Choose your own adventure Teju!

name="TJ" -- Hello there! Welcome to your world! Please type in your name below: {text input for: 'name'} [[Enter->Check name]]

[if name.toLowerCase() === "bhashya"] Ivi thaginchukuntene baagupadatav 😒 {restart link, label: "Go back"} [if name.toLowerCase() === "meghana"] Ivi thaginchukuntene baagupadatav 😒 {restart link, label: "Go back"} [if name.toLowerCase() === "pachadi"] Ivi thaginchukuntene baagupadatav 😒 {restart link, label: "Go back"} [if name.toLowerCase() === "sriram"] Aww, that's so sweet, but it's made for you amma. {restart link, label: "Go back"} [continue] [if name.toLowerCase() === "tejaswini"] Good job! [[Let's get started!->Intro]] [if !["tejaswini", "sriram", "meghana", "pachadi", "bhashya"].includes(name.toLowerCase())] This story is not for you. Get out! [continue]

As you know, you were born on 28th Jan, 2001 right here in Vizag. Your childhood was a wild ride across India, and even the world where some might only dream of seeing and experiencing so much. [after 4s; append] And then you ended up in Sambalpur 😛 [after 7s] Once 8th grade rolled in, you returned home to Vizag and enroll at Timpany [after 9s; append] , and joined FITJEE as well since you wanted to study a little too hard. [after 12s] There, you end up meeting a cute boy who will join you on your journey for the rest of your life, [after 15s; append] {reveal link: 'Nishant!', text: "Just kidding amma! It's me, Sriram."} [continue] [after 20s] You know he exists, but not much else. [after 24s] [[Continue->Post FIITJEE meetup]]

You pick MPC, and decide to stay in FIITJEE itself since you already know how is it going to be. You come out of the 4 year program, and write FTRE again to get a scholarship, so that you do not feel like a burden to your family. [after 6s] You get a great rank, a nice scholarship, and then begins your journey in FIITJEE in the Initiation Phase. You're put into the I-1 batch, where you start grinding out for the Reshuffling Test. [after 12s] After 2 months of intense prep, you take the test, and end up in the... [after 15s; append] **first batch, J-35!** [[Continue->Sriram joining the batch]]

You know what happens in this one. Sri Chaitanya, long hours, your favourite priest bro, and 6 years of MBBS in AMC. [after 5s] While you're finishing up your final year of classes, your friend Dilip keeps telling you the dumb stuff one of his friend does, *Sriram*. [after 8s] On a night when you go hanging out with your friends, Sriram replies to your story on Instagram, asking you why do you always show only one side of your face. In your mind you go, "Who asks such dumb questions?" and then reply back. [[Continue->Start texting him]]

After a lot of studying and exams and boards and stuff, the time comes to make the first big decision of your life. [after 3s] [[Take MPC->MPC]] [[Take BiPC->BiPC]] [continue] [after 1min] P.S. I know it's sad that I am only giving you two choices here, but these are the only two options where I can write a good story 😬 [continue]

You text him back, saying that you always show your best side in a photo. He's slightly amused, and you're slightly embarrased to having to clarify, and that is how your conversation begins. [after 4s] You text each other for a few days, but then you get busy with exams, so the chat dies down for a while. [[Continue->USMLE]]

You are excited for the future, and you believe in yourself! Everything is going according to plan, and you know the long journey in front of you, so you are prepared to face any set back or challenge. [after 5s] A few days in, you hear people talking about how people from the 'lower' batches can come 'up' if they do well in the upcoming exams. You do not find it fair, but you're already where you belong, so you do not care. You keep grinding. [after 10s] After your first exams, you see a new batch of people being 'upgraded' to your class. You do not think much of it. [after 13s] After your next set of exams, another set of people join your class, one of whom is *Sriram.* [[Continue->IIT Bombay]]

You keep grinding for the next two years, and then come the exams, JEE. [after 3s] You start to feel anxious when the day comes close, but you remember the effort you put in and hope that it is enough. [after 6s] The day of the exam comes, [after 8s; append] and goes, while you come out of the exam hall with a smile on your face, knowing that it went well. [after 12s] Results come in, seat allocation is in full swing, and you go to [after 15s; append] IIT Bombay! [[Continue->Mood Indigo]]

College is fun, and full of classes, labs, friends, clubs, and festivals! Mumbai feels like home, college feels like home, and when you go back to your actual home, that feels boring! [after 5s] On one particular year, when Mood Indigo, your college's flagship cultural festival, is on full swing, you and your friends go to a concert. There, in the middle of all the chaos, you find a familar face. It takes a while, but you do figure out that it is *Sriram*, your classmate in FIITJEE. Do you go say hi? [[Say hi!]] [[Leave after the concert]]

haveNumber: false -- You look away for a second, and he is lost among the crowd. With a jolt from your friend, your back in the convert having fun. [after 5s] After the concert ends, you and your friends go roaming around the campus for a bit and return to your rooms. [[Continue->Graduation]]

haveNumber: true -- You go to him and say hi. He's surprised, but not really because he knows you would be here, in IIT Bombay. You talk for a bit, but the concert is still ongoing, and your friends are calling to you, so you take his number and exchange byes. [after 6s] Once the concert is done, you and your friends take a trip around the campus. While returning back to your room, you see a text from *Sriram* saying that we should catch up some time later. You do respond affirmatively. Once you're at your room, you gals stay up late into the night talking about so many things. [[Continue->Graduation]]

4 years just whiz by, with prep, exams, and placements. You get a job in Bengaluru! You're sad to leave behind Mumbai, but you're ready for wherever life takes you. [after 6s] Once college is done, you pack your bags and go back home. After a few days of vacation, you move to Bengaluru where you begin your career. [after 12s] New job, new colleagues, new city, new life. Brimming with possibilities. Work is going well, and your social life seems to be going good as well, but somehow you have not found a boyfriend yet. [[You install Bumble]]

On the advice of friends, you install Bumble. You create your profile, swipe around a bit, and talk to a few people. The conversations peter out after a day or two, and the cycle goes on. [after 5s] After a few days, when you open the app again, you find a familiar face on there. It's *Sriram*. [after 9s] It does feel embarassing to see a former classmate on there, but you do still swipe right. You do not know why you did it, but you do it. [after 14s] When you open the app again after a day, you see that he has matched with you! It still kinda feels embarassing, but you guys strike up a conversation. It's going so well that you exchange numbers, [after 18s; if haveNumber; append] but you already have it saved. You ponder for a moment, and then realise that you did meet each other at Mood Indigo. Both of you text for a few more days and you have a good feeling about this, so you plan a date. [[Plan the date]] [after 18s; else; append] and continue texting for a few days. You have a good feeling about this, so you plan a date. [[Plan the date]]

You decide to meet on 2nd June, 2024 since it is a Sunday, and hence both of you would be free. [after 3s] Going to a restaurant doesn't sound like a great idea, because the good ones are too far away from the both of you. You do have decent cafes nearby, and that sounds like best. [after 7s] Which cafe do you want to go to? {dropdown menu for: 'cafeName', choices: ['Third Wave', 'Starbucks', 'Blue Tokai']} [[Go!->Go to date]]

[if cafeName === 'Third Wave'] You know neither of us would ever choose it 🤢 {back link, label: 'Pick again'} [if cafeName !== 'Third Wave'] The day arrives, and both of you meet up at {cafeName}. You arrive on time, but he is late by 20 min, citing traffic. He's definitely lost some points today. [if cafeName !== 'Third Wave'] [after 5s] The date goes well, and he's definitely funnier in person. Spending time with him just feels right. You have a good feeling about this. [[Continue->Further dates]]

You guys keep going out together, and your bond gets stronger. You start to believe that this is something that lasts. [after 4s] Somewhere down the line, a relationship blossoms. There is not a single moment when it begins, but both of you know that you're committed to one another. [after 8s] You introduce your friends to each other, go out on trips, whether it be hiking or for vacation. You like to relax and take cute pictures while he is adamant on taking you to musuems and historical places. [after 13s] Life's good. [[Continue->Wedding]]

A couple of years go by quickly, obviously because you are loving it. *Sriram* and you are still going strong. It's not like you never have arguments or rough periods, but you have learnt how to maintain your lines of communication throughout, and no fight ends up bottled and turning into resentment. [after 7s] As you get older, your parents start pushing you to take the next major step in your life, marriage. You ignore their concerns and push back a bit, but now it seems like there is no reason to delay it. You talk to *Sriram* about it, and he looks at you as if he was waiting for a while. [after 13s] You start feeling anxious about what could happen when you tell your parents about *Sriram*, but he comforts you by saying that all will go well. [after 15s] And all goes better than well. Both sets of parents agree without much drama or hassle, and you get married in a year's time. [[Continue->First timeline end]]

Both of you move in together. Soon after, you add a dog and a cat to the family. You host dinners, go out for vacations (and historic places as well obviously), and have everything figured out. No worries, no stress, and certainly living life at your pace and at your own terms. [after 5s] That's life. [[Continue->The End]]

You've decided a while ago that you'll take the USMLE. America is where you wanna go, earn bundles of cash, and never feel poor again. [after 4s] The day draws near, and with it, your anxiety. You find this to be your only way out of the life of a doctor here in India. You know the work hours here, you know how inhumane your peers, seniors and professors can be, and you know deep in your heart that this is not what you signed up for. The stress keeps going up. [after 9s] The day of the exam comes, [after 11s; append] and goes, while you exit the room with mixed feelings. [[Continue->Texting]]

The day of the result rolls in. You gather a few friends, and *Sriram* as well. You keep refreshing the page, but nothing comes up. As the scheduled minute approaches near, you hand over your phone to Luthiya, because all of this is too much. She keeps refreshing the page. [after 5s] After what feels like eternity, you see her facial expression change. [[She is smiling]] [[She looks confused]]

She is smiling, and all of you know what that means! [after 1s] **You made it!** The first step in a long and arduous journey is done. [after 3s] All of you go out to a party to celebrate. Sriram is excited about both of you ending up close by, because he is planning to take up a Master's degree in the US. You know that it is a remote possibility, because of how the process is, but you are hopeful. [[Continue->Remaining exams]]

Her expression reads like confusion, so you snatch your phone back to check. [after 2s] You did not pass. You are gutted. [after 4s] Everyone close to you is comforting you. When your friends leave, only *Sriram* remains. He feels right for this moment. No judgement being passed, but just there for you at this moment. [[Continue->Next attempt]]

The next few years are chaotic to say the least. You keep studying for the remaining exams while simulataneously applying for observerships. You move to the USA for a few months to gain some work experience. You take your Step-2. [after 5s] *Sriram* in the meantime takes the GRE and gets a good score. He's in India applying to various schools. You guys keep in touch, but the timezone does not help. You're talking while having lunch, whereas he's trying to stay up late. It is tough at times, but thinking of the future gives you both hope. [after 10s] You get a great score in Step-2, enough to apply for the subject you want. Sriram gets into a great engineering school, and now he's firmly rooted in place for the next 2 years. [after 15s] You want to apply to hospitals close to him, but they are not that good. *Sriram* pushes you to apply for the good ones, assuring you that distance is not a problem. [[Continue->College]]

You get matched, but you and *Sriram* are several states from each other. You know the journey can get lonely. [after 3s] Both of you go busy during those years, you more so than him. It becomes much harder to stay in touch, but you both persist through. The work is grueling, the hours long, but you find enough time and energy to call him up every day, even though there is nothing much different from the previous day to discuss. [after 10s] He graduates and finds a job in a few months, in the same city as you! He doesn't tell you at first, but then just shows up one night with his bags! You both move in together. [[Continue->Post residency]]

You finish up your exams and your residency as well, and start to work in a hospital based out of the same city. [after 2s] The work does get tough, and the hours long, but when there's a loving person waiting to embrace you when you get home, all of it does not seem so hard. [after 5s] With your career in full swing, your parents broach the subject of marriage. You know what your answer is. [[Continue->Wedding in India]]

You guys are doing well in life, and so you have little to worry when you tell your parents. There is an initial tussle, but that quickly fades away. [after 4s] You travel back home while the wedding preparations are in full swing. It feels more like a week long festival in a month long vacation rather than a wedding, but that's how these things go. [after 9s] After all the hungama, you spend a few days visiting family and friends, and head back to the USA, where you will start your new life as a couple. [[Continue->Second timeline end]]

You live together. You adopt a cat and a dog soon after. Your days are busy with work, but the off days are well packed with watching movies, hosting dinners, domestic and foreign travel, and of course the odd slow Sunday where it's just the two of you making a nice brunch. [after 6s] That's life. [[Continue->The End]]

Right before the day of the exam, you get a text from *Sriram* wishing you the very best. You think it's sweet. [after 3s] After the exam ends, you start texting him. He's being flirty, and fun. You love talking to him. [after 5s] Once you are back home, you want to go on a date with him. After a lot of deliberation, you agree to meet up in your college, from where you'll head to the Blind Chemistry Cafe. [[Continue->Blind Chemistry Cafe]]

On the fated day, *Sriram* picks you up from college on his scooter, while wearing his trademark Crocs. You feel he's dressed like a kid. He drives, while you navigate, to Blind Chemistry Cafe. [after 3s] You guys stay there a while, enjoying the conversation. He's funnier in person, and you feel safe talking to him about anything. That makes you feel good. [after 6s] You head to Bean Board after that for a nice cup of coffee and head back home. You have a good feeling about him. [after 9s] You tell your friend Dilip about how it went, and you keep texting *Sriram* as well. He seems a little less talkative this time around. [[Continue->Starting the relationship]]

Something feels off when you talk to him today, and you try to find out why. Your conversations take you late into the night, where he reveals that he thought the date went well, but because of what Dilip told him, he was unsure about how it was for you. [after 4s] You assure him that there is nothing to worry. Which is when he says that he likes you and would love to start a relationship with you. [after 8s] You like him as well, but you have some qualms about it given how your previous relationships have gone. You ask candid questions, and love the responses he gives. They feel like they are coming straight from his heart, and you trust him. [after 13s] You say yes! And that is how your story begin! [[Continue->First few dates]]

You start to hang out a lot more often with him. It gets tiring sometimes to lie to your parents to get out, but it doesn't feel wrong. [after 3s] You introduce him to your friends, you go out to nice cafes, watch bad movies, go out on double dates, all of it. [after 5s] Life's good. [after 9s] [[Step-1 results come in->Result day]]

You decide to write Step-1 again. It is a tough decision, and your chances of matching already go down because of the previous attempt, but you do not back down. [after 3s] In the meantime, *Sriram* has moved to Bengaluru for work, so you do not get to meet as much as before. The long distance part makes it harder, but both of you put in the effort to keep the relationship alive. [after 8s] You keep your head down and focus. Staying at home and studying gets rough, but you keep pushing. You apply for the exam again, and as the date approaches, you put in more and more hours into it. [[Continue->Step-1 2nd attempt]]

The day of the exam arrives. You feel anxious when you walk in to the exam hall. [after 5s] You step out of the hall in relief, but there's a pit in your stomach. You talk to *Sriram* and feel a bit better. [after 10s] [[Results come in->2nd result day]]

Your results come in. Your anxiety is through the roof, but you do check in and see. [after 5s] You did not pass. The American dream is dead. [after 8s] You feel nothing. You talk to *Sriram* on the phone, and he is trying his best to comfort you, but there is nothing to comfort. [after 12s] It sinks in after a while. There are days where you cannot do anything. You start to doubt yourself, whether you will be able to do anything in life. It does not feel good. [after 16s] After a few weeks, you regain the strength and mental composure to plan your next steps. [[Continue->AMC decision]]

You decide to write the AMC exam, which will help you move to Australia. It's not a decision made lightly, because it impacts *Sriram* as well. [after 3s] You talk to him. It's not an easy conversation for either of you, since he has always been talking about taking up a Masters program in the US. [after 8s] He is supportive of your decision, and is happy to move wherever you are going. You are grateful to have found him. [after 12s] You study hard, not wanting to let this opportunity slip away. [[Continue->AMC exam day]]

The day rolls in. You feel confident entering the exam hall. [after 3s] After a grueling three and a half hours, you're out of there, with a good feeling. [[Continue->AMC results]]

Three weeks later, the results are out. [after 5s] **You have passed!** [after 7s] You are overjoyed! The past few exams have battered your confidence so much that this feels unbelievable, but you make it! The long journey of moving to Australia begins with this step. [[Continue->Moving to Australia]]

The next few years just whiz by. You are busy applying for your internship and preparing for the next exam, while *Sriram* is on the lookout for jobs in Australia. [after 3s] You go to Australia for your internship, while *Sriram* is back in India. The days are long and the work is a bit much sometimes, but you make time for each other even though the timezone is not in your favour. [after 6s] You pass the next exam and apply to hospitals. Meanwhile, *Sriram* finds a job in Australia! You both are overjoyed about the future. [after 10s] You start working in the hospital, while *Sriram* moves into an adjacent state where he has to work out of. It's still long distance after all of this, but you both push through. [[Continue->Moving in]]

You do meet up from time to time, and see glimpses of your future life together. It makes you hopeful. [after 3s] After a few months, when you're at home, *Sriram* shows up at your home with bags. He requested for WFH, and was granted it! He wanted to give you a surprise, which is why he kept it a secret. [after 6s] This is what both of you were looking forward to for so long, and it doesn't stop feeling like a dream come true. [[Continue->Wedding in Australia timeline]]

You are living together for the first time. It's not all smooth sailing, but fights never turn into resentment because you keep your lines of communication intact. [after 3s] Your parents broach the topic of marriage, which is when you feel is it time as well. You know who it is you want to spend the rest of your life with. [after 6s] Both of you talk to your parents. There is a bit of drama, but with your persistence, all of that quickly subsides. [after 10s] Both of you fly back home, and the wedding is a week long festivity. It's a celebration of your life, and with all of your friends and family there, it feels right. [[Continue->Third timeline end]]

After a couple of days of visiting family and friends, you fly back to Australia. [after 4s] In a few years, you buy a house in a beach town with a nice yard. You adopt a few dogs and a cat, because why else would you have a yard? Your weekdays are packed with work, but your weekends are full of hiking trips, hosting BBQs, and the occasional night where you both snuggle up on the couch to watch TV. [after 8s] This is what you wanted, and you got it. [after 12s] That's life. [[Continue->The End]]

[align center] **The End.**