Scene 1 — The Departure
The car hummed softly as it wound through the city's wide roads. Shiva sat in the back seat, suitcase beside him, staring at the massive campus gates that grew closer with every turn.
His mother fussed with her dupatta, sneaking glances at him in the mirror. His father kept his eyes on the road, jaw tight with unspoken words.
"You've packed everything, right?" his mother finally asked. "Clothes, medicines, charger—"
"Ma," Shiva cut in gently, "you checked twice already."
She sighed but smiled faintly. Parents always carried worry like second skin.
The car rolled to a stop at the university entrance. Students and families crowded the gates—luggage, laughter, nervous chatter. A few parents lingered, reluctant to let go.
His father put the handbrake on and turned. "Study well. Don't waste your time. And… make good friends. The right ones matter."
Shiva nodded. "I will, Papa."
When he stepped out, his mother hugged him tightly, longer than she probably intended. "Eat on time," she whispered.
"I will," he said, smiling.
And then the car was gone, swallowed by traffic. Shiva stood among strangers with his suitcase, staring at the grand sprawl of Suryanagar University—the place that would shape the next years of his life.
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Scene 2 — The Hostel Chaos
The hostel corridor was alive with noise. Doors slammed, voices overlapped, some students carried bedding while others argued about cupboard space. Someone had already put loud Punjabi music on a Bluetooth speaker.
Shiva dragged his suitcase to Room 201 and knocked before entering.
Inside, two boys were mid-setup. One was tall and lean, arranging books in neat, symmetrical stacks. The other had hair that looked permanently rebellious, struggling to pin fairy lights above his bed while humming tunelessly.
"Hey!" the humming boy grinned the moment he saw Shiva. "You must be our third musketeer. I'm Rohan." He pointed at the book-stack perfectionist. "That's Aarav."
Aarav glanced up, offered a curt nod. "Hello."
"Shiva," he said simply, pushing his suitcase to the empty bed.
Within an hour, the room looked like three worlds smashed together: Aarav's half neat like a monk's quarters, Rohan's side colorful and chaotic, and Shiva's corner modest but functional.
As evening settled, Rohan sprawled on his bed dramatically. "Gentlemen! Remember this historic night—the beginning of our hostel adventures!"
Aarav rolled his eyes. "You sound like you're starting a movie."
"Life is a movie, bro," Rohan retorted. "And we're the heroes."
Shiva smirked faintly, not used to such fast energy but oddly comforted by it.
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Scene 3 — Orientation Day
The next morning, the auditorium swelled with new students. Professors gave speeches about "youth shaping the future." Clubs advertised outside—debate, drama, music, sports, gaming.
"Look at this!" Rohan shoved a pamphlet into Shiva's hand. "LAN gaming tournaments every semester. DESTINY!"
Aarav, ever the realist, muttered, "Focus on grades first, maybe?"
Shiva half-listened to the speeches, half-watched the crowd. He noticed how easily some students already laughed in groups, while he felt more like an observer on the edges.
But with Rohan's antics and Aarav's dry sarcasm, he realized he wasn't completely alone.
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Scene 4 — The First Lecture
The lecture hall was huge, echoing with dozens of voices. Shiva sat in the middle rows with Rohan and Aarav.
"Bro," Rohan whispered, "I feel like I'm in a Bollywood college film. Any moment now, someone will start singing on the desks."
Shiva ignored him, eyes drifting ahead—where he noticed a girl already at her seat, notebook open, pen poised.
Her posture was straight, focused. Hair neatly tied, glasses reflecting the sunlight from the tall windows. She radiated the kind of quiet confidence that toppers often carried, the kind that made others naturally straighten in their presence.
For a brief second, her gaze lifted, scanning the hall—and for that heartbeat, Shiva felt like their eyes almost touched.
Then the professor walked in, and the moment dissolved.
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Scene 5 — Evening Walk
After classes, Shiva wandered the campus. The sky blushed orange as the sun dipped, lampposts flickering alive. Groups of students laughed, some couples strolled, and a few loners studied under trees.
He paused near the lake beside the library. The water reflected the moon's silver glow, rippling gently with the breeze. For a moment, he simply stood there, letting the calm sink in.
A voice interrupted. "Enjoying the philosopher's walk?"
Shiva turned. Aarav was there, holding two cups of chai. He offered one casually. "Mess hall was too noisy. Thought you'd prefer this."
Shiva accepted with a small nod. "Thanks."
The two stood side by side, sipping tea in silence, the cool air brushing against their faces. It wasn't a grand friendship moment, but it was enough to stitch a quiet bond.
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Scene 6 — First Hostel Night
Back in Room 201, Rohan was already on his bed, scrolling memes and laughing so loudly that Aarav threw a pillow at him.
"Do you ever stop?" Aarav asked.
"Never," Rohan grinned. "If I stop, life becomes boring."
Shiva lay on his own bed, half-smiling at their banter. For someone who usually kept to himself, the noise didn't feel suffocating. It felt… alive.
As the hostel slowly quieted, he stared at the ceiling fan. The day replayed in fragments—parents' farewell, the chaos of new beginnings, the calmness of the lake… and the brief glimpse of a girl whose presence had somehow lingered in his mind.
He didn't know her name. Didn't know if their paths would even cross. But for some reason, the image stayed, tucked away among the noise of the day.
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Chapter 1 Closing Lines
The first day of university is never just another day—it's a threshold. Behind it lies the unknown: laughter waiting to echo, bonds waiting to grow, memories waiting to be etched deep.
And as Shiva drifted into sleep, unaware, the first thread of his eternal journey had already been spun.
To be continued....