1~
It is a cold day. The wind feels like tiny needles against my face, but the soft warmth of the sun makes it seem like perfect weather. It’s December, my favorite month of the year. This month always brings hope that the worst days will pass, and the coming year will be kinder. Yet, that hope seems to break again and again. The world feels like it’s getting worse day by day.
According to Hinduism, this is Kalyug, a time when people lose their goodness and everyone carries some darkness within them. The fear of stepping outside, of living freely, of trusting people keeps growing. The world feels more cruel each day, and that thought gives me chills.
I’m 24 now, and life feels different from when I was a teenager. At this age, you start to see the world more clearly, not just through dreams but also through responsibilities. You realize how fragile trust can be, how quickly people change, and how heavy expectations can feel. Living away from home, working to build a career, and being the eldest in the family has shown me that the world isn’t as simple as it used to seem.
At 24, you learn that happiness isn’t about chasing perfection or trying to please everyone. It’s about finding balance—between ambition and peace, between family and self, between love and independence. You discover that people may come and go, but your strength and faith must remain. Perhaps that’s the gift of growing older: the ability to see the world’s cruelty and still choose kindness, to face uncertainty and still keep moving forward.
“Hetvi!” someone shouted my name. I turned and saw Emma, my personal bodyguard and my first real friend in Germany.
“Finally! Look who decided to show up,” I teased, smirking.
Emma rolled her eyes. “Don’t start. We’re already late, and if we don’t hurry, our boss will roast us alive.”
“Relax, we’ll make it,” I said, adjusting my scarf. “By the way, how was last night? You went out, didn’t you?”
Emma groaned. “Don’t remind me. It was a disaster.”
“What happened?” I asked, curious.
She threw her hands up dramatically. “The guy was a total creep. It was our first date, and he tried to kiss me before we even finished dinner. Ugh, he smelled like he hadn’t showered in weeks.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh my God, Emma! Why do you always end up with these types?”
She shot me a glare but couldn’t hide her grin. “Maybe because you and that idiot Dipshit keep setting me up with losers!”
I clutched my stomach, laughing harder. “Okay, okay, fine. No more matchmaking from us. You’re officially banned from blind dates.”
Emma nudged me playfully as we walked down the frosty street. “Good. Because next time, I’m choosing my own man. And trust me, he won’t smell like garbage.”
Her boldness made me laugh again, but her words lingered. Maybe she was right. Maybe we were all just waiting for the right person, the right moment, the right chapter to begin.
We hurried down the street, the cold biting at our faces while Emma muttered under her breath about how late we were. The office building loomed ahead, tall and glassy, reflecting the pale December sun.
“Run, Hetvi, run!” Emma laughed, half serious, half panicked. “If Becker sees us strolling in like this, we’re dead.”
I rolled my eyes but picked up my pace. “Relax, Emma. It’s not like we’re the only ones late. Half the team probably overslept.”
“Yeah, but you know how he is,” she said, pushing the door open. “One glare from him, and you’ll feel guilty for the rest of the week.”
We rushed through the lobby, our heels clicking against the polished floor. We swiped our badges at the security gate. The warmth inside was a relief after the icy wind outside, but it didn’t calm the nervous energy buzzing between us.
By the time we reached our floor, the office was already alive with chatter, keyboards clacking, and phones ringing. Emma darted to her desk while I dropped my bag onto mine, trying to look like I’d been there all along.
“Good morning, Ms. Solanki,” Frederick called from across the room, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “Or should I say... good afternoon?”
I shot him a glare, but couldn’t help smiling. “Don’t start, Frederick. I had a rough morning.”
He smirked. “Sure, sure. Rough morning means oversleeping. Classic excuse.”
Emma leaned over the partition, whispering loudly enough for him to hear. “Don’t blame her, Frederick. She was too busy laughing at my dating disasters. And by the way,youwere the one who set me up with that smelly creep last night. So technically, this is all your fault.”
Frederick raised his hands in mock defense, grinning. “Hey, don’t drag me into this. You said you wanted someone tall and charming. I delivered tall — charming was optional.”
I burst out laughing, shaking my head. “Optional? Frederick, you’re officially banned from matchmaking. Emma’s right — you’re the dipshit in this story.”
Emma clapped her hands dramatically. “Finally! Justice served.”
Frederick chuckled, shaking his head. “You two are hopeless.”
I sank into my chair, powering up my laptop. The screen lit up with unread emails, deadlines, and reminders — the usual chaos of corporate life. For a moment, I stared at it all, feeling the weight of responsibility pressing down. Being the eldest meant I couldn’t afford mistakes. Every step had to be careful, every choice measured.
Yet beneath the routine, something felt different. The December sun streamed through the office windows, casting long shadows across the desks. Deep down, I couldn’t shake the strange sense of anticipation. It felt like this ordinary day was about to turn into something extraordinary.
Dear Readers,
So... this is officially my first story on Inkitt, and honestly, I’m both excited and nervous. I’m still learning how to put my thoughts into chapters, so if you catch me making mistakes, just know they’re made with love (and maybe a little caffeine).Every read, vote, and comment means more to me than I can explain. You’re basically helping me turn a dream into reality, and I’m so grateful you’re here. Writing feels like a rollercoaster — scary, thrilling, and sometimes a little messy — but knowing you’re riding along with me makes it way more fun. Stick around, because this story has plenty of twists, emotions, and maybe even a few laughs waiting ahead. Thank you for giving this newbie writer a chance. 💕 With gratitude (and a big smile), Hetvee
