Chapter 1
“It’s the first day of my college...I hope everything goes well...” Trisha thought as she entered the college gate.
After taking a year’s gap, she went into an engineering college. It was not very prominent but still counted as one of the best colleges. She got into computer science with a Bachelor of Technology.
She was nervous but excited too.
As she was heading to her class, she was watching people happy and excited like her. She was smiling thinking about her life as a college student. She reached her classroom, and most of the students were already there. Everyone looked at her, and it made her even more anxious. She averted her eyes and just sat in the second-to-last row without talking to anyone. She could feel everyone’s gaze on her until she reached her seat. And after some time, the teacher arrived.
She was relieved as no one sat beside her. The class went like that; they introduced themselves.
“Hello everyone! My name is Trisha Sharma. I am from Banaras. Thank you!” she said in her soft voice, trying to sound brave.
Then she heard a voice behind her. “Hi everyone! My name is Krish Mehta. I am from Lucknow.” His voice was rigid and confident, unlike hers, which was timid and soft. For the first time, she looked at him. He was tall and slightly lean, not very thin. He was wearing black-framed specs. His hair was a little messy but seemed to be soft and shiny. His face was masculine yet soft, which made her look at him for a moment longer than required. His eyes met hers. She smiled at him, but he just averted his eyes and sat down, which made Trisha a little underwhelmed.
“How rude!” she mumbled as she paid attention to other students.
Then another student got up. “Hey everyone! My name is Sameer Singh, and I am from Delhi. I like talking to new people and getting to know them. So, let’s be friends,” he said enthusiastically. And then he looked at Trisha and smiled. It was a little awkward for her, but regardless, she smiled at him.
The first half was over, and the lunch break arrived. Most of the people were already bonded over social media and had their groups, which was actually comforting for her because now she could be alone. She hates crowds and all and enjoys her alone time. She took out his wired earphones and started listening to songs while eating an apple.
After some minutes, Sameer came to her and tapped on her desk. She looked at him and awkwardly took off her earphones. “Hey Trisha!” he said. Smiling brightly at him. “Hi Sameer...” she said timidly.
“Your voice was so low that I couldn’t hear anything after your name.” He said jokingly.
“Really?” she said. “But I tried my best to sound loud... My ears even got warm...” she said softly.
Sameer chuckled.
“I could see they got even red...” They both looked at Krish as he spoke.
“Huh!” Trisha looked at him. His face was still unfazed.
“Seriously! Your ears get red and hot when you try your best to sound louder?” Sameer chuckled.
“It’s so cute,” Sameer said under his breath.
“What?” Trisha asked, shocked.
“I said it’s cute that your ears turn red whenever you speak loudly... Now I will always watch you whenever you speak...” Sameer said, almost touching her ears, but backed off immediately.
“Well...it was nice to meet you. “Can we be friends? ”he asked, touching his nape while one hand was in his pocket.
Trisha looked at him. He was taller than Krish, and his hair was neatly combed. He was handsome, and his smile was really captivating and contagious, making other people smile too.
“Can we?” Trisha said nervously.
"Why? Don't you want to? Then take your time. If you think I am worthy enough for you... We can be friends...right? But we still are classmates, so you can ask me anything... I will be glad to help you,” he said.
She nodded, and he went away from there, leaving her smiling like that.
“Your smile is too bright; I can’t focus on my work...” Krish said in his cold tone.
She gave him a sharp look, rolled her eyes, and started doing her work.
Krish looked at her and smiled. “What a weirdo!” he mumbled.
Her hair was falling on his desk now and then, which was annoying him.
He tapped on her shoulder. “Hey! Please keep your hair to yourself. They are coming in my way,” he whispered, but loud enough for Trisha to hear.
She didn’t look back and simply put all her hair on one side of her shoulder, exposing her nape, which had a small mole on the right side. It was small and cute. He stared at her mole for some time and then got back to his studies.
But he felt like someone was looking at him. He looked around and saw Sameer glaring at him. But as soon as their eyes met, he smiled and got back to his studies.
It was a little weird, but anyway, he didn’t pay much attention.
Finally, the day was over. Trisha was packing her bag when Krish stood before her.
“Please tie your hair from tomorrow onwards. They were all over my desk,” he said.
He was getting on Trisha’s nerves. “Why don’t you sit anywhere else then? So that my hair doesn’t annoy you?” She said, gritting her teeth.
“Why should I sit anywhere else when you are the one who is creating problems? And by the way, I was the first one among us to get into this class and am sitting in the place that I find comfortable. So keep your hair to yourself from tomorrow or find another seat.” He said, leaning slightly towards her.
It was the last straw. She couldn’t take it anymore.
“And what if I don’t do that?” she said, crossing her arms.
“Then I will bring scissors from tomorrow. I will cut the part that will annoy me,” he said straightforwardly.
She gasped, unable to believe what she heard. “You really are something...getting on my nerves like that...”
“Think whatever you want... Just don’t get in my way,” he said and walked away.
She stood there fuming and cursing under her breath, clenching her fist.
“He was really something making a girl like you mad like this, huh?” Sameer came there, watching them arguing like that.
She glared at Sameer. “What do you mean, a girl like me?”
“Woah woah! Sorry for making you even angrier. I meant a girl like you who is patient and doesn’t care what happens around her, getting angry like this,” he said, throwing his hands in the air.
Her anger lessened a little. “Yeah...you are right...he really has got some nerves testing me like this...and this is even my first day...what a weirdo!” She kept on mumbling.
Sameer offered her a water bottle. “Here! Calm down a little...now,” he said, smiling.
They both walked outside the campus, talking about different things.
“I have a bike... Want a ride to your PG?” He asked casually.
“Nah! Thanks, I am good. It’s nearby...so I can go by myself...” She smiled.
“Okay...then let’s meet tomorrow,” he said as he extended his arm towards him.
She looked at it and then shook his hand.
She went on her way to her home while Sameer looked at her from behind, watching her walk away.
Krish was still standing at the canteen, looking at them, but ignored them and started munching his burger.
Trisha was living in a rented apartment with one girl from a different university. It was within walking distance from college, so she could save money for the convenience. It was a 30-minute walk from the college.
Her roommate was already in the room. They have been living together for two days now. Her roommate Nishtha was good. She was wise, understanding, and a little caring. Always smiling and considering other people’s needs. She was in her third year of a bachelor’s in fine arts.
“How was your first day?” Nishtha asked curiously as Trisha lay down on her bed.
“It was good. Just met two different people,” she sighed.
“You know, I met a guy who was really sweet, smiling, and even offered his help, and then there was this second guy who was rude and annoying for no reason,” she scoffed.
Nishtha chuckled. “And how can some guy annoy you who doesn’t even care much about others?”
“Exactly! He had some nerve to annoy me and reach my limits because I am the kind of person who doesn’t even pay attention to people. You know what he said? He said if I don’t take care of my hair, he will cut it because it annoys him. Seriously? I didn’t do it on purpose, and he could have said it in a normal way. How arrogant?” she huffed.
“Wow!!! That was something harsh on the first day.” Nishtha said, offering her the water.
“Yeah!! It really annoyed me. But then the other guy, Sameer, came to me and helped me and talked to me really nicely...” she said.
“Hmmm... I am happy that you made one friend regardless of whether you are an introvert...but don’t trust Sameer too much. You don’t know who the person is behind all this good facade. I am just telling you by my experience...just like an older sister,” she said, smiling.
Trisha looked at her and smiled. “Thank you, Di... I am really lucky to get a roommate like you. I was really scared...but when I met you, all my worries went away, and my parents are also happy...I’ll be in your guidance now...” she grinned.
“Okay...junior...” she said.
“Yes...senior.”
They both laughed and talked about their day.
