "What if I leave my job, prepare for UPSC, and fail? What if you leave me too?" he asked.

  Shruti smiled, her eyes full of conviction. "I won’t. Even if you don’t clear the exam, even if you struggle, I will still be with you. I earn enough to support us. Trust me."

  That day, something changed in Aman. For the first time in years, he felt hope.

  They informed their families. Shruti told her parents, "Give us two years. I promise I will marry Aman, but we need time. We want to understand each other and fulfill our dreams." Her parents, seeing her determination, agreed.

  The two moved to Delhi. Shruti took charge of their expenses while Aman focused entirely on his preparation. He studied for fifteen to sixteen hours a day, pushing himself beyond limits. Shruti ensured he had everything he needed—books, motivation, and belief.

  The day of the UPSC prelims finally arrived. Standing outside the exam center, Shruti held his hand and said, "All the best! No matter what happens, this journey is ours, and we'll walk it together. Just give it your best shot. "

  With renewed confidence, Aman entered the hall. Hours later, he walked out and smiled for the first time in years. "It went well," he said.

  Shruti beamed. "Great! Now, let’s prepare for mains."

  Days passed, and the answer keys were released. They checked the answers together. Their eyes lit up—Aman had done well. He was likely to clear prelims.

  With even more determination, they prepared for the next stage. Shruti supported him in every way—she took care of the house, managed finances, and most importantly, never let him doubt himself again.

  The results of the prelims arrived. Aman had cleared it. He looked at Shruti, tears in his eyes. "I wouldn’t have done it without you," he whispered.

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  She smiled and said, "This is just the beginning."

  They started preparing together for the interview. Shruti played the role of an interviewer, throwing both tricky and silly questions at Aman to boost his confidence. They also sought guidance from some teachers and online mentors. With rigorous preparation, Aman gained the confidence needed for the final stage.

  This time, they decided to share the news with their parents. Aman told his mom and dad, as well as Shruti’s parents, that he had cleared both exams and was now preparing for the final stage—the interview. He expressed his wish for all of them to accompany him to the interview center on the big day.

  Wow, what a moment! The day of the interview finally arrived, and Aman walked in with confidence, accompanied by all four parents who stood by his side, giving him their unwavering support.

  Inside the interview room, the panel threw a series of challenging questions at him, but he tackled them with ease, answering almost everything with clarity and composure. His knowledge, confidence, and presence of mind left the interviewers thoroughly impressed.

  As he stepped out of the room, there was a sense of accomplishment in his eyes. He knew he had done well. Everyone was eagerly waiting for him, and the moment he confirmed that the interview had gone great, joy and relief swept over the entire family.

  With hearts full of hope, they returned to their hometown, waiting for the final results. Then, the long-anticipated day arrived—result day!

  And what a result it was! Aman had done the impossible. He had not only cleared the UPSC examination but had secured All India Rank 1! The entire family was in shock, but it was the best kind of shock—pure joy, pride, and celebration.

  The journey of hard work, sacrifices, and unwavering support had finally paid off. ???.

  Tears streamed down Shruti’s face as she hugged him. "You did it!"

  Aman smiled, his voice filled with gratitude. "No, we did it."

  News of his achievement spread like wildfire. The entire village gathered to honor him. The same people who once questioned his choices, who used to say, "What is your son even doing? Even after studying in IIT, he hasn’t achieved anything," were now looking up to him as their idol. Those who once made him doubt himself were now the ones applauding him the loudest.

  The media arrived to cover his success story. Standing in front of cameras, Aman spoke from the heart.

  "The best thing that ever happened to me was Shruti. She stood by me through everything—emotionally, financially, and mentally. She reminded me that my dreams were worth fighting for. If I am here today, it's because of her unwavering belief in me. She is, without a doubt, the best part of my life."

  Hearing this, Shruti was overwhelmed. She never expected such a public acknowledgment. The entire village, the media, and their families looked at her with immense respect. It was a moment of pure joy, a testament to their journey together.

  As the celebrations continued, Aman suddenly knelt before her, his hands trembling slightly, yet his eyes were steady.

  "Shruti," he whispered, "you are the most precious part of my life. No distance, no time, no situation can change what I feel for you. I promise, my heart belongs to you, and it always will. Let me complete this journey, and once I return as an IAS officer, our journey together will truly begin."

  Shruti’s parents, though hesitant at first, saw the unwavering trust she had in Aman. Their love was undeniable. Finally, with a deep breath, they agreed.

  The next few days were filled with excitement and bittersweet emotions. The engagement had brought them closer, but the reality of Aman leaving for LBSNAA lingered over their heads.

  On the day of his departure, Shruti went with his family to see him off. Standing at the station, she held his hand one last time before he boarded the train.

  "Go, shine, and make the world proud, just like you make me proud every single day. I'll be waiting," she whispered with a smile.

  Aman smiled back, his heart swelling with admiration. She wasn’t just his love; she was his strength, his guiding light.

  Months later, the proudest moment arrived. Aman stood tall in his crisp uniform, the emblem of his hard work shining on his chest. He scanned the crowd, searching for the one person who had been his pillar of strength—Shruti. As soon as he spotted her standing beside both their parents, pride and love reflected in her eyes, he took a deep breath and spoke.

  "This journey was not mine alone. It was built on the unwavering support of my family, my mentors, and most importantly, the woman who stood by me through every challenge. Shruti, you believed in me when the world doubted, you pushed me when I felt weak, and you celebrated my smallest victories like they were your own. If I am standing here today as an IAS officer, it's because of your love, your patience, and your faith in me. Thank you for being my strength, my inspiration, and my reason to never give up."

  The crowd erupted in applause. Shruti’s eyes welled up with happy tears, and both families beamed with pride.

  As the ceremony ended, Aman walked up to her, held her hands, and whispered, "Now, it's time for us to start our forever. Will you finally become my wife?"

  Shruti, still overwhelmed with emotions, laughed through her tears and said, "I've always been yours, Aman."

  And with that, their journey, which had started with a dream, now moved towards a beautiful reality—one where love, commitment, and success walked hand in hand.

  Even after achieving his dream, Aman never forgot his roots. He followed his passion for teaching and started coaching UPSC aspirants for free, guiding them with the same dedication that once fueled his own journey. Meanwhile, Shruti continued excelling in her career as a software engineer, proving that success was not about choosing love or ambition, but about growing together.

  Their story wasn’t just about clearing an exam; it was about faith, perseverance, and a love that stood the test of time.

  ? Because when two hearts believe in each other, no dream is too big, and no distance is too far. ?