The next morning, both Nila and Shivani woke up at 5:00 AM. Since it was the first day of school, the hostel was still quiet. Only a few seniors had woken up, and they were helping their friends find available bathrooms.
Never assume that finding a bathroom in a girls' hostel is a simple task. For your information, some girls take forever to get ready. And in Maharishi School, you need to be at the school campus by 7:15 AM sharp for assembly. The entire Student and teacher body, students from various grades under the same curriculum, gather in the auditorium for a 15-minute meditation session, followed by prayer songs, news reading, and announcements. After the assembly, students are dismissed to their respective classes or hostels for breakfast.
That means you must wake up early, bathe, and get fully ready well before 7 AM. And here's the catch—some girls who sleep late at night or wake up very early have already "reserved" the bathrooms by leaving their toiletries, towels, or buckets inside, marking their territory. So, the first struggle of the day isn't just getting out of bed—it's finding a bathroom to bathe in.
Even if you arrive at the bathroom first, someone might casually walk up and say, "Oh, sorry, my friend is next. I just called her." On top of all that, there are two wardens. If a staff member says she needs to bathe next, well, you can't argue. Hostel etiquette demands that you wait. There are five bathrooms for forty girls, so morning showers are basically a game of luck and patience.
Thank goodness it was the first day—many students were still asleep when Nila woke up. Shivani also stirred and got ready to go bathe.
Nila asked softly, "Is anyone going to bathe after you?"
Shivani raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. Freshers usually didn't know about the unspoken bathroom politics. She chuckled and replied, "No. Why? Are you trying to queue up already?"
Nila gave a sheepish smile. "How long do you usually take?"
"I'm planning to take a head bath today, so maybe half an hour," Shivani replied, stretching.
"Perfect," Nila said brightly. "I want to start my day with a few rounds of Surya Namaskaram. But I'm worried the bathroom won't be free afterward. Can you take my towel with you? I'll finish my yoga and come stand at the bathroom door in 20 minutes. No need to shout or look for me."
Shivani laughed and nodded. "Alright, yoga girl. I'll hold the spot for you. Just don't make me wait after I'm done."
Nila beamed with a smile, rolled out her yoga mat, and walked to the corridor outside her bay. At one end of the corridor, there was a grilled open window that overlooked the garden. The other end led to the study area, which had two large study rooms with nearly 80 tables and chairs—enough space for students to study comfortably.
In the middle of the corridor stood a staircase, a water fountain, and the common hot water point.
It was peaceful outside—only the chirping of birds could be heard. In a few days, the early birds preparing for exams would start studying here, but for now, it was just her. She settled near the grilled window, laid out her mat, and began her Surya Namaskar.
She didn't just want to live; she wanted to live better. She wanted her body to be healthy. She made a quiet promise to herself—to do yoga every day, at least for 15 to 30 minutes. Since the school conducted meditation sessions three times a day, she didn't have to worry too much about mental well-being for the next few years.
After 20 minutes, she rushed back to her cupboard, grabbed her toiletries basket, a towel, and a kurta, and ran to the restroom. She noticed that Shivani was still inside. Nila tapped gently and let her know she was waiting, then began to freshen up.
As she washed her face, she smiled, realizing Shivani had chosen one of the bathrooms with an inbuilt water heater.
She knew that in a few years, the school would install solar water heaters with direct pipelines to all the bathrooms. But for now, only two bathrooms had water heaters inside. The other three required students to fetch hot water from the common heating point. This made the battle for the "heater bathrooms" the most intense one each morning.
Shivani eventually stepped out, and right after, Nila noticed Jai Harini standing nearby, looking slightly confused. She was clearly struggling to understand the bathroom queue politics.
Nila smiled and asked, "Do you want to go after me?"
Jai Harini blinked. "Huh?"
"Are you waiting for the bathroom?"
"Yes, yes," she nodded quickly.
"I'm almost done. You can go in next," Nila offered kindly.
And just like that, her first conversation with her ex-cabin partner from her past life began—right outside the bathroom door.
Since both Nila and Shivani had started their day early, they were ready before 6:00 AM. Shivani was carrying a mini flask to fetch some tea from the dining hall and called out, "Nila, do you want to come with me?"
The milk and tea were mainly for early risers—students who got up to study or those who felt hungry before breakfast.
"I'll join you," Nila replied, grabbing her own mug—a cute one with a lid and a tiny spoon that fit snugly into the handle. It was a farewell gift from her childhood best friend, Rino.
She smiled softly at the memory. Rino had been her classmate from fourth to eighth grade, and the two of them shared a deep bond, fueled by their mutual love for writing. They would often spend their free time scribbling poems and short stories, sometimes even passing them back and forth in class like secret messages.
Nila knew she had to write to Rino soon. She had promised. And more than that, she wanted to. Already, she was missing her old school—the familiarity of the campus, the laughter of shared inside jokes, and the comfort of knowing every corner like the back of her hand.
The dining area was on the ground floor, and usually, food was only served there. Technically, students weren't allowed to take food or drinks back to their rooms. If someone did and accidentally spilled something, they were expected to clean it themselves, no exceptions. Also, students weren't allowed to take the school's steel cups or plates back to their rooms. If utensils went missing, the staff would get annoyed. That's why bringing your own flask or mug was preferred.
Still, using a flask came with its own drama—some students hated when others filled entire flasks, especially when there wasn't enough tea left for those arriving later.
Nila and Shivani filled their flasks and quietly walked back upstairs. Shivani began revising her notes while Nila settled down with a pen and paper to write a letter to her family.
She knew letters could be sent from the school, though only a few students still used that option. Most of the students don't even know they can do that; students know they can collect their parcels, but they don't know they can send letters back. Most preferred mobile phones and emails. But Nila wasn't sure when regular classes would start, and she didn't want to lose the excitement of this moment. She wanted to share it-with all its first-day charm—with her family.
After finishing the letter, Nila got ready for the day. She packed her bag carefully with all the essentials for the first day—required documents, fee receipts, book fee slips, passport-sized photos, stationery, and a rough notebook. Knowing that the first day would mostly involve introductions and registration, she also packed a few chocolates, some snacks, and a water bottle. She had a feeling the day would be more about bonding and less about academics—and she was all set to make the most of it, gossiping and having fun with new friends.
By 7:00 AM, both she and Shivani left the hostel. Shivani, ever kind, offered to show her where their classroom was. "We're on the same floor anyway," she said with a smile.
Nila already remembered the classroom from her past life, but she was genuinely happy to have company to begin this new chapter. There was something comforting about walking into the unknown with a friend by your side—even if you secretly already knew the way.