Finance World

Episode 91: The Silent Fall — When Student Debt and Parental Dreams Take a Life

Series: Broken by Burden: Financial Survival Strategies for the Troubled Mind

Date: 24-10-2025

🎭 A Dream Too Heavy to Carry

Characters:

  • Arjun Malhotra (19): A bright and charming but average-in-academics boy, known for his smile and love for football rather than textbooks.
  • Rakesh Malhotra (48): His father, a small businessman, ambitious for his son to achieve what he couldn’t.
  • Suman Malhotra (45): His mother, proud but worried about the mounting costs of their dreams.
  • College Peers in London: A mix of affluent international students, whose lifestyle overwhelms Arjun.
  • Mr. Khanna: The loan officer who sanctions a hefty education loan.

🌳 The Parental Dream

Arjun wasn’t meant to be a scholar. He loved playing football on the narrow lanes of his colony and doodling cars in his notebook. But Rakesh Malhotra had one dream:

“My son will study abroad. I’ll show the world that Arjun is in London!”

Despite Arjun’s average grades, Rakesh pushed for a London college with a reputation for business studies. Arjun never argued; he wanted to make his father proud.

Arjun (hesitant): “Papa, London is… big. Maybe I can study here, in Delhi?”
Rakesh (firm): “No, beta! You deserve the best. Don’t worry about money. I’ll arrange everything.”

💸 The Cost of Pride

Arjun didn’t qualify for a scholarship. Rakesh, unwilling to compromise, took a ₹32 lakh education loan, mortgaging the family’s small flat.

  • Tuition fee: ₹18 lakh/year.
  • Living expenses: ₹10 lakh/year.
  • Loan EMI (post-graduation): ₹38,000/month.

Suman tried to reason:

Suman (worried): “Rakesh, this is too much for us. What if Arjun struggles?”
Rakesh (angry): “You don’t trust our son? He’ll shine there. People will finally know we’ve done something big.”

✈️ The London Reality

London was nothing like Arjun imagined.

  • The language barrier — British accents made him feel alien.
  • The luxury lifestyle of peers — expensive cafes, designer clothes, weekend trips.
  • Academics were far tougher — group projects made him feel like the “weakest link.”

He started skipping classes, eating instant noodles to save money, and avoiding calls home to hide his struggles.

🗣 The Crumbling Spirit

One late-night call to his mother revealed his breaking point:

Arjun (voice trembling): “Maa… I don’t fit here. I can’t understand the lectures, I’m failing… Everyone is so confident, and I… I feel like nothing.”
Suman (softly): “Beta, it’s okay to fail sometimes. Just come home. We’ll manage.”
Arjun (choking): “How can I, Maa? Papa’s loan… our house… If I return, I’ll ruin everything.”

He hung up before she could respond.

⚠️ The Final Blow

When the mid-term results came, Arjun had failed 3 out of 5 subjects. The university warned him of academic probation. His father, unaware of the full situation, called that night.

Rakesh (excited): “Arjun, how’s London? Everyone here is asking about you!”
Arjun (quietly): “Papa, do you love me only if I succeed?”
Rakesh (confused): “What? Of course, I do! You’ll succeed, beta. Just try harder.”

But Arjun had no strength left.

💔 The Silent Goodbye

Two days later, Arjun’s roommate found him in his room — a note on the desk:

“I tried, Papa. I really did. But I’m not your dream. I’m just me. I’m sorry for failing you and Maa.”

💸 The Aftermath

  • Rakesh collapsed upon hearing the news. The loan of ₹32 lakh still remained, but the real loss was Arjun himself.
  • The house mortgage now felt like a grave reminder of misplaced ambition.
  • Suman, broken, whispered:

“We wanted to show the world. But now, we have nothing left to show.”

🧠 Character Psychology

  • Arjun: A victim of parental pressure and social comparison, not lack of capability.
  • Rakesh: Loved his son but equated success with status.
  • Suman: Represented the silent voice of caution that went unheard.

💡 What This Story Teaches Us

  1. Parental dreams must align with a child’s reality. A career path forced upon someone can destroy their confidence.
  2. Education loans require planning. Blindly taking on debt for “prestige” colleges can devastate families.
  3. Mental health matters more than degrees. Academic struggles abroad often lead to loneliness and breakdowns.
  4. It’s okay to fail, to come back, to restart. No ambition is worth a life.

🌱 Where They Are Now

A year later, Rakesh visits a local NGO to speak to parents about “choosing children over social status.” His words are always the same:

“I sent my son to London to make him a star. I wish I had just told him he was enough.”

🔜 Next Episode Teaser:

Episode 92: Pension Misuse — When Children Drain Their Parents’ Last Security
In the next story, a retired father’s pension account is systematically misused by his own children for their luxuries, leaving him financially helpless during a medical crisis.

⚠️ Disclaimer:

This narrative is fictionalized but inspired by real cases of students breaking under education loans and unrealistic expectations. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, seek help immediately. Life is worth more than any degree.

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