PYAAR BY CHANCE, SHAADI BY CHANCE

This is a place of constant noise, where the spotlights never go down. And if I am serious about remaining in this publishing game, it has to be that way. There are two long years ahead, but I know I have the strength to endure. And I've got to tell you, my nature does not call for hanging out in a crowd.And in my thoughts, I'm miles away. I am sitting in an armchair besides a crackling fire, in the topmost part of the mountain, as nature keeps on whispering things to me in silence. It is my dream library at home, full of all the books I have ever read and still want to dig into. They are not tales but stories—they are an escape for me. Each has turned into a portal itself; it will take me off into some other world, far, far away from that real one demanding of me all my vigor. It is the place where I have gotten my first real whiff of fresh air, under walls of learning and imagination. To this library belongs my companion journey and refuge, with which I can get lost inside the world of mind and soul, seeking only the adventures words offer.It's almost as if one is attempting to fall in love while at the same time keeping in mind the frenzied demands that come along with business school. For me, it's been a tough task on the upsurge—dating always felt out of reach, even when I tried. And here I stand, on the threshold of my first year at SCBIM (Subhash Chandra Bose Institute of Management), hoping things might just change. I often thought of what it would have been like to be in love amidst all the messes of assignments, deadlines, and pressures of trying to get into a rather competitive business world. It's as if it's living inside a dream world; however, as I dive deeper into this journey, there was no choice but to believe that maybe, just maybe, something will finally change.It's killing me already, but this first week. Exhilarating, but all the wrong ways. Not that it has taken away my strength physically, but mentally as well. Already, after a week, I feel like I have been put through an entire semester. This is because there is a whole lot of pressure and expectations placed on the head. Just when I thought that things could not possibly get any crazier, here came the clubs. After classes, we sit here until very late for club sessions. That is a bit much, but I understand that I must leave an impression. I already got some nice friends—the type who I feel will stick to me through and through. It feels nice to know I'm not going this crazy whirly spin journey alone. Analytics and Data Club presented first. They forced us to play a couple of group games. The one who won was catapulted straight into the club without ever having had an interview. That was priceless. I wasn't exactly ever a superstar on interviews, or so it appeared. Still, this would be my opportunity to prove everything that I had for them. I was quite open about my true personality, honestly saying I'm an introverted person, so that was pretty good for me. I really felt for the first time maybe that I could makeit—nott because of the speaking or the presentation but the work put into it.The club that directly allowed my friends and me entry was the Performance and Systems Club. The game they asked us to play was quite fun and challenging. We had to guess the names of movies where the titles were given with only vowels. It was an interesting twist, and thanks to Ankita, we won the game. She's amazing with movies, and her memory power is incredible. Without her, definitely, I would not have survived. Her smart thinking and sharp memory gave us the lead over which we secured our position in the club, thus making it relief and a great win!Throughout the week came more clubs, all of which tried to woo us with their bright presentations and offers about networking and growth. However, there was this one club, or rather, a person in the club, that I found myself glued to in ways I hadn't expected—the Sports Club. Not the club per se, but the person involved in it really caught my eye right away. That was not because of his height but even more so the way he had carried himself. He was as tall as Harper from The Twisted Series, but with more Asian features and like Josh Chen. His curls added to that allure, which made him impossible to ignore. I found myself distracted, knowing I shouldn't be. He was the kind of person you couldn't help but notice, and for the first time in a long time, I had a little crush.I think I found my eye candy crush. College won't be the same without him here. It's really funny how sometimes one person is able to bear even the most insane days that may come around. Maybe, just maybe, I'll find that I'll be waiting for the mess of business school with open arms instead of hating it so much as I initially thought. At least that way, I'll get to see him every day. It brings a slight hope to bear upon all those tedious hours and the long tiresome weeks in advance. Having a career life alongside a personal one that co-existed peacefully was no longer such an impossibility.Author's Note:I really enjoyed writing this chapter, capturing the chaos of business school and the unexpected connections that form amidst it. The balance between personal struggles and new beginnings was something I wanted to highlight, and I hope it resonated with you. The games, friendships, and little crushes make it all the more relatable. I'd love to know your thoughts on the story so far and what you think of the characters. Thanks for reading, and I look forward to sharing more!