This minute speck of light had broken the endless darkness of the vast cosmos in. It was not accidental. Purpose-filled, it rippled the depths and touched unseen corners of being. Though it went by all unnoticed, its path would touch an unnamed boy named Alex.
Meanwhile, back in Diwali preparations were bubbling at the different quarters of the city, and gauzy windows of the houses and streets were lit by golden light. The fragrant marigold married the sugary smell of sweets freshly prepared, cracking the sparklers. Between this noisy and messy rumpus, Alex was outside the gates of his new college staring at the daunting building looming above him.
He tightened his bag-strap, taking a deep breath to settle his nerves. It was a day-one in college as it was his first day living in the city. He was baffled by everything; meanwhile, there was this nervous thrill that accompanied it, so he walked through those gates, mingling himself among the hordes within that crowded courtyard. Across everywhere, there were clusters of students talking, laughing and dashing towards their rooms.
Inside, old and new had merged together. Ivy climbed up walls. Sun came through huge windows. Alex had tracked down his assigned classroom, stepped outside to collect himself before going in. Then he walked inside, where the teacher, a woman with a sharp eye sorting papers at the front of the room, looked up.
"You're Alex," she said, her voice firm but kind. "The set is that way at the back, behind Maya."
He nodded, looking about the room as he moved to take his seat. It was then that he saw her.
Maya sat beside the window, sun spilling over her as a spotlight would. She was half-turned to chat with her friends. Her laughter was gentle but irresistible, and the smile danced on her face. Alex slowed his pace as he took in her easy movement, how her hair caught the light. She seemed to glow like festival lights had come inside.
Realizing he was staring, Alex turned his head and took off toward his seat. He dove into the chair, his heart thumping a lot harder than he liked. When he sat down, someone broke into his train of thought.
"First day?"
Alex looked around to see a boy grinning at him from the next seat.
"Yeah," Alex replied, grateful for the distraction.
"Welcome to chaos," the boy said, offering his hand. "My name is Lucky."
Alex shook it, laughing lightly. "Nice to meet you."
Lucky leaned back, smirking. "You got the seat behind Maya, huh? Not bad, my friend."
Alex furrowed her brows. "So what?"
Lucky raised an eyebrow; Alex had to be kidding. "She's kinda. the star around here. Smart, friendly, and, well, you've seen her, right? Most of the guys in this class have a crush on her."
Alex looked at Maya, who was now bent over her notebook, writing something with a small smile curled up on her lips. He shrugged, hoping his face wasn't as red as it felt.
"She seems. decent," he said, working to keep it light.
Lucky grinned. "Good? Of course, but keep this in mind-she is seriously far out of our class."
The teacher's voice cut through chatter as she called the class to order before Alex could answer anything. His thoughts wandered though as he struggled to keep at least some sense of what is being taught. Before his eyes stood the decorations - fairy lights waiting to hang, colourful banners on that corner and a box with marigolds ready to hang.
Diwali decorated the evening with festive fervor, but in Alex's opinion, a brighter light was sitting barely a foot away: her hair catching the sun as she put a stray behind her ear.
The lesson was over, and students were leaving. Lucky nudged Alex.
"Come on," he said. "Let me show you around. You're gonna need a guide to survive this place."
Alex trailed behind, more than happy to have someone ease him into this new environment. Lucky took him through corridors, pointing out the library and the cafeteria and the sprawling courtyard where students hung out in between classes.
"And this," Lucky said, standing before a giant board plastered with pictures and posters, "is the events board. If it's worth knowing, it's up here. Debates, competitions, festivals—you name it." Alex nodded, taking all of this on board. Lucky's sarcasm made him seem less alien.
As they turned back toward the classroom, Alex noticed a familiar face by the window. Maya was standing there, surrounded by a small cadre of friends, and laughing at something one of them had to say. The smile was effortless, but her presence was magnetic.
And again, silence, the rest of the world holding its breath while only the thumping of his heart and her soft laughter echoed in the air.
"Careful," Lucky said, catching Alex's eye. "You'll fall for her like the rest of them."
Alex shook his head and ripped his eyes away. "I'm just. curious. That's all," "Sure you are," teased Lucky, patting him on the back. The day passed by and merged with the routine of introductions, classes, and small conversations. But within Alex's mind, something crucial began. It was bigger than the beginning of his college life. It was as though something inside was set on motion, as if an invisible string was attached to this place and to her. By sunset, Alex was standing at the gates once more, watching the sun go below the horizon. The city lights started flickering one after another, recalling the spark he had seen in Maya's smile. The first crackle of fireworks lit up the evening sky with color and light as far off in the distance. Out in the vastness of space, that spark of cosmic energy flared once more, unseen but felt. As Alex walked home, he felt it-this was just the beginning of something much bigger than he could ever begin to understand. His story was just about to begin, filled with light, love, and the mysteries of the universe.