: Chandrani Das
How many times have you missed the morning metro? How many times have you failed in your career? Or walked out of an interview knowing it didn’t go your way? The answer, for most of us, is the same: more times than we can count. And usually, that’s where we leave the story, at the failure itself. But is that really the whole picture?
Returning from the India International Trade Fair, these questions echoed in my mind. The fair brings together shopkeepers from across India and beyond, each arriving for just 14 days to showcase the most authentic pieces of their region. Visitors stroll through, browse at leisure, and buy what suits their interest and convenience. Prices are often higher than usual, this is the shopkeepers’ chance to earn well, and many do. But that isn’t the full narrative. The real picture is far more layered.
The preparation for IITF starts months in advance. From securing permissions for stalls to bracing for days without a single sale, the journey is paved with uncertainty and small heartbreaks. I watched countless moments where visitors admired a product, tasted, touched, clicked pictures, bargained, and then walked away, leaving behind an untouched item and a quiet sense of disappointment. For every person who approached the stall, the seller held a spark of hope. Each spark born from the ashes of the last one. A faith rebuilt, a confidence restored, a belief held together despite cracks. Every time this happened, something inside them grew stronger. Failure remained, but so did faith.
This, in many ways, is how life works. Failure and faith stand face to face, each shaping the other. We fail and then find faith again. We have faith and try not to fail. It’s almost like living in parallel universes at once. Think of opposition parties, how many times have they lost? Yet what never falters is their determination, their drive, their belief that victory will come. That is the kind of faith each of us needs, not to win elections, but to win life in the long run.
So the next time an interview slips away, hold on to that faith and try again. Miss your metro today? Tomorrow, carry the belief that you’ll catch it. If you fail in your career, try something new and interesting, because every curve in your life will lead you to a new place. The process may take time, but faith has a way of ensuring the effort never goes to waste.
Guest author -Chandrani Das is currently at Akashvani, with previous stints at The Indian Express and TOI Digital, she focuses on meaningful stories that inform, empower, and spark conversations.
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