Something About My Roommate...

Welcome to the first chapter.

This is my first book so I hope you like it.

Enjoy reading.

Anish Mehra.

My life has always been easy and simple. It feels complete with my family and friends. Every day is the same, and all the things I do never really change. I'm used to it and that’s how I like it.

Even though I have so many people looking after me, I still like to keep my boundaries.

My family supports every decision I make. They believe I can never make the wrong choice… yet they get emotional the moment things become even slightly difficult for me.

Sometimes, I wonder if this overwhelming affection is the reason my life feels so easy. As if I’ve never really had to struggle the way others do.

That’s when I decided to move out.

I want to live my life… but my way.

And this time, I’ll decide what happens next.

With that thought, I’m now on my way to my new home. It’s my first time living in a school dormitory, and I want this experience to be a good one.

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Monday, 16th June | 4 PM

I’m good at making friends, so there shouldn’t be any problem getting along with my roommates… right?

The trip to the dorm is filled with excitement and quiet hope as I stare out of the window. I’m leaving my comfort zone behind to become someone better.

This is going to be a good start.

The city looked different from the backseat of a taxi.

Maybe it was because everything felt unfamiliar –different roads, buildings, people I didn’t know yet. Or maybe it was just me, trying a little too hard to believe that this place would change something in me.

I leaned my head against the window, watching the streets blur past. This was it. A new school, a new dorm, a fresh start.

“First time here?” the driver asked, glancing at me through the mirror.

“Yeah,” I said, sitting up slightly. “New school.”

“We’ll be there soon,” he said casually.

I nodded, already lost in thoughts of the memories I might make here.

The taxi slowed down, stopping in front of a tall, slightly worn-out building with a faded sign that read Student Dormitory. It wasn’t impressive but that didn’t matter.

This place was supposed to be the beginning of something.

I paid the driver, grabbed my bag, and stepped out. The air felt quieter here.

For a moment, I just stood there, taking it all in. Then I walked inside.

The hallway smelled faintly of old wood and fresh paint. A few students passed by without a second glance.

Normal. That was good. Normal meant I could fit in.

At the reception desk, a middle-aged man looked up from a stack of papers.

“Name?” he asked.

“Anish Mehra.” I replied with a small smile.

He flipped through a register and nodded. “Room 217.”

Room 217.

My room.

A small sense of excitement built in my chest as I picked up my bag and headed upstairs. Each step echoed slightly in the quiet building.

When I finally stood in front of the door, I paused.

This was it.

I reached for the handle, already imagining what my roommate would be like. Someone easygoing, maybe. Someone I could actually talk to.

Someone who might become… a friend.

I pushed the door open.

And froze.

Because inside the room…

was a girl.

She was sitting at the desk, reading a book. Calm. Collected. But the moment her eyes met mine, her expression shifted slightly.

“New student?” she asked, raising a brow. “I thought it would be a girl.”

I blinked, convinced I had the wrong room.

“…217?” I muttered, glancing back at the number on the door.

“This is room 217,” she said calmly. “You’re in the right place.”

I frowned, my mind struggling to process it.

Wasn’t this the boys’ dorm?

Then what was she doing here?

Without another word, I turned around and rushed back downstairs.

“Excuse me! There’s been a mistake!” I said, slightly out of breath as I reached the reception.

The same man looked up, unimpressed. “Mistake? You’ve been assigned to room 217. That’s the only available room.”

“But there’s a girl…” I said, still trying to make sense of it.

He sighed, like this wasn’t worth his time. “You don’t have another option. If a room becomes available, we’ll inform you. Until then, adjust.”

And just like that, he turned away.

I stood there, stunned.

The new beginning I had imagined the entire ride here…

was already nothing like I expected.

With a sigh, I picked up my bag and dragged myself back to the room. The excitement I had felt earlier had already disappeared.

I opened the door again.

This time, she was already looking at the door—as if she had been waiting for me to come back.

I slowly closed it and set my bag aside.

“I’m sorry about earlier. I’m Anish… your new roommate,” I said, trying not to let my disappointment show.

To my surprise, she remained completely calm.

“I’m Riya. Nice to meet you,” she replied in the same steady tone, before casually returning to her book.

It was strange. She didn’t seem bothered by anything at all. She had just accepted it and gone back to her work… like I didn’t matter enough to be noticed.

With a deep breath, I pushed the discomfort aside and tried to settle into this new environment.

This was how it was going to be from now on.

I had to live in the same room as her, so I needed to make sure she wasn’t uncomfortable.

But maybe… I was the one who felt out of place.

Because she didn’t seem to care at all.

The rest of the day slipped by quietly. I tried to adjust, just like I had planned..but it wasn’t as easy as I thought.

Tomorrow was my first day at school, and the last thing I wanted was to feel this awkward again.

Still, I found myself holding on to a small sense of excitement… hoping things would be different.

I tried not to think too much about her being in the same room. She didn’t seem interested in talking either, and somehow, that made the awkwardness easier to ignore.

I felt at ease knowing she wasn’t bothered by me.

I took my time unpacking my belongings while she remained engrossed in her own work.

| 7 PM |

As the sun slowly went down, I glanced at her and for the first time, she stood up.

“Want to grab something to eat? You must be hungry,” she asked.

It was the first time she sounded like she was actually aware of my existence, and the concern in her voice felt… unexpectedly comforting.

“There’s a mini fridge beside the closet. You can keep your food there too. There are some sandwiches and cold drinks – help yourself.I don’t mind sharing. We’re roommates, after all,” she said, pointing towards the small fridge.

Then she stretched slightly as I nodded. Her expression didn’t change, but it was obvious that this was the most she could manage when it came to interacting.

Maybe she wasn’t that unfriendly after all.

We had a quiet dinner and went to sleep—no “good night,” not another word.

But I was slowly getting used to it.

It wasn’t that bad.

If anything, I felt more determined now… looking forward to my first day at school.

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