Tears trickled down the cheeks of Ms. Shrishti Bhatt. Sitting on the sofa with the only memories left in her hands, howmuchever she tried to resist but always stopped on the same photograph of the album. The maid entered inside the room with the evening breakfast and noticed her face engrossed with the same emotions. “Madam, life is very short. How many years would you give to that past? Be practical in life. Being a servant, these words don't suit me but this is not the way to deal with the bitterness of life.” Shrishti told without even raising her eyes,” Shanti! You know that my present lies in my past. I will die on the day when the God takes away that as well. Please leave me alone.” Going out of the door, Shanti turned back suddenly,” Oh, I forgot madam. Some reporters are waiting outside.” Keeping the album back in the locker, she replied,” O.K. Welcome them and give them seats. I am coming.”
Interview with reporters had become an important element of the life of Ms. Shrishti Bhatt, the I.A.S officer of Allahabad. Her past perturbed everyone. Interviewers wanted spice for their magazines but her dignity stopped everyone to prick he shadowed identity. Shrishti Bhatt, a beautiful, charming young woman of 32, stepping down the stairs of her large mansion waving her hands to the reporters who had come from Times of India and took her seat. Madam, if you don't mind, can we ask if you know anyone called Chhitiz Bharadwaz?” Shrishti remained stunned at the sound of this word which she herself hadn't ever dared to repeat after that incident. Answering the question in negative, she left the reporters confused at her astonished face and went upwards staggering as if struck by the loss of any loved one.
Going straight into her dressing room, Shrishti stood before the long mirror which she hadn't faced for the last fourteen years. How changed she was! An unmarried woman dressed in a white sari without any kind of ornamentation. Chhitiz! Chhitiz! The name echoing in her mind forced her to scream if she could throw it out of herself. Her maid, the only person in the world who knew the truth of her life took her to the same sofa where Shrishti could find serenity. Shrishti took out the album and turning over the photographs again stopped on the same photo, her fingers on the face of the same person. Yes, he was Chhitiz, her life, her soul and the person for whom she had sacrificed all her happiness. He was in this world but still unknown to Shrishti. Her mind went back to the college life they had shared together. Shrishti and Chhitiz were best friends. They loved each other to such an extent that people felt jealous but still in the core of their hearts felt forced to think if such love was really possible. Shrishti had cleared her preliminary exam for the civil services and the last day of the final year exam had also passed. The same garden where they used to meet Shrishti was as usual waiting for Chhitiz. “Oh Chhitiz! You are again late and what's in this diary,” said Shrishti snatching the diary from him. Chhitiz looked at her and said in a serious tone, “Dear! Today, I have to discuss something really important for our lives.” Shrishti replied jokingly, “serious! Yes, very serious! You seem so funny when you even try to get serious.” Chhitiz tried to make her understand and said in a scolding manner,” Please Shrishti! Try to understand, this is regarding both of us.” Shrishti didn't even seem to listen to his words and said hurriedly,” Oh no! I forgot to tell you, Sir Hardy was calling you. First go and meet him and then we will enjoy this seriousness together.”
Chhitiz looked very disturbed that day. But Shrishti assumed his tension for an hour or two as usual to grab her attention. About fifteen minutes passed and he didn't return. Going forward a few steps, she returned back to take his diary which she had forgotten on the slip. Shrishti opened the diary and said to herself,” Oh yes! He was hiding something from me. Card? The card was not an ordinary one; it was an invitation card for Shrishti in the wedding ceremony of Chhitiz with a girl called Hrishita. Shrishti lost her conscience for a moment. The whole world seemed to fall before her eyes. She understood everything and preserving all the memories of Chhitiz in her heart went away forever and ever. After this incident, the first thing which she did was changed her mobile number. Secondly, without giving a single day to Chhitiz for any kind of explanation left the Girls' apartment where she used to live and went to stay with her maternal uncle and aunty about which Chhitiz was totally unknown. Shrishti had lost her parents when she was only eight. After clearing her interview for Civil Services, she decided not to marry as didn't want to share the love of Chhitiz with anyone else. She took a large mansion in Allahabad and lived there with her diary and the album, the only memories of her college life. She never even felt envious of Hrishita instead always considered her lucky to be Chhitiz's wife. 
