After 5 years
The library was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of pages turning and the soft clatter of keyboards. I sat at my usual spot, a corner table near the window, my laptop open and finance textbooks spread out around me. The sun filtered through the glass, casting a warm glow over the pages, but my mind was far from calm.
Final year. Just a few more months, and I'd be out in the real world. The thought excited and terrified me in equal measure. I was so close to the finish line, yet the weight of expectations felt heavier than ever.
I glanced at the clock on my laptop screen. 5:30 PM. I had been at this for hours, and my head was beginning to ache. My phone buzzed next to me, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was a message from Neha, one of my closest friends.
Neha: "Hey, Devika! We're planning to grab dinner tonight. You in?"
I hesitated, my eyes drifting back to the complex financial models on my screen. I should stay and finish this. But I also knew that taking a break might be exactly what I needed.
I typed back quickly. "Sounds good. Where?"
As I waited for her reply, I allowed myself a moment to breathe.
My phone buzzed again.
Neha: "We're meeting at the café near campus at 7. Don't be late!"
I smiled at her enthusiasm. I knew I needed this—time with friends, a chance to unwind, if only for a couple of hours.
"I'll be there. Can't wait!"
Closing my laptop, I gathered my things, but as I was packing up, a familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.
"Still buried in finance, Devika?"
I looked up to see Aryan, one of my classmates and someone I often studied with. He had a mischievous grin on his face, but there was always an edge of seriousness behind it.
"Always," I replied with a smirk. "You?"
He shrugged. "Same old. But I was actually thinking about something you said in class today. About the impact of market fluctuations on emerging economies. Got a minute?"
I glanced at my phone again. Plenty of time before dinner.
"Sure," I said, gesturing for him to sit. "What's on your mind?"
As we discussed financial theories and potential career paths, I couldn't help but feel the pressure building again. But at the same time, there was a thrill to it—knowing that this was the path I had chosen, and that despite the challenges, I was getting closer to where I wanted to be.
By the time Aryan and I wrapped up our conversation, it was nearly 6:30. I needed to get going if I didn't want to be late.
"Thanks for the chat," Aryan said, standing up and grabbing his bag. "See you in class tomorrow?"
"Of course," I replied with a smile. "And remember, it's all about finding the balance. Don't let the stress get to you."
He chuckled. "I'll try. See you around, Devika."
As I watched him leave,I glanced at my phone again and cursed under my breath. 6:50 PM. I was definitely going to be late.
As I hurriedly packed up my things and dashed out of the library, my thoughts raced.After finishing our undergraduate degrees, my friends and I had all moved to Anandam for our post-graduate studies. Anandam was a sprawling metropolitan city, bustling with activity and full of opportunities. The transition from our smaller hometown to this vibrant city had been both exhilarating and overwhelming. Its towering skyscrapers, busy streets, and endless array of cafes and shops had quickly become our new normal.
I was in my final year of post-graduation in finance, and the pressure was relentless. My days were packed with lectures, assignments, and endless study sessions. But I wasn't the only one drowning in work. Neha, who was doing her post-graduation in business management, had it just as tough, constantly juggling case studies and group projects. Ria, on the other hand, was immersed in her world of literature, pursuing her post-graduation in English language.
The three of us shared a room in the campus hostel, along with Namrata, who was studying psychology. Our room was always buzzing with conversations—sometimes about coursework, sometimes about life, and sometimes about nothing at all. It was chaotic, but it was home.
As I sped through the campus, my mind wandered back to our room. Neha would be all dressed up, probably in one of her trendy outfits, while Ria would be more laid-back, with a book in hand even while getting ready. Namrata was usually the calmest of us all, often offering psychological insights into our problems—whether we asked for them or not.
Finally, I reached the café. I was out of breath and a little flustered, but the familiar sight of Neha and Ria waiting by the entrance made me smile.
"You're late!" Neha called out, hands on her hips, though her tone was more teasing than annoyed.
"Sorry, lost track of time," I panted as I caught up to them.
Ria grinned. "We figured. But hey, better late than never, right?"
I laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Let's get inside before Neha gives me a lecture on time management."
As we walked into the café, the cozy atmosphere and the chatter of other students made me feel more at ease. I realized that, despite the craziness of our lives, moments like these with friends made it all worth it.
We found a corner table and settled in, the warm lights of the café creating a cozy ambiance around us. The familiar smell of coffee and freshly baked pastries filled the air, making me realize just how hungry I was.
Neha waved down the waiter and quickly started ordering. "We'll have three cappuccinos, one black coffee, and, um… let's get some garlic bread and two servings of cheesy fries."
I raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of carbs, Neha."
She grinned. "We've earned it. Plus, carbs are comforting."
Ria chuckled, shaking her head. "You and your love for junk food. One day, you'll regret it."
Neha shrugged. "Maybe, but today is not that day."
We all laughed, and the tension from the day began to melt away. As the waiter left to get our order, we leaned back in our chairs, the conversation flowing effortlessly.
"So, how was your day?" Neha asked, turning to me.
"Busy, as usual," I replied. "I spent hours in the library trying to wrap my head around this new finance model. Honestly, sometimes I wonder why I chose finance in the first place."
Ria nodded sympathetically. "I get it. Literature is no walk in the park either. I had to analyze this ancient text today, and my brain feels like mush."
Neha smirked. "You two are making me feel good about my decision. Business management isn't exactly easy, but at least I don't have to deal with ancient texts or complicated models."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but you have to deal with people all the time. I don't know how you do it."
Neha shrugged. "It's all about strategy. Speaking of which, we need to strategize for the weekend. What are we doing?"
Namrata walked in, spotting us immediately. She waved and made her way over, her psychology textbook tucked under her arm.
"Hey, guys! Sorry, I'm late," Namrata said, sliding into the seat next to Ria. "Professor Rao kept us back for extra discussion on behavioral patterns. You know how he gets."
"Don't worry, you're just in time," Neha said with a grin, handing her a menu. "We were just talking about weekend plans."
Ria perked up, her eyes brightening. "I suggested we check out that literary festival in town. It's got book signings, panel discussions, and some cool workshops."
Neha made a face. "A literary festival? On the weekend? No offense, Ria, but I was hoping for something a little less... academic. Maybe a movie night or hitting up that new café downtown?"
Namrata chuckled. "A movie sounds good. I could use a break from all the psychology jargon."
Ria rolled her eyes but smiled. "Noted. What about you, Devika? Any plans?"
I paused for a moment, unsure of what to say. I didn't want to let on about my tight budget after spending money on the hospital visit. So, I opted for something neutral.
"I don't have any plans as such," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "I'm fine with anything you guys decide."
Neha raised an eyebrow. "Really? You're usually the one with the most structured weekend."
I shrugged. "Just thinking of keeping it low-key this time. Whatever you all decide, I'm in."
Namrata nodded, giving me a knowing look. "Low-key sounds good. We've all been swamped with work lately. Maybe we can do something relaxing, like a chill night in or a walk around the campus."
Ria grinned. "Great! We'll figure something out that doesn't involve too many books or too much stress."
Neha laughed. "A middle ground it is, then. Maybe we can start with the café and see where the weekend takes us."
As we dug into the food and continued chatting, the conversation flowed easily between us. We talked about our classes, shared funny stories from campus, and gossiped about the latest happenings in our hostel.
Namrata, always the psychologist, started analyzing a recent argument between two girls in our hostel. "It's fascinating how small misunderstandings can escalate into big conflicts," she said thoughtfully. "It all comes down to communication styles."
Ria rolled her eyes playfully. "Here we go with the psychology talk again."
Namrata laughed. "Sorry, occupational hazard. But seriously, it's interesting!"
We all chuckled, and the mood remained light. Despite the weight of responsibilities and worries that each of us carried, moments like this—sharing food, laughter, and conversation—made it all feel manageable.
As we finished our dinner and the bill was settled, my phone buzzed once more. I glanced at the screen and saw a new message from the same unknown number. It simply read: "Yellow."
*****