The Collision
The first day of college always feels like the beginning of something unknown—something bigger than yesterday. For Meghla, it felt exactly like that. She stood in front of the mirror that morning, adjusting her light blue kurti for the fifth time. Her heart was racing with excitement and nervousness.
"Don't be late on your first day!" her mother called from the kitchen.
"I won't, Ma!" Meghla replied, forcing a confident smile at her reflection.
But inside, she was trembling.
The college campus was larger than she had imagined. Students filled the courtyard—laughing, chatting, taking selfies, and forming new friendships. Meghla felt like a small boat in a noisy ocean. She tightened her grip on her books and took a deep breath.
"This is your new beginning," she whispered to herself.
And then it happened.
She turned around too quickly and collided straight into someone. Her books slipped from her hands and scattered across the ground.
"I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking," a deep voice said urgently.
Meghla bent down at the same time as the stranger, and their hands accidentally touched while picking up the same book. For a second, everything felt strangely still.
"I should be the one apologizing," she said softly.
When she looked up, she saw a pair of calm brown eyes staring at her with concern. The boy had slightly messy hair, a gentle expression, and an awkward but warm smile.
"Are you okay?" he asked again.
"Yes… I'm fine," she replied, trying not to sound nervous.
He handed her the last book. "I'm Rudra. First year. English department."
Meghla blinked in surprise. "Me too."
They both laughed—an easy, unexpected laugh that somehow erased the awkwardness.
"Looks like we're classmates," Rudra said. "What a dramatic first meeting."
Meghla couldn't help smiling. "Definitely unforgettable."
They walked toward the classroom together. The conversation was simple—where they were from, which subjects they liked, how nervous they felt about college. But something about the conversation felt natural, as if they had known each other longer than just five minutes.
Inside the classroom, Meghla chose a seat near the window. To her quiet relief, Rudra sat beside her.
Throughout the lecture, she tried to focus on the professor's words, but her mind kept drifting. She was aware of Rudra sitting next to her—occasionally taking notes, occasionally brushing his fingers through his hair when confused.
At one point, he leaned slightly toward her and whispered, "Did you understand what he just explained?"
Meghla shook her head. "Not really."
"Good," he smiled. "I thought I was the only one."
She tried to hide her laughter, but failed.
When the class ended, students rushed out excitedly. Meghla gathered her things slowly. She wasn't sure why, but she hoped Rudra wouldn't just disappear into the crowd.
"Hey," he said gently. "Are you heading to the canteen?"
She hesitated for half a second. "Yes."
"Can I join you?"
Her heart skipped. "Of course."
The college canteen was crowded and noisy, filled with the smell of coffee and freshly fried snacks. They found a small table in the corner.
"So," Rudra said, resting his chin on his hand, "what made you choose English?"
Meghla thought for a moment. "I like stories. I like how words can create entire worlds."
Rudra's eyes lit up. "Same. I want to write someday."
"Really?" she asked, surprised.
"Yeah. Maybe a novel. Or poetry. Something meaningful."
Meghla smiled. "I'd love to read it."
"And maybe," he said playfully, "you'll be the main character."
She felt her cheeks grow warm. "That's too much confidence for the first day."
"Or maybe," he corrected softly, "it's destiny."
The word lingered between them longer than expected.
As the afternoon sunlight filtered through the canteen windows, Meghla realized something unusual. The nervousness she had felt in the morning was gone. In its place was a quiet comfort—one she didn't fully understand yet.
After finishing their snacks, they walked toward the college gate.
"See you tomorrow?" Rudra asked.
"Yes," Meghla replied, trying to sound casual.
But as she walked home, her thoughts replayed every small moment—the collision, the laughter, the way he listened when she spoke.
It was strange how one accidental bump could change the entire rhythm of a day.
That night, lying in bed, Meghla stared at the ceiling. She told herself it was nothing. Just a new friend. Just a classmate.
But deep inside, she felt it.
Something had begun.
Maybe it was too early to call it love. Maybe it was just curiosity. Or maybe it was the quiet start of a story neither of them had planned—but both were about to live.
And somewhere in the chaos of a new campus and unfamiliar faces, a simple collision had sparked the first page of something unforgettable.Later that night, Meghla's phone buzzed with a notification.
It was a friend request on social media.
Her heart skipped when she saw the name — Rudra Sen.
For a moment, she simply stared at the screen, unsure whether to smile or panic. How did he find her so quickly?
After a few seconds of hesitation, she accepted the request. Almost instantly, a message appeared.
Rudra: "I hope you reached home safely."
Meghla's lips curved into a soft smile.
Meghla: "Yes, I did. Thank you."
There was a pause… and then another message.
Rudra: "Today didn't feel like the first day of college. It felt like the start of something interesting."
Her heart began to race again.
Maybe it was too soon.
Maybe she was overthinking.
But deep down, she knew one thing for sure—
this unexpected meeting was slowly turning into something she couldn't ignore.
And this time, she wasn't sure if she even wanted to.