Playlist:
"Someone to love" by Shayne Ward
"Kaise batayun tujhe" by KK
"Nit Nit" by Jasleen Royal

~

Being in a new college after coming from a faraway land was tough for a newcomer, homesickness, ragging, new environment, there were many factors to be worried about, Vinay sighed sadly after getting out of the washroom. He still couldn't believe that finally, he was in Delhi, away from his hometown, away from his very Jammu, the beautiful city where he had lived with his lovely family since childhood, till a few days back.

Just after exiting the washroom, he had gotten a notification on his mobile phone which was a WhatsApp notification from his elder sister who had sent a big message to him, wishing him good luck for the very first day of his college life, which got his whole attention on the mobile screen, with a smile adorning on his lips, completely unaware about the girl who too was coming towards him, busy in adjusting the creases of her kurta, but both their 'I don't care using my eyes while walking' attitude got better of them, making them both crumbled harshly on the hard floor, with one on the other, making Vinay's phone skyrocket in the air.

"Damn," Vinay cursed under his breath suddenly getting hit on his backhead along with his elbows with a heavyweight thrown at his chest out of the blue.

"Ouch," Arvika too had hurt herself on her forehead in the process of collapsing with this unknown dude who was wincing in pain now as his elbows too had been hit hard by the rigid and hardened marble floor along with his backhead.

"Can you get up, please? You are heavy!" Vinay grumped in a heavy tone shocking Arvika to the core. How dare he called her heavy! She immediately got up, leaving his body and was now glaring at the boy who was still wincing in pain.

"You! How dare you call me heavy?" with her hands on her hips, Arvika scowled at the unknown boy who still hadn't gotten up from the hardened floor, maybe he fell in love with it.

"Here, I am in immense pain and you're fighting over being light or heavy! Girls!" Vinay finally got up, rubbing the back of his head along with his bum which too had burns all over it due to sudden contact with the ground, it'd surely leave a swollen mark on it, he deduced unhappily. What a great start of his college life, get the intended sarcasm.

"Then who told you to use a mobile phone while walking?" Arvika noticed the phone that was lying on the ground with the screen facing on the ground, catastrophic. She pitied for his phone but she wasn't going to leave this guy because of whom she had fallen on the ground on the very first day of her college life.

"And if I was walking while using my phone, what were you doing? Why didn't you avoid our collision?" Vinay too scowled back at her, putting his hands on his waist.

"I was adjusting my dress, so I didn't see that a donkey was coming towards me who would collide with me like a khula saand (Freely roaming bull)," Arvika 's witty yet humorous remark made Vinay chuckle at her sense of humor even at this serious moment that they were having right now.

"And now that donkey even has the audacity to laugh without even asking for an apology," with a scowl on her face, Arvika folded her hands against her chest, glowering at the unforgiving boy who was still chuckling even at the death glares that she was throwing at him.

"You are funny, okay, I am sorry for colliding with you," Vinay smiled sheepishly, now gingerly noticing the cute yet fierce girl who had collided with him who still was busy in throwing daggers at him with her beautiful eyes.

"It's not okay, first stop your smiling and then apologize," Arvika was giving a tough time to him now.

"Okay Queen Victoria, I am sorry," Vinay tried not to laugh at her and apologized in a fake-solemn tone.

"That's better, bye now," like a wind, Arvika flew away from there before Vinay could've even asked for her name or introduced himself to her.

"Interesting," he whispered to himself, having a cute smiling playing on his lips.

On the other hand, Arvika was busy cursing herself on her way to the cafeteria where Kavya was waiting for her! How could she touch a man, how could she! What happened years ago was still inculcated within her that she couldn't forget even after many failed trials!

After that kiss, Arvika had maintained her distance from each man, be it any cab driver or some shopkeeper. As she was in a girls' boarding school, having a boy-friend was out of the question for which she had been always grateful to her so-called parents, also most of her teachers were female staffs with just the presence of one-two male staffs that too in the school office where she hadn't anything to do.

But now after having physical contact with a boy had made her remember the past from which she had always tried to sprint away. Boys and men were demons for her, she had embedded this thought inside her cerebrum long back like ICs are embedded on the motherboards, which was too adamant and rigid to take out.

After many years, she had mused upon the person whom she hated the most, more than she had hated the word 'love'.

****

"What took you so long, Boo?" Kavya asked the moment she saw her friend coming towards her in a foul mood.

"Nothing, just this stain wasn't getting rid of my dress," Arvika replied in a disturbed tone. Her mind was, again and again, showcasing the glimpses of that fateful day which had changed her life drastically that was caused by none other than a lunatic & desperate boy.

"I am sorry for this but I promise, the duty of its dry cleaning is on me," Kavya tried to cheer up her best friend whose gloominess wasn't because of the kurta but the incident which had happened a few moments back.

"It's okay, Kavya, let's have something, did you have the pasta?" Arvika fake-smiled at her friend who was looking at her worriedly.

"Nah. Was waiting for you only, let's ask them to heat these food items," Kavya took the tray in her hands and went towards the counter, not wanting to trouble her friend who had been already so baffled because of her craze of TikTok.

Arvika sat on the chair, looking at nothing in particular, thinking about all those events that had followed after her joining at St. Michael's Convent, Dehradun, five years back. How everything had broken apart like her life wasn't life but a piece of glass which was smashed mercilessly by the blow of a single draught that had uprooted her from the plains of Mumbai to the hills of Dehradun, till eternity.

"Here, your food and this treat are on me, for my blunder," Kavya was finally back from the counter with the heated platter of food in her hands, feeling guilty because of her friend's gloominess for which she blamed herself.

"Yeah, let's devour it, before it turns cold again," with fake-enthusiasm, Arvika immersed herself in savoring the delicious grilled sandwich while Kavya was busy munching down the white sauce pasta down her esophagus which was her favorite delicacy of all.

"I uninstalled TikTok. Arvika, I am sorry for spoiling your kurta," Kavya whispered in a low tone, eyeing her friend who was behaving too weirdly since the time she had come from the washroom.

"It's the best thing that you deleted that good-for-nothing app, illiterate and jobless people use these kinds of Chinese apps, don't waste your precious time on these unproductive apps," Arvika explained like a true friend while Kavya could only nod her head at her.

After their savoring of the tasty food, finally, they got outside the cafeteria, forcedly readying themselves to attend the orientation program for which they hadn't an ounce of interest and enthusiasm left in them, in fact, any of the freshers out there weren't interested in attending this program as the blistering sun had already sucked out their all energy, leaving only parched and demotivated students behind.

"We are very sorry to inform you all, that the orientation program has been postponed to the next week, because of the sudden official ordinance issued by the director of our college, so meet you guys after one week, but from tomorrow onwards, your classes will commence, so all the very best, guys and we all are again extremely sorry for your inconvenience," the same senior who had announced earlier about the news regarding the orientation, again came on the stage which was constructed in the midst of their vast college, announced, giving away a piece of happy news to all the freshers who too didn't want to attend this orientation program anymore.

"Yayy, finally, let's walk back to our dorms now," Arvika fake-cheered at the senior, grabbing the attention of a few of the other students who too were relaxed after hearing this news. They chuckled at her and eventually, all the freshers scattered to the different-different corners of the college, some ready to go to the renowned malls of Delhi, some to the palatial and grand library of their esteemed college and some like the author and Arvika to their dorms, to doze off in the midst of the afternoon with AC on full blast.

"Finally, I can take a nap," Kavya too yawned, after being pulled by her best friend towards their hostel where awaited their comfy bed and snuggly pillows with 'Bepanah pyaar hai aaja' playing in the back of her head, sung by her lovely bed and pillow.

****

Early in the morning, the artistic golden sun got up like a baby and started painting the dark black sky into a bright blue one. The bright looking milky clouds got up from their slumber too and started traveling around the sky visiting the wonderful environment, with the sweet & melodious chirping of the birds in the background.

A new day, with new challenges and new hopes!

Arvika was still snoring along with Kavya as last night they had a movie marathon which lasted till 3 am, and that was, of course, Kavya's idea as she suddenly had a craving to watch all of the movies of Ranveer Singh, her favorite actor and Arvika had to give company to her as she couldn't decline her best friend's puppy eyes that she was so proficient and expert at making.

But their siesta was broken shortly as the ringing of the mobile phone snatched away all their relaxation and tardiness, leaving both of them wholly frustrated and irked.

"Man, Arvika, who's calling this early in the morning?" Kavya opened her one eye after keeping a cushion on her ears, not liking the ringtone of her friend which also happened to be her favorite song, 'Love story' of Taylor Swift which was saved by none other than her only on Arvika's mobile phone. In the early morning, when you are sleeping, even the most favorite song of yours sounds the worst of all, Kavya concluded, closing her eyes in drowsiness.

"How would I know, let me check," Arvika got near her study table where she had put her phone last night. An unknown number was calling her, she blurrily saw with her foggy vision as her eyes were still contracted because of being abruptly awakened like that.

"Attend it already," from the right side of Arvika, Kavya shouted out again in annoyance. She totally disliked being awakened like this.

"Hello," Arvika groggily answered, stifling a yawn that was escaping her mouth.

"Hello, is this Tapu Ke papa, speaking?" a male voice asked from the other end, chuckling in between. So, this was a prank call, and that too early in the morning, how dare that dimwit called her, Arvika swore under her breath.

(Tapu ke papa is a famous, fictional TV character of a very famous Indian comedy show, Tarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma)

"Yes, yes, I am Tapu Ke papa only, I suddenly turned to a girl overnight, by the way, go to hell and never come back," Arvika's nostrils flared in anger, seeing the impudence of this man who had dared to call her at this ungodly hour for night owls like her and Kavya, for just doing a prank on her. After blocking the particular number, she turned her phone to airplane mode and slept again, cursing the person who had disturbed her beauty sleep.

After a few hours, finally both the girls woke up as at sharp nine their first-lecture would also start for which they had to get ready and that too, immediately. Fortunately, the washroom was built inside each dorm of the girls' hostel, otherwise shared washrooms are a pain in the wrong place where even after waiting for hours, your chance would come or not has no guarantee.

After getting ready in proper clothes, both Kavya & Arvika were ready to leave their room when Arvika received a call again on her phone and that too from an unknown number. Anger was rising within her but anyhow she controlled that and picked the call, ready for the lashing that she'd throw at that prankster if it's him, again.

"Hello, am I talking to Miss Arvika Arya?" instead of some funny prankster-perfect voice, she heard a heavy and bossy male voice from the other end, which had made all her confidence run into drain, fearing the professionalism with which he had asked her like he was some police inspector or something.

"Yes, I am Arvika Arya," she replied in a little timid manner, unaware of the person whose voice was too deep and heavy.

"Actually, I'm Manoj Parihar, talking from the administration office of Indian Institute of Engineering & Technology, Delhi. I have called you so as to discuss your scholarship details which you've gotten through PM Modi's program 'Udaan', you need to sign on some of the documents before it is finally submitted at the centre of the chamber," the man consecutively disclosed about the real reason behind his call and Arvika sighed in relief, so it wasn't anything drastic, phew!

(Udaan is a real program developed under the Modi govt for encouraging girl's participation in the field of engineering & technology)

"Yes sir, sure, at what time should I come?" she asked him, now in a confident tone.

"The earlier it is done, the best it is, so come in the Admin block of our college around nine only," the official finally ended in a professional tone, leaving a worried Arvika behind as her first class too was going to start at nine. Involuntarily she had agreed upon the meeting at nine, so silly of her, she didn't even think of her class.

"Kavya, you go to class, I've some pending work in admin block after which I'll directly come to our classroom," although Kavya was adamant to accompany Arvika to the admin block the latter didn't want the former to miss her class because of her personal work.

"No, you go to the classroom, I will come shortly," with a lot of pushes Kavya agreed and both separated their ways, one to the admin block and another to the new classroom that anticipated for her.

Kavya was a little late when she entered her classroom after asking a shy 'May I come in?' to a bunch of fully-grown, handsome boys along with some of the beautiful girls who were standing in front of the whole class on the little elevated stage which was meant for the professors to deliver their boring lectures, interacting with the other students of her class. Suddenly she felt so exposed, inferior, and of course, the centre of attraction for all now, as she was the only one who was this late! God, why me, she mumbled to herself and like a meek mouse, sat on the front row, not wanting to grab more attention which already she had of the whole class as well as the seniors.

"So, miss latecomer, may I know why are you so late?" a girl asked Kavya in a little bossy tone which scared her more, looking at the way she was busy in glaring at her. All the freshers too were witnessing the scene with their mouth agape, fearing if they'd be ragged like this too.

"Sam, let it be, it's her first day, don't scare the kid," another voice interrupted, giving a slight smile to the totally terrified Kavya who was waiting for the worst.

"Chill girl, I am not going to eat you," Sam, the so-called senior replied back nonchalantly, flipping her hair attitudinally.

"So, where were we, yes, so guys, we are basically here for interacting with you all, I know you all might have already framed a thought of us as some big ragging party or something, but we are not like that, we are anything but the ragging dudes except for few, we just want an amicable interaction with you all, so shall we start?" Rahul, one of the senior cheered in a happy tone, not wanting to have a negative image in front of these freshers.

"Man, we cannot start until he's here, let him come first," Sam spoke out in a whisper, with her right hand relaxing on the podium.

"Till then, we all can at least introduce ourselves," Prateek spoke out, coming in front with a mike in his hands.

"Hey, guys! I'm Prateek Bansal, currently, in the third year of my engineering in the Civil department. I am basically the head of the sports club of our, hey, our president has come, everyone, please stand up," with a lot of respect, Prateek ended his introduction in the mid only, as he saw his president coming inside the classroom.

Each of the fresher was awestruck at this senior who looked nowhere near to a student but the CEO of some big company as the way he was carrying himself it was shouting out loudly in big capital letters that 'YES, I AM THE BOSS'. The freshers gaze never left him and his astounding & classy demeanour. His fitted navy blue formal shirt was showcasing his perfectly sculpted abs, making the girls lick their lips at this Greek god-like man who was too handsome to be true.

Along with the president, some of the executive members too had come behind him, beaming at the two hundred plus attendee of this introductory session which included both the freshers as well as the seniors, but no one paid any heed to them as all the curious eyes were fixed at one person only.

"Good morning, sir," Prateek wished his senior in a polite manner who nodded at him in acknowledgment. And then, Prateek immediately went near the door and latched it, as they didn't want any other latecomer as a very interesting introductory session was going to start between the seniors and the juniors.

With just a single gesture of his hand, the president made the freshers sit on their respective desks.

"So, how are you all?" the president took the mike in his hand, smiling at the intoxicated girls who were already fangirling over the handsome hunk who was no less than a specimen model you see in the big fashion magazines. He had the kind of face that stopped you in your tracks, gawking at him again and again, with a height of 6'2 he stood handsomely, and of course the dimpled smile of his which were already killing the young girls of just eighteen!

"Gooooooooood," the girls' audience prolonged the word, looking at him dreamily while the boys' audience had already got their idol, desiring and wishing to be like him.

The exhilarated response of the girls made him chuckle, and his fully grown dimples were on full-show on his slightly bearded cheeks, making the girls go all 'aww' over him.

"So, I'm.." before he could've introduced himself, a knock on the wooden door, disturbed everyone, creating noises like 'ohs' and 's**ts' in the background.

Girls started cursing whoever this person was behind the knocking as they were impatiently anticipating for this handsome's name to be disclosed to them which had been delayed by the knock on the door. Crap!

"I'll see who's there," the president declared and moved towards the door in a little anger and irk because of the disturbance caused by the intruder. He unlatched the hinges in a jiffy and opened the door with a little irritation, and then his eyes landed on the intruder. What he saw was something he hadn't even expected to see, something so surreal yet so unbelieving which felt like a dream to him, a very hopeful dream which was too incredible to be true.

His every irritation flew out the window, his all anger died down the ground, with another deeply-rooted and forgotten emotion surfacing his heart again, after many years.

~**•°•**~

3600 words, phew!

And here I presented you the most awaiting chapter of this novel!

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