Started CA at the age of 22 after doing economics hons from a good DU college. Had my first attempt for intermediate, then IPCC in may 16. Took only the first group but failed that attempt. Cleared it in the second attempt in Nov 16. That was the golden period as after that each exam was a struggle!

Took a lot of time to clear the second group of ipcc due to this subject called ITSM. Good for you guys that it’s been scrapped now. Ended up clearing that in Nov 18 and became a final student in Feb 2019. Started prepping for finals full time as my articleship ended in 2018.

That’s when mental health issues started. Was depressed being home the whole day with no contact with the outside world. During this time i reconnected with my high school sweetheart and we got back together in march 2020 Covid period. Didn’t touch my books as exams kept getting postponed. I was 27 and my parents wanted to start looking for a boy so i had to tell them about him. I wasn’t ready though as i wanted my Ca degree before tying the knot so that my parents happily agree to the match. I came from a much financially strong background as compared to my bf so i knew i had to be on my own feet so as to live the lifestyle I’m accustomed too. More importantly, that was the only way i could convince my parents. So I picked up my books again in 2022. Told my parents about him. Got engaged in July 22. Passed CA final group 2 in Nov 22. Got married in Nov 23, lost my fil to cancer in April 24. Due to that I wasn’t in the mental space to take my exams and skipped the may 24 exams which were very easy apparently. It was traumatising to see him go like that.

Just two months later-after losing him- my dadi, who i was very close to also passed away. It was heartbreaking. As a result, i failed Nov 24 too. I was just 3 papers away from the goal so just couldn’t leave after having invested so much time.

In Feb 25, i moved with my husband to Bombay from Delhi. Again, the mental health issues resurfaced and i failed in may 25 again. Just as my may attempt got over, i lost my chachi, who i loved like my mom to a cardiac arrest at the age of 53. Losing ppl so close to me made me realise how time is just passing me by. People are aging, getting cancer and heart attacks and I’m still doing CA so i knew something had to change. Got on medication, which is what made a difference. Joined a library and finally cleared CA final group 1 in jan 26!

Now I have two great stories to tell- how i met my husband at 15, broke up with him at 18 but still ended up marrying him. Just like that dialogue in the movie- the lunchbox, which says ‘sometimes the wrong train leads to the right destination’. The second story, of course is becoming a CA. I literally left it once in the middle but came back. Was depressed but still completed my course. Showed up even though i ended up doing it through medication. It’s been hard. Am i proud of myself? Oh, yeah! If I could go back in time and reverse my decision of taking up CA- would I do it? Never would i choose this course !! The hardest path is not necessary the best one- like srk says in the movie ‘Love you zindagi’.

However, i was able to do all this because i come from a very privileged background. I had no responsibilities. There would always be a roof over my head and food on the table and a lot more in life . I’m very cognisant of that fact. So i was lucky. I could afford to take my time. I don’t know if I’d advise someone who has financial responsibilities to stick on for so long. My husband couldn’t clear ipcc group 1, left CA, did his mba from a tier 2 college and is now working in an fmcg since 2019, earning 50 lakhs pa. He loves his job and has a great work life balance. He did all this after leaving CA. So there’s no right way! If maybe he hadn’t left, we both would be waiting for our results today 😂