Ashvika Mehta

"Mom, I'm leaving!" I shouted as I jumped down from the third stair.

"Dhayan se, Didi," Avinash, my younger brother, told me. "You're late again, Ashiii."

Mom glared at me. "You're in college now, and today is your first day—"

I kissed Mom on the cheek. "Now don't start your lecture."

I grinned. "Bye, bye, Dad!" I shouted, just in case he could hear me from his room.

Just then, I heard the horn. Of course, Svarna was here.

"Take care," Mom said as I was about to leave.

Vedant Rao

I gazed at Nisha, my 15-year-old sister, sleeping on my bed, her cheeks stained with dry tears. I silently slipped on my shoes and glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, which read 7:25 AM. I was all set for my first day of college.

"Nishi," I whispered, but she didn't stir. I sat beside her and gently stroked her hair. She shifted slightly, trying to open her eyes. As her vision cleared, she smiled weakly. "Good morning, bhaiya."

I smiled back. "Wake up, I need to leave for college—"

She interrupted me, sitting up abruptly. "You'll leave me alone in this house?" Her eyes welled up with tears again.

"They're not here," I said, trying to calm her down.

"Where are they?" she asked, her voice trembling.

"Left again," I replied, chuckling bitterly.

“If you didn't feel good staying here, just call me, I'll be there, okay?” She nodded, and I smiled at her again. Soon, the maid arrived and gave Nishi breakfast.

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Ashvika Mehta

I entered college with Svarna. “Where do we have to go?” I asked her, but she didn't know either.

“Vaise, Svarna, you can find a man of your liking here in college, huh?” I teased.

She rolled her eyes and was about to hit me, but I stepped back, and my back collided with someone.

I turned to apologize to the person, but he hurried away quickly, leaving me no chance to say a word.

"Bada ajeeb aadmi tha," Svarna said, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded in agreement. She shrugged and walked ahead. As I was about to follow her, my attention was caught by something.

I spotted a bracelet with 'Vedant' scribbled in free handwriting, and I instinctively stuffed it into my bag. I followed Svarna, and after asking a few students for directions, we entered our classroom and chose the last bench to sit.

A professor walked in, and we all greeted him. He called each student one by one to introduce themselves in front of the class.

I wasn't paying much attention to the introductions, secretly scrolling through my phone under the desk. But then, I heard a familiar name: "Hi, myself Vedant Rao..." He continued to share his hobbies and interests, but I turned him out, sneaking a glance at him from head to toe. It was the same boy I had bumped into earlier. I made a mental note to talk to him after the lecture.

Soon, it was my turn to introduce myself. "Hey, I'm Ashvika Mehta." They cheered, "Hi, Ashvika!" I smiled at them.

"So, what do you like?" Sir asked.

"I like going out, spending time with my family, gossiping, reading books, and having coffee – my constant favorite," I replied.

Sir chuckled. "Okay, Miss Mehta, take a breath."

He asked a serious question, "What kind of student are you? Will you be able to survive here?"

I shrugged. "Average, I guess. If not, no big deal. I'll do something else. Dying for a useless degree isn't my style." I'm sure the irritation was already visible on my face.

“Cool.” Sir smiled and told me to go. I glanced at the same guy again, sitting away from us, wearing a simple black shirt and pants. Got it. Will see you, Vedant, I told myself, and looked ahead, where a girl was introducing herself.

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Vedant Rao

Phew, the intro game lecture finally ended. I was heading to the canteen with my friend Ishaan, who was rambling on about random stuff.

“Suno...” I heard a girl's voice from behind, but I didn't stop or turn around. Maybe she's calling someone else.

“Vedant.” That same voice called out again. I stopped and turned around. Okay, it's the girl from my batch, accompanied by another girl, Svarna, I think. What was her name? Ashika?

“Yes?” I replied.

She rummaged through her bag, her fist closed around something. She walked up to me and held out her hand. I gave her a questioning look.

"Isme chocolate hai? Mujhe dedo," Ishaan whined like a kid, trying to peek into her hand.

"Nahi hai bhai, hoti toh pakka aapko de deti," she said with a smile. Ishaan gave her a disappointed look.

Is this a new way for girls to flirt with me? I wondered.

"Khush Femi na pale aap, aap ki hi cheej hai joh bahir gir gayi thi," she said, her eyes sparkling.

I held out my palm, and she placed something on it. It was my old bracelet, a gift from Nishi four years ago. When did I lose it?

"Jab class ke bahir aap takra gaye the mujhse," she replied, a hint of a smile on her face.

Is she reading my mind? She shook her head slightly as she adjusted her dupatta. "Thank you," I said, putting the bracelet back on.

"By the way, would you like to join us in the canteen?" Ishaan asked her. I shot him an annoyed glance.

I'm sure this girl talks a lot, and she's not going to shut up for a second. "Why not, my friend is with me too," Ishaan said, agreeing with himself. Nobody bothered to ask me, though.

They smoothly ignored me, and as we reached the canteen, I went to order for us. Meanwhile, this drama queen, Ashika, started spilling tea to Ishaan and Svarna.

I was getting increasingly annoyed by their conversation. Ashika was dishing out gossip, and Ishaan and Svarna were lapping it up, judging the poor person she was talking about.

"For God's sake, Ishaan, you're a guy," I thought, exasperated.

“Chalo, chodo yaar, hamein kya lena dena?” Ashvika said, leaning back in her chair. From their conversation, I learned that her name was Ashvika. So, Ashika and Ashvika are the same person.

“Haan, hamein kya,” Ishaan and Svarna chimed in unison. I looked at them in shock; they were acting as if they hadn't spent the last half hour judging that poor person.

“Kya?” the trio asked in unison. I shook my head and looked away. Svarna and Ishaan whispered something to each other and left. God knows what they're up to.

“Tum kuch bolte nahi kya?” Ashvika asked.

“Jab dil ka dard jyada hi hota hai, toh insaan bolna chhod deta hai,” I replied, my voice laced with a hint of melancholy.