The night had wrapped itself in darkness, and we friend'swere craving adventure under the stars. "Tonight feels special," Norlin murmured as we strolled along the shimmering sidewalks.
"Absolutely, it's quite enchanting—the sky is a tapestry of stars and the moon looks just right," I replied softly, feeling the magic in the air.
"Let's hit the bar for some vodka," Samarth leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper that sent a thrill through me.
"Vodkaaaaa! I'm all in!" Norlin exclaimed, sprinting back toward us after having wandered a bit, deep in conversation with another friend.
"How did he even catch that? He was so far away!" I mused, impressed by Norlin's keen ears.
We made our way to the renowned "Untouchable Bar," a local hotspot that was our little secret from our parents.
"Three glasses of vodka, please," Norlin commanded the waiter with a grin.
"Just a moment, I'll be right back with your order," the waiter replied, shuffling away.
"Hey Samarth, have you heard of Big Bang?" I leaned over, curious.
"Big Bang? No, what's that?" he asked, intrigued.
"They're a Korean boy band, kind of like One Direction. They're amazing! You have to check out their music," I said, my enthusiasm bubbling over.
"Sounds awesome! I'll definitely give them a listen tomorrow," he promised, nodding.
"Where's our drink? It's taking forever!" Norlin interrupted, impatience flooding his tone.
"Man, I have no idea. Why don't you ask the waiter?" I shrugged in response.
"Hey, waiter! Where's our vodka?" Samarth spoke up, looking around.
"Here are your drinks. Don't forget to settle the bill," the waiter served us the awaited vodka with a smile.
"cheers!" I toasted, lifting my glass.
"Cheers!" they echoed, and we all gulped down the vodka before heading to Norlin's place, where we settled into a deep slumber. Since Rahul's parents were out of town, I told my folks that Samarth and I would be studying together at Norlin's.
We found ourselves sprawled across Norlin's bed, the glow of the TV flickering in the dim room. Who could possibly drift off after a few shots of vodka? We flipped through channels like restless children, searching for something worth our attention. Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I exclaimed, "Seriously! Just pick a channel already so I can actually watch something, you guys!"
"Fine," they both said, but the remote continued its relentless dance.
"Guys, do whatever you want; I'm heading to the hall to catch some sleep," I murmured, my patience wearing thin.
"Alright, sleep tight," Norlin called back, his focus still glued to the screen.
They were both engrossed in the television while I dozed off, letting go of all the stresses and worries.
The next day, I was greeted by the sight of Norlin and Samarth sprawled over each other, the TV still flickering in the background. Their limbs were stretched wide, and a symphony of loud snores filled the room. It seemed they had pulled an all-nighter.
"Samarth, wake up! It's morning, and we're running late—it's already 10 a.m.!" I called out, my voice echoing through the space.
"Dude, just five more minutes. I'm still so tired, and it'sSunday. Let's catch a few more Z's," he mumbled, sinking back into slumber.
"Alright then, suit yourself! I'm heading home, but I'll catch up with you both later," I said as I made my way out, eager to freshen up and seize the day.
It was scorching outside, as if summer had decided to make an early entrance. The sun blazed down with intensity, and I hurried home, only to find my mom in a foul mood.
"Where have you been? Why are you this late? Did you sleep in? Don't you remember we have plans today? You're running out of time!"
She bombarded me with questions, and it felt like I was in a high-speed quiz game with her as the enthusiastic host.
"I fell asleep early but woke up late. Now I'm home, so let me freshen up. I won't be able to join you all today," I managed to reply, slipping into the bathroom for a refreshing cold shower.
After breakfast, I tried calling Norlin, but there was no answer. "He's probably still asleep or busy in the shower," I thought to myself.
So, I strolled back to his place.
*Ding dong* went the doorbell, but still, there was no response.
"Hey dude, come on in!" Norlin eventually called, peeking through the peephole before finally unlocking the door.
"What took you so long to answer?" I questioned, curious about his delay.
. I was dressed and ready when Samarth dashed off, his mother calling him home, laughter escaping his lips as he recounted the moment. "Let's give him a ring," I suggested to Norlin.
"Sure, let me call him," he responded, grabbing his phone and dialing Samarth's number.
"Man, he's not picking up! What should we do now?" he exclaimed after several attempts.
"Maybe he's tied up and can't answer," I replied, rising to head to the kitchen for a drink of water.
"Try calling him again!" I called out from the kitchen.
"I'm on it, but he's still not answering," he replied, frustration creeping into his voice.
I returned to the living room, plopping down on the sofa. "Let's just watch some TV; he'll call back when he's free," I suggested. We settled in, tuning into VH1, and as I switched it on, Taylor's "Red" began to play.
"TAYLOR SWIFT!!" Norlin shouted, bouncing with excitement.
"Why wouldn't we jump? It's Taylor Swift! She's our idol and inspiration," I thought to myself, caught up in the moment.
"Hey, how about we create a parody of one of Taylor's songs?" I suggested to Norlin.
"Absolutely, let's get to writing!" he responded, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
Just as we began to brainstorm, Norlin's phone buzzed with an incoming call from Samarth.
Twenty minutes later, Samarth arrived at Norlin's house, and we all settled onto the sofa, flipping through channels endlessly.
"It's Monday! Arjun, wake up! You have classes to attend," my mom gently nudged me before heading to the kitchen to prepare breakfast for Dad and me.
"Just five more minutes, Mom," I mumbled, pulling the covers over my head and drifting back to sleep.
Eventually, I woke up, took a shower, had breakfast, and headed off to class.
"Did you hear? They'll be announcing our exam dates soon," Norlin mentioned as we walked.
"Yeah, I'm aware," I replied.
"Have you started studying yet?" he inquired.
"Not yet, but I plan to today. Sohan and I are going to study together. You're welcome to join us if you'd like," I told him as I hopped on my bike, my thoughts swirling with worries about the upcoming exams.
"Which subject are you diving into today?" Norlin inquired as we sat idling in traffic on our way home.
"I'm not sure! Maybe I'll tackle Fundamentals of Mass Communication or Effective Communication Skills I," I responded.
"Alright! I'll swing by Sohan's place at 5 PM, and we can all hit the books together," he said. Just then, the traffic began to ease, and we made our way to our respective neighborhoods. Sohan, a talented guy in our college, had a charmingly fair complexion and an adorable look. His hairstyle was always on point, and I often attempted to replicate it, but I never quite succeeded. My hair was silky, and my oval-shaped face just didn't lend itself to the styles I admired.
As the days rolled on, the exam season loomed closer. My friends and I were burning the midnight oil, studying tirelessly because we had made a wager: whoever flunked would have to throw a party after the results. My friends were notorious for being tight-fisted, always looking to save a buck, so we all hit the books with fervor, neglecting our TVs, PCs, and, most importantly, our beloved anime series.
As the days rolled by, the much-anticipated exam period finally arrived. My friends and I made our way to college, bustling with a mix of nerves and excitement. Inside the examination hall, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The supervisor entered, distributing the answer sheets like a conductor launching a symphony. We couldn't help but steal glances around the room, observing our fellow students. Some were hunched over, deep in thought with their hands cradling their heads, while others scribbled fervently. Thankfully, the exam questions were manageable, and I finished my paper sooner than expected. Once I handed it over to the supervisor, a wave of relief washed over me as I exited the classroom. Soon, my classmates followed suit, eager to dissect our answers and share their thoughts, but my friends and I were more preoccupied with ripping up our question papers as a way of letting go. When we got home, it was back to the grind as we prepared for the next exam. The weather took a turn for the worse, with storms rolling in while I tried to focus on my studies. Just when I thought I could get back into the groove, the power went out! I waited three long hours for the lights to flicker back on, feeling utterly drained by the end of it. Luckily, once the exams wrapped up, a sense of freedom enveloped us. With the semester break finally here, my friends and I started brainstorming exciting plans for our vacation.
November 11 marked the return to college, a day filled with excitement as my friends and I reunited after a long vacation of fun and mischief. We were handed our new syllabus, which included 12 subjects—6 for each semester. After stashing our books into our bags, we dove into lively conversations with our college pals, sharing stories about our holidays and the adventures we had during our time off.
As the professor strode into the room, a wave of anticipation swept through us. Although we had rarely shown any enthusiasm for our studies, the prospect of new concepts ignited a spark of curiosity. After finishing his lecture, he dropped a bombshell: "Results will be announced on November 15th.
Be prepared, and bring your parents to review your progress reports." The room fell into a thick silence, a palpable tension hanging in the air as if invisible hands had zipped our lips shut.
We exited the classroom, gripping the fear of the looming day tightly. Later, at the canteen, my friends and I began to discuss the impending results. "Are you worried about them?" I asked Norlin. With a confident grin, he replied, "Not at all! I'll breeze through with good grades." His assurance was refreshing, a good sign indeed. "And you, Arjun?" he turned to me.
"Feeling the same, just trying to stay cool about it," I answered, biting into my burger while my thoughts drifted toward the results. Anxiety began to settle in. "What if I fail? How will my parents react?"
These nagging questions swirled around in my head. When I finally got home, I dove into my studies, determined to avoid any disappointment and spare myself from my parents' wrath come results day.