"Share with me your contact numbers before you leave college and send me your PPT on WhatsApp by 9 PM. We'll discuss further about the seminar tomorrow."

Ipsita and I nodded once, standing obediently.

Our English Professor smiled a goodbye and left for her lecture to the classroom next to us.

"This is such an achievement and punishment at the same time," Ipsita groaned, slightly frowning and dramatically crunching her back lower.

I let out a soft chuckle, turning back towards the railing.

"At least, we are getting attendance for this," I said. "Without attending lectures."

Her head shot to my direction. She was looking at my with mildly shocking eyes.

"That statement coming from you is such a rare sight."

"Rare? Why?"

I was completely turned to her. She was still facing the railing. I won't lie, moments like these with her, where we could simply talk about random things rather than just academics, is something out of this world.

"You're a topper. Of course, attendance, lectures and notes are your priority," she said.

"And who said that I was a topper?"

"You look like one. Your actions, too, tell that," she muttered.

I leaned just enough to look directly into her eyes. I do not mean to do anything wrong. I'm simply curious to see her reaction.

"Being a topper doesn't mean you're not a human and you cannot have emotions."

I stayed leaned, unapologetically, not even the intense eye contact. I have no idea from where I'd got this level of self-confidence.

She was freezed for a good thirty seconds. I'd never seen her go all blank and clueless like this.

Before anyone spots us freezed like this, Ipsita blinked her eyes vigourously. She gulped a breath down her throat.

Wait. Did I scare her?

I instantly returned back to my original position without showing any signs of hurriedness.

I could see her inhaling continous short breaths from my peripheral vision. I'll need to confront her later on. That statement surely might have scared her.

"Will there be any other group too?" she questioned, after a few minutes.

"Yes. One, from commerce section."

"I'll ask Taarini then," she smiled.

We both stayed there for long. The cool air softly hitting on our faces and swaying our hair didn't let us budge even for a second.

We had come out of our mid-lecture, with the excuse of our English Professor calling us to the staff room, which is true, but there's no harm borrowing a little more benefit from our dearest excuse.

Nowadays, college doesn't feel neither exciting nor boring. It's like... normal. Regular. According to the routine.

We are also being piled up with assignments, every single day. And as we know, it's not enough to ruin students' mental health, so we have three to four tests too, every week.

My friends from other colleges had official and unofficial freshers party too. And here am I, always doing assignments like a B.Tech student.

Nonetheless we have freshers. But no one, including faculties too, is aware of the date. Or better say, they know it, but won't tell it to us.

After a few more minutes and light-hearted conversations, Ipsita and I head back to our classroom.

It's also amazing that we are a group now.

Ipsita, her friends, Karthik, Revant and me.

We mostly talk in duos or boys and girls in separate, because almost every time, the girls would start talking about dresses, online shopping, earrings and much more and we boys are left out with no choice but to listen their rant.

Silence stretched between us.

Not empty. Just... stunned.

Lavanya's pen slipped from her fingers completely, rolling slightly across the page before stopping against the spine of her notebook.

"What?" she breathed.

I finally turned to look at her.

"I know," I whispered, my voice barely steady. "I know."

She stared at me for a second, processing it, her brows slowly drawing together.

"When did he say this?" she asked.

"Before chemistry lecture when we were called to staff room," I replied. "Casually. Like it was nothing."

"Casually?" she repeated, incredulous. "Ipsita, that is not a casual sentence."

I let out a small, breathless laugh.

"That's exactly what I thought."

On the board, the professor continued writing, his voice steady, explaining something about angular displacement. The rest of the class scribbled along, completely unaware of the crisis unfolding on our bench.

Lavanya leaned closer now, her voice urgent but still hushed.

"And you're sure he said it like that?"

"Yes," I said immediately. "Word to word."

She stared at me, nodding her head in disbelief.

"That's... specific," she muttered.

I nodded slowly, my fingers tightening around my pen again.

"And I couldn't help it," I admitted, my voice dropping even further.

"And you have a crush on him," she completed quietly.

I looked down. I couldn't deny it anyway.

"And then he says this," she continued, her voice slowly filling with disbelief, "right in front of you."

"Leaning towards me," I added, looking down at my fiddling hands.

Lavanya's eyes snapped and her eyebrows shot up instantly. The ongoing lecture was the only thing that stopped her from screaming.

For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.

The only sound between us was the faint scratching of pens from the rest of the class and the professor's voice echoing in the background.

Lavanya suddenly grabbed her pen again and started writing rapidly. Not because she was focused. But because she needed to look like she was.

"This is not normal," she muttered under her breath.

"I know," I replied.

"And this is not even a coincidence," she added.

"I know."

She paused. Then slowly turned to look at me again.

"Do you think..." she hesitated, lowering her voice even further, "he knows?"

My pen stopped mid-sentence. A small ink blot formed on the page where the tip had rested too long.

I stared at it. Then shook my head. This cannot happen. He should not get even the slightest hint of it.

"I don't know," I whispered honestly.

Lavanya leaned back slightly, processing everything.
"But Ipsita," she said after a moment, "people don't just say things like that. Not randomly."

I swallowed. That thought had been circling my mind since the moment he said it. I did not think of any other possible conclusion.

"Exactly," I said softly.

We both went quiet again. This time longer. Heavier. On the board, another formula appeared. Students flipped pages. Someone asked a doubt.

Life moved on.

But for me, everything had shifted.

Because now there was a question. A possibility. A meaning that refused to stay simple. And no matter how much I tried to focus on the lecture, my mind kept going back to that one sentence. Over and over again.

"Being a topper doesn't mean you're not a human and you cannot have emotions."

Was it just a statement?
Or -
was it meant to be heard?

One week later

"Taarini, here!"

"You both owe me two plates momos each!"

The safety pins, U-pins and our makeup products scattered on the bench like a tsunami just hit them.

We are inside our classroom with few more girls who wanted to change their outfits for the party tonight.

Freshers!

It's finally here!

I cannot contain to myself the anticipation for this event. We all had been waiting so long for this night.

"Ipsita, nude pink or subtle red?" Lavanya's voice cut through the room as she held up two lipstick shades.

I turned, taking a second to process what she was even asking, my mind still halfway lost in my own thoughts.

"Nude pink," I said automatically.

"Exactly," she nodded, as if I had just validated a life decision. "I knew you had taste."

"That's because it's the safest option," Taarini added from the mirror, not even turning around. She was carefully pinning up Lavanya's sleeve on her shoulders, her hand steady, her focus absolute - as if the world could collapse and she still wouldn't mess up that pin.

Lavanya gasped.

"Safe?" she repeated. "We are not doing 'safe' today. It's fresher's night."

I watched them for a second.

Lavanya, dramatic as ever, switching styles with her dupatta like she was auditioning for a show. Taarini, calm and composed, but somehow still just as involved in the chaos.

And me, standing there with a foundation in my hand, closed, since four minutes.

I finally turned open the foundation tube and started to apply it on my face.

Freshers.

The word itself had sounded so ordinary when I first heard it.

Might be just another college event. Music. Lights. People trying too hard. Stories that would vanish in a day. Photos that would be forgotten in a week.

But now, standing here, in the middle of this chaos, it felt like more than that.

It felt like the beginning of something I hadn't fully experienced yet.

New friendships that hadn't formed yet, but would. Conversations that would start casually and somehow turn into memories. Laughter that wouldn't feel forced. Moments that wouldn't need planning.

And somewhere in all of it - the quiet thrill of just... being young.

Not thinking about marks.

Not worrying about expectations.

Not being just "the topper."

Just - existing. Feeling. Living. Like this world was made for me.

When I looked at myself in the mirror a few minutes later, I paused. Not because of how I looked. But because of how I felt.

Different.
Lighter.
And most importantly, beautiful, from within.

Like I wasn't just getting ready for a party. I was getting ready for everything that came with it.

For the people I would meet. For the memories I didn't know I was about to make. For the version of myself I hadn't fully met yet.

"Okay," Lavanya said, walking behind us and placing her hands on her hips. "Karthik and others are ready."

"Tell them to come near the playground stage," I insisted. "We'll get good shots under the sunlight."

Lavanya called him up, asking them to come near the stage and wait for us. We weren't done with the makeup, yet. And so, we went downstairs after a good fifteen minutes.

The playground didn't look like the same place anymore.

Where there were usually scattered groups, dusty corners, and uneven patches of grass, there were now strings of warm lights stretching across open spaces, glowing softly against the evening sky.

They weren't harsh or blinding, but just enough to make everything look... softer. Warmer. Almost unreal.

Decorative lanterns hung at intervals, swaying slightly with the breeze, their light flickering gently as if they were alive too.

A small stage had been set up at one end, speakers already placed, wires carefully tucked away, and a banner stretched across the back, announcing the freshers' party in bold, celebratory colors.

Tables had been arranged neatly along the sides, some already occupied by students who had arrived early, leaning against them, laughing, adjusting their outfits, fixing each other's hair.

Music hadn't started properly, but a faint instrumental track played somewhere in the background, blending with the sound of voices, creating a soft, steady hum that filled the space.

There were people. Everywhere. No one looked ordinary today. No one looked like the version I had seen in classrooms.

Girls in dresses that caught the light with every movement. Some subtle, some bold, all carefully chosen. Soft curls, straightened hair, messy buns. Makeup that wasn't overdone, just enough to highlight, to enhance, to glow under the warm lights.

They laughed more freely. Moved more confidently. Like they had stepped into a version of themselves they didn't always show.

And the boys - oh my goodness, it was impressive to see they had made an effort.

Shirts that weren't the usual wrinkled, last-minute choices. Watches, jackets, rolled-up sleeves that looked almost... styled.

Hair set, posture straight like gentlemen, voices slightly louder yet sophisticated, as if trying to match the energy of the night.

Everyone looked different. Not completely changed. Just... enough to fit the vibe.

"Here!" Lavanya announced, pointing to a spot. "Lighting is perfect right here."

I turned.

The golden lights fell just right, softening everything, making even the simplest moment look like something worth remembering.

I walked along with them to the spot. We started testing out our selfies. All random, messy and candid.

Amidst our chaotic photo session, I noticed three figures approaching us from far.

Hridayansh.
Walking towards us with Karthik and Revant.

Dressed simply, but effortlessly put together, his presence didn't demand attention, but it held it anyway.

The soft lights caught on his features as he walked, and there was something different about him and his presence tonight.

Revant, beside him, was already scanning the crowd, his usual confidence amplified in an environment like this. Karthik walked casually, relaxed as ever, saying something that made both of them react faintly.

But I didn't focus on them.

My eyes stayed on him, unintentionally.

And then, as if sensing it, he looked up.

Right at me. Unmistakably.

It wasn't dramatic. No exaggerated reaction.

Just a subtle moment.

But it was enough.

My breath caught slightly in my throat, though I didn't show it. I looked away almost instantly, my composure snapping back into place before Lavanya could notice.

Too late.

"Oh," Lavanya's voice dropped into a whisper beside me, her excitement immediate, uncontrollable. "Well, well."

"Ipsita," she added, barely containing her grin, "your Mr. Topper who has emotions just arrived."

"Stop it," I muttered under my breath, barely able to control my heart beating extremely fast.

But Taarini had noticed too.
Of course she had.

Her gaze shifted briefly. Not to Hridayansh or me.

But to Revant.

For a split second, her expression tightened.

He hadn't seen her yet. But he would.

The sky stretched deep and endless above, a quiet canvas that made the strings of fairy lights glow brighter, warmer like constellations pulled closer to the ground.

The music near the stage had picked up into a steady rhythm, not overpowering, but present enough to pulse through the air along with the hum of voices, laughter, and movement.

The space was alive.

Taarini moved with her usual composure, her steps measured, her posture steady, as if the chaos around her had no claim over her pace.

The beige lehenga she wore didn't demand attention, yet it gathered it quietly. The soft embroidery caught the light with every movement, reflecting just enough to be noticed, never enough to overwhelm.

She continued to click solo and group photos with her group. Like everyone else did, around them.

She kept adjusting her dupatta every now and then, her expressions softening with a bright smile. If she noticed the shift around her, she didn't let it surface. Control, for her, was instinctive.

The group engaged on small light conversations. Everyone interacted with each other, some complimenting their friend's looks, while some planning their own ways to enjoy the night.

The boys clicked numerous photos for the girls. Making them laugh for candids, hyping them for the best poses and clicking pictures from all possible angles.

Just then, when everyone were almost done with the photo session, a voice, that was silent since this whole time, called out.

"Taarini..."

The voice reached her without needing to be raised. She paused, alert.

There was a brief moment where she didn't turn, as if weighing whether the interruption deserved her attention.

Then, slowly she looked back.

Revant stood a few meters away.

His stance was casual, almost lazy. But the ease in his posture didn't match the stillness in his expression.

Because for once, he wasn't smiling.

Or at least, not completely and heartily.

There was a pause in him. A real one. Something that is seen rarely.

His gaze rested on her, not fleeting and playful like before, but steady.

It moved in quiet observation, tracing details he hadn't expected to notice. The fall of the dupatta over her shoulder, the muted shimmer of the lehenga under warm lights, the way she carried herself without seeking attention.

And then back to her face.

He inhaled a long deep breath, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Are you okay?" Taarini asked, her brows drawing together slightly, her tone calm but guarded.

He didn't answer. That alone was enough to disrupt the moment. Because Revant always answered.

But now, he let it stay. He took time to respond.

Then he stepped a little closer.

"Don't move, please."

His words weren't sharp. They weren't forceful. But they carried a quiet certainty that didn't quite fit him.

Taarini blinked, caught off guard more by the tone than the instruction itself.

"I am moving," she replied, her voice flattening instinctively. "And I will continue to-"

"No," he interrupted, softer this time. "Please."

Not teasing. And obviously not careless.

"Taarini," he called, his voice low and deep.

And that was the moment where her composure faltered. Not outwardly, not enough for anyone else to notice, but internally, something had shifted.

Because now, it wasn't irritation. It was confusion.

Her mind moved quickly, instinctively resisting.

She could stop him. She should stop him. There was no reason to indulge whatever this was.

But she didn't. Because something in his voice lacked the usual ease she associated with him. There was no performance in it. No exaggerated charm.

Just pure and transparent intention.

"What do you want from me?" she asked again, quieter now, though her fingers had instinctively curled around the edge of her dupatta - a small, telling hesitation.

He didn't answer.

Instead, he glanced briefly around, then back at her. Up close, the difference in him was clearer.

He wasn't amused or trying to perform some humorous tricks.

He was... focused.

And that unsettled her more than anything else.

Before she could decide whether to step back and end the moment, he lifted his hand. Her body reacted before her thoughts could. She leaned back slightly, her brows tightening.

"Revant-"

"Relax," he said, almost under his breath.

The word didn't dismiss her. It steadied the moment and her.

And that was where she paused. Truly paused. In front of him. Because now she stood between two instincts.

One that told her to stop him - to strictly maintain distance, to not allow unnecessary closeness. And the other - quieter, unfamiliar. That told her to wait.

And for reasons she didn't immediately understand.

His hand moved. Not touching at all. Never crossing the line. But close enough to be felt.

In a small, deliberate motion in the air near her face. Circular, measured.

Once. Then again.

She watched him, her confusion deepening, her mind trying to assign meaning to something that refused to be categorized.

"What," she said slowly, her voice lower now, "are you doing?"

He completed the motion, pausing briefly, as if ensuring something invisible had settled into place. Then, with a light flick of his fingers, he gestured outward as if discarding something unseen.

Only then did he step back.

"Nazar."

The word was simple. Unembellished.

She blinked.

Taarini looked at him, her expression caught between disbelief and something softer she didn't immediately acknowledge.

"You just-" she gestured faintly, trying to structure the moment into logic, "-did that because of... nazar?"

"Yes."

She let out a breath, almost a scoff, though it lacked its usual edge.
"You cannot be serious."

"I am," he said quickly, but calmly.

After a pause just long enough to shift the weight of what followed, Revant spoke.

"I saw you and I forgot how to think straight."

The line landed. But not the way his usual ones did.

Because this time, it wasn't delivered like a casual comment.

It slipped out like something he had noticed before deciding what to do with it.

For a moment, her expression stilled. Not because she believed him. But because she couldn't ignore it entirely either.

"That's not a thing. And it shouldn't be that way, Revant," she said, though her tone had softened just slightly.

"It is now," he replied, with a faint shrug.

For the first time, Revant wasn't trying to impress her.

He was trying to contain something he hadn't meant to reveal. He had no idea this feeling could get intense in such a way that he would have to think infinite times before revealing it.

And she had sensed this feeling of his, way earlier. Even if she didn't fully understand it.

"You're ridiculous," she muttered, looking away.

"Effective," he replied softly.

She shook her head, stepping back, restoring the distance between them.

She turned to leave for the girls waiting for her because that was what she always did.

Maintain distance. End the moment before it lingered too long.

And she did.

But her steps were slower. Because beneath the confusion, beneath the irritation, beneath the quiet internal conflict she hadn't resolved.

He didn't call her back immediately for any clarification. He didn't try to fill the silence. Instead, he simply watched her walk away.

"Revant."

A genuine smile formed his face.

A small pause. A breath. On both the sides.

"Thank you," she said it. Trying to it keep it simple, but failing miserably because her heartbeat denied to.

Revant didn't speak but his subtle smile broadened and he was smiling like she'd said yes to his proposal.

Catching a glance of his smile, Taarini turned and continued walking.

Trying to stay composed and controlled.

Behind her, Revant exhaled a heavy breath, running a hand through his hair, as if grounding himself again.

Because for the first time, it hadn't been a planned act. It had been instinct. And that was exactly what made it dangerous. Because he hadn't meant to feel anything. For her.

And maybe, he already did.

By the time the last of the students trickled into the playground, the night had fully come alive. It was almost 6 PM, and that was exactly the kind of lighting and atmosphere the event needed for a great start.

The music near the stage grew clearer, bass threading through the air in steady pulses, while strings of fairy lights glowed brighter against the dark sky, casting a soft, golden warmth over the entire ground.

There were no empty corners anymore.

Every space held laughter and conversation. Every face held a kind of excitement that hadn't needed to be spoken out loud.

Groups had formed naturally across the playground. Some near the stage, some by the decorated backdrops, some simply standing in circles, talking about nothing and everything at once.

Phones were out constantly, cameras flipping between front and back, capturing everything from carefully posed pictures to complete candids, chaotic and aesthetic ones that would somehow matter more later.

Lavanya stood at the center of it all, as expected, directing the others with authority for one last group photo.

"No, wait. This angle is horrible. Ipsita, pose with your right leg ahead. Revant, shift a little towards your left," she ordered, adjusting positions that no one had asked her to fix.

"Lavanya," Karthik muttered from the side, barely holding back a smile. "It's a photo, not a magazine cover."

"Exactly," she shot back. "Which is why you need my help."

Revant leaned casually against Hridayansh's shoulder, watching the chaos.

"You do realize," he added, "Half these pictures won't even be posted."

"Doesn't matter," Taarini replied, glancing at the screen of her phone as she checked a recently clicked picture. "We'll still keep them."

"That's worse," he said lightly. "It's definitely going to be posted on birthdays."

Taarini smiled genuinely and shot him a 'that wasn't our plan, but you said so...' look.

Hridayansh stood beside Ipsita, not saying much, but not distant either. There was an ease in the way they shared the same space now.

"All set," Lavanya chirped.

"Ready?" she asked before setting the timer.

"Ready!"

Lavanya walked three steps behind to pose with the group.

And the camera clicked.

For now, it was just a picture. A perfect one to post on their Instagram. But little did they know, it was one of those beautiful memories they would hold onto to reminiscence their college days together.

Somewhere near the stage, a louder cheer erupted as the music shifted, drawing more people toward the center.

A few students had already started dancing in the center, just below the stage. Not coordinated, not planned, just moving with the music, pulling others in without asking.

"Let's join them?" Hridayansh asked with a smile, looking towards them in excitement.

"We don't know who they are..." Taarini hesitated.

"We'll either have fun or make good connections," Ipsita said, already holding Taarini's hand to run.

"Let's go," Revant said, stepping forward.

And they moved together. The music grew louder as they approached, the lights brighter, the energy stronger.

They danced and matched those students' vibes. Luckily, within a minutes of adjustments, everyone danced together. On the same beat. On the same steps.

They was no unfamiliarity, awkwardness or hesitation in the air. All they knew was today is their night and they wouldn't let go of a single chance to enjoy it.

Connections deepened without being named. Comfort settled without being acknowledged.

And as the night unfolded, stretching further than any of them had expected, one thing became certain.

This wasn't just a Freshers' event.

This was the kind of night that stayed.

In pictures and stories. In memories. In conversations. In the small and unnoticed shifts between people.

Because for once, they weren't thinking about what came next. They were simply there. In the moment. Living it to the fullest.

And that, for this night, was more than enough.

(Freshers party outfits)

Word count - 4.2k
Vote ⭐
Comment 💬
Follow
authorserene 💗