Chapter 1
🎶 Jane yeh kya hua—Karthik calling Karthik
The distant sounds of traffic echoed as Khushi sipped her free coffee, the sweetness of her caramel latte dispelling the bitterness left behind by the dense Internet of Things paper she had been reviewing.
The cafe door chimed open and in walked her friend, Preeto. Khushi watched as her roommate slammed her bag onto the table and promptly banged her head against it, as if the day itself had personally offended her.
“I am positive now,” said her friend mutinously. “Professor Xavier is a sociopath, don’t take his course, Khushi, like, for real, or you’ll start questioning your life’s decision to move to Texas.”
Khushi raised her eyebrows in mild amusement. She already struggled enough with the homesickness that came with leaving her home country to pursue higher education abroad. It was her first semester here, and the feelings were still too raw to brush aside.
“I’ll take your word for it,” she muttered gratefully, stuffing her homework into her bag.
“By the way,” Preeto added brightly, her mood turning on a dime, “Dilip has gathered old assignments from his seniors which might be useful to us! He lives just across the street from the University Center, wanna join me?”
Khushi glanced outside. Dusk was settling in, and she wondered if the detour would be worth the time she could otherwise spend making dinner.
As though reading her mind, Preeto quickly added, “Remember it’s Thursday? Free pizza night from Lutheran!”
“Oh, right!” Khushi smiled in relief. There was nothing more delicious, or more gratifying, than free food.
And so, they walked along the sidewalk discussing their weekend plans, their conversation meandering from coursework to half formed ideas of leisure. Turning into another block, the Vintage Pads apartments loomed ahead, their warm lights already flickering faintly as evening settled in.
“Preeto! Over here!” called a voice as they entered the community. They were greeted by large circular tables arranged in the center of the complex, the three storied buildings enclosing the space on all sides, lending it a cozy, communal feel.
A group of four men sat sprawled casually on wrought iron chairs circling one of the tables, backpacks slung at their feet, notebooks and coffee cups scattered on the table top. Khushi recognized Preeto’s friend, Dilip, who beckoned them forward with a cheerful wave.
He rose to his feet, clasped Preeto’s hand in greeting, and pulled out two chairs for them. Khushi took her seat with a pleasant smile, the mild buzz of conversation around them inexplicably putting her at ease. Making new friends was always a welcome change.
"Doston, this is Preeto, my classmate from theAdvanced Networkscourse, and this is her roommate, Khushi.”
He clapped his hands once and waved a hand toward the men seated. “Going clockwise; Sunil, Abhay, Bhargav, and finally, Arnav.”
Khushi nodded to each of them in turn, her gaze lingering a fraction longer on the man named Arnav. He wore an easy, open smile - relaxed yet attentive - his gaze unrelenting and straightforward as he met her eyes. She noted his thick lashes, lending him an effortless, kohled look.
“Masters’?” he asked, resting his arms on the table and leaning forward slightly. The gesture was casual yet signaled his undivided attention.
“Yes, Computer Science, and you?” she replied, her lips curving into a smile of their own accord, encouraged by the ease of his tone.
“First semester, Mechanical,” he said with a shrug, as though bracing himself for a less than enthusiastic response.
“Nothing wrong with that! We are theRoyal Mechs!” drawled Sunil. The others chimed in with approving laughter, a few thumping the table in mock bravado.
The conversation flowed easily there after, drifting from coursework to shared grievances and inside jokes. Sunil turned out to be a hoot, keeping them doubled over with laughter, while Arnav interjected with dry wit, his observations sharp and well timed, alternately addressing Preeto and Khushi with equal ease.
Khushi found herself wondering if he was older than the rest. There was an air of quiet maturity in his gaze and demeanor; his comments thoughtful, and measured, delivered without the need to impress.
She found herself instinctively drawn to him as they spent a significant amount of time lost in pleasant conversation before Preeto finally reminded her that it was time to leave.
After gathering the assignments, they bid their goodbyes and headed back home, their steps sluggish, the long day finally catching up to them.
When Khushi finally settled in for the night, Preeto collapsed onto the bed next to her. The third single bed lay empty - their other roommate, Tanisha - was away visiting her family in a neighboring city.
Preeto turned toward Khushi from beneath the covers and whispered, “That Arnav... wasn’t he cute?”
“Yes,” Khushi admitted with a small smile, conceding without hesitation.
“I wonder how old he is. I got the feeling he had a few years over you, maybe my age?”
“I thought so too,” said Khushi, sitting up, relieved that someone else shared her impression. Preeto was her senior by six years, she did the mental math, mulling over the possibilities.
“Let’s make a pact!” Preeto said, sitting up and crossing her legs. “If his bachelor’s graduation date is closer to yours, then you get to date him, and if not, he’s all mine, baby!”
Khushi laughed and agreed to the ridiculous terms. She had already begun to accept that her crush from the Databases course was unrequited and going nowhere. She might as well indulge in this harmless fantasy for her own amusement.
“Instagram!”
Preeto searched his name and found the account private. Khushi pulled out her phone and searched Facebook instead, and sure enough, the ancient OG platform delivered all the information they needed.
“Oh wow! He’s a year older than me,” Preeto exclaimed, disbelief flashing across her face as she scanned the graduation year.
“Well, there you have it, he’s all yours,” Khushi chuckled.
A faint twinge stirred in the pit of her stomach, but she ignored it.Plenty of fish in the sea.
Little did she know what fate had in store as she drifted off to sleep.
Days passed as Khushi settled into the demands of her hectic schedule, balancing classes, assignments, and the occasional social outing.
One afternoon, while on her way to the University Center, she noticed a lone figure approaching, head bent low, engrossed in his phone. When he looked up, recognition dawned on her, and she waved.
Arnav turned slightly, checking to be sure she was addressing him, then pointed at his chest and smiled. Khushi nodded, a giggle escaping her.
As he drew closer, her lips parted slightly. She hadn’t noticed it before, likely because they had all been seated, but he was well over six feet tall, dwarfing her five foot three frame as he came to a stop beside her.
“Hi, Khushi,” he said with a small smile.
A jolt of surprise coursed through her. He remembered her name.
“Hello, Arnav,” she replied, smiling back. The black on black ensemble suited his lanky frame - she noted - lending him an understated confidence.
The next words slipped out before she could stop herself. “How tall are you? Six foot two?”
“Three,” he replied calmly, as if he were accustomed to the question.
“Wow,” said Khushi meekly. “We should probably stand farther apart, otherwise people might think you’re walking next to a toddler.”
He laughed indulgently, as they began walking toward the University Center.
“Are you heading to class?” she asked, falling into step beside him.
“Yes, the Engineering building.”
“But that’s in the opposite direction,” said Khushi, casting a brief glance behind her, confused.
“True,” he replied, adjusting the strap of his bag, “but I fancied the walk, and I’ve got time.”
Khushi squirmed slightly and averted her gaze. His tone was casual and friendly, yet it made her blush all the same.
“Why UC?” he asked after a pause.
“Oh... bank work. Mom said she needed more details so SBI can transfer the tuition fees.”
He tutted softly and asked for more details, and the conversation wore on, alternating between the cumbersome process of international wire transfers and other logistical hurdles. Before long, they reached the threshold of the UC, the student body sparse at this time of day.
“Well,” he said slowly, hitching his bag strap higher, “see you around.”
She nodded, smiling as he turned away and headed back in the direction they had come from, leaving her marveling once again at how she had missed his imposing height.
“Was that Arnav?” Preeto asked as Khushi stepped through the automatic glass doors, the hum of the building swallowing the quiet outside.
“Yes,” Khushi muttered, glancing back over her shoulder, but he was already out of sight.
“Aww, missed opportunity,” said Preeto lightly, shrugging.
The comment served as a reminder of why it was a bad idea to dwell on the moment any further, as Preeto looped her arm through Khushi’s. Still, she couldn’t help but replay the mildly flirtatious exchange in her mind.
She shook her head, forcing the thoughts away. Hormones were rampant everywhere, itwasthe first semester, after all. She was no exception when it came to reading too much into fleeting, perfectly ordinary interactions.
Khushi wound her jacket tighter around herself as January wore on and the second semester rolled in.
Winter break had been lonely. With no company to distract her, she had wallowed in self pity after her crush transferred to another university, the quiet days stretching longer than she cared to admit.
Preeto was finally back from visiting her sister, her boundless energy a welcome contrast to Khushi’s lingering gloom, filling the space with chatter and movement.
As they walked huddled close together against the cold, discussing a birthday party later that evening and debating what they should wear, the faint call of their names made them pause.
Sunil and Arnav approached, bundled in winter jackets, their collars pulled up against the cold. Khushi noticed Preeto instinctively smooth her hair nervously.
They exchanged polite greetings, and after a moment, Khushi stepped back onto the street divider, rocking gently on her heels to give Preeto space, pretending to examine the road ahead.
Sunil seemed to mirror her movement, drawing back as well and glancing around aimlessly. At one point, Khushi felt his gaze linger on her.
When she looked up, she found him studying her with mild curiosity, like someone trying to make sense of an elaborate science project - thoughtful rather than intrusive.
Khushi met his gaze, momentarily bewildered by the scrutiny. He shrugged, almost apologetically, and shoved his hands into his pockets.
She felt his attention flicker back to her once or twice more until Arnav finally bid Preeto goodbye. Before leaving, he turned and offered Khushi a brief, fleeting smile, and then the two men departed, disappearing down the street.
Preeto giggled once they were out of earshot, looping her arm through Khushi’s.
“Well, that was interesting. I still can’t tell if he’s interested, he’s just so polite with everyone.”
“Come on,” said Khushi, patting her hand. “He stopped, didn’t he? And did you notice his friend?” She recalled the strange exchange she’d shared with Sunil and decided to omit it. “He backed off to give his ‘bro’ some space.”
“As did you,” Preeto teased, lightly swatting her arm.
“Least I could do,mademoiselle.”
They laughed as the evening unfolded. Khushi drank and danced her worries away, the sting of losing her old crush slowly dulling with time.
February arrived, and Valentine’s Day crept into every corner of campus. The Business Studies building was awash with red heart shaped balloons, bobbing gently from the entrance all the way to the ceiling, punctuated by hastily taped posters advertising fundraisers and themed socials.
The Engineering department was no different. Free desks were a rarity, as couples claimed corners and rowdy groups of friends sprawled across the halls, laptops abandoned in favor of laughter and inside jokes, choosing the hum of company over the usual quiet of the vicinity.
Khushi had found an excellent partner for herAdvanced Artificial Intelligencecourse in Atul, whose professional experience in the field proved invaluable.
Assignments kept them busy late into the night, to the point where Valentine’s Day passed without incident. Preeto had turned down a senior’s advances, and Khushi found herself wondering if her friend was still thinking about Arnav.
She had crossed paths with him occasionally, in the library, at Lutheran’s, or in the UC hallways. She noticed he smiled less now, rarely lingering to chat. Her coursework consumed her attention, leaving little room for speculation.
By the final week of February, the semester had begun to feel relentless. Khushi stretched in her chair as Atul finished adding their names to the ten page report they had been working on for forty eight hours straight, the glow of the screen throwing his dark circles in sharp relief.
“Is your phone still partially conked out?” asked Atul asked, riffling through the pages.
“Yes,” Khushi replied with a wide yawn. That reminded her, she hadn’t checked anything beyond WhatsApp in weeks. Mildly curious, she logged into Messenger on her laptop.
She gasped. Atul snapped his head up as color flooded her cheeks.
Hi Khushi, I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me on Valentine’s Day.
Her fingers shook slightly over the keyboard. The date on Arnav’s message read February first. Only then did it sink in that almost an entire month had passed.
Without thinking, she typed: Oh.
“No, no, no,” Atul groaned, grabbing her wrist, but it was too late. They watched in horror as the message was read instantly.
“You oh-zoned him, Khushi!” cried Atul. “Jeez... women are cruel.”
“I didn’t know what else to say,” she protested, her heart racing. “Valentine’s Day is way past us! What was I supposed to add?!”
“Anything. Literallymanything else, Khushi,” exploded Atul. She looked taken aback by his reaction, and wondered if he perhaps had been at the receiving end of what he deemed as Oh-zoned.
After a long, dramatic sigh, he got to his feet and began packing his bag. “It’s late. I’ll walk you home.”
“Let’s call the security cart,” said Khushi absently, her thoughts still tangled.
As they waited outside, the cool air stinging her blistering cheeks, she wondered how she was going to explain this to Preeto.
