A girl with a dream
There was a girl named Priya.
A girl with a desire to be loved. Broken. Tired. Yet still trying to find her place in a world that never seemed to understand her.
She was pursuing her dream of becoming a Chartered Accountant. She had sacrificed countless things to reach where she was. Her days were filled with office work, studies, deadlines, and sleepless nights.
She was in the fifth month of her articleship.
Like every other day, she was busy with her work. But for the past two days, something wasn't right. She had been experiencing severe headaches.
Initially, she ignored them, thinking it was probably because of stress and lack of sleep.
But when the pain became unbearable, she decided to visit the hospital.
After several examinations, the doctor called her in.
The diagnosis was devastating.
She had a stage-three brain tumour.
The doctors explained her condition and discussed treatment options. But Priya wasn't ready to undergo treatment. She believed her family had already invested so much in her education and future. She didn't want to become another source of financial and emotional burden for them.
She chose medication to manage her pain rather than pursuing aggressive treatment.
The doctors couldn't promise her how much time she had left.
She knew her life might not be as long as she had imagined.
Yet, she continued living as if nothing had happened.
She still had one dream left.
To become a CA.
2. An ordinary afternoon
Almost two months later, Priya appeared for her CA Final examination.
She had gone through everything during those weeks. Pain, exhaustion, medicines, and countless moments when she had to gather the strength just to get out of bed.
But she appeared for the examination.
After her paper, she was sitting in a park with someone.
They were talking about the examination, discussing questions, laughing about mistakes, and sharing hopes about the future.
For a moment, Priya looked like any other girl.
She was smiling.
She wasn't worrying about her diagnosis, her future, or the uncertainty of tomorrow.
She was simply enjoying the present.
And then, suddenly, someone approached them.
It was her ex-boyfriend.
Him: Hi, Priya. How was your exam?
Priya: It was good. How was yours?
Him: Fine, too.
He looked at the person sitting beside her.
Him: Who is he? You said you weren't going to fall for someone again. And now you're sitting here smiling with someone?
Before Priya could answer, the person beside her spoke.
Sam: Excuse me. I don't think you owe him an explanation.
Him: Don't interrupt. I'm talking to her.
Turning towards Priya, he continued.
Him: Priya, where has your love gone? What about those promises you made? You said you wouldn't fall for anyone except me.
Priya: Listen. It's my choice. Stay away from me.
Him: Oh! I know. You're just like every other girl.
Sam couldn't tolerate it anymore.
Sam: Watch your words.
Priya gently held Sam's hand.
Priya: Sam, please.
But Sam couldn't remain silent.
Sam: She's happy because she's dying!
The atmosphere suddenly changed.
Sam: She doesn't even know when her last breath will be. And here you are, questioning her about whom she chooses to sit with!
Before anyone could say anything else, Priya suddenly collapsed.
"Priya!"
Sam rushed towards her.
They immediately took her to the hospital.
3. The truth behind the smile
Priya was still unconscious.
Outside her hospital room, her friends and ex-boyfriend were waiting anxiously.
After some time, a person wearing a medical mask came out of her room.
He walked towards them and slowly removed his mask.
It was Sam.
Sam: Hi. I'm Dr. Subhankar. And I'm her Sam.
Everyone looked at him in confusion.
Sam: I'm not sorry for what I said earlier. But I think you should know her situation before judging her.
He paused for a moment.
Sam: She's suffering from a stage-three brain tumour. Even I don't know how much time she has left with me.
His voice started trembling.
Sam: She doesn't want to undergo treatment. She says her family has already invested so much in her education and future. She doesn't want to give them more tension or worries.
Sam: She's not receiving proper treatment. She's only taking medicines to get some relief from the pain.
He looked towards Priya's room.
Sam: I'm not even supposed to know about her condition.
He took a deep breath and continued.
Sam: One day, I saw her crying outside the hospital. I didn't know what had happened. I approached her, and that's when I came to know about everything.
There was silence.
Just then, her doctor came out.
He approached Sam.
Doctor: Sam, I'm sorry. But she has only one month.
And with those words, he walked away.
Everyone felt a sudden ache in their hearts.
But what they felt was nothing compared to what Sam was experiencing.
He stood silently for a while.
Then, with tears in his eyes, he whispered:
"I wish what you said earlier would become real. Then I could proudly say that I'm hers."
He looked towards Priya's room.
"But she doesn't want to hurt anyone."
4. The result
One and a half months passed.
Sam was sitting at home, checking the CA Final results.
He was searching for one name.
Priya.
He entered her details.
And suddenly, there it was.
CA Final — Qualified
Priya had cleared her CA Final examination.
Not just cleared it.
She had secured an All India Rank.
Sam stared at the screen.
For a few seconds, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
And then tears began rolling down his cheeks.
She had done it.
She had achieved the dream she had worked so hard for.
The dream she had chased through sleepless nights, painful days, and countless sacrifices.
But she wasn't there to celebrate.
Sam slowly walked towards his living room.
There was a photograph of Priya.
He sat in front of it, looking at her smiling face.
And then he spoke.
Sam: You hold a rank, Priya.
He smiled through his tears.
Sam: I hope you haven't forgotten your promise.
And he started crying.
His mind travelled back to a conversation they had once shared.
5. A promise for another lifetime
Flashback.
Priya and Sam were sitting together.
They were talking about her CA Final examination.
Priya: Sam, if I hold a rank, I'll treat you to whatever you ask for.
Sam: Whatever?
Priya: Yes! But something I can give, okay?
Sam: Then promise me something.
Priya: What?
Sam: Promise me that you'll come back for me in our next life. And this time, you'll be my partner for life.
Priya became emotional.
Priya: How can you say something like that now? Let me at least attend my examination!
Sam: I know you can do it.
Priya: But there's one condition.
Sam: What?
Priya: You'll live happily even after me.
Sam hesitated.
He knew what she meant.
He knew how much uncertainty surrounded their future.
But he still wanted to hear her promise.
Sam: Okay... I will.
Priya smiled.
Priya: Good. Then I'm giving you my promise.
Flashback ends.
6. Until another lifetime
Sam was still sitting in front of Priya's photograph.
Her smile remained the same.
The same smile he had seen in the park.
The same smile that had made him forget everything else.
He looked at her photograph and spoke once again.
Sam: You did it, Priya. You became a CA. You even secured a rank.
He paused.
Sam: I wish I could have celebrated this with you.
His eyes filled with tears.
Sam: You remember your promise, right?
He gently touched her photograph.
Sam: You promised you'd come back for me. And I'll keep mine too. I'll try to live happily, just as you wanted.
A long silence followed.
Then he smiled faintly.
Sam: But don't make me wait too long, okay?
He looked at her photograph for one last moment.
Sam: I'll find you again, Priya. Maybe not in this life. Maybe somewhere beyond everything we understand.
Sam: Until then... take care of yourself.
And somewhere in his heart, he continued believing that one day, in another lifetime, he would meet the girl who had once promised to be his.
The girl who chased her dreams.
The girl who wanted to be loved.
The girl who became a CA.
The girl he wished he could proudly call his.
Priya.
Some promises don't end with a goodbye. Some remain in the hearts of those who are left behind.
The End.
