A lady opened the door. A boy stepped into the room.
"How was your day?" asked Mom.
The boy didn't reply and went straight to his room, ignoring her question. Mom sighed quietly.
In his room, he tossed his bag onto the chair and flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling fan for a long while.
Then he went straight to his PC, launched the game, and started playing. He was immersed in an intense shooting match, completely focused. Even though he was winning, his hands shook, the controller trembling in his grip.
He won the game, but frustration took over. "What am I even doing?" he screamed, slamming the controller onto the floor, shattering it.
He panted heavily, gasping, "Huh… huh… huh…"
Earlier that day, Roneet walked down the street with his college backpack.
"My name is Roneet Joshi, and I'm not an ordinary person. It's not that I'm special or anything. I just… can't do things. I can't even do what normal people do easily. In that way, I'm not ordinary."
When I was a kid, on my first day of Jr. KG, I cried like every other child. But on the last day of Jr. KG, I was still crying, while all the other kids had adjusted and were happy.
During my school days, I was the silent boy. I had two or three friends, mostly because they were like me—quiet, unnoticed, and awkward. I was happy with them, finally feeling like I belonged somewhere.
But over time, they started making more friends, laughing and sharing things I wasn't part of. I remained their friend, but the closeness we once had faded. In the end, they became best friends with each other, and I… I was just another friend, fading into the background.
One day, I saw a friend playing a game during computer lab. I stood behind him, watching as students gathered around, cheering him on.
He was tense, about to win, when suddenly, Sir came in and shouted, "Hey! What are you doing? Playing games during computer period?"
The students went back to their places, disappointed. I walked over and sat next to my friend.
"Did you learn to play this well, bro?" someone asked.
"Haha, I did it myself," my friend replied.
"I want to play with you," another student said.
"Sure," my friend said, "but this game needs four players."
"Don't worry, I have one player with me. Bring one," he added.
"I don't have—wait, Roneet, why don't you play with us?" my friend asked.
"M-me?" I stammered nervously.
"Yes! You have a computer at home, right?"
"Y-yes, I do," I said.
"Then it's settled," my friend said.
That evening, we started playing together. At first, I was terrible.
"Hahaha! Roneet is such a noob!" my friend laughed.
Frustrated, I practiced — sometimes with him, sometimes alone. Hours turned into days, days into weeks. Slowly, I improved. Eventually, I played better than him… better than anyone in the group.
"Tckkk… Roneet beat me again," my friend groaned.
Soon, all of my friends were fighting just to have me on their team. I was proud. I was happy.
But then, the friend who introduced me to the game stopped playing. "This game is boring," he said.
He was losing, and because of that, he decided it was no fun. One by one, all my friends drifted away. I was alone… again.
I made new friends online — people who played from midnight to 4 a.m. every day. I spent hours with them, leaving my real life behind. Gaming became my escape. It never felt boring. I thought it never would.
But my 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th standards passed by. My marks suffered, and I couldn't even be in the same stream as my old friends. My mom stopped pushing me, and my dad gave up too.
Eventually, my online friends disappeared one by one. The game I loved started to feel dull… because I had become too good.
That day, I made a decision.
I would stop playing games.
I would stop escaping reality.
Today is my first day of college.
I will make friends — not just one, but many.
I will make my mom and dad proud.
Finally, I'm here—New Horizon College.
The campus was huge, sprawling across acres, with students everywhere. Groups were laughing, chatting, and rushing to their classes. I gripped my backpack straps tighter, my heart pounding.
I felt a mix of excitement and fear. This is it. A new start. A chance to be someone different. Someone better.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, trying to blend in with the crowd, hoping that today would be the day I finally belonged.
Just before I entered the gate of New Horizon College, a voice barked from behind me.
"Hey, f***er! Move aside!"
Someone shoved me hard. I stumbled and crashed onto the pavement, my bag slipping off my shoulder.
"Hey, you bast—" The curse caught in my throat. My voice stopped.
Silence.
Everyone was watching me.
Two guys stood there. They were huge — broad shoulders, thick arms. If I hadn't wasted all my time playing video games and skipping meals, maybe I wouldn't be so skinny compared to them.
"Do you want to say something?" the guy who pushed me sneered, stepping closer.
I felt my body start to tremble.
"Hey, yell at him, I bet he'll piss himself!" the other one jeered.
They both laughed.
Then, without another word, they walked off, leaving me on the ground with everyone staring.
I stood up shakily, my palms sweaty. The little confidence I'd managed to build for this day evaporated. Staring at the floor, I brushed the dirt off my clothes and started walking toward the classroom, trying to ignore the eyes still on me.
I went straight to the washroom to wash my face, my reflection trembling in the mirror as much as I was inside.
"No need to worry. I've got this," I whispered to myself. I headed toward my class.
I searched here and there, trying to find my room. As I got closer, I heard some familiar voices. A chill ran down my spine.
It was them.
The same guys who had pushed me at the gate.
Fear started creeping into my chest.
Both of them looked at me, then started murmuring and laughing under their breath.
I quickly slipped into the classroom and sat on a bench, keeping my eyes down, avoiding any eye contact with them.
I was sitting in the classroom. It was almost full, except for the first bench — no one wanted to sit there. I had taken that spot, hoping to stay unnoticed.
The first lecture was about to start when the teacher finally entered. She walked to the board and began writing her name and the subject:
Subject: Media Management
Teacher: Simran Kaur
Just then, the door opened.
"May I come in, ma'am?" a boy called out, walking in casually, unbothered, with a calm, confident stride.
"Miss Simran, you may," the teacher replied.
"I'm sorry for being late, ma'am. I got lost on campus," he said smoothly.
Unlike me, he was perfectly dressed, clean, and stylish. Headphones hung around his neck, and his outfit looked like he had dressed to impress. He didn't stumble or fumble — he walked in like he owned the room.
A few students couldn't help but laugh quietly, amused by his dramatic entrance, but he didn't even notice. He scanned the room with ease, completely at ease in the chaos.
"Hey, stop laughing!" Miss Simran snapped at the class.
The late guy paused at the door. "Where should I sit, ma'am?" he asked casually.
"First bench," Miss Simran replied.
"Hatt!" he muttered under his breath, disappointed. He shot me a look that was more annoyed than anything else, then reluctantly sat down beside me.
Ugh, stuck on the first bench with a random dude. Great, he thought.
I… I should greet him, I told myself. "M-my name is Roneet. And… you are?" I stammered.
He didn't even look at me. My confidence sank further.
Finally, he said, without meeting my eyes, "Kabir."
"So, my name is Simran Kaur," the teacher said with a smile. "I'll be teaching you Media Management. Let's start with introductions — one by one. We'll begin from the last bench and move forward."
She scanned the class, raising her finger toward the back. "You, start."
Roneet turned around to see who she was pointing at.
His stomach sank.
It was him — the same guy who had shoved him at the college gate.
"I'm Arnav Gill," he said proudly, leaning back in his chair.
"Is that it?" Miss Simran asked, raising an eyebrow. "I'd like a full introduction."
Arnav sighed loudly. "Ah, fine. I'm Arnav. I stay near Katar Road — in this city only. I like playing football and boxing." He paused, then added with a hint of attitude, "Is that enough?"
Miss Simran folded her arms. "And why did you choose this field, Arnav?"
"Huh… I just need a degree," he said bluntly. "My father already has a business. I'll join him later. May I sit now?"
"Sit down," Miss Simran said firmly.
Arnav smirked and dropped into his seat.
"Next," she said, looking toward the boy beside him. "Your turn."
"Ah—me?" he said, startled. "So… my name is Nikhil Khanna. I stay opposite this college. And I like… ahh… uhh… hmm…" He scratched his head nervously. "Sports! Yeah, I like sports. I can play anything — and I'm pretty good at it."
Some students chuckled quietly.
"And why did you choose this field, Nikhil?" Miss Simran asked with a small smile.
"Oh, I—I want to be a model," he said quickly.
"Model, my ass," Arnav muttered under his breath.
"Stop getting jealous, bastard. At least I have a dream," Nikhil shot back.
Arnav smirked. "Oh? Looks like you want something," he said, cracking his knuckles with a grin.
Nikhil rolled his eyes and flipped him off.
Arnav laughed. "Asshole." He leaned back in his chair and whispered, "Hey, you know what? I've got a feeling that guy sitting up front will make a good punching bag."
Nikhil snorted. "Haha, you're right."
All the students here seem to know what they're doing.
They know what they want.
They've chosen this field for a reason — some out of passion, some just for the degree.
Me? I didn't really have a choice.
Honestly, it feels like the degree chose me.
My marks weren't high enough to get into a better college, and without my parents' help — or donation money — I wouldn't even be here.
"Hello everyone, I'm Kiara Malhotra," she said confidently. "I stay in Bandstan, and my hobby is singing. I've chosen this field to build my career in the music industry."
Roneet's breath caught. He forgot the noise, the fear, and the room. He just stared at the graceful curve of her smile, the light catching her hair. She's miles away from me, he thought, his heart sinking with a familiar, painful certainty.
"Oh, look at this one," Nikhil whispered from behind.
"Bastard! You say that to every single girl!" Arnav snapped, laughing. "Hahaha… pathetic."
"Say whatever you want. I'll make sure I get that one for sure," Nikhil said, grinning ,Even if I have to do anything.
Anything?" Arnav asked, raising an eyebrow.
Nikhil just smiled wider.
"You freakkkk! Hahaha!" Arnav laughed, shaking his head.
After everyone finished, it was finally my turn.
"Next," Miss Simran prompted.
"I—I am Roneet," I stammered.
To be continued