My name is Mohan. I'm of average height with soft facial features—nothing too striking, but enough to blend in comfortably most places. I'm a third-year college student majoring in history, though my days are usually swallowed by a mix of classes and time spent with friends. Most mornings are predictable: wake up, grab a quick breakfast, and rush to lectures—history, geography, and the occasional philosophical debate. Evenings find me either buried in notes or wandering the local mall with Vijay Roy, my closest friend since day one. His ever-present smile lighting up his face that makes everyone feel at ease. It's impossible not to notice him.
Vijay, slightly shorter than me, moved through life with an ease I could never replicate. His grin lit up every room, and strangers seemed to relax in his presence, as if he carried a tiny sun in his pocket.
Today, like many others, we meandered through the crowded mall after a long lecture on lost empires. The late summer heat pushed people indoors, and the mall buzzed with families and teenagers.
Vijay stopped abruptly, his eyes narrowing. "Hey, Mohan, isn't that Professor Raman over there?" he whispered, nodding toward a man browsing near the bookstore.
I turned and felt my heart skip a beat. Of course—it was him. Even at a distance, Professor Raman stood out: salt-and-pepper hair, a thoughtful expression, and a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. There was something magnetic about him, a presence that drew attention without demanding it.
Stories about him were legendary on campus: a master of both history and geography, he had spent years mapping ancient ruins in Madhya Pradesh and uncovering connections no one else noticed. He could make 8 a.m. lectures feel like an adventure through time and terrain.
I nudged Vijay. "Yeah… that's definitely him. Everyone says if you want to understand how history and geography connect, you have to take his classes. He's like proof that past and place are inseparable."
Vijay grinned, already walking toward the professor. "Brace yourself, Mohan. Vijay the Bold is on the move!"
I hesitated, unsure whether to follow or melt into the background. But Vijay's confidence was contagious, so I trailed behind him.
"Professor Raman! Great to see you!" Vijay called out, his voice cheerful and unselfconscious.
The professor turned, his sharp eyes lighting up. "Ah, Vijay! Always a pleasure." He looked at me with curiosity. "And who is this young man with you?"
Vijay puffed out his chest. "This is Mohan, my classmate and friend. The real history buff—ask him about ancient empires or lost civilizations, and he'll light right up."
I smiled faintly, unsure how to respond. "Nice to meet you, Professor."
The professor's smile was warm, inviting. "The pleasure is mine, Mohan. History holds the grandest stories, and geography provides the stage upon which they unfold. If either fascinates you, you're in the right place."
I nodded eagerly, my mind already racing with questions.
He glanced around at the bustling mall, as if savoring the scene. "History is like a puzzle. Each ruin, manuscript, or old map is a piece. The picture never feels complete, and yet… the mysteries keep us searching."
I added, "Like the Indus Valley civilization. So many clues, but the full story still eludes us."
"Exactly," he said thoughtfully. "And geography explains so much—why rivers changed course, how mountains and deserts shaped societies. Sometimes, the land remembers what people forget."
Vijay chuckled. "Sounds like Mohan's ready to debate you for hours."
The professor smiled knowingly. "If he is, I'll welcome the challenge."
Then, almost casually, he added, "I'm hosting a few seminars soon. Hidden histories, geographical mysteries… topics like these. You two might find them interesting."
Vijay's grin widened. "We'd love to come."
Professor Raman pulled two sleek invitations from his pocket. "'Here, consider these your doorway to curiosity.'"
I tucked mine away, my thoughts spinning with excitement and curiosity. Questions about lost civilizations, ancient maps, and hidden mysteries swirled in my mind.
As the professor walked away, Vijay nudged me. "See? Sometimes all it takes is a hello."
I smiled, caught between anticipation and the calm before a storm. I didn't yet realize that this small encounter was the beginning of a journey I would never forget.