"Past is past. What matters is the future," the girl repeated, her voice firm yet reflective.
Her uncle smiled at her, pleased that she had inherited his sister's positive attitude. It reassured him to see the resilience in her eyes.
"Be ready by sharp six," he reminded her. "You can take Aunt Komla's help. She'll bring the dress you'll wear for the party."
"Don't forget—sharp six," he emphasized.
"Okay, Uncle," she responded obediently.
"That's like a good girl," he said, nodding approvingly.
She whispered the words again, almost as if imprinting them onto her soul—Past is past. What matters is the future.
Just then, the door opened, and a woman entered the room, holding a delicate dress in her hands. Aunt Komla, a woman with a warm demeanor, approached her with a gentle smile.
"Dristi, you can wear this dress for now. Since everything was arranged so suddenly, I couldn't go out shopping for you. This is my daughter's dress. She never wore it, so it should fit you perfectly."
Dristi accepted the dress with a polite smile. "Thank you, Aunt Komla. I'm grateful to have such a caring family."
Aunt Komla patted her head affectionately. "One must help family. That's what we're here for."
After Aunt Komla left the room, Dristi closed the door behind her and turned towards the dress. She traced her fingers over the soft fabric, a thoughtful look crossing her face.
"Her daughter's unwanted dress…" A faint smirk played on her lips.
In the Dormitory
Chahat sat at her desk, typing on her laptop, her brows slightly furrowed in concentration. The quiet hum of the ceiling fan and the rhythmic clicking of the keyboard filled the air.
"Chahat, can I ask you something?" a voice interrupted her thoughts.
Chahat looked up and met the girl's gaze. "Of course. Don't hesitate to ask."
The girl hesitated for a moment, carefully choosing her words. "I hope you don't take this the wrong way… but wouldn't it have been easier for you to stay in a college-affiliated hostel? It would've been less expensive."
Chahat leaned back in her chair and gave a small, understanding smile. "That's true. But I'm quite reserved. I prefer my privacy and peace most of the time. Besides, this dorm fits within my budget. My guardian covers the expenses, so it's not a burden."
"That's good," the girl nodded. "As long as it's comfortable for you."
Curious, she tilted her head. "But what about you? You have a home here, yet you're staying in a hostel."
Chahat closed her laptop and stretched slightly before answering. "My house is quite far from here. Since I'm attending college as a regular student while also learning music, traveling back and forth would be inconvenient."
"That makes sense," the girl agreed.
Chahat smiled, returning to her work. The dormitory room fell into a comfortable silence, the quiet companionship between them settling in naturally.