Chapter 1
Evergreen College: A new beginning
It was my first day at Evergreen College. The campus buzzed with excitement. Laughter, conversation, and the voices of excited new students filled the open spaces.
Some were nervously holding their bags in white-knuckled fists. Some were ecstatic, beaming smiles stretching from ear to ear. And some remained serene, as if this was just another typical day.
The college itself was well ornamented. Banners and flowers cascaded down the walls, and it seemed almost as if each brick was impatient to welcome the new one.
The atmosphere breathed something of an optimism, something that convinced all and sundry that something special was on the verge of starting.
The Orientation
As a welcome to the freshers, the seniors had planned an orientation programme. Games, ice-breaking activities, and mini-performances were arranged to introduce the juniors and make them relax.
The seniors giggled with them, showed them the way, and made the first day a little less intimidating. But with fun, there was challenge too—a technical round to find out the brightest student among the freshers.
The problem was difficult. Students tried it one by one. Some of them gave up, telling their friends that it was impossible. And then, almost silently, one boy cracked it.
His name was Aarav.
He completed the problem so fast, it seemed easy. The seniors looked in dismay. One of them took a step forward and asked, "This was supposed to test you all. "How did you solve it so quickly?" Aarav gazed up serenely and replied, "It's just pattern recognition." His tone was even, nearly detached, as if the puzzle had been a diversion to him. The seniors were in awe. So were the staff who had witnessed it.
They clapped for him, congratulated his brilliance, and gave him the Talented Student Award. Aarav rose, uttered a few words of appreciation, and sat down quietly again. No elation, no pride—just stoic acceptance. While the rest of them hurried to play games and participate in activities, Aarav remained silently in the crowd. He opened his book and started drawing something. He draws a shape which is a little unpredictable and yet not clear. But then the orientation was over. It was time to head home. Aarav closed the notebook, abandoning the drawing half done. It was a symbol—odd and enigmatic—but only half drawn. What was he attempting to sketch?
Why did it feel significant? No one had any idea.
To most of the students, the day ended with excitement. To Aarav, it was another day.
The Girl with the Striped Diary
The following morning, when the fresh batch adjusted to their classrooms, a hush fell unexpectedly. A girl arrived. She walked in confidently, with a radiant smile. Her beauty commanded every head to turn. She was holding a multicoloured striped diary that complemented her attire extremely well. She was beautiful. Whispering started the moment she arrived. Who is she? Is she a new girl? Why did she miss the orientation?
Her name was Meera.
She had been absent during the orientation, so that was why no one knew her. As all eyes trailed behind her, one of the boys in the room did not even bother to lift his head. He is Aarav ,He continued reading his novel, unmoved. First Talk,
Meera differed from Aarav. She was outgoing, warm, and friendly. She adored meeting people and making friends. Within a short time, she was already chatting and laughing with new classmates. But then her eyes picked up on something strange. On the row in front of her, one boy sat alone, away from the clusters. While others were chatting, he read. His attention was keen, as if anything going on around him did not matter. Curiosity pulled Meera. She finally went over to him.
"Hi, I'm Meera. And you?" "Aarav," he said, without glancing up much.
"What are you reading, Aarav?" "The novel Alchemist," he answered.
"Oh, nice! I've heard it's very inspiring," Meera smiled. She enjoyed reading too. But Aarav did not reply. He didn't even ask her anything back. So she simply said softly, "Nice to meet you, Aarav," and returned to her seat. Something about his silence intrigued her. She liked it.
The Mathematics Class
The bell rang. The maths professor walked into the classroom. It being the first day, he asked everyone to introduce themselves. One after the other, the students got up. Some hesitated, some boldly.
When Aarav's turn came, he mentioned briefly, "I'm Aarav. I like reading and technology. Nothing much."
When it was Meera's turn, she stood straight and said firmly, "I'm Meera. My interests include reading, singing, and group work. I hope to construct my life in technology." Her confidence earned applause from the class.
The professor then started with simple mathematical concepts after greetings. The students listened intently, some struggling to understand. He posed a question at the end of the class. No one replied. Meera paused, then raised her hand. She provided the answer—correctly. "Great, Meera," the professor complimented. Aarav, for the first time, glanced at her with curiosity. For a moment, only. And then he returned to his book.
The Announcement
At recess time, the principal delivered an announcement over the intercom:"Next week, Evergreen College will be hosting its Annual Cultural Fest. Seniors will be running the event, but we will also be choosing coordinators from the incoming batch."The students were all abuzz.Later, the seniors announced their selection. Aarav was selected from among the boys due to his intelligence and showing during orientation. Meera was selected from among the girls due to her confidence and leadership ability.Aarav and Meera had not previously worked together.Initially, they were like opposites.Aarav was quiet, rational, and sombre.Meera was bubbly, warm, and imaginative.But gradually, the differences began to complement one another. Aarav's seriousness brought clarity. Meera's energy brought vibrancy.The two, together, planned the fest stunningly.The seniors and staffpersons appreciated them. The students envied them.For the majority, it was simply another college fest.But for Aarav and Meera, it was the start of something else
Their friendship and growth…