The College Romance

• Chapter 5: The Annual Assembly •

[University of Bournbrooke]

Mayukh sat in his accommodation at Thornhill, as he contemplated the recent interaction he had with that girl.
Who was she?
Why hadn't he seen her before?
He knew everyone in the University. How didn't he know her?

His mind was distraught as he was called by his cousin, Ved, "Hey bro!"
"Hi. What's up?"
"Where are you?"
"Room. Why?"
"Come to the auditorium. Mom Dad has reached. They want to meet you."
"Oh. Okay, coming."

He cut the call and made his way to the auditorium, his eyes indirectly scanning around to find that girl again. Once he arrived, he saw his Mom Dad and his Uncle and Aunt on stage, distracted in conversation.
"Hi Guys!" He walked to his Kaka.
"Mayukh!" Bishwas Roy hugged his nephew.
"How are you Kaka Kaki?"
"We're good. Where is Jhanvi and Gautam?" Nayanika Roy asked the family.
"Jhanvi will not join this event. Doesn't make sense when she's not really involved, neither did she graduate from it. Gautam is at the airport, he'll reach in a bit." Shambhavi Roy explained.
"Excellent."
"Mayukh." Sunil Roy called his son.
"Yes Dad."
"Take Ved and Kashik with you, find Arnab and Arup as well, and all you boys go get dressed.
"Okay."

Mayukh said and took Ved and Kashik as they walked to the changing room.
"Where are Arnab and Arup?" Mayukh asked.
"They woke up late, so they should be reaching soon. I'll call them."

Arnab and Arup Roy, the twins of Mr Batuk Roy. Mr Batuk Roy was the youngest child of Mr Sudhanshu Roy. He had two children: Arnab and Arup. They were the same age as Ved and Mayukh. All the second generation of Roy men were born around the same time.

~~~

Nikita sat in her room, getting her handbag ready for classes tomorrow. She got a message from her parents that they've boarded the flight, and now she was sitting bored.

She stepped outside and saw another family entering the house. She immediately smiled and greeted herself, "Hello. I'm Nikita."
"Hi beta!" An elderly woman replied.
"Hi. I'm Aisha." A young girl, around the same age replied, "I'm your roommate."
"Nikita!" Nikita said and shook her hand.
"You're in room 3?"
"Yes!"
"Awesome! I'm in room 2!"
"That's nice!"
"Are you attending the annual assembly in the evening?"
"We have to, right?"
"I think so, wait for me, we'll go together!" Aisha said, holding Nikita's arm.
"Of course!" She chuckled.

Aisha and her family retreated to their room and shortly after, Krutika, the third roommate also arrived.

The three girls sat with their families, Nikita got on a video call to introduce her family to the families of her roommates and after a nice cup of tea, both families departed, leaving just the 3 girls in the room. 

[6pm. Tulip Towers]

"Guys! Are you ready?" Nikita asked.
She was waiting in the hall for her roommates, as they were to head to the annual assembly. She hadn't changed but she had fixed her lipstick and kajal and gotten her face fixed. Her hair was now braided properly.
"Yes!" Aisha and Krutika arrived from their rooms, ready to join.
"Let's go!" Krutika said.

~~~

Mayukh waited in the hall, as the hall started filling up with students, taking their seats. Mr Sudhanshu had arrived, with his wife Mrs Neeta Roy. They were all sitting in the front row, waiting for the assembly to begin.
"Yo bro. Where are your eyes scouting?" Ved smirked, sitting next to Mayukh.
"Nowhere." Mayukh replied.
"I can see that." He teased, "did you meet someone?"
Mayukh sighed, "Kind off, I bumped into this one girl."
"Ooooh! Tell me more!"
"She was pretty. I don't know who she is. Leave it!"
"Why, leave it?" Ved asked, "You should—"
Before he could continue, the University chancellor had arrived and the talk had begun.

Meanwhile, 10 rows behind, Nikita sat with Aisha and Krutika as they heard the speech.
"I heard the grandsons of the founder study here." Aisha whispered.
"Really?" Krutika asked.
"Yep!"
"Are they hot?"
"I think so!" Aisha smirked.
"Guys! Shush!" Nikita said, while smiling and rolling her eyes.

"Good Evening Students. I am your Chancellor, Ms Reema Gupta. I'd like to extend a warm welcome to all new and existing students. Please note that your timetables are given to you and classes start next week. We encourage everyone to be involved in some societies so that our student engagement is at its highest. We are having a society fair tomorrow for the entire day, so please get involved. Classes begin next week but this is your welcome week. We'll be having a bunch of activities across the University, the events and its timing are given in your Uni app. Now, I'd like to call Mr Sudhanshu Roy to grace us with a few words."

A loud cheer erupted as Mr Sudhanshu entered the stage. He was a man of 77 years but was still agile and active. He proceeded to give his speech while Nikita listened with interest. Once he was done, everyone cheered and soon Mrs Reema was back on stage.
"Thank you everyone. Now, please head outside to the dinner hall. Students, you may head outside to the activity pod after gathering dinner. In the activity pod, you may have dinner and socialize with fellow students."

Slowly, everyone made their way outside.
"That was a great speech!" Aisha said.
"It really was." Nikita added.
"Guys! I'm famished, please let's eat."
The three girls headed to the activity pod and got their dinners and quickly caught a table and started eating. Once they finished, Aisha suggested they walk around and meet others.

Aisha was very extroverted, Krutika was also relatively extroverted but Nikita was a big introvert. Socializing didn't make her comfortable and her friend Aisha had figured that out, so she caught her arm and said, "Don't worry, just stay with me. I'm with you."
Nikita nodded and followed Aisha into the crowd of students.

"Hey Guys! I'm Aisha!" Aisha exclaimed at a big group of people.
They reciprocated by introducing themselves and as the conversation went on, Nikitanhad introduced herself too but stayed in the quiet side and by Aisha's side.

"What's going on there?" Aisha asked a girl while pointing at a swarm of students.
"Oh that's just another group. I noticed no one approaching them."
"Why not?"
"I don't know."
"Well. Should we?" Aisha asked.
"No! I'm scared!!" The girl claimed.
"Why be scared? Come!"
But before Aisha could drag them to the group, the group had split and a few guys made their way to Aisha and the other girls.

Nikita had been in a conversation with another girl until she heard a deep, dusk voice, "Hey guys. What's your names?"
She looked up to find the same guy she bumped into approaching them and now facing Aisha.
"Hi. I'm Aisha." She said confidently.
"Mayukh."
"Nice to meet you. Oh, and this is my roommate." Aisha turned to find Nikita, until she finally laid her eyes on her, who was looking at Aisha in confusion. She dragged Nikita's hand and pulled her closer.
"This is my roommate, Nikita!" Aisha exclaimed, tapping his shoulder, allowing Mayukh to set his eyes on the girl Aisha brought. He turned and his eyes widened.
"You?"

—————————————————————————

Feedback! ✨