The school campus is divided into two blocks—old and new. The old building has three floors, and all the laboratories are located there. Behind it stands the new block, connected through long corridors. The new block has two floors of classrooms, and the third floor is still under construction. From what I've heard, it might be turned into a hostel soon.
The 9th and 10th standard students have their classrooms in the second floor of the old block. As we climbed up, I noticed a common notice board pinned with name lists for all classes, showing which students were assigned to which section.
Shivani's sister quickly found her name and wished me luck before heading to her class. I was left searching the list along with other students. I already had a feeling from my past life - I would most likely be in 9-E. And just as I guessed, there it was. My name is under IX-E.
There are seven sections in the 9th grade here. A and B are for day scholars. C and D are for old hostel students. E, where I'm placed, is for the new hostelers. Sections F and G are for students who opted for the FITJEE integrated coaching program.
Each section has about 30 to 40 students. Not too small, not too crowded. Just enough to make friends but still be seen.
As Nila stepped into the classroom, she was surprised to see the class teacher already inside. Mrs. Jaishree, a kind-faced woman in her late thirties, stood near the teacher's desk with a warm smile. Nila remembered her vaguely—she was known to be lenient, friendly, and someone who made students feel comfortable. It was rare to spot class teachers in the room before assembly, but since it was the first day, it felt like a special welcome.
There were only a handful of students in the class so far, mostly boys. Some faces sparked a flicker of recognition in her memory. She knew a few of them had been her friends in her past life, though the details of how those friendships had begun were hazy. Still, she felt a quiet confidence—she could build those connections again. Maybe even better this time.
"Come in, dear. You can choose your seat," Mrs. Jaishree said warmly as she greeted each student who walked in.
The classroom was arranged in neat rows. The boys had already started settling near the door side, on the left. The girls, as if by instinct, moved toward the right—closer to the windows. Through those windows, Nila could see the football ground stretching out under the morning sun, and beyond that, the hostel building stood quiet and familiar.
She picked a seat in the second row by the window. It wasn't too close to the board to feel exposed, but not far enough to miss anything important. A perfect balance—much like how she wanted to live this life. Close enough to be involved, yet distant enough to observe and learn.
The sunlight streamed in gently, casting golden lines on her desk. A few girls nearby glanced at her, offering small smiles. Nila returned them with the same warmth. She might be one of the first to arrive today, but something in her heart told her this classroom would slowly become her world again.
Jai Harini stepped into the classroom, scanning the faces until Nila waved at her. Recognition lit up her face as she walked over and sat beside Nila.
"Hi, I'm Jai Harini," she said with a smile, adjusting her bag under the desk.
"Nila," she replied warmly, "We met earlier… in the bathroom queue."
"Oh yes!" Harini chuckled. "That was chaotic."
Before they could speak more, Mrs. Jaishree clapped her hands gently and asked everyone to form a queue for the morning assembly. The classroom buzzed with new voices and quiet introductions as they stepped out into the corridor together.
The morning assembly was held in the main ground, and everything moved in a quiet, orderly manner. The teachers were already lined up near the stage, guiding students to form neat rows by class. Nila and Jai Harini stood together, surrounded by their new classmates. A hush settled over the crowd as a senior teacher stepped forward and instructed everyone to begin with Pranayama.
A few students demonstrated the correct breathing techniques on stage, reminding everyone to inhale deeply, hold, and exhale slowly. The gentle rhythm of hundreds breathing in unison created a calm atmosphere. After a few rounds of Pranayama, the meditation session began. For ten full minutes, the entire school stood silently, eyes closed, focusing on their breath. The breeze was soft, the sun still mild, and the air was filled with a sense of peace Nila hadn't felt in a long time.
The silence broke with the assembly prayer, followed by the school prayer song echoing through the speaker system. Then came the national pledge, each line repeated with firm voices. A student read out the day's news—global, national, and school announcements—before the final national anthem brought everyone to attention once more.
After the national anthem, the students were dispersed. It was time for breakfast, and the crowd slowly thinned as everyone walked in lines toward the dining area.
After the assembly, everyone moved towards the hostel block where the dining area was located. The path was filled with chatter, first-day excitement, and the occasional yawn from sleepy students. The breakfast menu for the day was rose puri with potato sabzi, and for those who preferred something else, there was bread with butter and jam. The dining hall was already buzzing with the clatter of plates and the aroma of hot food.
In this school, you could eat as much as you wanted, but wasting food was strictly prohibited. There were even staff members posted around the dining area to ensure that no one left behind uneaten food. This rule wasn't just announced—it was enforced. Nila remembered from her past life how stressful breakfast used to be. The pressure to finish everything on her plate just to avoid scolding or judgment had made her force food down even when she didn't like it.
But this time, she wasn't going to make the same mistake.
She quietly picked up her plate and took only a small portion - a single fluffy puri, a spoon of sabzi, and one slice of bread with a thin layer of jam. Her friends behind her looked surprised. "Are you dieting already?" someone asked with a teasing tone.
Nila smiled and shook her head. "No, just trying to see if I like the taste. If I want more, I'll come back. They keep serving hot food anyway."
Harini, who had taken a full plate, looked at Nila and slowly put back some of her extra puris. "That actually makes sense," she muttered. "No point in wasting."
One by one, her friends began to take smaller portions too. They all sat at a table close to the serving counter, which made it easy to go back for seconds. The food turned out to be decent, simple but tasty. They chatted, laughed, and even swapped bites to try different combinations. After the initial hesitation, they realized they could always get more without fear or shame. It was all about being mindful.
It wasn't long before they noticed the staff patrolling nearby. Everyone felt a quiet sense of relief—they hadn't wasted anything. A few even thanked Nila for setting the example.
With stomachs full and hearts light, the group slowly got up, placed their cleaned plates at the washing area, and began walking back toward the academic block. The first day of school was about to begin for real, and Nila, for once, felt fully ready.