The Right Kind of Wrong

4. First Day of College

The morning sun cast a warm glow over St. Xavier's College, the sprawling campus alive with the chatter of students. Savi stood at the entrance, her heart pounding in her chest. This was it—the day she had dreamed of, the day she would finally start her journey toward becoming an IAS officer. But as she took a step inside, the reality of her new life hit her like a wave.

She felt out of place among the sea of students, each one effortlessly navigating their world. Dressed in designer clothes, laughing and chatting, they seemed to belong to a different universe. Savi tugged at the hem of her modest dress, suddenly acutely aware of how different she was from everyone around her.

"Come on, Savi. You can do this," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath as she stepped further onto the campus grounds.

The college was beautiful, with its lush gardens and grand architecture, but Savi couldn't shake the feeling of inadequacy. She remembered the sacrifices she had made to get here—the risk of leaving home, the pain of leaving behind her family. With every step, she felt the weight of her grandmother's disapproval looming over her.

As she walked toward her first class, she spotted a group of students standing together, their laughter ringing out like music. They seemed so carefree, so confident. Savi felt a pang of envy. "I wish I could fit in like that," she thought.

"Hey, new girl!" A voice suddenly broke through her thoughts.

Savi turned to see a cute girl with her hair tied in a pony and an easy smile striding toward her. "Welcome to St. Xavier's! You'll love it here," she said, her voice friendly and warm. "I'm Shivani. If you need help finding your way around, just let me know!"

"Thanks, I'm Savi," she replied, relieved to find someone who seemed welcoming. "It's my first day, and everything feels so overwhelming."

"Trust me, it gets easier," Shivani assured her. "Just be yourself, and you'll find your crowd. Do you know which class you're heading to?"

"Yes, I have Political Science in Room 205," she said, glancing down at the schedule clutched in her hand.

"Ah, that's a great class! I'll be there too. See you in a bit?" Shivani said, flashing her a bright smile before heading off to join her friends.

Savi couldn't help but smile back. "Maybe this won't be so bad after all," she thought, her spirits lifting slightly.

As she made her way to Room 205, she entered a bustling classroom filled with students chatting and settling into their seats. Her heart raced as she scanned the room, looking for a place to sit. Most students were already grouped together, laughing and talking animatedly.

She spotted an empty seat at the back of the class and made her way over, trying to ignore the feeling of being an outsider. Just as she sat down, the classroom door swung open, and a tall figure strode in, commanding immediate attention.

Rajat Thakkar, the senior law student, entered with an air of confidence that seemed to electrify the room. His sharp features and stylish clothes immediately drew everyone's gaze, and Savi couldn't help but notice the way the girls whispered and giggled, their eyes glued to him.

"Alright, settle down," Rajat said, his voice smooth but authoritative. "I'm Professor Singh's assistant, and I'll be taking you through your introduction to Political Science today. Let's make this interesting."

Savi felt a mixture of awe and annoyance. How could someone be so self-assured? But as he began to speak, his dismissive tone toward the students reminded her of her own struggles. "I'm just here to get through this. If you want to learn, great. If not, don't waste my time," he said, leaning against the desk with an air of nonchalance.