The first public mistake of Ananya's college life happened on a Tuesday.
A very normal Tuesday.
She mixed up two rehearsal slots.
The dance team arrived late.
The media team was locked out.
The music club blamed her.
Voices rose.
Seniors frowned.
The coordinator's tone changed.
Ananya stood in the middle of it, heat rushing to her face.
"I'm sorry. This was my fault," she said.
Someone scoffed.
A girl muttered, "She thinks she's in charge."
The words hit harder than they should have.
She fixed the situation.
She rescheduled.
She apologized again.
But the feeling stayed.
The one she hadn't met yet.
Failure.
Later, she sat alone on the back steps behind the auditorium.
Not crying.
Just… empty.
Kabir found her there.
"You disappeared," he said, sitting beside her.
"I messed up," she replied quietly.
He waited.
"I thought I could hold everything," she said. "Turns out I can't."
Kabir picked up a small stone and rolled it between his fingers.
"Then don't," he said.
She looked at him.
"Strong people don't carry more. They carry together."
Ananya exhaled slowly.
Something unclenched.
That night, in Room 407, she finally said it.
"I'm scared of disappointing everyone."
Pihu threw a pillow at her. "Welcome to the club."
Nandini smiled. "We meet daily."
Meher said nothing.
She simply reached out and held Ananya's hand.
And that was louder than comfort speeches.