Then someone sat next to Zeema.
"Hey! I'm Shalini… from Villupuram," she said brightly, extending her hand with a genuine, almost effortless smile.
Zeema looked at her for a brief second.
She didn't seem nervous.
Not pretending.
Just… naturally warm.
Zeema shook her hand.
"Zeema Rose Philip. From Ooty."
Her voice came out flat, as usual.
Shalini blinked once—then her eyes lit up.
"You're from Ooty?" she exclaimed.
Zeema nodded.
Shalini leaned slightly closer, clearly interested.
"I've been there once with my family. It was so cold! And the view—oh my god, it was beautiful."
Zeema didn't respond immediately.
People always said the same things.
Cold.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Predictable.
"Ooty is nice," she said simply.
Shalini tilted her head, studying her.
"That's it?" she asked, half amused. "You live in one of the most beautiful places and all you have to say is 'nice'?"
Zeema glanced at her.
"It's just a place."
Shalini stared at her like she had just said something illegal.
"Just a place? It's literally famous!"
"For chocolate," Zeema said calmly.
Shalini paused.
"…What?"
"Ooty is more famous for its homemade chocolates than tea," she added, her tone still even. "It's common knowledge."
Shalini blinked twice.
Then she laughed.
Not awkwardly.
Not forced.
A real laugh.
"Okay… I wasn't expecting that," she said, still smiling.
Zeema turned her gaze toward the window again.
Outside, the campus moved endlessly—students walking, voices blending into each other, life continuing without pause.
"You're very calm," Shalini said after a moment.
No reply.
"And very… straight to the point."
Still nothing.
Shalini didn't seem bothered.
Instead, she rested her chin on her hand, as if she had already decided this conversation wasn't ending anytime soon.
"I talk a lot, by the way," she added casually. "In case you didn't notice."
"I noticed."
"That was fast."
Silence.
Then—
"You don't talk much, do you?" Shalini asked.
"No."
"Is it because you don't like people or you just don't feel like talking?"
"Both."
Shalini paused.
Then she smiled again.
"Fair enough."
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
The classroom noise filled the space—students laughing, chairs scraping, voices overlapping from every corner.
Then suddenly—
"Hey, at least you replied," Shalini said. "That's already an achievement."
Zeema glanced at her.
"You have low expectations."
"I adjust according to the person," Shalini replied instantly.
That made Zeema look at her properly this time.
She wasn't offended.
Not irritated.
Just… adapting.
Interesting.
Just then, the classroom door opened.
The noise slowly began to settle as a female professor walked in, followed by a group of senior students carrying small gift boxes and papers.
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Excitement replaced casual chatter.
"Good morning, everyone," the professor said with a polite smile.
A scattered chorus of "Good morning, ma'am" followed.
"Welcome to AKM University," she continued. "And congratulations on starting a new chapter of your lives."
Behind her, the seniors began distributing small welcome kits—pens, notebooks, and chocolates—while a few of them prepared for games.
Shalini leaned slightly toward Zeema.
"This is going to be fun," she whispered.
Zeema didn't reply, but her eyes followed the movement in the room.
The next couple of hours passed in a blur of introductions, light games, and forced interactions.
Students were made to stand up, introduce themselves, and answer random questions. Some spoke confidently, some nervously, and some tried a little too hard to impress.
Shalini, of course, spoke without hesitation.
Zeema kept it short.
Name.
Place.
Nothing more.
There were small laughs, awkward moments, and occasional cheering.
Loud.
Unpredictable.
Exhausting.
And just like that—
The half day ended.
It was Fresher's Day, after all.
Only a few hours of college.
Students began packing their bags, voices rising again as they discussed plans, exchanged numbers, and formed quick friendships.
Shalini turned to Zeema.
"So… ,monday also you'll sit here, right?" she asked hopefully.
Zeema picked up her bag.
"…Maybe."
"That means yes," Shalini said confidently.
Zeema didn't correct her.
As she stepped out of the classroom, the noise followed her into the corridor.
But her expression remained the same.
Calm.
Unreadable.
Her college life had begun.
And without realizing it—
Someone had already entered her quiet space.
That evening—
The apartment was quiet again.
The kind of quiet Zeema was used to.
She had changed into comfortable clothes and was sitting on the sofa, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. The events of the day played faintly in her mind—noise, faces, voices, Shalini's constant talking.
A different kind of exhaustion.
Not physical.
Social.
Her phone buzzed.
Incoming Video Call — Uncle
Zeema stared at the screen for a second before answering.
The call connected instantly.
"Little one!" his cheerful voice rang through, just as loud and energetic as always.
Zeema leaned back into the sofa.
"Good evening," she said calmly.
"Good evening?" he repeated dramatically. "That's it? No excitement? No happiness after seeing your favorite person?"
"You didn't give me time."
"I just called!"
"Exactly."
He narrowed his eyes playfully.
"You've become sharper."
"I've always been."
"Hmm. True."
He leaned closer to the camera, his expression suddenly turning mischievous.
"I have a surprise for you."
Zeema didn't react much.
"What kind of surprise?"
"Guess."
"No."
"Come on, try."
"I won't."
He clicked his tongue.
"You're no fun."
"You already knew that."
He sighed dramatically.
"Fine. I'll tell you."
A small pause.
Then—
"I'm coming to Chennai."
Zeema blinked once.
"…For work?" she asked.
"No," he said, grinning. "Vacation."
Another pause.
"I'm staying there for a week."
Silence.
Zeema looked at him for a moment.
"…Why?"
"Why?" he repeated, offended. "Can't I visit my own little one?"
"You can."
"Then?"
"You don't usually take vacations."
"That hurts."
"It's true."
He placed a hand on his chest like he had been attacked.
"I decided to change."
"Suddenly?"
"Yes."
"Suspicious."
He laughed.
"Nothing suspicious. I just thought… you're alone there, new city, new college… I should come check on you."
"I'm fine."
"I know."
"Then?"
"I still want to come."
Zeema didn't reply immediately.
Her expression didn't change much—
But something in her eyes softened, just slightly.
"When?" she asked.
"Monday."
"That fast?"
"I work efficiently."
"You don't rest."
"Don't start," he warned.
"You told me not to overwork."
"That rule doesn't apply to me."
"It should."
He pointed at the screen.
"Don't use my own rules against me again."
"Then don't give them."
He shook his head, smiling.
"This is what happens when you raise someone intelligent."
"You didn't raise me."
"I contributed."
"Barely."
"That's disrespect."
"That's accurate."
He laughed again, clearly enjoying this.
"So," he continued, "you'll come pick me up?"
"No."
"What?!"
"I'll send a car."
"I want you to come."
"I have college."
"Skip one day."
"No."
"Zeema."
"No."
He narrowed his eyes.
"I'm your uncle."
"And?"
"I'm visiting after so long."
"You said one week."
"That's not the point."
"It is."
He sighed dramatically.
"You've become heartless."
Zeema stood up and walked toward the balcony.
"I'll think about it."
"That means no."
"That means I'll think about it."
He stared at her for a second—
Then smiled.
"Fine. I'll accept that."
A brief silence settled between them.
A comfortable one.
"So," he asked casually, "how was your first day?"
"Loud."
"That's expected."
"Unnecessary."
"That's college."
She leaned lightly against the balcony railing.
"I met someone."
"Oh?" his tone immediately changed. "Who?"
"A girl. Shalini."
"Friend?"
"…She talks a lot."
"That's not what I asked."
Zeema didn't answer.
He smiled knowingly.
"I see."
"You're assuming."
"I'm observing."
"Incorrectly."
"We'll see."
Another pause.
"Eat properly," he added softly.
"I will."
"And sleep early."
"I will."
"And don't sit alone all the time."
"I won't."
"…You're lying."
"I might be."
He chuckled.
"Take care, little one."
"You too."
The call ended.
The balcony was quiet.
The city lights had started to appear, flickering across the buildings like scattered stars.
Zeema stood there for a moment, her phone still in her hand.
"A week…" she murmured softly.
Then she looked out at the city.
Noisy.
Unpredictable.
Alive.
And now—
It was about to get even less quiet