Winning my first tournament gave me certainty, but it did not make the path ahead any easier. I had discovered what I wanted to dedicate my life to, yet I had no idea how a chess player was supposed to build a career. I didn't know where tournaments were held, whether professional coaching even existed in Nashik, or what it truly meant to pursue the game seriously.

My family belonged to a lower-middle-class household where every rupee mattered. Like countless Indian families, their dream was simple: study well, earn a stable job, and build a secure life. No one in our family had ever chosen an unconventional path; sport was seen as a hobby, not a profession. They were not against my passion, they were simply afraid of the uncertainty that came with it.

Respecting their wishes, I enrolled in a mechanical diploma. I understood the sacrifices my parents were making to pay my fees, and I never wanted their efforts to go to waste. Academically, I always performed well, earning strong grades and reinforcing their belief that education would eventually provide the stability our family needed. Yet even while pursuing my studies, chess never left my mind.

Slowly, I began discovering the chess community in Nashik. I learned that only a handful of tournaments were organized each year, and those events became milestones that I eagerly waited for. Whenever I had the opportunity, I played, though, most of the time I was defeated by players far stronger and more experienced than I was. Those losses taught me an important lesson: playing alone would never be enough. If I truly wanted to improve, I had to study the game.

Through the kindness of a fellow chess enthusiast, I was introduced to my first serious chess books. Those pages opened a completely different world. I began studying positions, analysing games, and understanding that mastery was built long before a tournament ever began. Three years after discovering chess, I played my first All India Open Rating Chess Tournament and earned my initial FIDE rating. It was only the beginning, but it felt like a step into the larger world I had dreamed about.

Even then, reality continued to demand compromise. The financial situation at home meant I could only afford to play one or two tournaments each year. Most of my time was spent attending classes, preparing for examinations, and fulfilling the responsibilities that came with my education. Whenever I wasn't studying, I found time to meet a few close friends in Nashik who shared the same passion. Together we analysed games, practised for hours, and kept our dream alive.

When I completed my diploma with excellent grades, my family wanted me to continue my education through engineering. My heart wanted to choose chess. Before taking admission, I made a promise to my parents: "I will complete my engineering. But after that, I want to give my life to chess. Please don't stop me." They believed time would change my mind; I believed time would prepare me for mine.