It was year 2001.I was in Jaipur. My Father Subedar Ashok Kumar Choudhary was posted in Kargil. I was living with my mother and my younger brother, Avinash.
I had completed my Intermediate Science from The KV No 2, Jaipur. I got news that I had cleared the written of Frankfinn Air Hostess Entrance. I was to attend the Interview soon. I was happy but was little apprehensive that would I be allowed to join the Air Hostess Academy upon clearing the Interview. I had support from my mother but she was also little apprehensive. However she allowed me for appearing in the interview.
I cleared the interviewtoo. Now my mother said, ``Your father too, needs to be consulted about joining.`` I said, ``Let`s discuss.``
My father, who himself was in such an odd situation due the Kargil war. Even getting connected to him was not easy. I wrote a long letter to him. The Reply came early.
He wrote,``Rashmi,my congratulations for the achievement. I am proud of you. But, I would like to say that, I am not convinced about your joining the Academy….Consider my points. 1. You are still very young and got a lot of scope for your higher studies.2. You are the eldest of all in the family, and if you join this academy, your other sisters too will follow you, aiming for the Air Hostess only. Also, we belong to a middle class family and to the best of my knowledge, only so called Hi class family can afford this career as there is no certainly of the job. Once you join this course, you will be left with nil opportunity to study further. My advice is to complete your Degree and try other competitive examinations of your choice. ``
I had full trust in my father. I chose to appear for the Medical entrance and joined for the coaching in Kota and my father did not have any problem in paying one lakh rupees for the coaching. However, I could not clear the exams and again sought advice from my parents. They said to prepare for the Rajsthan PSC and I did that. I was one of the top rankers in the BEd category. I was given unpaid seat in Ajmer and there also I was the topper.
But, soon I got married with a serving Air Force personnel whom you all know !! I was blessed with a daughter within a year of my marriage. It was a tough task to bring up the kid as she was of little less weight since birth and was little choosy in having eatables. I decided to postpone my Teaching career for next four years.
Punya, now studies in LKG and I am in the final year of my MSc through a correspondence course.
I am happy about my life and that I took almost all major decisions using my elder`s advices. I always believed that Experience in Life has it`s own merits.
