Notes of Love

across the miles

The days leading up to Manik's graduation were a bittersweet mix of excitement and apprehension. For Manik, the impending end of college life and the start of his next chapter filled him with a mixture of pride and fear. He was thrilled to be graduating, to finally take the step that his father had always envisioned for him moving to the USA to train under his father's business and eventually join the family empire. It was a huge opportunity, one that he had worked hard for, but the reality of it was hitting him harder than he expected. The thought of leaving everything behind his friends, his life here, and most importantly, Nandini made him uneasy.

Nandini, on the other hand, was going through her own storm of emotions. She had known about Manik's future plans for months now, but as the day approached, it felt like a weight she could no longer ignore. They had been inseparable for over three years, and now, in just a matter of days, he would be thousands of miles away. The thought of their relationship being put on hold, possibly even fading away as time and distance wore them down, terrified her. But despite her fears, she didn't want to spoil his excitement. This was his big day, a day to celebrate all he had achieved. She would put on a brave face, even though her heart ached with the thought of him leaving.

She spent the last few days before his graduation helping him with the little things—picking out the perfect suit for the ceremony, making sure everything was in order for his departure. Every task she took on felt like a way to hold on to him, even though she knew that soon, she would have to let him go. She wanted him to look perfect on his big day, to feel proud of what he had accomplished. It was a mix of love and duty, and through it all, she masked the quiet ache in her heart.

Manik, for his part, noticed how she seemed to avoid talking about the future avoiding the reality that soon they would be separated. He could see the subtle signs of her pain, the way her eyes would soften whenever she looked at him, as if she were trying to memorize every detail, every moment before he left. But he didn't bring it up. He couldn't. He wanted to be strong for her, just as she had been for him when he was struggling with the thought of leaving for the USA.

Nandini had become so much a part of his life that the idea of being without her felt almost impossible to bear. Over the past three years, she had become not just his girlfriend but his best friend. And with her, he had found a second family. She was so close to his parents now that it almost seemed like she belonged with them. His parents had come to love her like a daughter, always turning to her for advice, especially when it came to family matters. Her grandmother, Amms, had embraced Manik as her own, showering him with the same love and care she gave Nandini. It was clear to everyone that Nandini wasn't just a part of his life, she had become part of the very fabric of his world.

As the graduation ceremony came to an end, there was a strange mix of emotions swirling around them all. Cabir and Mukti, their closest friends, had been there with them through thick and thin, and the thought of college life coming to an end, the thought of the group splitting up, hit hard. They knew they would always be there for each other, but the truth was that everything was about to change.

The evening went by in a blur of congratulations, farewells, and pictures. Nandini had captured several photos of the group of Manik, Cabir, and Mukti laughing and joking together, trying to make the best of the last moments before everything changed. "See? I took pictures of you guys," Nandini said, holding up her phone as she showed them the candid shots of the day. "They're perfect," Mukti said softly, her voice betraying the sadness she felt.

Manik smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'll stay in touch with you guys, okay? Let's meet once I'm back." He pulled Mukti and Cabir into a final, tight hug. The kind of hug that said everything without words, goodbye, but not forever. He could feel how much they would miss each other. As much as the future excited him, it also made him anxious to leave behind the people who had shaped these unforgettable years of his life.