"A good friend listens to your adventures. Your best friend makes them with you." - Unknown

THE college canteen buzzed with the usual chatter of students, the clatter of trays, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the scent of fried snacks. The space was packed, but Sana, Julia, Siya, and Sidharth managed to find a cozy corner by the large windows, overlooking the sprawling green lawns of St. Merry College.

The table was covered with plates of samosas, sandwiches, and steaming cups of chai. Sana took a bite of her sandwich, smiling at her new friends. "This place is always so crowded," she noted, looking around. "But it's got a nice vibe."

"Yeah, it's like the heart of the college," Siya agreed, reaching for a samosa. "Everyone hangs out here between classes. It's where all the real college gossip happens."

Julia chuckled, leaning back in her chair. "Well, I guess we're part of the scene now."

Sana grinned. "Definitely. So, let's get to know each other better." She glanced at Siya and Sidharth, who were sitting close, almost shoulder to shoulder. "Where are you guys from originally?"

Siya smiled warmly. "My family's from Mumbai. My father's family has been here for generations. But my Mom's family belongs from Punjab. My parents are into business-well, my dad mostly. My mom used to work under him before she decided to focus on the family."

Sidharth leaned back in his chair, giving a lazy nod. "Same here. Born and raised in Mumbai."

Sana nodded, then decided to share her own story. "My family's originally from Goa," she began, catching the interest of everyone at the table. "So is Julia's. Our dads were business partners and close friends, so we grew up next to each other."

Julia jumped in, grinning. "Yeah, we were neighbors, and our families moved to Mumbai when we were about three. We've done everything together since then-kindergarten, school, high school, and now college."

"That's so cool," Siya said, genuinely impressed. "You two must have a lot of stories."

Sana laughed, exchanging a knowing look with Julia. "Oh, we do. Like this one time in high school-"

Julia interrupted, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Sana dared me to sneak into the principal's office during recess. We were supposed to leave a note on his desk, but we got caught halfway in, stuck in the window."

Everyone burst out laughing, and Sidharth shook his head, grinning. "Sounds like you two were quite the troublemakers."

"Oh, we were," Sana said, still laughing. "But it was always fun. And we never got into too much trouble... usually."

"Wow, that's incredible," Sidharth said, leaning back in his chair. "You guys must have some pretty epic friendship stories."

Julia grinned, "Oh, we do! Like the time we sneaked into the school after hours to 'rescue' our project that we forgot to submit."

Siya laughed, "Did you get caught?"

"Oh, we did," Sana said, shaking her head. "By the janitor. We had to clean the entire corridor to avoid detention."

The group burst into laughter, and the stories continued.

Siya giggled. "I can't imagine doing something like that. Ram would have killed me."

"Ram's her guardian angel," Sidharth teased, his tone affectionate but playful. "Always hovering around, making sure she doesn't get into any mischief."

Siya rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "He's just protective. We've been friends since... well, since before I was born, really."

"Wait, what?" Julia asked, in surprise.

Sana raised an eyebrow. "How does that work?"

Sidharth made a face, clearly expecting what was coming. "Oh, here we go again," he muttered.

Ignoring him, Siya continued, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Our parents are business partners, just like Sana's and Julia's. Ram's family and mine have been close for ages. So, when my mom was pregnant with me, and Ram's mom used to bring him along whenever she visited. They'd talk about how we'd be friends, and somehow, it just happened. We grew up together."

Sana and Julia exchanged glances, clearly impressed. "That's... kind of amazing, and sweet story to tell." Sana said. "You've known each other forever."

"Exactly," Siya replied, a hint of pride in her voice. "And then when I was born, Ram became my best friend and somewhere an older brother-though we're not related at all. He's always been there for me."

"But you're not just like siblings, though, are you?" Julia teased, glancing at Sidharth, who was now looking decidedly unimpressed.

"No," Siya admitted, laughing. "We're definitely not. But it's hard for Ram sometimes, I think. He's still overprotective, and I love him for it. But he and Sid here..." She trailed off, smirking as Sidharth made another face. "They don't always see eye to eye."

"I'm just saying," Sidharth interjected, his tone mock serious, "Ram can be a bit much sometimes. He acts like I'm the bad influence."

"That's because you are," Siya teased, poking his side playfully.

The group erupted in laughter, and Sidharth shook his head, trying to maintain a straight face. "Okay, maybe I am, but he's still way too protective."

Sana, who had been watching their playful banter with a smile, suddenly asked, "Isn't that a little toxic, though? I mean, being too possessive?"

Sidharth looked at her, then shrugged casually. "Maybe. But I love that about Siya. She's the same way with me, you know. Obsessed, even." He gave Siya a playful nudge, earning a mock glare from her.

"Obsessed?" Sana echoed, raising an eyebrow.

Siya laughed, nodding. "Yeah, okay, I might be a little obsessed. But it's not a bad thing. It's just... we're close, you know? We've been through a lot together."

"And trust me," Sidharth added, leaning in, "if you think I'm possessive, you should meet Siya's parents. Especially her dad, Mr. Shukla. He's obsessed with Siya's mom. He calls her his Princess."

Siya blushed slightly but nodded, smiling. "It's true. My dad absolutely dotes on my mom. They're like, inseparable."

Julia's eyes widened. "Wow, that sounds incredible. I'd love to meet them someday."

"Me too," Sana added. "They sound like they have a great relationship and epic love story to tell."

Siya beamed, clearly pleased. "You should! They do have an epic love story. Hey! Why don't you both come over this weekend? We're having a small get-together at my place. You can meet my parents, and Ram will probably be there too."

Sidharth groaned playfully, rolling his eyes. "Great, more time with Ram."

The table erupted into laughter again, and Sana found herself genuinely enjoying the company of her new friends. Despite the teasing, it was clear how close they all were, and she was starting to feel like part of the group.

"Sounds like a plan," Sana said, smiling. "We'd love to come."

"Absolutely," Julia agreed. "Can't wait to meet the famous Mr. and Mrs. Shukla."

"Just wait until you see how my dad fawns over my mom," Siya said with a grin. "It's a bit embarrassing, but also kind of sweet."

Sidharth leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. "It's definitely something."

The conversation flowed easily after that, with everyone sharing more about their lives, laughing over silly stories, and making plans for the weekend. The canteen around them buzzed with life, but for Sana, this little corner of the college felt like the perfect place to start new friendships and build new memories.

As the group finished their food and started gathering their things, ready to head out, Sana glanced around the table, feeling a warmth in her chest. This was what she'd been hoping for when she started at St. Merry-a fresh start, with new friends who felt like family.

"Ready to head out?" Siya asked, standing up and stretching.

"Yeah," Sidharth said, pulling Siya closer and placing a quick kiss on her temple. "Let's go before Ram shows up and decides I'm not allowed to walk you to your next class."

The group laughed again, the easy camaraderie lifting their spirits as they made their way out of the canteen and into the bustling hallways of St. Merry, ready to face whatever the rest of the day would bring.

As they reached the parking area outside the college, Siya and her boyfriend Sidharth bid goodbye to the group and got into his car. The engine roared to life, and within moments, they were speeding away.

Sana and Julia turned toward their Scooty, ready to head home as well. But as they approached, they noticed a group of guys laughing and chatting near their bikes.

It was Sidharth and his gang-Kartik, Karan, Akhil, Ranveer, Surya, and the only girl in the group, Payel. They looked like a pack of hyenas-

Sana mentally dubbed them "The Hyena Squad."

Sana let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes as she spotted Sidharth in the middle of the group. Determined to ignore them, she focused on unlocking her Scooty, but her hopes of avoiding a confrontation were dashed when she heard his voice.

"Baby girl," Sidharth called out, a mocking smile playing on his lips as he approached her.

Sana gritted her teeth, refusing to look at him. "Don't call me that," she said firmly.

"That? What's that?" he asked, feigning innocence, which only pissed her off more.

"You know what," she shot back, finally turning to face him, her irritation clear in her eyes.

Sidharth smirked, loving the way he was getting under her skin. "Say the word, Baby girl," he challenged, his tone dripping with amusement.

"Fuck, this guy," she muttered under her breath, her voice low but loud enough for him to hear.

A sinister smile curled on his lips as he stepped closer, his breath hot against her ear. Sana's heart raced, her breath hitching at his sudden proximity. The scent of him was annoyingly intoxicating, and she mentally scolded herself for reacting to him.

"I would love that, Baby girl," he whispered, his voice low and teasing before stepping back.

Sana snapped out of her trance, her anger boiling over as she glared at him. How could she let herself be affected by this arrogant jerk?

"I'd rather die than let you touch me," she spat, her voice filled with venom.

"Oh, you wound me," he mocked, placing a hand over his heart theatrically. "But don't worry, Baby girl, I'm not giving up on you that easily."

"Why don't you go bother someone else?" Julia chimed in, her voice laced with disgust.

Sidharth shot her a sideways glance, barely acknowledging her presence before turning his attention back to Sana. "Why would I, when this is so much fun?"

"Fun?" Sana repeated, her voice incredulous. "You think harassing people is fun?"

"Only when it's you," he retorted with a smirk, clearly enjoying the banter.

Sana clenched her fists, her knuckles turning white as she fought to keep her cool. "You're pathetic."

"And you're beautiful when you're mad," he replied smoothly, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Sana's face burned with a mix of anger and unexpected flattery, though she would never admit it. "I'm done with this," she said, turning on her heel and marching towards her Scooty.

"See you around, Baby girl," Sidharth called after her, his voice filled with amusement as he watched her walk away.

As Sana and Julia rode off, the Hyena Squad erupted in laughter, their voices echoing in the parking lot.

But Sidharth stood there, his smirk slowly fading as he watched Sana disappear from view. Despite all the bravado and mocking, there was something about her that he couldn't shake. Her fire, her defiance, her beauty-it all consumed his thoughts.

"What's up, man?" Kartik asked, noticing his friend's change in demeanor.

"Yeah, you seem lost in thought," Karan added, exchanging a look with the others.

Sidharth snapped out of his reverie, quickly masking his thoughts with his usual arrogance. "Nothing, just thinking about our next move," he said nonchalantly.

"Ragging more freshers?" Akhil suggested with a grin.

"Why not?" Sidharth replied, though his mind was still on Sana.

As the group mounted their bikes and revved their engines, Sidharth couldn't help but glance one last time in the direction Sana had gone. She was fierce, sassy, and beautiful-everything he found intriguing. But there was one problem: she was also annoyingly unforgettable.

"Let's go," he said, leading the group out of the parking lot, the roar of their bikes drowning out the thoughts swirling in his head.

Sana D'Souza had left an impression on him, and he wasn't sure if he liked it or not. But one thing was certain-this was far from over.

Later in the afternoon, Sana lay sprawled across her bed, the soft glow of her bedside lamp casting a warm light over her room. Her diary lay open in front of her, the pages still blank, waiting to be filled with the thoughts swirling in her mind. She took a deep breath, twirling the pen between her fingers as she gathered her thoughts. Finally, she pressed the pen to the paper, the words flowing out of her.

Dear Diary,

Today was... eventful, to say the least. I can't believe how much has happened in just one day. I started a new chapter of my life at St. Merry College, and already, I've made some new daily friends-Siya, Sidharth Kapoor, and Ram. Siya is sweet, and I can tell she genuinely cares about her friends. And her boyfriend, Sidharth-he seems nice, a little serious, maybe, but they're cute together. And then there's Ram. He's got this big-brother vibe that makes you feel safe, even though I just met him today. I feel like I've known them forever.

Sana paused, her pen hovering over the page as her mind drifted to Sidharth. Her jaw clenched slightly as she thought about him, the way he had marched up to her in the parking lot, his friends following him like a pack of obedient dogs.

But then there's him-Sidharth Vyas. The so-called king of the college. The guy is infuriating! I've never met someone so arrogant, so full of himself. The way he smirked at me today, like he knows he can get under my skin... well, he succeeded. I hate to admit it, but he did. He's always there, pushing my buttons, making my blood boil. And that stupid nickname, 'Baby girl.' What does he think this is, some cheesy movie? Ugh, he's so irritating.

She sighed, dropping her pen momentarily as she tried to calm the frustration bubbling inside her. But there was something else beneath the irritation-something she wasn't ready to fully acknowledge.

But the worst part is... I let him get to me. I hate that. I hate that I felt something when he got close, when he whispered in my ear. My heart actually skipped a beat, and it pissed me off. I can't let someone like him affect me. He's everything I despise-spoiled, arrogant, and just... ugh! Why does he have to be so... so...

She trailed off, the words escaping her as she struggled to describe the feeling. It wasn't just anger. It was something more complicated, something that made her skin tingle when she thought about him. But no, she wasn't going to give in to whatever this was. She was stronger than that.

Anyway, enough about him. I don't want to waste any more ink on that jerk. I need to focus on the good things, like my new friends. Siya invited me and Julia to her place this weekend to meet her family. I'm actually looking forward to it. It'll be nice to spend time with them outside of college, to get to know them better. Plus, it'll be good to take my mind off things.

But I can't shake the feeling that Sidharth Vyas is going to be a problem. He's too used to getting what he wants, and I refuse to be one of those things. I just hope I can keep my cool around him because I have a feeling this won't be the last time we clash. Whatever happens, I'm not backing down. I've dealt with worse before, and I'll deal with him too.

She closed her diary with a determined snap, feeling a bit more at ease or at least as at ease as she could be after the day she'd had. Dropping her diary onto the bedside table, she sighed and turned off the lamp, plunging the room into darkness. She knew she had to be strong, to keep her guard up. But as she closed her eyes, she couldn't help but wonder what the next day would bring-and how she would handle it.

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