SEVEN MONTHS - a lifetime

Chapter 1 : A Reunion of forgotton paths

Shriji Dey sat at her desk, her eyes scanning the NCERT textbooks sprawled in front of her. The dim glow of the desk lamp was the only source of light in her room, casting long shadows over the notes she'd made earlier. It was 5 p.m., and the clock on the wall ticked steadily, reminding her that the day was slowly slipping away.

She had been sitting in the same spot for hours, flipping through pages of physics, chemistry, biology her mind wandering only occasionally as the weight of her ambition pressed down on her shoulders. Every minute, every second, mattered. The NEET entrance exam loomed on the horizon, and there was no room for distraction. As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway. Her mother's voice soon followed, warm and soothing as it always was.

"Shriji?" her mother called softly as she entered the room, her presence a comforting reminder of home.

Shriji glanced up, her mind momentarily snapping out of the haze of her memories. "Yes, Maa?"

Her mother stood by the door, her arms crossed in a way that suggested she was both concerned and caring. "You've been in here for a while now," she said gently. "I can tell you're lost in your thoughts, but you've got to find a way to unwind. You've been working so hard lately, with your studies and everything else. How about you take a break and head to the gym for your session? It'll help clear your mind. Trust me, you'll feel much better afterward."

With a sigh, Shriji set her books aside, running a hand through her long, tired hair. She had been pushing herself harder than usual in preparation for the exam, but her mother was right. She needed to step away from the constant grind, even if only for an hour.

Changing into her gym clothes, she grabbed her water bottle and made her way out of the house. The evening air was cool, a welcome contrast to the warmth of the study room. As she walked toward the gym, her mind wandered to her childhood, the days when life seemed much simpler. But those days were far behind her now. Everything had changed since then-especially her path to becoming a doctor.

An hour later, after an intense workout session that left her feeling both drained and refreshed, Shriji decided to treat herself. She had been craving some comfort food, something light yet satisfying. A warm bowl of momo sounded perfect. There was a small café not too far from the gym that served the best momos in town, and Shriji had visited it often after her workouts.

As she entered the cozy cafe, the familiar scent of steamed dumplings and soy sauce enveloped her. The café was dimly lit, with wooden tables scattered across the room and soft music playing in the background. Shriji smiled, feeling the weight of the day lift off her shoulders as she took a seat near the window.

She ordered a plate of momos and sat back, letting her mind wander again. It was in that moment, as she absentmindedly scrolled through her phone, that she heard a familiar voice from behind her.

"Shriji?"

She turned around, blinking in surprise. Standing in front of her was a face she hadn't seen in years, yet one that felt oddly familiar. Kiara. Her old school friend. The one person who had been a constant in her life during their school days.

"Kiara?" Shriji's voice was a mixture of disbelief and joy. She quickly stood up, her chair scraping against the floor.

Kiara smiled, her eyes lighting up as she took a step closer. "I can't believe it's you! It's been... what, three years?" She gave Shriji a quick hug, laughing softly. "You haven't changed a bit!"

Shriji smiled, though a part of her felt that a lot had changed in those three years. But she didn't say it aloud. Instead, she gestured to the empty seat across from her. "Please, sit down. How have you been? I never expected to see you here!"

Kiara sat down, tucking a strand of her long hair behind her ear. "I just moved back to Kolkata after finishing my studies in Bangalore. Got my degree, and now I'm here. It feels strange, you know? Coming back after all this time."

"Yeah, I can imagine," Shriji replied, her voice soft. "I've been so wrapped up in preparing for the medical entrance, I hardly have time for anything else."

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Still as determined as ever, huh?" she teased, her smile warm. "I remember when you used to tell me you'd become a doctor someday. Looks like you are making that dream a reality. How's it going, though? I hope you're taking care of yourself and not just burying yourself in books all day."

Shriji shrugged. "It's been tough. But I'll make it. It's all about the focus, you know?" She paused, then added, "But enough about me. What about you? How's life in Bangalore? I remember you always talked about wanting to move there."

Kiara's expression softened as she leaned back in her chair, her eyes distant for a moment. "Bangalore was everything I wanted it to be, but it wasn't home. I learned a lot, met amazing people, but in the end, I felt like I was drifting, you know?" She smiled again, a little wistfully. "It's good to be back, even if it's only for a while. I missed Kolkata. The food, the people... and you, of course." They spoke of old memories - times they spent together in school, the small adventures they used to have, and the simple joys of their childhood.

The waiter arrived with a steaming plate of momos, and Shriji gratefully dug in, the warmth of the food filling the empty spaces in her heart. The conversation continued, flowing easily between them as they caught up on the years that had passed. They spoke of their lives, their struggles, their dreams, and their regrets. The cafe, once a mere backdrop to a casual meal, now felt like the place where old memories had returned, stirring up a sense of nostalgia that both women hadn't realized they missed.

"I still remember the last time we met, before you left for Bangalore," Shriji said, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "It was at that mall, remember? We spent the whole day together, just talking and laughing. I didn't realize that would be the last time we'd see each other for so long."

Kiara nodded, a wistful smile on her lips. "Yeah, I remember that day. It was bittersweet, wasn't it? I didn't know when I'd be back, and we didn't really say goodbye properly. But life just... moved on, I guess."

Shriji's mind briefly wandered back to that day at the mall, where everything had felt so simple. Back then, they had no idea what life would throw their way. No idea that, just a few months later, everything would change. She hadn't even known then that Kiara would become part of the story that would unfold over the next three years-the story of Aarav and the unexpected turn her life had taken.

Kiara was still speaking, her voice filled with enthusiasm as she recounted her time in Bangalore, but Shriji was lost in her thoughts. She had never told Kiara the full story of what happened after she left for Bangalore. How everything changed the moment she met someone who would become both her greatest love and her deepest mystery.

As Kiara laughed, Shriji realized something. Kiara didn't know. She didn't know that she was part of the story, even though she had been there at the very beginning. The last time they spoke, they had shared the innocence of youth, unaware that fate was waiting to alter the course of their lives.

"So," Kiara said after a long pause, looking at Shriji with an inquisitive expression, "what's been the biggest change in your life these past few years? You seem... different. In a good way, though."

Shriji hesitated for a moment, the weight of Kiara's words settling deep inside her. There were so many things she could say, but how could she begin? How could she explain the story of what happened three years ago-the story of a man who had come into her life unexpectedly, turning it upside down in ways she never imagined?

But as she looked at Kiara, something told her this was the right time. Perhaps it was fate that had brought them together here, tonight.

"Well," Shriji began, taking a deep breath, "there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Something that happened three years ago, when I met someone who changed everything."

Kiara leaned in, intrigued. "Someone? Tell me everything."

And so, Shriji began. The story that had shaped her, broken her, and ultimately transformed her life, began to unfold over the warm, comforting hum of the cafe.