chapter 7

"VAIDEHI, GET UP! IT'S ALREADY 8 O'CLOCK! DO YOU WANT TO GO WITHOUT BREAKFAST TODAY TOO? HURRY UP!"Vaidehi, buried under her blanket, groaned as her mother’s voice pierced through her dreams. "Five more minutes, Mum. Just five more, please..." she mumbled, clinging desperately to sleep.But her mother wasn’t having it. "NO! I SAID GET UP NOW, VAIDEHI! YOU'RE GOING TO BE LATE AGAIN, AND THEN YOU'LL SKIP BREAKFAST—AGAIN! GET UP, OR I SWEAR, NO BREAKFAST OR LUNCH FOR YOU TODAY!"That was enough to jolt Vaidehi awake. She knew better than to test her mother’s patience when it came to food. Sighing, she dragged herself out of bed, her mind still foggy from sleep, and shuffled toward the bathroom to get ready for work.Vaidehi was a cashier at a well-known shopping complex. She was good at her job—really good, in fact—and had earned the respect of her colleagues and superiors. But with that respect came a certain level of arrogance, something she wasn’t entirely aware of, but others noticed. Still, her dedication and honesty kept her in everyone’s good graces.After hurriedly getting dressed, she made her way to the kitchen, where her mother had laid out breakfast and packed her lunch. As she ate, she couldn’t help but feel a twinge of excitement. Today wasn’t just any day; tonight, she’d be going on a much-anticipated trip with her friends.When she arrived at work, her friend Nisha was already waiting for her outside the office, a knowing smile on her face. "Vaidehi, are you all set for the trip?" Nisha asked, her eyes twinkling with excitement."Of course, I am!" Vaidehi replied, her voice bubbling with enthusiasm. "I was so excited that I started packing last Sunday! I’ve been counting down the days, and now it’s finally here!"Nisha laughed, seeing the childlike excitement in Vaidehi’s eyes. "That’s great! Tonight’s going to be amazing—we’re going to have so much fun!"Vaidehi grinned from ear to ear, the thought of the trip filling her with joy. "Yes, we will! I can’t wait!"But beneath her excitement, there was a hint of something else—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Maybe it was a slight unease about leaving her responsibilities behind, or perhaps it was the nagging thought that her work, her routine, would still be there when she returned. As they walked into the office together, Vaidehi pushed those thoughts aside. For now, she wanted to focus on the adventure ahead, on the freedom and fun that awaited her. Tonight, she would forget all about her daily worries, her job, and her mother’s morning nagging. For once, she would just live in the moment and enjoy the company of her friends.As Vaidehi walked into the office, the familiar hum of the shopping complex enveloped her. She took her place at the cashier's counter, but her mind kept drifting to the evening ahead. The mundane rhythm of scanning items and handling payments seemed slower than usual, the minutes ticking by painfully as she imagined the laughter, the scenic views, and the carefree moments that awaited her.Her thoughts were interrupted by a regular customer, an elderly woman who always took the time to chat. "Good morning, dear! You look like you have something exciting planned today," the woman observed, her eyes twinkling with curiosity.Vaidehi couldn’t help but smile. "Yes, actually. My friends and I are going on a trip tonight. I’ve been looking forward to it for weeks!""That’s wonderful, my dear. Make sure to enjoy every moment. Life has a funny way of flying by when you’re not paying attention," the woman said kindly, handing over her payment with a knowing smile.As Vaidehi handed back the change, the woman’s words lingered in her mind. Life did seem to fly by—each day blurring into the next with its routine and responsibilities. The trip felt like a rare opportunity to break free, to breathe, to experience something different.By the time lunch rolled around, Vaidehi’s excitement had morphed into a kind of quiet anticipation. She found herself daydreaming, picturing the night sky, the laughter of her friends echoing in the background, and the sense of freedom that came from being away from everything familiar. The trip felt like more than just a getaway—it was a chance to reconnect with herself, to remember what it felt like to live without constraints, if only for a few days.As the day finally drew to a close, Vaidehi packed up her things with more enthusiasm than she’d felt in weeks. The weight of her daily life seemed to lift as she stepped out of the office, her heart light and her spirit ready for adventure. She couldn’t wait to meet Nisha and the others, to start this new chapter filled with memories waiting to be made. Tonight, she wasn’t just leaving for a trip—she was stepping into a world where anything felt possible.