Intermediate flew by like a whirlwind. The five of us—Meenakshi, Dileep, Seetha, Ram, and I—had spent two years buried in books, solving question papers, and stressing over every little mark. The EAMCET entrance exam was our gateway to a bright future, and we had given it everything we had. Sleepless nights, early morning revisions, group discussions that often turned into silly arguments—we had been through it all together.
When the results were finally announced, I could hardly believe my eyes. We did it.
All five of us had secured good ranks! Relief flooded through me as I stared at my score, my hands shaking slightly. I looked at my friends, each of them with a mix of shock and joy on their faces. Meenakshi was the first to let out a scream of excitement, and before I knew it, we were all hugging each other, laughing, and crying at the same time.
But the real excitement came when we realized that we had all gotten admission into the same prestigious college.
There was just one twist.
While Meenakshi, Dileep, and I had chosen Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Seetha and Ram opted for Computer Science Engineering (CSE). Different fields meant different classrooms, different professors, and different assignments. But it didn’t matter—we would still be in the same college, walking the same corridors, sharing the same canteen tables. That was enough for us.
Or so I thought.
The next challenge was where we would stay.
Our college was far from our hometown, making daily commuting nearly impossible. The best option was the college hostel, and the five of us had already started planning our hostel life—the late-night study sessions, the whispered gossip in the dark, the endless Maggi and coffee runs. It was supposed to be our little adventure.
But my excitement was short-lived.
“You’re not staying in some hostel, Rashi,” my dad’s voice was firm, his expression unreadable.
I froze. “But Dad, all my friends—”
“No arguments.” His tone left no room for negotiation. “You’ll stay at your aunt’s house. It’s close to the college, and your uncle and aunt will take care of you.”
I turned to my mom, hoping she would take my side. She hesitated for a moment, but then nodded. “It’s safer, Rashi. And your aunt was more than happy when we asked her.”
I wanted to protest, but I knew better. My father’s decisions were final. And just like that, my dream of hostel life crumbled before my eyes.
I wasn’t entirely against staying with my aunt. She was a kind woman, and I had always gotten along with her whenever we met at family gatherings. But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was her son.
My cousin.
Aditya.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
A senior in my college. My senior.
He was also in ECE, just like me. In a way, that should have been comforting—having family in the same branch, someone to guide me. But it wasn’t.
Because Aditya was not the friendly, overprotective brotherly type.
He was distant, cold, and carried an aura that made people think twice before approaching him. He wasn’t rude exactly, but he wasn’t welcoming either. And from what little I knew about him, he had never been the type to talk much, even with relatives.
So, when I stepped into their house, dragging my suitcase behind me, I wasn’t sure what to expect.
My aunt greeted me warmly, pulling me into a tight hug. “Rashi, it’s so good to have you here! This is your home now, okay?”
I smiled, trying to shake off the uneasy feeling in my chest. “Thank you, atta,” I said softly.
My uncle was a man of few words, but he gave me a nod of approval, which I took as a silent welcome.
And then there was Aditya.
He was leaning against the living room wall, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. He didn’t say anything—no hello, no nod, nothing. Just a neutral gaze that felt too neutral to be polite.
“Aditya, you’ll take care of Rashi at college, won’t you?” my aunt asked, her voice filled with motherly authority. “She’s new, and it’ll be good for her to have someone guiding her.”
Aditya didn’t even hesitate before answering.
“Yeah.”
That’s it. Just one word. No enthusiasm, no reassurance, just a simple confirmation.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. Great.
That night, I sat in my new room, staring at the ceiling, letting reality sink in. This wasn’t what I had imagined for my college life. I was supposed to be laughing with Meenakshi, fighting over cupboard space with Seetha, and sneaking into the canteen at odd hours with Dileep and Ram. Instead, I was in a silent house with a cousin who clearly didn’t want me here.
I sighed, shaking my head. Maybe I was overthinking.
Maybe Aditya wasn’t actually rude—maybe he was just reserved. Maybe he would open up eventually.
Maybe…
I wasn’t convinced, but I decided to make the best of the situation.
After all, a new chapter was beginning, and I couldn’t afford to let anything dull the excitement of college life.
Little did I know, this was just the beginning of something I never saw coming.
