It was a quiet Saturday morning. Around 10 AM, Room 307 felt extra peaceful. All three girls were stretched out on their beds, tangled in blankets, watching a silly comedy on Esther's laptop. The volume was low, just enough to hear. It wasn't anything special—just a random movie they found on ZEE5. The kind you play when you're too lazy to think, too full of lunch, or just passing time.
Then, Theresa's phone rang.
The ringtone broke the stillness, sharp and loud.
She reached down, grabbed it from the floor, and checked the screen.
"It's John," she said with a small grin. Then she slipped outside, the door clicking shut behind her.
Esther didn't even look up. She was still focused on the screen, munching on Lay's chips, crumbs gathering on her t-shirt.
Sri Mathi stretched a little, folded the blanket near her feet, and turned her gaze to the ceiling fan spinning slow circles above. The movie kept going, but no one was really watching anymore.
A few minutes later, the door opened again. Theresa walked in, tying her hair up into a messy ponytail.
"Hey," she said casually. "John's going out with his friends. So I thought... why don't we go out for lunch too?"
Esther sat up, brushing off the chips. "Out? Like... outside? Not to the mess?"
"Yeah." Theresa smiled. "Just nearby. I'm craving proper food. No floating oil today, please."
Sri Mathi looked at both of them. "Where exactly?"
Theresa shrugged. "No idea. Somewhere walkable. We'll figure it out."
"I'm in," Esther said quickly. "Anything's better than that watery rasam and soggy cabbage."
Sri Mathi nodded. "Okay, I'll come too."
"Nice!" Theresa clapped. "Let's get ready slowly. Maybe leave in half an hour?"
"Done," Esther said, walking to the cupboard. "But I'm wearing my loosest kurti. I want to eat properly without thinking about my tummy showing."
Sri Mathi laughed, shaking her head. "You're so dramatic."
"Grow up, idiot," Theresa said with a grin. Then she turned to Sri Mathi. "Hey, do you eat non-veg?"
"Only on certain days," she replied. "Not on Tuesdays or Fridays."
"Good to know. We'll pick a place with both options."
The three of them got ready, chatting between outfit changes and borrowed hair clips. Esther wore a blue printed kurti with leggings. Theresa went with jeans and a loose checked shirt. Sri Mathi picked a soft floral kurti and a matching scarf.
By 11:15, they stepped out into the sun. The road outside the hostel was quiet—weekend calm. A few girls passed them, some headed to the library, others just walking for snacks.
Theresa led the way. "Let's stop near Saraswati Auditorium first. John said he's there with his friends. We can just say hi for a minute, then go."
Esther made a face. "Ugh, boys? This was supposed to be a girls' lunch."
"It still is," Theresa said. "Just five minutes."
They walked slowly, enjoying the breeze. When they reached the steps of the auditorium, a small group of boys was standing there, huddled around a phone, laughing.
Theresa waved. "Hey!"
One of the boys turned and smiled. He was tall and lean, with calm eyes and a gentle look. He walked over.
"This is John," Theresa said, holding his arm for a second. "My boyfriend, obviously."
John gave a polite nod to Sri Mathi, then immediately started teasing Esther. "Hey! Still tagging along with your sister?"
Esther rolled her eyes. "You're the tag-along, John. We've been stuck together since birth."
John chuckled, then glanced at the unfamiliar face next to them—Sri Mathi.
Before anyone could introduce her, she had already looked past him.
There he was.
Standing slightly apart from the group. Black t-shirt, hands in his pockets, eyes downcast. Not laughing. Not speaking.
Why is he here? she thought. Of all people… of all times… why him? Why now? Since when does he hang out with anyone at all? Especially someone like John?
Questions bubbled up in her chest. She felt curiosity. Even hope. But she didn't let it show.
Her face stayed calm, eyes expressionless. Just polite. Just normal.
John began pointing around. "So that's Naveen from EEE, this is Prasanth from Civil, and that's Ali from ECE."
Each of them smiled or gave a quick wave.
"And that over there," he added, nodding toward the boy in the back, "is Arjun from Mechatronics."
Arjun barely moved. He lifted his head just enough for a slow nod.
Esther leaned closer to Sri Mathi and whispered, "He looks like a background actor in a sad song."
Sri Mathi didn't respond.
She couldn't.
Her chest felt tight.
Theresa and John started chatting. The other boys shifted around, talking about random stuff—canteen biryani, college fest rumors, and some cringey fresher's day dance.
"Alright," Theresa said after a few minutes. "We're heading for lunch. Just us girls."
"Where?" John asked.
"Not sure. Somewhere nearby."
"We're probably going to the mall later," he said.
"Cool. Have fun," Theresa waved.
The girls turned and walked away. Sri Mathi didn't look back.
Once they were out of earshot, Esther muttered, "That Arjun guy. He's intense."
"He's always like that," Theresa said. "Barely talks. Doesn't hang out much either, from what John says."
Sri Mathi said nothing.
They found a small restaurant at the street corner called Annai Veg & Non-Veg. It had red plastic chairs, a tiled floor, and the smell of masala floating from the kitchen. It was clean, simple, and thankfully, not crowded.
They picked a table by the window and settled in.
"I'm starving," Esther announced.
Theresa ordered chicken biryani. Esther went for egg fried rice. Sri Mathi chose a plain veg meal.
While waiting, they talked about everything—childhood games, nosy hostel wardens, and that girl in the next room who apparently brought a suitcase full of instant noodles.
"Seriously. I heard she packed twenty-five packets," Esther said, wide-eyed.
Theresa nearly choked on her water. "Is she preparing for the apocalypse?"
Sri Mathi laughed softly, but her mind wasn't fully there.
She kept remembering the way Arjun stood behind them, silent, distant… yet somehow present.
The food arrived. They ate quietly for a few minutes, hunger taking over.
"This biryani is actually really good," Theresa said between bites.
"I'm getting this next time," Esther added, stealing a spoon from Theresa's plate.
Sri Mathi just nodded and kept eating.
After lunch, they paid the bill and walked back slowly. The sun had climbed higher now. The roads were warmer. But none of them seemed to mind.
Back at the hostel, Esther flopped onto her bed. "That post-lunch walk? Torture."
"But lunch was worth it," Theresa said, kicking off her sandals.
Sri Mathi walked to the window and cracked it open for some air. Then she stood there for a moment, quiet.
She turned to her cupboard, pulled out a fresh pair of clothes, and paused.
"I'm going to change," she said softly.
Esther looked up. "You okay?"
"Yeah… just feeling heavy," she said with a small smile.
Theresa looked over. "Heavy from the food or... something else?"
Sri Mathi didn't answer. She just picked up her clothes and stepped out of the room.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Esther turned to Theresa and whispered, "That wasn't about food."
Theresa nodded slowly. "I know."
After a long pause, Esther added, "Yesterday, she mentioned she knows someone from Mechatronics."
Theresa raised an eyebrow. "Who?"