What after That?

Ch 57.

As Ishan stood in front of the iconic gates of IIT Bombay, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions—pride, nostalgia, and a glimmer of hope.

After so many days of uncertainty and struggle, he finally felt a moment of clarity. This was a new beginning, one that Shubman would have undoubtedly wanted him to embrace. 

With a soft smile, Ishan bent down, touched the ground, and then brought his hand to his forehead—a gesture of respect and gratitude. “I made it here,” he whispered to himself, as if silently sharing the moment with Shubman. 

Walking inside the sprawling campus, Ishan marveled at the greenery, the grand buildings, and the students bustling around with books, laptops, and conversations about projects and assignments. He approached the administration desk, where a friendly staff member handed him his room details. 

“Room 206, second floor of Hostel 5,” the staff member said with a smile. 

“Thank you,” Ishan replied politely, clutching the paper tightly. He glanced at it again, noting he’d be sharing the room with another student. 

Sharing a room… Ishan sighed. He wasn’t sure how he felt about that. He had always been introverted, and the idea of sharing his personal space with someone he didn’t know made him a little uneasy. But he shrugged it off. This was IIT Bombay—a place of opportunities—and he was determined to make it work. 

Dragging his suitcase behind him, he made his way to Hostel 5. The sound of laughter, clinking utensils, and casual banter filled the corridors as he climbed the stairs to the second floor. He stopped in front of Room 206 and took a deep breath before knocking lightly and pushing the door open. 

Inside, a boy was already unpacking his things. He had a cheerful demeanor and looked up immediately, flashing a wide smile. 

“Hey there! You must be my roommate. I’m Aarav,” he said, extending his hand. 

“Ishan,” he replied with a small smile, shaking Aarav’s hand. 

“Great to meet you, Ishan! I’ve already taken the bed on the right. Hope you don’t mind?” Aarav asked, gesturing toward his neatly made bed. 

“No, it’s fine,” Ishan said, walking toward the empty bed on the left. He placed his suitcase on it and began unpacking. 

As Aarav continued to chatter enthusiastically, Ishan leaned back on his bed, quietly amused. 

“So, Ishan,” Aarav said, leaning forward slightly, “from tomorrow, we’re officially starting the semester, but before that, there’ll be intro events for societies. Which one are you thinking of joining?” 

Ishan tilted his head thoughtfully. “Hmm… I haven’t really decided yet. Maybe I’ll see how it goes.” 

Aarav grinned. “Good answer! Keeps your options open. We’ve got all sorts of societies here—cultural, tech, dance, music, sports—you name it! You into anything specific?” 

Ishan shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Not sure. I might explore first.” 

“Oh, come on,” Aarav pressed, clearly excited. “There’s got to be something! Like, do you sing? Dance? Maybe coding or robotics? Ooh, or drama society?” 

Ishan chuckled softly at Aarav’s energy. “You really don’t stop, do you?” 

“Not when I’m curious,” Aarav admitted unabashedly. “So, where are you from?” 

“Delhi,” Ishan replied, keeping it short but polite. 

“Nice! I’ve heard the food there is amazing. So, do you miss home?” Aarav asked, tilting his head.