Faded Memories, New Beginnings

Six Months Later

Aditi looked around her new apartment, the faint scent of fresh paint still lingering in the air. Boxes were scattered everywhere—some open, some waiting to be unpacked. Her parents, her younger brother, and her sister were busy helping her settle in.

"Is this where you keep your kitchen essentials?" her mother asked, opening a cabinet and shaking her head. "You should at least put things in proper order, beta."

Aditi chuckled, taking a sip of water before responding. "Mom, I just moved in today. Give me a break."

Her father was standing by the window, looking out at the bustling cityscape. "It's a good location," he said approvingly. "Close to your office, and safe too."

Her brother, Aarav, who was still in college, smirked. "Yeah, but the real question is—do you even cook, Aditi di?"

Before she could respond, her younger sister, Ananya, interjected. "Oh, please. She's been surviving on instant noodles and office canteen food for months!"

Aditi rolled her eyes. "I cook sometimes! And besides, who has the time to make a full meal after work?"

Her mother sighed. "You should take care of yourself, beta. Eating out all the time isn't good for your health."

"Yes, Mom," Aditi said, smiling softly.

Despite the chaos of shifting, she felt content. It wasn't a luxurious apartment, but it was hers. Well, partially. The down payment had been covered by her parents, and she was responsible for the EMI payments. It was a step toward independence—a responsibility she was proud to take on.

Her father turned to her. "So, how is work?"

Aditi hesitated for a second before answering. "It's good... busy. I mean, it's not what I initially wanted, but it's stable. And the learning experience is valuable."

Her mother noticed the hesitation in her voice. "Are you happy, beta?"

Aditi took a deep breath. "I don't hate it. But I wanted to work in an OTT firm, something related to content. This is more number-driven. Market analysis, data tracking, reports... it's not bad, just not my dream job."

Her father nodded. "You've only been working for six months. Stability is important. Give it some time."

"I know," Aditi said, forcing a smile. "I just... don't want to get stuck."

"You won't," Ananya assured her. "You're too ambitious to get stuck."

Aarav grinned. "Yeah, and if nothing else, we can always set up a YouTube channel for you. 'Market Analyst by Day, Struggling Artist by Night.'"

Aditi threw a pillow at him, and the room filled with laughter.

As they continued unpacking, she felt a sense of warmth and belonging. This was her home now. And though she wasn't exactly where she had imagined herself to be, she was making progress.

But in these past six months, one thing had changed completely—her connection with Tanmay. Or rather, the lack of it.

They hadn't spoken since college ended. No calls, no messages. Nothing.And for the first time in a while, she allowed herself to wonder—where was he now?

It was a Saturday evening when Aditi finally met up with her friends. The café was buzzing with energy, filled with young professionals like them—people navigating their careers, chasing ambitions, and dealing with the realities of adult life.

Riya was already at the table, scrolling through her phone. "God, I swear, if one more senior at work gives me unsolicited advice, I'm quitting," she muttered.

Aditi laughed as she slid into the seat beside her. "You? Quitting? Impossible. You love the drama too much."

Aditya and Ankita arrived shortly after, ordering coffee before settling in.

"So," Aditya leaned back, looking at the group. "How's everyone surviving?"

Riya groaned. "Barely. I work 12 hours a day, and my manager still thinks I should be doing more. Honestly, the corporate world is a scam."

Ankita smirked. "That's because you chose consulting. I told you, it's chaos."

Aditi took a sip of her coffee. "At least you guys don't feel stuck. I still don't know if I want to stay in this company. But I can't leave before a year."

Aditya nodded. "Yeah, hopping resumes aren't a good look. But it's all about learning. We're still figuring things out."

Ankita sighed. "I miss college. At least there, the stress came with friends, gossip, and late-night Maggi. Now it's just stress."

There was a beat of silence before Riya suddenly spoke up. "Hey, speaking of college, did you guys see the alumni meet invite?"

Aditi blinked. "Oh yeah, I did. Are we... going?"

"I don't know," Aditya said. "We just started working. We're nobodies right now. What would we even talk about?"

"True," Ankita mused. "It's not like we have huge achievements to flaunt."

Riya shrugged. "Still, it's a great networking opportunity. Seniors, juniors, people from all industries will be there." A

diti hesitated. "It would be nice to see everyone again, though."

Ankita smirked. "Be honest, Aditi. Are you hoping to run into someone specific?"

Aditi rolled her eyes. "Oh, shut up."

"Whatever the reason, let's go," Aditya said. "For old times' sake."

And with that, the plan was set.

The venue was breathtaking—a grand ballroom lit by chandeliers, with soft golden lights reflecting off polished floors. The event was held at one of the finest hotels in the city, a far cry from their college classrooms. A stage was set up for speeches, and various stalls were arranged for refreshments.The air buzzed with excitement as people from different batches mingled. Some were catching up, others were discussing business, and a few were already showing off their success.

Aditi walked in with Riya, Aditya, and Ankita, taking in the scene. She spotted familiar faces—some from her batch, some seniors she had once admired.As she made her way through the crowd, a senior approached her with a warm smile.

"Aditi, right? From the marketing batch?"She nodded. "

Yes! And you're... Rohit?"

"Yep. I'm working at PocketFM now, in the finance department."

"Oh wow," Aditi said. "That's amazing. How's it going?"

Rohit chuckled. "Busy, but exciting. The audio content industry is growing like crazy. We're working on new monetization models."

"That sounds interesting," Aditi said. "I've always been curious about OTT and digital platforms. If you ever need someone in marketing, let me know."

Rohit grinned. "Absolutely. Stay in touch."

After a bit more conversation, Aditi excused herself and walked toward a stall to grab some water.

As she reached for a bottle, she suddenly felt a shift in the air.

Something made her look up

.And then she saw him.

A man in a perfectly tailored black suit, standing across the room, his dark curly hair slightly tousled.

Her heart skipped a beat.It had been six months.

Six months since she had last seen Tanmay. And now, here he was, standing there, looking effortlessly charming, as if time had never passed.Their eyes met. For a moment, everything else faded. The noise, the chatter, the lights—it all blurred into the background.

Aditi swallowed, gripping the bottle in her hand.

Tanmay held her gaze, an unreadable expression in his eyes.

And just like that, the past came rushing back.