The morning air was thick with anticipation as the group scattered across the city, each heading to their respective workplaces. The excitement of securing internships had worn off, replaced with a mix of nervousness and determination. This wasn't just about making an impression—this was the first real step into their future careers.
Shumaila adjusted her blazer as she stepped into the sleek, modern office building of one of the top business firms in the country. The vast glass windows reflected the city skyline, and the air inside smelled of fresh coffee and ambition. She had been placed in the Business Analysis & Strategy department, a field she had always been drawn to.
As she was directed to her team, she felt the weight of expectations settle on her shoulders. It was one thing to ace case studies in class, but this was different. She had to prove her worth. The senior analyst assigned to mentor her barely glanced at her before handing her a thick file.
"Read through this. We have a client meeting at noon."
No small talk, no welcoming introduction—just straight to business. Shumaila took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and dove in.
Meanwhile, across the building, Hamza and Rudra entered the buzzing tech office, their ID cards clipped onto their shirts. The office was an open-floor concept, with multiple screens flashing lines of code, data, and project plans. The Software Tech department was alive with energy, but also an undercurrent of stress.
Their team lead greeted them with a nod. "Hope you guys are ready to work. We're currently debugging a critical issue in the app we're launching next month."
Rudra exchanged a glance with Hamza, muttering under his breath, "No pressure at all."
Hamza smirked. "Buckle up. This is exactly what we signed up for."
The lead assigned them separate tasks, and soon they were drowning in lines of code, trying to understand the existing structure before they could even think about contributing. Hamza found himself completely engrossed, the challenge lighting up something within him.
But Rudra? He had already opened a snack drawer under his desk, earning an exasperated glare from one of the seniors.
Over in the Marketing department, Sneha was adjusting to a completely different kind of pressure. Unlike the structured and analytical world of business strategy, marketing thrived on creativity, constant engagement, and last-minute changes. She had barely settled at her desk when her manager called her into a brainstorming session.
The meeting room was filled with animated discussions on social media campaigns, branding ideas, and upcoming product launches. Sneha scribbled notes, her mind racing to keep up with the fast-paced conversation.
"You're new, right?" one of her teammates asked.
She nodded.
The guy grinned. "Then welcome to the circus."
She let out a nervous laugh, realizing he wasn't joking. This was going to be chaotic, but maybe… she liked that.
Siddarth, on the other hand, was having a nightmare of a first day in Sales. He had imagined it would be smooth—after all, how hard could selling be? He was outgoing, confident, and charming. But charm didn't mean much when he was handed a long list of cold calls to make.
His first attempt was a disaster. He stumbled over words, the client cut him off, and the call ended with a flat-out rejection. His manager gave him a look of mild pity.
"Take a deep breath. Keep your pitch short, clear, and always anticipate objections. Try again."
Siddarth sighed, running a hand through his hair before dialling the next number. This was going to be a long day.
...
Meanwhile, in a completely different environment, Akansha and Aarav arrived at the NGO. Their work wasn't about numbers, sales, or marketing—it was about people. Their first assignment was to visit a shelter for underprivileged children and document the challenges the organization was facing.
Aarav sat cross-legged on the floor as a group of kids surrounded him, their curiosity evident in their bright eyes. He pulled out his notebook and started asking them simple questions about school, food, and what they liked to do for fun. The answers were both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
Akansha, standing nearby, watched as an older woman—the head of the shelter—spoke about their struggles with funding. There weren't enough resources for all the children, and they were constantly running on donations.
As they left for the day, Aarav was unusually quiet.
"It's a lot to take in," Akansha said softly.
He nodded. "Yeah. I knew it would be tough, but seeing it firsthand… it hits different."
"We're here to help," she reminded him. "Even if it's small, it matters."
Across town, Komal was stepping into the high-energy world of the entertainment industry. Her new workplace was nothing like a traditional office—it was loud, vibrant, and filled with people rushing from one task to another. There were cameras, editing screens, and creative meetings happening everywhere.
She had imagined she would be assigned small tasks at first, but her boss had other plans. "We need content ideas for a social media campaign. You're fresh, let's hear what you've got."
Komal blinked. "Already?"
"Trial by fire," her boss said. "Welcome to the industry."
She took a deep breath, pushed her nerves aside, and pitched an idea. The team listened intently. When she finished, her boss smirked. "Not bad. Work on it."
It wasn't a win, but it wasn't a rejection either. She could work with that.
...
By the time the day ended, everyone was exhausted.
The group met up at their usual café near campus, sinking into their seats like they had fought a war.
Siddarth groaned. "I'm never making a cold call again."
Sneha snorted. "Welcome to reality."
Shumaila rubbed her temples. "I already have two reports due."
Hamza smirked. "I spent the entire day fixing someone else's bad code."
Aarav sighed. "I saw things today that made my problems feel tiny."
Komal took a long sip of her coffee. "I think my boss enjoys making people cry."
They sat in silence for a moment before Rudra slammed his hand on the table.
"I say we quit and start a beachside café."
They all stared at him before bursting into laughter.
They were overwhelmed, exhausted, and already feeling the pressure, but as they looked around at each other, they knew one thing for sure—they weren't alone in this. And somehow, that made it all a little easier.