~The Fragrance of a Forgotten Season!!
Characters & Intro. = Phillip , Macbeth , Alexander , Napoleon [Bound by a companionship that had endured since the innocence of childhood, they had grown through every season of life side by side. Fate had rooted them within the same quiet town of Jhargram, where countless cherished memories had been woven into the fabric of their shared upbringing.)
November, 2018 !!
Phillip, Macbeth, Napoleon, and Alexander were four college friends whose lives became intertwined through an unlikely twist of fate. All four secured admission to the same college, and fortune appeared even kinder when they were assigned to the very same hostel room. What had begun as four separate journeys gradually merged into a single chapter, bringing with it the comfort of familiar faces amidst an unfamiliar world. The uncertainty of college life felt far less intimidating, knowing that none of them would have to face it alone.
Before long, they stepped into the room that would soon become their second home. The walls carried the quiet fragrance of untouched beginnings, while the air was filled with a refreshing sense of freedom and possibility. Everything seemed unfamiliar, yet strangely welcoming. For the first time, they experienced the subtle excitement of living away from home, where every corner of the room promised memories that were yet to be created.
Days slowly turned into weeks, and the rhythm of college life settled around them. The once spotless room gradually surrendered to the unmistakable habits of its four carefree occupants. Neatly arranged belongings were replaced by scattered books, crumpled clothes, unfinished assignments, and forgotten tiffin boxes. The lingering smell of frozen Maggi left inside neglected lunch boxes blended with the disorder, transforming the room into a chaotic yet strangely comforting reflection of their friendship. Though untidy, it carried a warmth that only those four could truly understand.
Life soon became an endless cycle of lectures, laboratory sessions, assignments, and late-night conversations. Nearly two months passed in this familiar routine before the final Sunday of the year arrived. To celebrate the last weekend before the New Year, the four friends attended a lively party. Laughter echoed through the night as music, food, and endless conversations made them lose all sense of time. Even the thought of their Chemistry practical examination scheduled for the following Monday morning failed to interrupt their celebration.
Morning eventually arrived.
Alexander, Phillip, and Napoleon woke early and hurried to prepare for class. Before leaving, they repeatedly tried to wake Macbeth, whose sleep appeared far stronger than their determination.
"Leave me... just let me sleep," he murmured without even opening his eyes.
After several unsuccessful attempts, the three exchanged helpless glances and finally left for college, deciding not to waste any more time.
Meanwhile, the Chemistry practical session had already begun at 9:40 a.m.
A sharp beam of sunlight slipped through the hostel window and fell across Macbeth's face. Startled, he opened his eyes and instinctively looked at the clock.
9:44 am. already !!!
A sudden wave of panic rushed through him. His heartbeat quickened as he realized how late he was. Without wasting another second, he hurriedly changed his clothes, gathered his practical notebook, and rushed towards the door.
Just as he reached it, something resting on the old wooden shelf fixed to the wall caught his attention.
It was an old leather wallet.
Its worn surface and faded edges suggested that it had remained there for quite some time. Curiosity briefly overcame his urgency. He picked it up and carefully opened it. Inside lay a neatly folded letter, tucked away with unusual care.
Although his curiosity urged him to unfold it immediately, the ticking clock allowed him no such luxury. Without reading a single word, he slipped the wallet into his bag, intending to examine it later, and hurried towards the laboratory.
The remainder of the day disappeared beneath practical classes, lectures, casual conversations, and the familiar chaos of hostel life. By the time evening settled over the campus, the forgotten wallet had completely vanished from Macbeth's thoughts.
Weeks quietly passed, and the New Year holidays finally arrived.
Students eagerly packed their belongings and prepared to return to their hometowns after months away from home. Alexander, Napoleon, and Phillip completed their packing and left according to schedule. Macbeth, however, was forced to remain in the hostel for one additional day to complete a few unfinished responsibilities.
The following afternoon, after finishing everything that required his attention, he returned to the now silent hostel room. The lively voices that had once filled the room had been replaced by an unusual stillness. As he folded his clothes and arranged his belongings inside his travel bag, his hand accidentally brushed against something hidden beneath a stack of books.
He pulled it out.
It was the same forgotten wallet.
Recognition returned instantly.
He slowly opened it once again.
Everything remained exactly as he had first seen it. Four or five old coins.... ₹1 ,₹2, and ₹10 rested quietly beside ₹600 in cash, untouched by time. Carefully folded beside them remained the same mysterious letter, waiting patiently as though it had been expecting this very moment.
Neither greed nor temptation found a place within Macbeth's heart. The money held no importance to him, and not a single rupee was disturbed.
Instead, an irresistible curiosity settled over his mind.
His eyes remained fixed upon the carefully folded letter, as countless unanswered questions quietly began to gather within his thoughts.
With quiet deliberation, he unfolded it.
'A dried rose, its faded petals still preserving the fragrance of a forgotten season, slipped gently into his palm. Beneath it rested two closely written pages, their ink slightly aged, as though they had carried the burden of untold memories for years.'
