Maya had just completed her high school and moved to a new city for college. The transition was both thrilling and daunting—new faces, unfamiliar streets, and a world brimming with possibilities. But amidst the whirlwind of change, she found comfort in the cozy walls of her hostel, where she quickly made friends.
She hadn't expected to run into a familiar face so soon. Arun, her cousin, was already studying at the same university, three years ahead of her. Though they had met only a handful of times over the years, their bond had always been warm, if somewhat distant.
The Freshers' Day celebrations were in full swing. The hostel buzzed with excitement and laughter, echoed down the corridors, and the scent of fresh flowers and perfume lingered in the air. Girls twirled in elegant half-sarees, their bangles jingling like soft chimes. Maya sat in front of her vanity, meticulously adjusting the pleats of her red and green half-saree. The golden embroidery shimmered under the soft glow of the room's dim lights. She twisted her long hair into a braid, securing it neatly with jasmine flowers. Their delicate fragrance wrapped around her like a quiet comfort, mixing with the faint whiff of sandalwood from the incense burning in the corner.
She leaned closer to the mirror, fastening her favorite jhumkas. The heavy silver ornaments swayed gently against her neck as she turned to her friends, Sana and Liya, who were equally radiant in their traditional attire.
"I can't believe it's finally happening," Liya said, excitement bubbling in her voice. "Tonight, we're officially part of the university!"
Maya laughed. "I just hope I don't trip on my saree in front of everyone."
Sana smirked. "That's why we'll be watching you closely. Pure entertainment and I'm sure that tonight every boy's eyes will be on our Maya, make sure you wear that evil eye bracelet that i gave you, and we should be very careful about our dresses as these are heavy and kinda hard to handle as we never wore such dresses and make sure not to embarrass ourselves by tripping on our sarees, i don't want to get embarrassed on the first day of the college. "
The three of them burst into giggles, their laughter blending with the cheerful hum of the hostel. But just as Maya was about to respond, a sudden, almost imperceptible push from behind made her jolt forward. Her heart skipped a beat as she whipped around.
A familiar face greeted her—Arun.
"Is it you, bro? You startled me," she said, pressing a hand to her chest, her breath catching for a moment.
Arun smirked, his dark eyes glinting with amusement. "I knew you'd be startled." His voice was casual, but there was something about his presence that sent a tiny shiver down her spine. Maybe it was the way he stood—relaxed yet calculated—or the way his eyes scanned the room briefly before settling back on her.
She smiled, brushing off the uneasy feeling. "You should've at least warned me."
He shrugged. "Where's the fun in that?"
Maya gestured for him to sit, but he shook his head. "You seem busy, i don't wanna interrupt, I heard that you joined this university and I just wanted to say hi, it's fine, we'll catch up later. " he said, his voice carrying an unreadable undertone. His gaze flickered toward her friends before he took a step back. "Enjoy your Freshers' Day."
And just like that, he turned and walked away, disappearing into the corridor, the faint scent of his cologne lingering in the air.
Sana exhaled, watching him leave. "Okay, tell me I'm not the only one who felt that."
Liya nodded, lowering her voice. "Yeah… there's something intense about him."
Maya frowned. "Guys, he's my cousin. He's always been kind. Maybe he's just reserved."
Sana crossed her arms. "Maybe. But I don't know… something about him feels off. Like, he was watching us too closely."
Maya shook her head, but the doubt had already crept in. She had always believed Arun to be kind-hearted, if a little serious. But tonight, for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something else lurking beneath his familiar smile.
And for the first time, she wondered if she really knew him at all.
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