1 week before...
The alarm blared, cutting through the stillness of the early morning. A weary hand emerged from under the blanket, fumbling to silence the persistent ringing. The hand fell back onto the mattress, its owner unwilling to face the day just yet.
Arjun sighed deeply and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "Same routine again," he muttered, grabbing his phone from the nightstand. Notifications bombarded the screen—emails, messages, and Instagram updates. He scrolled mindlessly, delaying the inevitable.
By 6:30 AM, the shower in his small apartment was running, steam filling the tiny bathroom that doubled as his kitchen. The space was cramped, but he made it work. While the tea kettle whistled, he packed his bag with the essentials for the day.
At exactly 8:00 AM, Arjun stepped into the elevator, pressing the "0" button. On the way out, he greeted the familiar faces with polite hellos before dashing to catch the bus.
And as usual, he missed it.
"Damn it," he cursed, glancing at his watch. The next bus wouldn't arrive for another ten minutes. His stomach growled loudly, echoing his frustration.
"Control, Arjun, control," he muttered, patting his abdomen as if it would quiet the complaints.
Finally, the bus arrived, and he boarded, finding a seat by the window. The ride was slow, the city traffic crawling as usual. Switching to the metro added another layer to his daily grind, but at last, he reached his office.
Swiping his ID card, Arjun entered the building. "Good morning, good morning," he greeted his coworkers mechanically as he passed.
Settling at his desk, he opened his laptop, the glow of the screen illuminating his tired face. The routine was second nature now—emails, files, and meetings. Nothing ever changed.
The day moved sluggishly until his phone buzzed.
"Hey, Arjun!" a familiar voice greeted him.
"Yo, Rahul! Long time!"
"Yeah, it's been a while. Did you join the group?"
"Not yet," Arjun admitted.
"Everyone from 10th grade is in it. We're planning a reunion."
"I'll join later, Rahul. I've got a meeting," Arjun said, cutting the conversation short.
Lunchtime rolled around, and Arjun sat in the cafeteria, reheating the lunchbox he'd brought from home.
"Why don't you eat in the canteen?" a colleague asked, eyeing his modest meal.
Arjun shrugged. "I'm saving up for a car and a house. Every penny counts."
The colleague nodded, but his tone turned smug. "You know, I've already got a car, a house, and even a driver. And we started as freshers together! Now I'm a team lead, and you're still just above entry-level."
Arjun forced a smile, but his mind whispered bitterly, How will I get there when you're taking credit for all my work?
"So, what are your plans?" the colleague pressed.
"Maybe it's time I started looking for a new job," Arjun replied coolly.
The conversation ended as Arjun returned to his desk, lost in thought. His life felt like a never-ending cycle of effort with little reward.
At exactly 5:00 PM, he shut down his laptop, packed his belongings, and walked out of the building. The cool evening air greeted him as he headed to the bus stand.
A familiar car pulled up beside him.
"Hey, Arjun! Need a lift?" Ankrut, a colleague, offered with a grin.
Arjun shook his head. "Thanks, but I'll take the bus."
"Suit yourself," Ankrut said, driving off.
The bus arrived shortly after, and Arjun climbed aboard, finding his usual spot by the window. The city lights blurred as the bus wound through the bustling streets. He switched to the metro for the last leg of his journey.
Descending into the station, Arjun swiped his card and joined the throng of commuters. The train glided in, sleek and efficient. He stepped inside and held onto the handrail, the rhythmic motion of the train calming his restless thoughts.
After reaching his stop, he exited and made his way to a nearby store. Picking up essentials—vegetables, bread, and tea—he exchanged a brief smile with the cashier before stepping back into the rain-slicked streets.
Instead of taking the bus, he decided to walk home, letting the quiet of the night clear his mind. The rhythmic patter of his footsteps on the wet pavement was almost therapeutic.
Finally, he reached his apartment. The cozy space welcomed him as he put away his groceries and prepared a simple dinner. Later, he stepped onto his small balcony, a cup of tea warming his hands.
The full moon hung high in the sky, its silver glow illuminating the world below. Arjun leaned against the railing, gazing at the serene scene. A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Arjun," he whispered to himself, "your life is a miracle."
Despite the struggles, the monotony, and the constant grind, he felt a flicker of hope—a belief that someday, his hard work would pay off. With that thought, he turned and walked back inside, ready to prepare for whatever tomorrow would bring.