According to my mother, I was a tough nut to crack as a child, and she often relied on spanking to keep me in check. It worked until I grew older. She later said the most harrowing phase of her life was when this lever stopped working.

We were constantly at loggerheads, and my father often ended up in the crossfire. Papa, however, was a lateral thinker. Looking for a creative way to manage the situation, he asked a very close friend — an astrologer — to look at our horoscopes and see if a ceasefire was possible.

I distinctly remember the day his friend came home. He asked my mother to sit down and told her, “You and your daughter are like tiger and lion. They cannot live in the same cave, so skirmishes will continue. The good thing is that your daughter will grow out of this phase and eventually, she is the one who will take care of you.”

Then he turned to my father and said, “Your daughter has a bright future ahead as she is blessed with Raj Yog.”

Of everything said, that was the only bit I absorbed. In my young mind, it meant I had won the divine lottery. I would get everything I wanted — without lifting a finger.

At the time, I had just joined a new school with a different board and far greater academic demands. Over the next few days, my mother noticed I wasn’t studying. When she asked why, I replied with confidence, “Because I’m blessed. I don’t need to.”

She sat me down and explained, “Having a great horoscope just means that you may be luckier than most — but success still requires focus and hard work.”

For some reason, her words struck a chord and this conversation marked a turning point. I began setting goals, focusing on my studies, and quietly building the discipline that shaped my later life.