The Story Of Us

CHAPTER 1: The First Meeting

My story began on July 23rd, 2018, the first day of my college, Manipal University Jaipur. My name is Varun Kapoor, and at 18 years old, I have always been a shy person who has little interest in interacting with new people, especially those from different parts of the country. I have often asked myself, "Why should I bother anyone with my meaningless conversations?" Essentially, I am someone who tries not to intrude on anyone's life or invade their personal space by disturbing them. You could say that I was unfamiliar with the concept of a world full of strangers because I had never been outside of my comfort zone before. Since this was my first time in this new world, I suppose my hesitation was natural. In layman's terms, I am an introvert, and I accept it.

As I stepped onto the sprawling campus of Manipal University Jaipur, I realized that I was now in the big leagues. No one was going to look after me or guide me anymore. I was all grown up, and it was up to me to shape my future. As I walked towards my first lecture, the whole place felt like a big movie set to me. The DOME, the campus, the architecture, and the environment all felt very foreign to me. It was my first time out of my hometown, and that too all on my own. I was determined to make my parents proud and prove my place in this world.

Despite my nerves, I couldn't help but feel a sense of comfort and belonging as I explored the campus and hostel. Something about it was so intriguing, and it made me feel like I was home.

As I entered the classroom for my first lecture, I was prepared for this new phase of my life. The journey of the next four years was going to be the best years of my life, spent with a bunch of strangers who would eventually become some of my closest friends. I was nervous and emotional, but mostly afraid of not making any friends, of not being liked, of not being trusted.

With all these thoughts swirling in my mind, I walked into room number 030-2AB of section-I and made my way to the fourth row on the right side. I took the seat on the far right corner and sat all alone, waiting for someone to arrive and talk to me. I hoped they would get to know me and eventually become my friend. But as an introvert, it was out of the question for me to make a move and start a conversation.

After much contemplation, I finally decided to introduce myself to the guy sitting on my left. With all the courage I could muster, I started a conversation with Manan, who turned out to be shy as well. It was a relief to find someone I could talk to on my first day. But little did I know that this encounter would lead me to something that was the exact opposite of making a new friend.

As I looked around the classroom, I realized that I was now in a completely new environment with people coming from different parts of the country, each with their own unique personalities. It was a stark contrast to the people I had grown up with in my hometown. I could sense that every face in the room had a different story to tell - some were happy, some sad, some irritated, some emotional, some happy-go-lucky, and some showing off. On the other hand, there were those who were calm and patient, bookworms, and even extroverts. It was clear that this bunch of students were caught up in a crazy place.

But I had a feeling that this experience was going to be amazing. I would be sharing a room with them, eating all my meals with them, studying with them, and even hanging out with them. The thought of it all made me excited for the future, even if I was initially overwhelmed by this new place.

I snapped back into reality as the roll calls were being answered. I sat back and observed each one of my classmates, eager to listen to every voice in the classroom. As a result, I learned almost all their names, hoping that some of them would be my friends someday. On my first day, I only knew one person - Priyank Kumar, a light brown-skinned guy who stood at 5.8 feet tall. I had been introduced to him a day before by his roommate Aarush, a friend of mine from my hometown who also happened to be in my college.

However, the Priyank I met the previous day was very different from the one I saw in class. Yesterday he was a little shy and hesitant to get out of his comfort zone, but in class, he was like a flying monkey - jumping here and there, talking to each and every one in the class. This behavior made me realize that, for the very first time, I made an error in judging a person. I had thought of him as more of a self-sufficient type rather than being an open book and an extrovert.

In the coming days, I failed many times to judge a person. I guess I, Varun, needed to be a little different from my past life and bring a change in my perception. I needed a fresh mindset and a change in personality to adjust to this group of strangers.

As the first day of college ended, I felt a sense of uncertainty creep up inside me. Doubts about my personality, my ability to make friends, and to adjust to this new life consumed me. It was a completely normal feeling, I suppose, for someone who had experienced such a drastic change in their life for the first time.

Days went by, and the haze of unfamiliarity remained, as I struggled to make new friends. Even Manan, my first acquaintance in college, had found new friends, leaving me feeling more alone than ever before. It was then that I made a decision. I had to put myself out there and make new friends.

It was as if the universe had heard my plea, as a guy from the third row asked for my maths notebook. I recognized him as Kunwar Alekshendra Singh, a boy from Lucknow. He quickly became known as Alex, the food lover who was fond of non-veg delicacies.

Alex was a mischievous guy, who took great pleasure in disrupting class and entertaining everyone around him. He had his own set of fears, however, such as sitting in the front seat of a speeding car or getting into a fight with someone. But despite his flaws, he was a good-hearted person who would always stand by you. To others, Alex may have been an entertainer, but to me, he was a true friend, a really good guy.

As I sat in class, lost in my own thoughts, the professor's voice brought me back to reality. Roll call was almost over, and I quickly answered before settling back into my book. But then, I saw them - three new faces - and I couldn't help but notice them. Alizeh and Ishani were two girls who would soon become my closest friends. And then, there was Mrityunjay, who I didn't pay much attention to at the time.

Alizeh caught my eye immediately. She wore a bright yellow top with white stripes, which seemed to make her glow. Her black jeggings and old-looking wristwatch completed her ensemble, and she walked with a nervous but confident energy toward the professor. When she spoke up and pointed out that her name hadn't been called, her voice was like music to my ears. It was the first time I heard her speak, and I knew instantly that there was something special about her.

I felt drawn to Alizeh and Ishani from that moment on. They were both so friendly and seemed to effortlessly make friends with everyone they met. But what really drew me to them was the way they understood me. I knew that I needed good people in my life who would accept me for who I was, and it seemed like these two girls were exactly what I needed. They would go on to turn my life upside down in ways I never could have imagined, especially Alizeh. But for now, all I knew was that I wanted to be friends with them, and that was the first time I saw Alizeh - not just as a stranger, but as someone who would become one of the most important people in my life.

The first inkling of the tumultuous events that were to come was just a small blip on my radar, a subtle shift that I failed to fully comprehend. Looking back, I realize that this was the start of something beautiful and something drastic all at once. A turn of events that would spin my life around a full 360 degrees, a whirlwind of drama and chaos that I never could have predicted. And before I knew it, the situation had spiraled out of control, leaving me reeling and struggling to regain my footing.