Chapter 1: CHAPTER 1 : INTODUCTION
Rahul, a second-year engineering student originally from the picturesque hills of Shimla, returns to Chandigarh after a two-month semester break. Although his family is settled in Shimla, he lives with his uncle's family in Chandigarh . Though coding doesn't captivate him, Rahul enrolled in a private university in Chandigarh to pursue his father's aspirations for his future. He didn't enjoy attending college, despite having a solid group of friends; there was still an emptiness that followed him throughout his time there , maybe there wasn't a sense of belonging in the air of Chandigarh , but with a heavy heart, he left Shimla once again to return to college.
1 august , 2023 || day 1
Living 20 km from college, Rahul relied on the college bus for transportation. At 7 am in the morning , he got ready to head to campus for the first day of the semester. It was an ordinary monsoon day—grey skies and gentle rain—until he saw her.... A 5'7" girl stood at the bus stop, wearing a crisp shirt over a crop top and blue jeans. She held a small black bag, an umbrella in one hand, her phone in the other, and had earphones in. For the next ten seconds, he was mesmerized by her beauty; for another ten, he felt an undeniable aura around her. Just as he was lost in thought, the college bus arrived.
One by one, the students climbed onto the bus. The girl took the first window seat, leaving the spot beside her empty. Rahul's mind raced with the idea of sitting next to her, but he couldn't muster the courage to make the move. With a heavy heart, Rahul made his way to the back of the bus, put on his earphones, and played some music. As the bus started, he spent the next 40 minutes daydreaming about the girl. He planned to talk to her as soon as they arrived at college, but once they exited the bus, she vanished into the crowd of students. A twinge of sadness hit him, yet deep down, he knew he wasn't confident enough to approach her.
After that, Rahul called his friends and headed to meet them. It was the first day back after vacation, and everyone gathered outside the college canteen, sipping a cup of tea and chatting about their holiday adventures. While Rahul actively participated in the conversation, a small part of his mind remained focused on that girl.
As classes wrapped up, he wondered if he would see her again on the way home. The moment the class got over, he rushed to the bus stand, eagerly searching for her. Sadly, he couldn't find her. He took his seat on the bus and reached home by 4 PM. With multiple buses serving his stop, he couldn't help but wonder which one she might have taken.
After reaching home, he freshened up, had a snack, and headed to the gym with his cousin. The thought of that girl lingered in his mind, refusing to fade. After having dinner, he settled into bed, still preoccupied with thoughts of her. he reflected on how just a 30-second glance at her had consumed his entire day. She must be someone special, he thought. Squeezing his pillow with subtle happiness, he called it a day and drifted off to sleep.