Chapter 1: The Racket and the Sketchbook
The third-floor hallway of block B in the college hostel was always loud, but Room 304 was a world of its own. It belonged to Kavya and Sam, two girls who seemed like opposite poles of a magnet yet fit together with seamless ease.
Kavya was the kind of person who lit up any room simply by walking in. Cute, endlessly expressive, and effortlessly beautiful, she had a soft laugh that could thaw the moodiest hostel warden. Beyond her charm, she was an artist in every sense—her fingers were often stained with charcoal from sketching late into the night, and when she danced on the hostel terrace, her movements were fluid, mesmerizing, and filled with grace. She possessed a warmth that drew people in, paired with articulate, persuasive speaking skills that made her the undisputed voice of their student batch.
Then there was Sam. Tall, effortlessly cool, and radiating a calm, grounding energy, Sam was the undisputed star of the university badminton court. With a sharp grip on her racket and lightning-fast footwork, she commanded respect the moment she stepped onto the hardwood floor. But off the court, Sam possessed a very specific kind of magnetism: she was pure boyfriend material. She carried a quiet chivalry, always holding doors open, remembering everyone’s coffee orders, fixing broken desk lamps, and offering a steady shoulder without ever needing to be asked. She spoke with a smooth, confident clarity that commanded attention in debates and conversations alike. Though she was a girl, her protective instincts, stylishly relaxed clothes, and thoughtful, attentive nature made her the ultimate dream partner.
From their very first week in the hostel, they were inseparable. While Kavya filled their room with music, sketches, and fairy lights, Sam ensured their space was stocked with snacks, their study lamps worked, and Kavya never walked back alone from late-night dance rehearsals.
