Chapter 1
The sun cast a golden glow over the university campus as students in black gowns and caps filled the open grounds.
Laughter and chatter echoed in the air, a mixture of excitement and nostalgia. Today was the day—Simran’s graduation.
Simran adjusted her cap nervously, smoothing the creases of her gown. The weight of years of hard work, sleepless nights, and countless exams pressed upon her, but so did the bittersweet feeling of bidding farewell to this familiar place.
Meher
Yaar, finally, hum graduate ho gaye!
(Friend, we finally graduated!)
Meher squealed, pulling Simran into a tight hug.
Simran smiled, but there was a tinge of sadness in her eyes.
Simran
Haan… par ab alag ho jayenge sab. Yeh soch ke ajeeb lag raha hai.
(Yes… but thinking about how we’ll all go our separate ways feels strange.)
Ahaan chuckled, joining them with his arm draped around Meher’s shoulders.
Ahaan
Zindagi aage badhti hai, Simran. Tum soch rahi ho ki college khatam ho raha hai, lekin asal kahani toh ab shuru hogi.
(Life moves forward, Simran. You think college is ending, but the real story is just the beginning.)
Simran let out a sigh. She knew Ahaan was right. Everyone had plans
Meher and Ahaan were moving to Delhi together. Some of their friends had jobs lined up, others were still figuring things out. As for Simran, she had landed an internship at a prestigious IT company in Bengaluru, a fact that filled her with both excitement and anxiety.
The graduation ceremony began, and the dean took to the stage, delivering a speech that felt like both an ending and a beginning. Names were called, and one by one, students walked up to receive their degrees. When Simran’s name echoed through the microphone, her heart pounded. She stepped onto the stage, took her degree, and turned towards the audience, catching sight of her parents.
Her father nodded approvingly, a rare sight that made her chest swell with pride. Her mother wiped away tears of joy.
Simran knew they were proud, even if they didn’t always express it openly. But there was something else—a silent expectation, a reminder that now, with college over, they would have different plans for her future.
As the ceremony ended, confetti rained down, and cheers filled the air. Students clicked pictures, capturing the last moments of their university life. Simran stood with Meher and Ahaan, the three of them posing with wide grins.
Ahaan
Kya lagta hai, Simran? (teasing) Bengaluru jaake kisi pe dil aa jayega?
(What do you think, Simran? Will you fall for someone in Bengaluru?)
Simran
(rolled her eyes) Bilkul nahi. Waisa kuch sochne ka time bhi nahi hoga
(Not at all. I won’t even have time to think about such things.)
Meher
(smirked) Dekhte hain
(We’ll see.)
Little did Simran know, life had different plans for her
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