Aarav Banerjee is a mystery wrapped in silence. He speaks only when necessary, yet when he does, everyone listens. He's not popular, but everyone knows him. He's just joined junior college, though not very thrilled about it. He's not quiet, just car...
Hello! I will be starting with short chapters and then gradually increase the length! Enjoy!
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Beep! Beep! Beep! Be—
My hand shoots out from under the blanket like some half-dead zombie clawing for life, slamming the snooze button with the strength of someone who definitely didn’t sleep enough.
I groan softly, eyes still heavy, then stare up at the ceiling fan spinning lazily above me like it’s mocking my anxiety.
College. First day. First everything.
I exhale sharply. My stomach’s in knots, twisting themselves tighter with every thought.
What if I don’t find anyone I vibe with?
What if I end up stuck with fake smiles and whispered judgments again?
Worse—what if I don’t find anyone at all?
The ache of old loneliness knocks gently at the back of my mind, just waiting for a chance to take over again.
But no. Not today, anxiety. Back off.
I push the blanket off and sit up, legs dangling off the bed, the floor cold against my toes.
I have to look nice today. Not for anyone else—but for me. I want to feel good, confident, maybe even a little powerful. Lip gloss powerful. Cute-top powerful. Don’t-mess-with-me powerful.
My fingers are already reaching for the makeup pouch on the dresser when—
"Aastha! Did you fall asleep again?!"
My mom’s voice rings through the house like a fire alarm. My thoughts scatter like birds.
"I'm already awake, Mamma!" I yell back, trying to sound more alive than I feel.
She doesn’t know I’ve already had three imaginary social disasters in my head before even brushing my teeth.
Still, I take a deep breath, square my shoulders, and whisper to my reflection: You got this.
Because maybe... just maybe... today could be the start of something better.
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The soft rays of sunlight slip past the curtains, falling across my face like they’re trying to wake me gently.
But they’re late. I was already awake.
Truth is, I barely slept.
Lying still all night with my eyes open doesn’t count as sleep, does it?
It seems like I've forgotten the concept of actual, restorative deep kind of sleep.
Not when your mind won’t stop replaying memories like they’re stuck on loop.
I sit up slowly, letting the silence settle around me.
First day of college.
I should feel something.
Excitement, maybe? Nervousness? Hope?
But all I feel is… nothing.
It’s just another building with different walls. Same expectations, same pressure, same emptiness.
New people who’ll try to get close, not knowing how far gone I already am.
I move on autopilot—shower, clothes, shoes— every step a rehearsed routine.
I don’t know what’s waiting for me today.
I think I don’t care.
But somewhere deep inside, buried beneath all that numbness, I feel a shift.
Like the air before a storm.
Like something’s coming.
And I have no idea it’s going to change everything.
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Thank you for reading and I hope y'all like the rest of the book.
