The sunlight crept in through Yeshwanth's window, touching his face. His alarm hadn't gone off yet, but he was already alert. His heart was racing faster than normal. Today wasn't an ordinary morning—it was the beginning of his new life, his college day.
For a while, he simply lay on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling fan lazily rotating overhead. He considered his school life, the routine hallways, the same friends he had known for years. School had been routine, nearly secure. But now, everything was altering. College included new faces, new locations, and new obstacles.
"College…" he muttered to himself. The term weighed heavily.
Yeshwanth was not very sociable. In fact, he was rather introvert. He enjoyed silence, reading books, and going for long walks alone. He always struggled to converse with strangers or enter a crowd. His schoolmates would say he was quiet, and sometimes others used to think that he was too serious. But deep within him, he was not unfriendly—merely shy.
Even so, he quietly hoped college would provide him with an opportunity to be different. Perhaps here was where he could finally have friends, find his voice, and be something other than a train-sleeping train-hopping train-habitual train-obsession.
He took a deep breath and stood up from bed. His backpack had already been packed the night before. Notebooks stacked neatly in each other, pens aligned, filled water bottle. He double-checked everything, a habit he couldn't shake.
His mother peeked into his room with a warm smile. "First day, ah? Don't worry, you'll be fine. Just be yourself."
Yeshwanth nodded, trying to smile back. "Hmm."
Following breakfast, he went outside. The street was teeming with the sounds of morning—rush of bikes past, opening of shutters of shops, uniformed children marching to school. And standing at the corner was the big yellow college bus, waiting with its door wide open.
The bus seemed gigantic to him, almost frightening. It was already abuzz with excitement inside. Students were shouting across rows, laughing, and chatting. Others had already formed groups, speaking as if they had known each other for years.
Yeshwanth hesitated by the entrance, squeezing his bag tightly. His introvert self cautioned him, Don't attract attention. Get a seat and keep quiet.
He got in slowly, his gaze scanning the rows. Some of the students had taken photographs of themselves, some were snacking, others playing music on their phones. Inside the bus was like another world.
He spotted an empty seat by the window, slipped in silently, and pushed himself against the glass. Outside, the city scrolled by—shop, tree, traffic light. He attempted to drown himself in the scenery so that no one would see him.
But destiny had other plans.
"Hi, is this seat available?" A bright voice interrupted his thoughts.
Yeshwanth swiveled. A lanky boy with a pleasant smile stood next to him, gesturing towards the vacant seat.
"N-no, you can sit," Yeshwanth said hastily, shifting his bag.
"Thanks, bro." The boy flopped down, unfurling his long legs. "I'm Arjun." He extended his hand.
Reluctantly, Yeshwanth shook it. "I'm Yeshwanth."
"Nice name, man. First year?"
"Yeah."
"Same! My folks were that excited, you wouldn't believe it. They treated me like I was off to war or something. Woke me up at 5 AM, lectured me, packed more food, and even warned me not to talk to bad sorts. Like I'm going to find rowdies on the first day in the bus."
Arjun guffawed at his own joke. Yeshwanth blinked, and then smiled a little bit. He wasn't accustomed to strangers being this forthcoming, but Arjun's enthusiasm was infectious.
They talked a bit more. Arjun asked him about his school, his classes, and even gave him some light teasing for being so quiet. Yeshwanth nodded primarily and gave brief responses, but the knot in his chest began to unwind.
Another voice chimed in shortly.
"Hi, you guys freshers too?"
A girl leaned over the aisle, her short hair bobbing as she turned. Her eyes sparkled, her smile effortless.
"Yes! I'm Arjun, this is Yeshwanth," Arjun answered at once, indicating him.
"I'm Keerthi," she said. "Looks like we're in the same batch."
Arjun smiled. "Great! Freshers' gang, united from day one."
Keerthi laughed. "Don't be acting leader already."
The three of them chatted along while the bus moved. Arjun joked about the stern lecturers he had heard of, Keerthi told humorous anecdotes of her school send-off, and Yeshwanth listened and interjected with a few words now and then.
Once, Keerthi asked him, "So Yeshwanth, what do you like to do?"
He paused and spoke softly, "I… I enjoy solving puzzles. And reading."
"Smart type, eh?" teased Arjun. "Good, we'll need you when examinations arrive."
They all laughed, and for the first time in a long time, Yeshwanth didn't feel like an outsider.
---
The bus journey continued, the city giving way to open fields and wide roads. The bus eventually stopped at the college gates after perhaps an hour. The campus was enormous—glass-windowed tall buildings, a huge ground covered with green grass, and students galore carrying bags, talking, and strolling about in clusters.
Stepping off with his new acquaintances, Yeshwanth felt overwhelmed yet thrilled.
Arjun slapped his shoulder. "Stick with us, man. First days are scary, but we'll survive together."
Keerthi nodded. "Yeah. No one wants to be lost on day one."
Yeshwanth looked at them—two strangers who, in just one bus ride, had become something more. He gave a small, real smile. "Okay."
---
The three of them walked into the auditorium, where orientation was to take place. The atmosphere was charged with the hum of new beginnings. Students greeted each other, seniors showed them the way, and teachers at the door welcomed.
The hall inside was full to capacity. Hundreds of students were seated in rows, ready to begin. Yeshwanth sat between Arjun and Keerthi, still being a bit quiet, but no longer alone.
As the school principal spoke of discipline, chances, and the value of hard work, Yeshwanth paid close attention. But half his mind was not there.
He wondered how things had changed so much. Yesterday, he had been a student of the school. Today, he was entering a grander world with opportunities to transform himself.
Perhaps this was the start of something beautiful. Perhaps, and maybe it was even a chance, life was finally allowing him to pen a new script.
Later that afternoon, classes were posted. The three of them entered their first classroom in conjunction, laughing about which teacher would have the toughest professor. The room was filled with the scent of new paint and chalk, and rows of desks stood neatly aligned.
The lecturer introduced herself, and the students introduced one by one. When it was Yeshwanth's turn, he stood up nervously.
"My name is Yeshwanth," he said softly. "I studied at… at St. Joseph's School. My hobbies are reading and solving puzzles."
"Good," the lecturer nodded, and he sat down, his cheeks slightly warm.
Arjun whispered, "See? That wasn't so bad."
Keerthi added, "Told you, you'll be fine."
Yeshwanth smiled again.
As the day came to an end and the bus trundled back home, Yeshwanth gazed out of the window again. The morning had begun nervously, but today, he was lighter.
He had talked. He had laughed. He had become friends.
The smooth ride of the first day had only just started.
What he didn't realize was that this humble beginning would guide him toward storms, battles, and a fate beyond anything he had ever dreamed.