Chapter 6 – First Day of Class
The alarm rang at 7:00 AM, echoing down the hostel corridor. Room 204 came alive with the usual morning chaos.
Arjun Rathore stretched lazily, refusing to budge until Kabir Malhotra tossed a pillow at him.
"Rathore, get up! First day of class—don't embarrass us," Kabir scolded, neatly buttoning his shirt.
Imran Sheikh chuckled from his bed. "Leave him. Kings wake at their own time."
Arjun smirked, eyes half shut. "Exactly. Why should I rush? History doesn't remember the punctual ones—it remembers the daring."
In Room 205, Raghav Chauhan was already up, lacing his shoes. Vikram Solanki stretched by the window, his athlete's discipline obvious. Sameer Verma, however, was still sprawled across his bed, groaning.
"Come on, Chauhan, why so serious?" Sameer teased. "It's class, not a war."
Raghav gave a small smile. "Sometimes class is a war."
Vikram rolled his eyes. "Not this again."
By 8:00, all six roommates met in the mess hall. Steam rose from parathas, the smell of chai filled the air, and the clatter of steel plates mixed with laughter. Their table was lively—Kabir talking about schedules, Sameer cracking jokes, Vikram frowning at him, Imran quietly observing, and Arjun and Raghav exchanging smirks as they ate.
When breakfast was over, they walked together toward the academic blocks. The campus buzzed with energy—new students hurrying about, ID cards swinging from their necks, eyes filled with both excitement and nervousness.
At the junction, the six parted ways:
Kabir → Business Administration
Imran → Architecture
Sameer → Arts
Vikram → Sports & Physical Education
Arjun & Raghav → Computer Science (B.Tech Software Engineering)
Arjun clapped Raghav's shoulder. "Looks like it's just us again, Chauhan."
"Like always," Raghav replied.
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🎓 The Classroom
The lecture hall for Software Engineering smelled of chalk dust and varnished wood. Desks stretched in neat rows, the sunlight streaming in from tall windows.
Arjun walked in with casual confidence, while Raghav's calm presence balanced him. They settled in the middle row.
The chatter around them quieted when the door opened and Professor Sharma entered—a tall man with gray hair, sharp spectacles, and a presence that silenced the room.
"Good morning, everyone," he said, his voice firm yet calm. "Welcome to your first day. Before we begin the real journey, let's start with introductions. Name, background, and why you chose Computer Science."
The students went one by one.
Aditya Sharma, tall and thin, cracked a joke about choosing CS because "my parents didn't want me to starve." Laughter followed.
Megha Kapoor, organized and sharp, spoke about her fascination with coding since school.
Others shared small stories, some nervous, some confident.
Then came Aditi Verma. She stood, her presence naturally drawing attention—not because of status, but because of her calm beauty and composed voice.
"Aditi Verma. Born and raised here in the state. I chose Computer Science because I love solving puzzles and building things that actually work."
Simple words, but spoken with clarity. A few students nodded in admiration.
Next was Arjun. He stood casually, one hand in his pocket.
"Arjun Rathore. Originally from Rajasthan, but I grew up in Himachal Pradesh. I'm here for… the adventure. If a degree comes along, good. If not, the professors still got the honor of teaching me."
Laughter rippled through the class. Even Professor Sharma raised an eyebrow but let it pass.
Then Raghav stood. His voice was steady, quieter but strong.
"Raghav Chauhan. Same roots as him—Rajasthan blood, Himachal upbringing. I'm here to learn, and to stand by my brother."
Some students exchanged curious glances at the way he said "brother." It wasn't literal—but it carried weight.
Professor Sharma nodded. "Good. Just remember—Computer Science isn't just about codes. It's about discipline, logic, and perseverance. Many of you will falter, but those who endure will rise."
The lecture began, notes were scribbled, jokes whispered. By the end, groups had already started forming—friendships budding, rivalries sparking.
As they left, Arjun stretched, grinning.
"Well, Chauhan, battlefield of brains looks interesting."
Raghav smirked. "Better than I expected."
Their real journey had just begun.