Shrikrishna, or Shree as his friends and family liked to call him, was having one of those days. He sat in his room, eyes glued to the screen of his laptop, clicking through page after page of a manga. The vibrant colors of the digital pages and the twisty plots of his favorite characters filled his mind. Occasionally, his fingers hovered over his phone to check for updates on a game he had been obsessing over lately. His world was wrapped up in the simple joys of novels, manga, and games. But today, something felt different.
He leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms and glancing out the window. The sun was setting, casting a warm, purple glow across the sky. Birds chirped merrily, soaring through the air, their wings cutting through the fading light. The peaceful view outside felt so contrasting to the chaotic swirl of thoughts in his mind. What am I doing with my life?
He had aced his recent exams. His parents were proud of him, of course. His father, a loving but strict man, had always pushed him to be the best. "Make us proud, son. You've got potential," his father often said. But in the back of his mind, Shree knew he hadn't truly pushed himself. He had breezed through the exams with little effort, relying on his natural aptitude. Yet, he couldn't shake the thought of the students caught cheating in the medical entrance exams. It's disgusting, he thought bitterly. How could they do that? He clenched his fists. His own path was clear—become a doctor, contribute to society, and make his family proud. But it wasn't enough to just coast. He needed to study harder, push further. The world was filled with so many others striving for the same goal, some willing to cheat to get ahead.
His thoughts swirled in frustration.
The sound of footsteps broke his concentration, and before he could react, his sister, Vrushali, barged into the room, looking as if she had just finished a workout at the gym.
"Shree! What are you doing? You're wasting your time again with that manga!" she scolded, eyeing the screen with a look of disapproval. "You should be studying, not filling your head with nonsense!"
Shree rolled his eyes, pushing the laptop screen slightly away from her view. "Just let me relax for a bit, okay? You always nag me about everything."
She crossed her arms and stared at him, her expression a mixture of concern and annoyance. "I'm just looking out for you. You've got big exams coming up. Don't let distractions mess with your future."
Shree sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, yeah. I'll study after this."
But the more he thought about it, the more restless he became. After ten minutes of her persistent nagging, he finally gave in. Fine, I'll study. Happy now?
"Good," Vrushali said, smugly heading toward the door. But just as she was about to leave, Shree's phone buzzed.
It was a call from his friend, Raghav.
"Yo, Shree! What's up? You free this weekend? We're going for a trek up in the mountains. It'll be awesome!" Raghav's voice was full of excitement, like it always was when something adventurous was about to happen.
Shree's mind briefly wandered to the thought of being outside, away from books and the weight of studying. The idea of fresh air, the challenge of the climb—it sounded tempting. He leaned back, momentarily forgetting about the stress of his studies.
"Sounds fun. Let me check with my parents," Shree replied.
After a short conversation with Raghav, he put down the phone and turned to his parents, who were in the living room, discussing something quietly.
"Mom, Dad, can I go on a trek with Raghav and the gang this weekend?" Shree asked, trying to sound casual.
His mother looked up from her book, giving him a look that was both concerned and approving. "A trek? Are you sure it's safe? You know the mountains can be dangerous."
"Don't worry, Mom. Raghav's going. I'll be fine." Shree smiled reassuringly, hoping they would agree.
His father, ever the practical one, looked up from his newspaper. "You've got your exams coming up, Shree. Don't let this be a distraction."
"I won't, Dad. I promise I'll focus on studying after the trek."
After a brief pause, his parents exchanged a glance. His mother nodded. "Alright, but make sure you're careful. And no distractions on your trek, understood?"
"Got it," Shree said with a grin.
With permission granted, he hung up the phone and leaned back, his thoughts drifting again. The trek would be a good way to clear his head, a chance to escape the grind for just a bit.
But little did Shree know, this trek would be the start of something far more unexpected than he could ever imagine.