MY NEST

 

A Dream Built Not for Me, But for My Parents

Life has a strange way of shaping us. It doesn’t always go the way we dream it, but sometimes, the paths we take, the sacrifices we make, and the dreams we chase create something far more meaningful than we ever imagined. At my age, I stand with a heart full of pride and gratitude because I have fulfilled a dream that was never just mine—it was my parents’. I built a house. A dream home. Not for luxury, not to show off, not even to feel accomplished in front of others. I built it for my parents—two people who spent their whole lives working hard, sacrificing silently, and giving me everything they could. This house is my way of saying thank you. It is my way of showing love in the best way I know—through effort, commitment, and action.

“Last vacation, when I seriously started thinking about building my dream house, I met several people in the field—but none gave me the confidence or clarity I was looking for. I was lost on how to move forward. Then, just a week before I was about to leave India, Anjitha told me, ‘Da, ask my dad—maybe he could help you.’ She told me to go and see some of their works and then decide, and her words gave me a little hope. I went and spoke to her father, and to my surprise, he was genuinely happy to help. He said, ‘We can and we will do it,’ and that gave me so much joy. I felt an unexpected peace knowing that it could be done—and more than that, done by them. I’m truly grateful to her. That little monkey has always been there for me, especially when I needed it the most, supporting me like no one else ever did.” All my friends helped and supported me. I am not telling all their names.

The journey was not easy. In fact, it was full of challenges. There were moments I wanted to give up, times when I felt so alone in the process. I ran after many things—money, stability, approvals, construction deadlines, decisions that had to be made every day. There were countless sleepless nights, days filled with stress, and emotions I couldn’t always share with anyone but with some of my best friends who are always my family and with my partner in crime. I had to keep a smile on my face, but inside, I was burning with pressure, and all my friends would know that. “I was walking away from so many things for the sake of my dream house, sacrificing bits and pieces along the way. And through all those moments, she was the one I could always talk to.

I recently took a month off for the housewarming, thinking I would finally rest. But that break wasn’t really a break. I didn’t sit inside my house peacefully even for a day. I was running behind plumbers, electricians, furniture deliveries, wall colours, fittings—everything that would make the house truly feel like a home. My mind was always occupied, but my heart was full, knowing every step I took was for a reason bigger than myself.

When I finally received the key to the house from the builders, who are also my best friend’s parents, it was a moment I will never forget. I had secretly wished that my best friend and her parents would be there to give me the key, but they were caught up with other responsibilities, and I understand that. Still, that moment felt surreal. Holding that key in my hand felt like holding the result of years of dreams, sacrifices, and perseverance. I smiled like a child that day, because for the first time in a long time, I felt truly proud of myself. Now, I feel more relaxed. There’s calmness inside me that I haven’t felt in years. I did something good. I did something meaningful. I gave my parents a safe, peaceful, and beautiful space to call home, which I called ‘Nest’. As a son, I believe that’s one of the greatest responsibilities I could fulfill.

But now, a new chapter begins. I’ve done something for them, and now it’s time to think of myself. It’s time to think about my own future. It’s time to plan for a family, to think about marriage, to save for the years ahead. Life doesn’t slow down; it just changes shape. While I move forward, I know I’ll have to let go of some dreams I kept close to my heart. There were personal goals, creative ideas, and small desires that I always told myself I’d get back to “someday.” But now I know, some of them might never happen, and that’s okay. We all make choices, and sometimes, putting others first means pressing pause on ourselves. Still, there’s a fire inside me—a quiet one—that burns with everything I’ve felt but never said. There are emotions I still don’t know how to express, things I want to share but don’t know with whom. But I believe that one day, it will all make sense. One day, I’ll look back and see that everything I let go of made space for something greater.

For now, I’ll take a deep breath and move forward. One step at a time. I’ll carry my memories, my silent tears, my unspoken thoughts, and my quiet strength with me. I’ll dream again, maybe differently, maybe more carefully, but I’ll keep moving. Because this journey has only just begun. And Joice keeps going. You’ve already made your parents proud. Now it’s time to make yourself proud, too.

 with love, Joice 💝