"From ancient tales to modern narratives, the novel has evolved alongside humanity itself. It continues to capture our realities, challenge our perspectives, and remind us that stories - no matter the era - are what connect us all."

For a brief moment, the room fell completely silent. Not awkwardly so, but in a way that felt... settled. As if something had quietly shifted without needing to be acknowledged.

The applause that followed was simple and genuine. Nothing exaggerated, nothing forced. Just enough to remind me that things were... normal again.

As they stepped down from the front, Hridayansh let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. The tension that had been sitting at the back of his mind for days had finally begun to dissolve.

"That went well," he said, glancing at Ipsita.

"It did," she replied, just as calmly.

For a moment, they stood there without speaking. There was no need to fill the silence. It wasn't heavy or awkward. It was just... quiet.

Comfortable in a way no one could quite explain.

"Hey," Hridayansh said after a pause.

She turned back to look at him.

"Thanks."

He didn't specify what for. He didn't need to. Something told him she understood anyway.

She didn't ask, didn't question it. Instead, she gave a small, almost unreadable smile and said, "It was really a good experience working with you."

He smiled. Genuinely.

It feels amazing to know someone liked your company.

He thought.

After all the presentations, students retreated back to their classroom.

As it was the lunch break, some students stayed back in the class while some went down for a walk around the campus.

Hridayansh sat on his seat in the classroom, texting his brother for a while. His friends had told him earlier that they'll be going to the canteen all together.

He opened his bag and was about to put in his diary and phone, when he realized he still had Ipsita's pen...

He turned around instantly.

Ipsita was already upstairs to meet Siddharth.

He decided to give it to her when she returned.

"Hridayansh, how long?" Revant stood on the door, waiting for him to come outside.

"Just a minute," he answered, packing his bag neatly and keeping it on his seat. He fished the pen into his pocket and left the class.

The corridors carried a kind of warmth that afternoon, as though the building itself had exhaled after holding its breath for far too long.

Conversations overlapped without restraint, laughter rang out freely, and footsteps created a steady rhythm that echoed through the space.

It was the same everyday chaos, but stripped of the unease that had once lingered beneath it.

Hridayansh walked through it all with an unfamiliar sense of ease, his pace unhurried, his shoulders no longer tense.

Beside him, Revant carried his usual energy, hands casually tucked into his pockets, his presence as loud and effortless as ever.

He said something - half a complaint, half a tease - but Hridayansh only responded faintly, his attention drifting more toward the atmosphere than the words.

And then, without warning, the moment broke.

There was a sudden collision.

Sharp enough to interrupt the rhythm of movement, but not loud enough to draw a crowd.

Books shifted abruptly in someone's arms, a soft gasp slipped into the air, and for a fraction of a second, everything around them seemed to slow.

Taarini steadied herself almost immediately, her fingers tightening around the books she held as she regained her balance. A strand of hair had fallen loose near her face, and she brushed it back with quiet precision before looking up.

Her expression was composed and controlled, but the slight flicker of irritation in her eyes was unmistakable.

"I'm sorry," she said, her voice soft and small but firm, directed more out of habit than emotion.

Revant, who had taken a step back from the impact, blinked once before recovering. And then, almost instinctively, his expression shifted.

The brief surprise melted into something far more familiar - amusement, interest, a spark that appeared far too easily.

For a moment, he simply looked at her.

Not rudely, not openly intrusive. But long enough to be noticeable.

And then he smiled.

Not the casual kind. The kind that lingered. The kind that carried intention.

"That," he said lightly, brushing his sleeve as though the collision had been more dramatic than it was, "was unexpected."

Taarini's brows drew together ever so slightly, her irritation sharpening rather than fading. She adjusted the books in her hands, her posture straightening, her composure settling back into place like something carefully maintained.

"It was an accident," she replied, her tone even, though a trace of impatience slipped through. "It happens."

Revant tilted his head slightly, as if considering her words, though the faint curve of his lips suggested he wasn't taking them at face value.

There was something effortless in the way he carried himself, something that refused to take situations at their simplest.

"Accidents," he repeated, almost thoughtfully. "Interesting way to describe first meetings."

That did it.

Taarini's expression didn't change dramatically, but something about it cooled. The softness in her features gave way to quiet restraint, her gaze steady, assessing, entirely unimpressed.

"I don't see a reason to make it more than that," she said.

There was no sharpness in her tone, no raised voice. Just a calm finality that left no room for interpretation.

For a brief second, Revant held her gaze, as though deciding whether to push further. But instead, his smile shifted - less playful now, more intrigued, as if he had just encountered something he didn't quite expect.

"Fair enough," he said, stepping aside just enough to clear her path. "We'll keep it simple."

She didn't respond to that. But passed a small nod that was more acknowledgment than courtesy.

Hridayansh could very well see the irritation in her eyes and tone. He couldn't come up with any excuse to take Revant away from the scene and apologize Taarini.

But then-

It clicked him.

Taarini is Ipsita's friend.

"Hey, you're Ipsita's friend, right?"

Taarini's eyes shifted from Revant to Hridayansh. She stared at him for a good five seconds and hummed lightly.

"I'm Hridayansh. Actually..."

Hridayansh spoke and put his hands inside his right pocket and handed the pen over to Taarini, "Ipsita forgot her pen in the presentation today..."

"No problem, I'll give this to her," she said, taking the pen from him and shot one last glare at Revant.

She moved past them, her steps measured, her posture unchanged.

Within seconds, she had blended back into the moving crowd, her presence dissolving into the corridor as seamlessly as it had appeared.

Revant turned slightly, his eyes following her for a moment longer than necessary.

There was no attempt to hide it, no effort to pretend disinterest. If anything, the quiet focus in his gaze only deepened, as though the brief exchange had left behind more curiosity than it should have.

Hridayansh, who had witnessed the entire interaction, let out a quiet breath, already knowing what was coming next.

"Don't," he said, his voice low but certain.

Revant glanced at him, the hint of a grin returning, slow and unmistakable.

"Don't what?"

Hridayansh didn't bother looking at him this time. "Whatever you're thinking."

There was a pause. Deliberate.
Then Revant let out a soft chuckle, his gaze drifting once more in the direction Taarini had disappeared.

"Too late," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

And with that, the moment slipped away, absorbed back into the life of the corridor. Voices rose again, footsteps continued, and the sunlight stretched undisturbed across the floor as if nothing had happened at all.

But something had.

Even if neither of them said it out loud.

The canteen carried its usual midday chaos, but today it felt lighter, almost effortless. The clatter of plates, the hum of overlapping conversations, the occasional burst of laughter - it all blended into a rhythm that felt familiar, comforting even. Sunlight streamed in through the open windows, catching on steel tables and half-filled glasses, giving everything a soft, lived-in glow.

Ipsita sat at one of the corner tables with Lavanya, absentmindedly stirring her cold coffee while listening to something Lavanya was saying. Or at least, pretending to listen.

Her mind, for reasons she refused to acknowledge, had been unusually restless since the presentation.

"Excuse me."

Taarini's voice slipped in, calm as ever, though there was something slightly sharper beneath it today.

Ipsita looked up.

And immediately noticed the pen in her hand.

"You forgot this," Taarini said, placing it on the table.

Ipsita blinked. "Oh."

A pause.

Then, "Right. Thanks."

But she didn't miss it - the way Taarini didn't sit down immediately. The way she adjusted her dupatta, her expression carrying something between irritation and disbelief.

Lavanya noticed it too.

"Oh ho," she leaned forward slightly, eyes narrowing in curiosity, "What happened?"

Taarini finally sat down, placing her books neatly on the table before letting out a small breath.

"I just ran into your friend," she said, glancing at Ipsita.

Ipsita frowned faintly. "Which one?"

Taarini didn't answer immediately.

Instead, she looked at Lavanya.

Then back at Ipsita.

"Your presentation partner's friend" she said.

"Thinks he's some hero and everything is a movie scene," she muttered under her breath as if it is a curse.

Ipsita looked up instantly.

"Hridayansh friend? The one who's wearing navy blue today?" she guessed, already half-laughing.

Taarini's expression didn't change.
"Yes," she said flatly. "That one."

Ipsita pressed her lips together, already sensing where this was going.
Lavanya, however, leaned back in her chair like she had just been handed entertainment for the next ten minutes.

"What did he do?"

Taarini straightened slightly, her tone controlled, but her irritation now unmistakable.

"He bumped into me. Which was fine. It happens," she began.

"Then he decided it was... a 'moment'."

Lavanya let out a laugh. Ipsita looked down, hiding the faint smile threatening to appear.

"He said it was fate," Taarini added, her brows knitting together just slightly, as if she still couldn't believe it.

That was it.

Lavanya burst out laughing.
"I'm not even surprised," she said between breaths. "That sounds exactly like a lovesick puppy."

"It was unnecessary," Taarini said firmly. "Completely unnecessary."

"Of course it was," Lavanya nodded, still amused.

Ipsita finally looked up, her expression calmer and softer. But there was a glint of mischief in her eyes now.

"So?" she asked lightly. "What did you say?"

Taarini gave her a look.
"The obvious thing."

Lavanya leaned in. "Which is?"

"That it was an accident. And it should stay that way."

Lavanya placed a hand dramatically over her heart.

"Ouch," she said. "You rejected his entire personality in one sentence."

Ipsita let out a quiet laugh this time, shaking her head.

"Taarini, you could've at least let him finish his dialogue."

"I had no interest in hearing more," Taarini replied, though there was the faintest hint of defensiveness in her tone now.

Lavanya's eyes narrowed playfully.
"Or maybe you did... and that's why you're annoyed."

Taarini shot her a look.
"I am not annoyed."

"You are," Ipsita said calmly, picking up her pen and twirling it between her fingers. "You're just trying not to be."

For a moment, Taarini didn't respond. Which, in itself, was an answer.

Before the conversation could go any further, a shift in the atmosphere made Ipsita glance toward the entrance of the canteen.

Three familiar figures had just walked in.

Hridayansh.
Karthik.
And, of course -
Revant.

Lavanya noticed it instantly.
"Oh look," she murmured under her breath, a grin forming, "Your 'accident' in navy blue just walked in."

Taarini didn't turn immediately, which only made it more obvious.

On the other side, Revant had already spotted them.

His expression changed almost immediately - interest sharpening, amusement returning, as if the universe had just handed him a second chance.

"Canteen vibe just got better," he muttered, nudging Karthik lightly.
Hridayansh followed his gaze. And then paused.

At Ipsita.
Lavanya.
And -
Taarini.

There was a brief moment of hesitation. Subtle. Barely noticeable.

Then Karthik, completely unaware of the undercurrents, said casually, "Let's sit there."

"No," Hridayansh said a little too quickly.

Both of them looked at him.

Revant smirked.

"Too late," he said, already walking ahead.

Back at the table, Lavanya straightened slightly, clearly enjoying this far more than she should. Ipsita remained composed, though her fingers had stilled around the pen.

Taarini, on the other hand, finally turned.

And froze. Just for a second.
Because Revant was already standing right there.

"Well," he said, that same effortless grin back in place, "this is... familiar."
Taarini's expression turned flat instantly.

"Coincidence," she said.

Revant tilted his head slightly.
"Hmm. I prefer destiny."

"Sit down," Karthik muttered under his breath, already pulling a chair.

Hridayansh, meanwhile, avoided looking directly at Ipsita for a moment longer than necessary before finally sitting down across from her table.

There was a strange kind of awareness in the air now. Subtle and unspoken.

Lavanya and Ipsita secretly looked at each other. They wanted the same thing.

Taarini and Revant. Together.

They'd already imagined them together. As a couple.

And hence, both the girls wanted Taarini to sit with Revant. Even at the cost of both of them sitting with the other two boys too.

The canteen was crowded, more than usual. It was almost impossible to find an empty table.

And this one thing worked to the girls' advantage.

Splash.

Water spilled around the whole table.
The moment hung there - fragile, uncertain - like something waiting to either settle or shatter.

Ipsita felt it before anyone said anything.

That strange, almost electric stillness at the table. The way Lavanya was barely holding back a grin, the way Taarini sat a little too straight, and the way Hridayansh hadn't quite looked at her properly yet.

And then-
she moved.

It was subtle. Almost unnoticeable.
Her fingers reached for the steel glass placed near her elbow, as if out of habit. But the movement was just slightly off-just enough for the glass to tilt.

And in the next second, water spilled smooth, uninterrupted stream, gliding across the metal surface before spreading outward in thin, wandering trails.

It wasn't dramatic as their plan. But a quiet, steady stream of water spreading across the table, slipping under notebooks, touching the edge of Lavanya's sleeve, creeping dangerously close to Taarini's bag.

"Oh - " Lavanya jerked and pulled her hand back instantly. "Ipsita!"

"I'm so sorry," Ipsita said quickly, though her voice remained far calmer than the situation demanded. She grabbed a handful of tissues, pressing them against the spreading water, trying to contain it, but the table was already a mess.

Taarini lifted her bag just in time, her brows furrowing slightly.

"This is exactly why you don't keep glasses this close," she murmured, though her tone held more observation than blame.

Across the table, Revant had leaned back in his chair, one arm casually draped over the backrest, watching the entire situation with undisguised amusement.

His gaze moved from the spilled water to Ipsita, then briefly to Taarini, as if piecing something together that entertained him far more than it should.

Beside him, Karthik shook his head, already half-smiling at the scene.
Hridayansh had already stood up, pulling a few extra tissues from a nearby counter without saying a word. He placed them near her hand, his movements quiet, almost instinctive.

For a brief second, their fingers almost brushed. But neither of them acknowledged it.

Within moments, it became obvious. The table was unusable.

Bags slightly damp, tissues scattered, water refusing to stay contained.
Lavanya leaned back, surveying the situation with exaggerated seriousness.

"Well," she declared, "this table is officially out of service."

Taarini glanced around the canteen.
Every table was occupied. Every single one.

Lavanya followed her gaze.
And then smiled slowly. Knowingly.
"Oh," she said, far too innocently, "looks like we don't have many options."

Ipsita didn't need to look to know where she was looking.
She already knew.

Revant caught on instantly.
"Convenient," he said under his breath, though his grin widened and there was nothing subtle about the way he said it.

Karthik, who was completely unaware of the internal details, offered, "Y'all can come sit with us."

There was a small brief pause.
Taarini hesitated.

But Ipsita and Lavanya didn't.

"Fine," Ipsita said simply, gathering her things with calm precision, as if this had been the most natural outcome all along.

Lavanya followed immediately, clearly enjoying the situation far too much.

Taarini took a second longer. But eventually stood as well.

The shift from one table to another felt strangely significant. Not because of the distance. But because of everything it carried with it.

For Lavanya. And maybe for Ipsita too.

They settled into the boys' table, chairs scraping lightly against the floor as space was adjusted.

Revant leaned back slightly, watching Taarini as she sat down across from him.

"Careful," he said casually, "there are no water hazards on this side."

Taarini didn't even look up.

"Good," she replied. "Let's keep it that way."

Karthik snorted softly, already amused. Lavanya bit her lip, trying not to laugh. Hridayansh sat across from Ipsita again.

But this time, closer.

There was no table separating them by distance anymore - just a few inches of space and a silence that felt... different.

Not awkward. Just aware.

Ipsita placed her pen down on the table, her fingers lingering on it for a second before pulling away.

For a moment, she looked up. Their eyes met. It wasn't long and intense.
But it was enough.

She looked away first.

Around them, the canteen carried on as if nothing had changed - voices rising, laughter echoing, golden hues of sunlight stretching lazily across the place.

But at that table?

Something had.

Not loudly or dramatically like a public announcement.

But quietly, steadily.

And undeniably.

It was the very first time all six of us sitting together.

I only knew Hridayansh and Revant well, because they are in my class.

Lavanya once mentioned that she knew Karthik as they studied in the same school. She even revealed to us that she had a huge crush on Karthik but eventually came to know he was already in a relationship.

Currently, she has no idea if he's still in the same relationship.

And now she, too, has moved on from him.

They do talk casually, sometimes, as they'd shared the same school.

The tension building in our table wasn't something Lavanya and I wanted.

It was getting... awkward.

I kept glancing between Lavanya and then at the boys.

All of us fell silent, except the few murmurs and whispers taking place between the boys.

Before it gets more awkward and more like a negative experience sitting all together, I decided to speak up.

"Though, some of you might be knowing each other," I started, my voice uneven yet firm.

"Let's have an official introduction."
I looked instantly towards Lavanya for response. Taarini, as expected, was busy in glaring Revant. She might have barely registered my words.

Lavanya looked as clueless as hell. I can read through her expressions how badly she wanted to say that this wasn't in the script.

Luckily, Hridayansh seemed to understand what I meant and leaned forward just a bit.

"So, hello everyone. I'm Hridayansh Pradhan from Science stream."

"I'm Karthik Sahu from commerce."

We acknowledged both of their responses and turned our heads to Revant for his introduction.

Unexpectedly, (expected by the boys) he was smiling liking some joker and completely zoned out.

Karthik, who was sitting beside him, swiftly poked his leg under the table.
"Haan, haan, jiba na raatire gupchup khaaibaaku," he blurted out, trying to come back to reality.

("Yes, yes, let's go tonight for eating Pani Puri" (an Indian street food snack))

"Intro maaguchanti," Hridayansh said, slowly, his eyes bulging out as if they'll kill Revant on the spot and gesturing towards us.

("They're asking for your introduction.")

"Oh?" he muttered.

"I'm Revant Thakur," he announced. "And Hridayansh's best friend."

Hridayansh instantly shot an annoying glare towards him.

We girls laughed softly witnessing this amusing exchange.

"Well, I'm Ipsita Sahu from science."

"I'm Lavanya Tripathi, same class as Ipsita's."

"And I'm Taarini Dutta from commerce."

"Sabu sundari maane ta commerce class ke hi chali gale."

("All the pretty girls ended up in the commerce class.")

Taarini, who spoke the last and was about to take a sip from the juice glass, nearly coughed just before drinking it.

Revant muttered under his breath, but all of us had heard it.

This interaction couldn't get more awkward for Taarini.

Because Lavanya and I were successfully unable to contain our laugh and broke out in a wide laughter within seconds.

Taarini glared us hard. But it was really not possible for us to stop.

It was so sure now that Revant was crushing on her. Unless it's like he always crushes on different girls each day, Lavanya and I will soon start choreographing a cute sangeet performance.

"Stop laughing," she muttered under her breath, though her voice lacked the sharpness it usually carried. That only made it worse.

Lavanya leaned into me, still giggling. "I swear, he has no survival instinct."

I pressed my lips together, trying to compose myself, but the moment I looked at Taarini again - still holding her juice glass mid-air, clearly reconsidering all her life choices - I lost it.

Across the table, Karthik had already buried his face in his hands.

"Revant," he said, his voice muffled, "just... eat something. Don't talk."

Revant, on the other hand, looked completely unbothered. If anything, he seemed pleased with the reaction.

"What?" he shrugged lightly, picking up a fry like he had just said something completely normal. "I'm just appreciating my analytics skills."

"Analytics skills?" Hridayansh repeated flatly.

"Yes," he nodded, dead serious. "Boys in science, and in commerce..." he paused, glancing briefly at Taarini, "balance."

That did it.

Lavanya almost choked.

I looked down at the table, shaking my head, trying to regain some control over my expressions.

Hridayansh, sitting across from me, looked like he was actively debating whether to disown his best friend in public.

Taarini finally placed her glass down. Slowly. Deliberately.

"You talk too much," she said.
Revant met her gaze without hesitation.

"And you notice too much."

There was a pause.

Not awkward. Just... charged.

Taarini's eyes narrowed slightly, but she didn't respond. Instead, she looked away, reaching for her bag as if that single action could detach her from the entire conversation.

Lavanya leaned closer to me again. "This is going to be fun," she whispered.

I nodded lightly, because I knew she was right.

To shift the focus and maybe save Taarini from committing a crime, I cleared my throat lightly.

"So," I said, glancing around the table, "now that formal introductions are officially done... what next?"

Karthik immediately looked relieved. "Finally, a normal question."

"Speak for yourself," Revant muttered.

Hridayansh ignored him. "We usually just come here, eat, complain about assignments, and leave."

"Sounds productive," Lavanya nodded.

"It is," he said seriously. "Very."

For a moment, the conversation settled into something easier. Simpler.

We started talking about classes, teachers, random college incidents - the kind of conversations that don't require effort, that just flow.

Karthik turned out to be surprisingly easy to talk to, adding in comments that caught you off guard. Lavanya matched him instantly, the two slipping into a comfortable rhythm like they had done this a hundred times before.

Hridayansh spoke less, but when he did, it was thoughtful. Measured. I noticed how he listened more than he talked, how his attention stayed on whoever was speaking, like it mattered.

And then there was Revant.

He didn't dominate the conversation. But he was always there; slipping in comments at the right time, tilting situations just enough to keep things interesting.

Especially when it came to Taarini.

"Commerce has early admissions too, right?" he asked casually at one point.

"Yes," she replied, not looking at him.
"Hmm," he nodded. "Makes sense."

"What does?" she asked, clearly not intending to, but it slipped out anyway.

"That you're always prepared," he said.

She finally looked at him. Suspicious.
"I'm not always prepared."

Revant smiled slightly. "You were ready to argue within two seconds of meeting me."

Karthik and Hridayansh coughed simultaneously to hide their laugh.
Taarini's grip tightened around her fork. "That's not preparation. That's common sense."

"Ah," he said, leaning back slightly. "So I fall under situations that require immediate defense?"

"Exactly."

"Good to know."

There was something almost... respectful about the way he did it. Revant didn't cross a line. Didn't push too far. Just enough to keep her on edge, just enough to get a reaction from her.

And she always gave one. Even when she tried not to.

At some point, food arrived. Plates were passed around, small arguments broke out over who ordered what and who brought what in their tiffins, and for a while, everything felt... normal. Comfortable.

I found myself forgetting that this wasn't something we had always done.

At one point, Hridayansh slid a tissue paper across the table toward me.

"You missed a spot," he said quietly.
I blinked. "What?"

He gestured lightly toward my face. There was a faint streak of sauce near my cheeks.

"Oh," I said, a little embarrassed. "Thanks."

"It's fine."

That was it.

But for some reason, it stayed in my mind, longer than necessary.

Beside me, Lavanya was deep into a conversation with Karthik about school memories. Across from us, Revant was still somehow managing to both eat and irritate Taarini at the same time.

"How do you manage to say so much while doing so little?" she asked at one point.

"Talent," he replied instantly.

"Delusion," she corrected.

"Close enough."

I shook my head, smiling faintly, looking at their banters.

Time passed without any of us noticing.

The noise in the canteen shifted - less crowded now, conversations thinning out, sunlight moving across the floor in long, lazy patterns.

"We should probably go," Karthik said, checking the time.

"Yeah, lectures are in eight minutes," Lavanya pointed out.

Hridayansh stood up first, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

One by one, we all got up.

Chairs scraped lightly and bags were picked up. It was a simple moment. Ordinary.

But something about it felt... different.
We walked out together.

All six of us.

The corridor outside was quieter now, the earlier chaos replaced by a slower rhythm. Footsteps echoed softly, conversations were more scattered.

For a while, we walked in a loose line.
Karthik and Lavanya slightly ahead, already back in their conversation. Me and Hridayansh in the middle. Revant and Taarini behind.

I didn't turn. But I could hear them.

"You're walking very fast," Revant said.a

"I have somewhere to be."

"Convenient."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing. Just noticing patterns."

"You assume too much."

"And you deny too quickly."

There was a brief pause.

Then Taarini said, quieter this time, "You should talk less."

Revant laughed softly. Not mocking. Just... amused.

"I'll consider it."

"You won't."

"No."

And that was it. No argument. No escalation. Just... them.

I glanced sideways.

Hridayansh was walking beside me, hands in his pockets, gaze ahead.

There was a certain ease in his steps now that hadn't been there before.

"Today was... good," I said, almost without thinking.

He looked at me briefly. "Yeah."

A pause.

Then, "It was."

Simple.

We reached the staircase, and slowly, naturally, the group began to split.

Different classes. Different directions.
But no one rushed.

No one left immediately.

"Same break time tomorrow?"

Lavanya asked casually, looking towards Taarini and Karthik.

Karthik shrugged. "If we survive classes."

"We will," she said confidently.

Revant glanced at Taarini. "You coming?"

She hesitated for a fraction of a second.
Then, "We'll see."

It wasn't a yes. But it wasn't a no either. Somehow, that felt like progress.

One by one, we started to drift away.
Different paths. Different directions.

But something stayed, with all of us.
As I walked toward my classroom, I found myself smiling without realizing it.

It was strange.

Not long ago, everything here had felt unfamiliar. Temporary. Like something I was just passing through.

But now?
Now it felt different.

Like I wasn't just part of the place. I belonged to something within it.
The chaos, the conversations, the small moments that didn't seem important but somehow stayed - they were starting to mean something.

Lavanya beside me. Hridayansh across the table. Even Revant and Taarini, in their own unpredictable way.

It didn't feel random anymore. It felt like the beginning of something new, special and precious to hold onto.
And for the first time since college started... I wasn't just adjusting. I was happy. Truly happy.

Maybe this was what people meant when they said you find your people.
Not all at once. Not perfectly. But slowly.
In moments like these.

Word count - 4.8k
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