The sun was soft that morning — not too bright, not too dull — just like how new beginnings feel.
Aaravi Mehra, 19 years old, stood in front of her college gate holding her ID card and a dream.
It was her first day at Delhi Creative Arts College.
Her hands were shaking, not because of fear, but excitement.
"New place, new people, new me," she whispered, taking a deep breath.
Aaravi wasn't the kind of girl who caught everyone's eye.
She was simple — long black hair, round glasses, and a heart full of imagination.
Her friends back home used to say, "You live inside your dreams too much."
But Aaravi believed dreams make life beautiful.
---
Inside the college gate, the campus looked alive.
Students laughed, took selfies, rushed to classes.
Posters of festivals, drama clubs, and dance competitions were everywhere.
She smiled — this is where stories begin, she thought.
As she looked around, someone suddenly bumped into her.
Her coffee splashed all over her notebook.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!" she said quickly, trying to clean it.
A tall boy stood in front of her — calm eyes, serious face, wearing a white shirt with earphones in his ears.
He didn't look angry, just… blank.
He took off his earphones slowly and said,
"You should look where you're going."
His voice was soft but firm.
Aaravi blinked. "You bumped into me!"
He gave a small smile — the kind that isn't really a smile.
"Maybe," he said, and walked away.
She stared after him, annoyed.
"Unbelievable! First day, and already a villain," she muttered.
Little did she know — that boy would soon turn her life upside down.
---
Later in class, Aaravi found a seat near the window.
The sunlight fell on her notebook, and she doodled small stars while waiting for the teacher.
Then someone sat next to her.
She turned — and froze.
It was him.
The same boy.
He looked at her, surprised too.
"You again?" he said.
"Me? You're the one who sat here!" Aaravi replied, still holding her pen like a sword.
He chuckled softly. "Relax. I'm Rihan."
She blinked. Rihan. The name sounded like a melody and mystery at the same time.
"I'm Aaravi," she said quickly, pretending not to care.
Their teacher entered, and class began.
But Aaravi couldn't focus.
Every time Rihan moved, she noticed — how he wrote fast, how he stared at the board with sharp focus, how he barely talked to anyone.
When class ended, he packed his bag and left quietly.
No smile, no goodbye.
Aaravi sighed. "What's his problem? So cold."
But her heart whispered something else — He's different.
---
At lunch, Aaravi found a group of friendly students.
One girl said, "Oh, that's Rihan Malhotra, the topper from last year. He doesn't talk much. He's like ice — handsome but cold."
"Topper?" Aaravi asked.
"Yes! Everyone knows him. Straight A's, always on time, no nonsense."
Aaravi looked at her half-eaten sandwich and smiled.
"Great. The first person I fight with is the topper."
Her friends laughed.
And just like that, the first chapter of her college life began — with laughter, new faces, and one mysterious boy she couldn't stop thinking about.
---
That night, when Aaravi looked at the sky from her hostel window, stars were scattered everywhere.
She smiled softly.
"Today, the sky smiled at me," she whispered.
"Maybe something good is coming."
She didn't know — love, pain, friendship, and dreams were all waiting just around the corner.