At 6:15 am the alarm clock start ringing.
Aarav slowly open his eyes and looking silently at the ceiling for a few seconds before he actually moved. Morning was always quiet — and he liked it this way. No noise in the room. No peoples are around. It's just him alone.
He sat up on the bed, with right hand rubbed his face and pushed his messy hair back with help of left hand and whispered to himself:
"This is my 1st year of college."
He took a shower, wore a simple light grey shirt and jeans. No fancy style. No colognes. Just basic. After packing his bag for college, he checked everything twice as if anything left or not — water bottle, notebook, pencil case, sketchbook hidden at the bottom.
He stepped out of his hostel room and began walking toward campus.
The university gate looked crowded.
Students were excited — fresh faces, new haircuts, new couples, and old friends reuniting. Laughter everywhere. Groups clicking photos. Someone blasting music from a small speaker. It felt like the entire campus was boiling with energy.
Aarav kept walking silently through the crowd.
He didn't love crowds but he wasn't scared either. He was simply… disconnected from them or can't muster the courage to start conversation. Like a quiet observer from another world.
As he entered the main building of University, he heard bits of random conversations:
"Bro! long time man!"
"New juniors are so cute this year!"
"Which professor do we have first period?"
People were excited.
People were loud.
People were alive.
Aarav just listened quietly everyone — but never joined them.
He stepped inside his first lecture hall of college life: B.A. Psychology – Semester 1
A couple of boys waved at him.
"Hey Aarav! Long time bro!"
"You didn't come to 12th class farewell party man, you missed everything!"
Aarav looked at them for exactly one second then he say nervously , "Hey friend, I didn't have time."
He wasn't rude. They're his school friends now they're same university as him.
He just didn't waste energy on useless talk.
Small talk felt like noise to him.
He walked towards the last row — his favorite place where less students going to notice him— near the window. He sat down on the bench then he take off his bag from shoulders and placed bag on the desk, he pulled out his notebook from his bag and opened it even though the class hadn't started yet.
From here, he could see everyone.
But nobody paid attention to him.
That's how he preferred it.
As groups kept laughing and talking loudly, Aarav just watched silently — his expression calm, unreadable. He also want to talk with them but he not able to do that.
People don't talk to you if you don't start conversation first and in this this he was weak, he didn't know how to start.
Many of students were already there—chatting, gossiping, creating instant friend circles.
He opened his notebook and kept his pen ready—pretending he was already busy.
On the opposite side of the hall, someone entered with a spark.
Riya Sharma.
Her voice was bright and kind that made people turn and smile without knowing why.
It felt like she didn't need permission of anyone to exist or enjoy the life; she just did, effortlessly and the world seemed better for it.
"Hi! First year? Nice to meet you!"
"I love your top, where did you buy it?"
"Ohh we're in the same course? Nice!"
Laughter followed her like light follows the sun.
Aarav noticed her—not because she was loud, but because she was the exact opposite of him. She looked fearless and know how enjoy the life. She sat in the first row, centre seat. No fear of attention if you give wrong answer. No hesitation to be seen.
The professor entered hall every student went silently their own places to set. The professor put books in table and he say in soft voice but firmly, "Alright students, this is first year of university for all of you so, all of you introduce yourselves one by one."
Aarav felt his throat tighten.
He feel hesitate and nervous — talking about himself in front of strangers.
One by one every students stand up to introduce themselves.
"I'm Anusha…"
"I'm Samar…"
"I'm Riya…"
When Riya stood, her voice filled the room like she owned it.
"I'm Riya Sharma. I love people, I love conversations, I want to understand human behaviour. And I talk a lot. But in a good way!"
Everyone laughed.
Aarav stared at his empty notebook.
Soon, his turn come to introduce himself in front of all classmates in loud voice.
He stand slowly, like someone stepping onto thin ice. Their some thaught going on inside his mind, 'if I say something worng they will laugh on me.'
Everyone looking at him normally but from his perceptive they're going to laugh on him.
"I'm… Aarav," he said softly.
Silence.
Everyone waited for more.
Aarav's lips trembled. His stomach was twisted.
All he could say was that.
The professor gave a gentle sympathetic smile.
"That's alright, Aarav. You'll open up gradually," he said.
But Aarav already hated himself for being so small.
When class ended, everyone gathered in groups, exchanging numbers, planning tomorrow, deciding cafeteria seats.
Aarav quietly picked up his bag and ready to disappear like smoke from the class.
As he reached the exit of class, he heard a voice behind him.
"Hey, Aarav!"
He froze.
Riya.
She was laughing innocently as if everything was normal for her but all this was not normal for him.
"You sit so far away," she said cheerfully. "I didn't even see you properly from there. Next time, sit a little closer okay?"
He didn't reply.
Not because he didn't want to—
—but because he didn't know how to reply her.
Riya raised her head, watching him with interest, it's not like passing judgment, simply attempting to solve a puzzle.
she said "See you tomorrow," turned and walked away.
For a moment, her perfume scent remained in the air.
Aarav watched her leave.
He didn't know why… but his chest felt a strange warmth.
Maybe his first day wasn't as bad as he expected.
Maybe… someone had noticed him.
And for someone who lived like a shadow…
That was enough to change everything.