After saying her goodbyes to her parents, Nila walked slowly toward the hostel building. The sun was gentler now, casting long shadows across the wide campus roads. She walked past groups of parents and students—some still unloading suitcases from cars, some already teary-eyed and hugging. As she moved, she began spotting familiar faces from her past life.
Many of them had once been her classmates, girls she had laughed with, studied with, grown up with. It was strange to see them again—still children, their cheeks round with innocence, their eyes filled with the nervous excitement of the first day. In her memories, they were already adults—some married, some settled abroad, some leading surprisingly different lives. It was like walking through a photograph that had come to life, watching her memories rewind and unfold again in real time.
A little ahead, she noticed someone struggling with her luggage—two large suitcases and a carton box—along with her mother. It was Jai Harini, her cabin partner in her previous life. A soft smile appeared on Nila's face. She remembered how close they used to be. There had been fights, yes—especially in 9th grade, when both of them were still figuring themselves out. Nila had been a bit more emotional and naive, while Jai Harini was practical and slightly more mature for her age. That difference had caused friction, but also growth.
In fact, it was Jai Harini's presence that had helped Nila evolve. Living together, sharing space, and facing misunderstandings had taught Nila lessons that textbooks never could. Through that relationship, she began to understand how to manage emotions, set boundaries, and give people space. She started noticing how her own black-and-white worldview—where people were either good or bad, kind or unkind—was flawed. Jai Harini had challenged that.
Before hostel life, Nila believed that people should always be honest, polite, and consistent—that everyone should live by the same rules. But hostel life had introduced her to the grey areas. People were not perfect. Sometimes, even a good friend could lie. Sometimes, the girl who gossiped about you yesterday would be the one giving you an extra bedsheet when you needed it. That contradiction used to confuse her. But slowly, she began to accept it. Maturity wasn't just about being kind and smart—it was about accepting the imperfect mix of emotions and behaviours people carried with them.
Looking at Jai Harini now, Nila felt both nostalgia and curiosity. Would they be friends again this time? Would they end up in the same cabin? Or would fate take them on completely different paths? She didn't know. But this time, she wouldn't try to force anything. She had learned not to chase connections, but to nurture them when they naturally happened.
She adjusted the strap of her bag and walked past, giving Jai Harini a warm, knowing smile.
After entering the hostel building, Nila walked toward her assigned cabin. She wasn't expecting anyone else to be there yet, but to her surprise, the door was already open and someone was inside arranging things. Her eyes widened when she recognized the girl, Shivani.
Shivani was her senior and someone Nila remembered fondly from her past life. In fact, Shivani had stayed in the same school all the way till 12th grade and had played a quiet yet meaningful role in Nila's growth during that time. She was known for being an incredible dancer, good at sports, and was also the NCC team captain. When Nila had been in a bit isolated due to bullying during her 11th grade, isolated from most of her old friends who had transferred to other schools, it was Shivani who had helped her through. She'd offered valuable advice—not just about academics and careers, but also about life in general.
Shivani had helped her simply because she was her junior. They had shared the same corridor for two years, and despite their age gap, there had always been mutual respect. Nila couldn't have asked for a better person to share the cabin with. She silently hoped no one else would join—she was perfectly content having Shivani as her only cabin partner.
In her past life, Nila had mostly stuck with her own batchmates. She hadn't made much effort to connect with seniors or juniors. But this time, she wanted things to be different. She wanted to expand her circle, engage in deeper conversations, and explore how people with different perspectives and experiences thought.
Shivani looked up and smiled warmly. "Hi, I'm Shivani. And you are?"
Nila stepped forward confidently and shook her hand. "I'm Nila. I'm new here and I'm really excited to share the cabin with you. I hope it's okay? Are you in the 9th too, or a senior?"
Shivani chuckled. "I'm in 10th now, so yeah, I'm your senior. But I have no problem sharing the cabin with a junior, as long as you don't make too much noise or disturb me when I'm studying. I'll be busy most of the time since I have board exams coming up."
Nila nodded enthusiastically. "That's completely fine! I don't mind stepping out to chat with friends if needed. I totally understand. I'll make sure our cabin stays quiet when you need to focus."
Shivani gave her a surprised but approving smile. "Nice. That's mature of you."
"I'm also happy to have a senior around," Nila added. "You can warn me about strict teachers, school rules, and those mysterious, unspoken taboos before I stumble into them. Maybe even share some juicy gossip."
Shivani laughed at that. "We'll see."
Just like that, the air between them lightened. There was mutual respect, understanding, and the beginning of what Nila felt would be a supportive bond. They weren't just going to be roommates—they were going to be good cabin partners.
Shivani glanced at the time on her watch and sat up straight. "It's already 5 p.m. Come on, first lesson—never miss the snacks!" she said with a playful grin. "Most of the time, the hostel gives us good stuff during snack hour. It's from 5 to 6. You'll usually get things like samosas, cutlets, or sometimes pakoras. They serve tea, but you can also get Horlicks or Boost if you're not into tea. You coming?"
Nila smiled and nodded. "Of course! You had me at samosa."
The two walked down to the dining area, already buzzing with chatter. Nila was surprised at how lively the space was. Everyone looked relaxed, some in casual clothes, chatting with their friends in small groups. They grabbed their snacks—hot cutlets with ketchup and a steaming cup of Horlicks—and found a quiet corner to eat. Nila felt a growing sense of comfort; this was beginning to feel like the start of something exciting.
Back in the cabin, Nila helped Shivani arrange her books on the shared shelf. Together, they swept and dusted the cabin. It was a simple space—two beds, two cupboards, and a small window overlooking the TV hall and play area. As they were finishing up, a few girls popped their heads in to chat with Shivani. Most of them were her friends and seniors. Shivani smiled and introduced Nila. "This is my new cabin partner, Nila. She's a 9th grader."
One of the girls raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you going to feel odd sharing with a junior? We could talk to the warden if you want to change cabins."
But Shivani waved it off. "No, it's fine. She's a cute kid. I think we'll get along well. Besides, I need some downtime too—not everything has to be serious study mode all the time. I think she'll be a chill pill for me."
Nila grinned, feeling a little less nervous and more at ease.
Around 7:30 p.m., the warden made her rounds and called everyone to gather in the common hall. "Phone submission time," she said. "Everyone, please hand in your phones within the next thirty minutes."
There was a brief orientation meeting where the staff explained the hostel rules, timings, phone schedule, study hours, and bathroom schedules. Nila listened carefully, noting how the students were seated—seniors and juniors grouped separately, except for her. Her dorm housed around 40 people, including two staff members, with 15 girls from 10th grade and the rest from 9th grade. Most of the 10th-grade students shared cabins together. Nila was the only 9th grader paired with a senior, making her bond with Shivani feel even more unique.
As lights-out time approached, Shivani yawned and stretched. "I sleep early. tenth board life. i usually have the habit of studying in the early morning," she mumbled, pulling up her blanket.
Nila chuckled. She wasn't used to sleeping so early, but she knew morning hours in the hostel could be chaotic—especially with only five bathrooms for forty girls. "Let's aim for a 4:45 or 5 a.m. wake-up then," she whispered.
Shivani gave her a sleepy thumbs-up. And just like that, their first night as cabin partners began—with quiet understanding and a promise of shared routines ahead.