💗Chavi💗

I was exhausted. Three continuous lectures, each one an hour long without a single break in between. It was as if the professors had no mercy. And this was just the first day. The first day! I couldn’t even imagine what the schedule would look like as the semester progressed. But, despite the fatigue, there was something comforting about it all. I was finally in college, something I had been dreaming about for years.

Janvi and I began packing our bags. It was time to leave. There were fewer classes today because it was the first day, but the sense of achievement made up for it. As we stood to leave, I noticed a boy approaching us. He walked directly toward us—well, toward Janvi, to be more precise.

“Hey,” he greeted, his smile a little too enthusiastic. “Janvi, right?”

Janvi raised an eyebrow, clearly trying to place him. “How do you know my name?”

He smiled, almost sheepishly. “I was there this morning… you know, when you were handling those seniors. I was impressed by how bravely you stood up to them.”

I blinked. I didn’t even notice him in the crowd during that whole mess. Janvi, though, seemed a little more relaxed after hearing his explanation. She smiled, a little proud, of course.

“Well, thanks,” Jhanvi replied. “And you are?”

“Sharad,” he said. “I’m in your class too. Just thought… you know, maybe we could be friends? I don’t know anyone here yet.”

We both exchanged glances, silently communicating whether or not we should engage with this new character. He seemed harmless enough, so we agreed. After all, what was wrong with making another friend on the first day of college?

We stood talking for a few minutes, exchanging our experiences from the day. Sharad was friendly enough, talking about how he, too, was overwhelmed with the whole "college life" thing but excited at the same time. After a few minutes, he said goodbye since he was heading home, and Janvi and I decided to grab a bite at the canteen before leaving.

The canteen was crowded as expected, but we found a small table in the corner where we could sit quietly and eat. I ordered something simple, not wanting to complicate my day any further. As we sat down with our food, I suddenly felt the unmistakable sensation of being watched. I glanced around, but with so many people in the canteen, it was hard to pinpoint who it might be. So, I shrugged it off, telling myself it was nothing. Probably just nerves.

After finishing our food, Janvi and I walked out of the canteen and headed toward the college gate. My car was already waiting for me, our driver standing by. I dropped Janvi off at her place before heading home. Though our houses were at a walking distance.

As the car rolled down the streets, I leaned back in my seat, letting out a soft sigh of relief. My father wasn’t home today—and wouldn't be for a while, thankfully. The house was quiet, which was how I preferred it.

Once I got home, I went straight to my room and jumped into the shower, letting the warm water soothe my tired muscles. I had been on edge all day, and I desperately needed this moment to relax. After a long shower, I slipped into my favorite pair of pajamas—cute ones with tiny cats printed all over them. They always made me feel cozy and a little less lonely.

By the time I made my way downstairs, lunch was ready. The cook had already prepared everything while I was in the shower, and for that, I was grateful. I ate quietly, enjoying the peace. But even as I sat there, one thought lingered in the back of my mind.

Him.

The senior from earlier—the one with the deep voice, the one who stopped Agastya. I didn’t even know his name, but I couldn't stop thinking about him. He was terrifying in his presence, tall and muscular, with a commanding aura that made it hard to breathe when he was nearby. But something about him stuck with me. Something more than just the way he looked, though he was handsome—there was no denying that. No, it was something else. Something I couldn’t quite place.

I shook the thought from my head, mentally scolding myself. Why am I thinking about him? I didn’t even know his name, and he was probably nothing like what my overactive imagination was making him out to be. I prayed silently that we wouldn’t cross paths again. I didn’t think I could handle his presence twice.

After lunch, I headed back to my room, feeling a little tired. Eventually, I slipped under the covers, hoping sleep would come soon. But as I drifted off, my thoughts betrayed me. I dreamed about him again. We were dancing. I didn’t know how or why, but in the dream, I was happy. I could feel his hand around mine, his other hand gently resting on my waist. It was so vivid, so real, that when I woke up, I could still feel the warmth of his touch lingering on my skin.👉🏻👈🏻

I sat up in bed, feeling completely disoriented. Why would I dream something like that? I pressed my hands to my face, trying to shake off the lingering embarrassment. I didn’t want to admit it, but dreaming about him… it wasn’t entirely unpleasant. Still, I wasn’t sure what it meant, and I wasn’t about to dwell on it.

Just as I was piecing my thoughts together, a knock came at my door. “Yes?” I called out, trying to sound normal.

It was the maid, reminding me that dinner was ready. I told her I would be down in five minutes, then sat on the edge of my bed, staring at my reflection in the mirror. The dream played over in my head again, and I couldn’t help but feel a little ashamed. Why was I dreaming about him, of all people?

I shook my head and stood up, straightening my pajamas before heading downstairs for dinner. I needed to forget about him. It was nothing. Just a strange dream, and nothing more.

After dinner, I went through my nightly routine—brushing my teeth, washing my face, and combing my hair before tying it up in a messy bun. I sat at my desk for a few more hours, going over the next day’s syllabus and catching up on some reading. By the time I finally felt tired enough to sleep, it was well past 2 AM.

As I slipped into bed, I made a silent promise to myself that I would stop thinking about him. He was just another senior, someone I’d probably never see again.

I hope.

But deep down, I knew that wasn’t entirely true.