Scene 1: "New Beginnings: Room 221"
New York.
The campus was alive with activity as students carried suitcases, adjusted their bags, and greeted each other. It was the start of the master's program, and Aashvi felt both nervous and determined. This was her chance to prove herself again, just like she had during her undergraduate years.
But first, she had to sort out her living arrangements. She entered the dorm allocation hall, where a group of students was gathered around a noticeboard. Walking up to it, she quickly found her name under Room 221:
Room 221
1. Aashvi
2. Mihir
3. Meera
4. Pravi
5. Smith
6. Shweth
Her eyes widened. Three girls and three boys? Seriously?
"Excuse me," she said to the clerk nearby.
"This list says I'll be sharing with boys. Isn't that a mistake?"
"No mistake," the clerk replied. "The master's dorms are co-ed. You'll have your own sleeping areas but shared common spaces."
Before she could argue, a voice spoke from behind her. "So, you're in Room 221 too?"
Aashvi turned to see a tall boy with a laid-back smile. His hair was messy, and he carried a duffel bag on one shoulder.
"Who's asking?" she replied.
"Mihir," he said, holding out his hand. "Looks like we're roommates."
She ignored the hand and said firmly,
"I'll talk to the administration about this."
Mihir raised an eyebrow but smirked. "Sure, go ahead. Let me know how that works out."
Before Aashvi could respond, more voices joined in.
"Hey, Room 221 gang, right?" A cheerful girl with bright eyes waved as she approached, followed by two others—a tall boy with a serious face and another girl with curly hair.
"I'm Pravi," the cheerful one said with a big grin. "This is Smith and Meera."
As they introduced themselves, another boy with glasses arrived, pushing up his frames.
"I'm Smith," he said quietly.
Aashvi glanced at all of them, feeling uneasy about sharing a space with five strangers.
"Well," Mihir said with a grin, "this is going to be fun."
Aashvi shot him a sharp look.
Fun? She wasn't so sure about that.
As introductions wrapped up, an awkward silence settled over the group. Aashvi shifted uncomfortably, glancing around at her new roommates. She wasn't here to socialize—she had goals, deadlines, and plans that didn't involve making small talk with strangers.
"Let's just get this over with," she muttered under her breath and headed toward the dorm building without waiting for the others.
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Scene 2: "The Filmmaker's Circle"
The dorm was modest but well-maintained, with cream-coloured walls and polished wooden floors. Room 221 was at the far end of the hallway. Aashvi pushed open the door and stopped in her tracks.
The room was spacious and divided into sections. Three bunk beds lined one wall, while a small common area with a couch and a coffee table occupied the center. A shared bathroom and kitchenette were tucked in the corner.
Mihir strolled in behind her, setting his duffel bag on one of the bunks. "Not bad," he said, glancing around. "Better than I expected."
"I call the top bunk," Pravi chirped, rushing past Aashvi and throwing her bag onto the nearest bed.
Meera and Shweth followed, each quietly claiming their spaces, while Smith hesitated near the doorway. Aashvi sighed and moved toward a bunk in the corner, determined to put as much distance between herself and Mihir as possible.
As everyone settled in, Pravi broke the silence. "So, what's everyone studying?"
Aashvi rolled her eyes internally. She didn't see the point of this conversation but listened anyway.
"Cinematography," Shweth said simply, setting his books on a shelf.
"Script writing for me," Meera added quietly.
"Production Designing," Smith said, barely looking up.
"Editing," Pravi said brightly, grinning at everyone.
Mihir leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "Direction (Specialization in Documentary). And you?" he asked, looking at Aashvi.
"Direction (Specialization in Fiction)," she replied curtly, avoiding his gaze.
"oh great same batch that means," Mihir said with a smirk.
Aashvi clenched her teeth. What's with this guy?
As Pravi tried to keep the conversation going, Aashvi focused on unpacking her bag. She wasn't here to make friends, and she definitely wasn't going to waste her time entertaining Mihir's cocky attitude.
But deep down, she couldn't shake the feeling that this group—and especially Mihir—might make her time here more complicated than she had planned.
As the group settled in, Pravi clapped her hands together, breaking the silence again. "Okay, since we're all stuck together for the next year, we might as well know a bit more about each other. Like, where's everyone from?"
"Delhi," Shweth said, adjusting his glasses. His voice was calm but full of pride.
"I'm from Jaipur," Meera said softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"Pune!" Pravi chimed in, her enthusiasm unwavering. "The land of vada pav and misal pav!"
Smith adjusted his bag on the floor and replied in a low voice, "Madhya Pradesh"
Aashvi, still unpacking, finally glanced up. "Gujarat"
All eyes turned to Mihir, who smirked as he leaned against the bunk bed. "Mumbai. City of dreams, you know? "But I was born and brought up in Gujarat itself."
Pravi grinned. "Arre wah, sab Indians hai! Chalo, ab toh Hindi mein baat ho sakti hai."
"Good idea!" Meera said, her voice more animated than before. "English feels so formal."
Aashvi crossed her arms and leaned back slightly. "Hindi, Hinglish, jo bhi. Just keep it short."
Mihir couldn't resist. "Arre, Aashvi, abhi se rules banane lagi? Relax thoda, boss."
"Relax?" Aashvi shot back. "Mujhe yeh sab chhoti chhoti baatein karne ka time nahi hai."
Pravi giggled. "Mihir, tum toh pehle hi Aashvi ke hit list pe ho."
"Bas kar, Pravi," Mihir replied dramatically, holding his hand over his heart. "Hit list pe rahunga, but focus toh iss room ke sapno ka hona chahiye, hai na?"
Shweth chuckled quietly while Smith remained silent, his lips twitching slightly as if hiding a smile.
Aashvi huffed and turned back to her bag. "Sapne tabhi pure hote hain jab distractions na ho."
Mihir grinned. "Toh main distraction hoon?"
Aashvi didn't reply but her silence spoke volumes.
Pravi jumped in again, trying to lighten the mood. "Arre, sab chill karo. It's day one. Waise bhi, hum sab filmmakers hain. Ek script likhne ka scene lag raha hai yeh."
"True," Meera said with a shy smile. "This could be the start of an interesting story."
"Or a disaster," Aashvi muttered, loud enough for everyone to hear.
Mihir laughed. "Disaster ya blockbuster, dekhte hain."
As the group's conversation flowed seamlessly into Hinglish, the atmosphere started to ease. For the first time, Aashvi felt a small crack in her wall of resistance. Maybe, just maybe, this odd mix of people might not be as bad as she feared. But she wasn't ready to admit that just yet.\
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Scene 3: "Crossroads in London"
Here in London,
The soft hum of voices and distant clatter of footsteps filled the air as Kavya walked briskly across the campus. Her bag was slung over one shoulder, a coffee cup in hand, and her mind was already racing through her to-do list. This was her first day of the postgraduate medical program, and she wasn't going to waste a single moment.
Kavya arrived at the lecture hall early, slipping into a seat in the front row. She pulled out her notebook and began flipping through her pre-prepared notes. The hustle of arriving students barely registered as she focused on her plans for the week.
Meanwhile, Garg strolled onto campus with a mix of curiosity and confidence. His first stop was the campus café, where he grabbed a sandwich and surveyed the bustling scene. The place felt alive, brimming with potential. As a firm believer in balancing work and life, he had no intention of letting the intensity of medical school drain the joy out of his days.
As he stepped into the lecture hall, he noticed a girl seated in the second row, her focus entirely on the open notebook in front of her. She was scribbling furiously, completely absorbed in her work. Garg chuckled softly to himself—someone was already taking their studies very seriously.
He found a seat a few rows behind her, close enough to observe but not too close to seem obvious. The lecturer walked in and began the orientation, introducing them to the rigorous journey ahead.
After the session ended, the students began to mingle, exchanging introductions and pleasantries. Garg saw his chance and approached the girl.
"Hi, I'm Garg," he said, offering a friendly smile. "Looks like we're in the same program."
The girl looked up, slightly startled, but then returned his smile politely. "Kavya," she replied. "Nice to meet you."
"You were already taking notes during orientation?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Kavya laughed lightly. "Force of habit, I guess. I like to stay ahead."
"That's impressive," Garg said, genuinely admiring her dedication. "But don't you think we deserve at least one day to ease into this?"
Kavya shrugged, her expression softening. "Maybe. But I've always believed in starting strong. Medical school isn't exactly forgiving, is it?"
"True," Garg admitted, "but it's also important to breathe. So, any plans to explore the campus?"
Kavya hesitated. "Not really. I thought I'd use the time to organize my study schedule."
"Come on," Garg said, his tone teasing but warm. "It's day one. How about a quick tour? It'll help us figure out where everything is... and it's practical."
She smiled despite herself. "You're persistent, aren't you?"
"Only for the right reasons," he replied with a grin.
After a moment's pause, Kavya nodded. "Okay, a quick tour. But then I'm going back to my schedule."
As they walked through the campus, Garg made light conversation, pointing out landmarks and occasionally slipping in a joke. Kavya found herself relaxing, even laughing at his quips.
"You're surprisingly easy to talk to," she said as they reached the library.
"Surprisingly?" Garg feigned offence. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Kavya rolled her eyes but smiled. "It is. Anyway, I think I'll head back now. Thanks for the tour."
"Anytime," Garg said, stepping aside to let her pass. "By the way, I'll make it my mission to remind you to take breaks this year. Someone has to."
Kavya smirked. "Good luck with that."
As she walked away, Garg watched her retreating figure, a soft smile playing on his lips. There was something about her—a quiet determination and an air of self-assuredness that intrigued him.
For Kavya, as she returned to her desk, she couldn't help but think of Garg's easygoing nature. It was a refreshing contrast to the intensity of medical life.
Though neither of them said it aloud, they both felt a subtle pull, an unspoken connection that hinted at something more than just a shared program.
And so, amidst the chaos of post-graduate life, a quiet spark had begun to flicker.
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So, this is it for today, Hope you like this part if yes then Vote, Comment and Share.
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