On a rainy day in Goa, I was sitting in the balcony, admiring the raindrops. The air was thick, heavy with the scent of wet soil, and I felt an odd calmness settle over me. I lit a cigarette, the tip glowing warm orange against the grey backdrop.

           The rain had a way of washing everything clean, but today,it only seemed to stir up what I'd tried to bury.

           suddenly I feel a vibration in my pocket. I thought to myself it would be just another college related message. But something in my heart was telling me to check the notification. And there it was, my heart skipped a beat as I read the message.

"CAN WE BE STRANGERS AGAIN?"

I felt a familiar ache, like an old wound reopening. I sighed, slipping the phone back into my pocket, and found myself lost in thoughts of my past----a time filled with extreme emotions of ecstasy and doubt.

Every small detail about my past, be it the lows or the highs reminded me of her, the girl who touched my heart deeply. Her presence was a mix of happiness and heartache, and even though it felt a scar, it was beautiful in its own painful way.

"She helped shape the person I am today," I thought, feeling a strange blend of nostalgia and longing.

The rain drummed steadily, like a familiar rhythm underscoring the quiet echoes of my memories. I smiled a little, remembering how we would laugh at the simplest things, how she lit up even the darkest of my days. But just as swiftly, the sadness crept back in----bringing with it the memory of the day everything changed,the day I learned that some moments leave scars that never fade.

It all began in 2020, a year that seemed to set the stage for countless changes and new chapters in my life. Little did I know then that the year would transform everything, shaping me in ways I could never have imagined.

Now, looking back from 2025, I see how those moments from 2020 laid the foundation for everything that followed.

Let's dive into 2020, back to where it all began.

It was the year I was very excited to start college at christ University. It felt like a big achievement----it's one of the top commerce colleges in India! I had always imagined walking into this lively campus and meeting new friends.

But then, covid happened, and everything changed.

Instead of stepping into bustling campus, I found myself at home, staring at a computer screen. The pandemic meant I was part of the "COVID batch," which also meant starting college from my room. On the first day, I sat at my desk, waiting for my online class to start. It wasn't exactly the college experience I had imagined----no crowded lecture halls, no excited chatter. Just me, and a screen filled with tiny faces.

It felt strange and a bit lonely. I missed the energy of a real classroom and the chance to meet people in person. Now, I had to make friends online and learn through a webcam, which was a new and challenging task.

That's for today see you in the next episode.......