In a Promised Land: A Miscalculated Journey

Description

Back home in India, Aryaan successfully landed a lecturer job at a university, but that did not help him to feel connected with his homeland. When his wife's physical and mental health deteriorated, Aryaan decided that migrating to Canada would open the door for his career development and would have a positive effect on his wife's body and mind.

Chasing the dream of a happy and prosperous life in Canada, Aryaan soon realized the difference between fantasy and reality. They tried as best they could, but after six months, neither Aryaan nor Piya could find a job in their respective professions. At a dinner party, they met a group of fellow immigrants. In their homelands, they were doctors, engineers, and professors, but here in the West, to pay the bills and put food on the table, they were all cab drivers. Aryaan realized if he wanted to stay and continue looking for his dream job, he would have to take any survival job that came his way.

Moving from one odd job to the next, Aryaan grew increasingly worn out and hopeless. He could not help but consider moving back to India. But Piya could not stand to see her husband become so defeatist. She wanted him to be a success. When Piya got pregnant, Aryaan realized that he had to let go of his pride and do something, anything, in order to support his wife and newborn. Sam advised him to drive a cab. Aryaan agreed.

When Ayaan, his son, turned two, Aryaan suspected that he might have cancer, the treatment for which was only available in the U.S. and not covered by insurance, which meant that Aryaan's days were numbered. Aryaan decided to send his family back to India where they would be taken care of. However, in order to convince Piya to go back, he had to keep his illness a secret.

In the end, Aryaan was alone, taking solace in the fact that his family was safe and looked after. With this knowledge, he went to his final rest.