Free Advice, No Refunds
Raghav didn’t ask for advice.
Advice, however, found him anyway—like spam emails and mosquitoes.
His aunt called one afternoon.
“So, still no job?” she asked gently, with the softness of a hammer.
“Yes,” Raghav replied.
“You should wake up early.”
“I do.”
“You should sleep early.”
“I don’t sleep.”
“Ah,” she said wisely. “That’s the problem.”
She suggested astrology. Another uncle suggested motivation videos. A neighbor suggested marriage, because apparently a wife doubled as a career solution.
Raghav nodded through the phone, making sounds of agreement while staring at a crack in the wall that had been there longer than his hope.
That evening, he sat on his bed scrolling through motivational videos.
A man on screen shouted, “If you really want it, the universe will respond!”
Raghav whispered, “I’ve been sending reminders.”
Another video said, “Failing is part of success!”
Raghav counted. He had failed approximately 417 times. Success seemed to be stuck in traffic.
He tried affirmations.
“I am confident,” he told the mirror.
The mirror disagreed.
“I am successful.”
The mirror remained unemployed.
“I deserve happiness.”
The mirror flickered slightly, possibly laughing.
The next day, he followed one piece of advice seriously: dress well and walk in confidently.
He wore his best shirt and walked into a random office building.
“Do you have an interview?” the guard asked.
“No.”
“Then leave.”
Raghav left.
At night, lying on his bed, Raghav realized something comforting. Everyone around him was full of advice, but none of them were actually listening—to him or to themselves.
That thought made him feel strangely light.
He smiled. A small one. Practice, maybe.
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