As the seminar ended, students and professors began filing out of the hall. Vijay's voice broke through the chatter before I could gather my thoughts.
"Hey! Wait up!" he called, waving energetically toward three familiar faces approaching the exit.
I recognized them instantly—Anika, with her bright smile and animated enthusiasm; Rohan, the glasses-wearing, thoughtful boy often buried in books; and Sameer, the tall, composed figure whose quiet intensity always made me a little uneasy.
Unlike Vijay, I hadn't interacted much with them beyond passing nods in the corridors.
Vijay didn't wait for formalities. "Come over here! We need to talk about that seminar—it was something else, right?"
The three paused hesitantly but walked toward us. Vijay introduced me quickly. "This is Mohan, my good friend and fellow history buff. Mohan, these are Anika, Rohan, and Sameer. You'll be seeing a lot of them soon."
I nodded and offered a quiet greeting. "Nice to meet you all."
Anika smiled warmly, extending her hand. "Likewise, Mohan. Vijay says you're the historian among us—welcome!"
Rohan gave a polite nod, adjusting his glasses. "Looking forward to exchanging ideas."
Sameer's gaze was steady, measuring me with a flicker of something unreadable. "Good to have you with us."
We settled on the steps outside the hall as Vijay steered the conversation.
"So," he started with a grin, "what did everyone think? Raman really knows how to make history and geography come alive."
Anika's eyes gleamed. "Absolutely. Especially when he talked about how rivers can change the fate of entire civilizations. It's like the ground beneath us has its own stories."
Rohan chimed in thoughtfully. "His answers were precise, but careful—like he knew more than he could say."
Sameer smirked slightly. "He hinted at things—the metaphysical stuff near the end. Quietly, like he didn't want to scare anyone but wanted to plant a seed."
I finally spoke, sharing my impression. "I agree. There's a layered depth to what he said. When the other professors questioned him, it felt more than academic debate. He's guarding secrets but willing to guide us toward them."
Anika nodded slowly. "That's what makes him so intriguing."
Rohan added quietly, "But also unpredictable. We have to be careful."
Vijay laughed. "Since when did we become the cautious types?"
We all chuckled, but beneath the lightness, I felt the weight of the conversation settling over us.
As the group began to disperse with the evening shadows lengthening, Vijay turned to me with his usual energetic grin. "So, same old routes home, Mohan? Or shall we walk together a bit?"
I nodded. "Sure, it's better than going solo, especially after everything today."
We started walking side by side, leaving the campus grounds behind. The streets were quiet, street lamps casting pools of amber light on the pavement. When we reached our usual parting point near 46 Pinsk Street, Vijay glanced at me expectantly.
"So," I began hesitantly, "what did you think of the seminar? Any thoughts on the homework Raman mentioned?"
Vijay chuckled. "Honestly? Way more interesting than any class this semester. The way he connected history and geography—it wasn't just facts, it was stories that breathe. As for homework, I say bring it on. Challenges are fun."
I smiled but felt a swirl of conflicting emotions. "Yeah… I get that. But when the professors questioned Raman, it felt deeper, like secrets being carefully guarded. And those metaphysical hints at the end… unsettling."
Vijay nodded slowly. "I felt it too. Like we're being led somewhere, but none of us know the destination yet. Still, I'm curious. Maybe too curious."
We stopped at the corner. "Well, this is me," Vijay said with a grin. "See you tomorrow, Mohan."
"See you," I replied, watching him walk away as darkness settled deeper.
Alone, the quiet of the night pressed in. My mind replayed the seminar—the layered questions, the cautious debates, the mysterious energy surrounding Professor Raman. The conversation with Anika, Rohan, and Sameer lingered in my thoughts—their excitement, their careful skepticism, their sharp awareness.
Was this merely academic curiosity, or a prelude to something far more complex? The anticipation gnawed at me, mingled with a hesitation I couldn't yet shake.
As I walked slowly home, the familiar streets felt strangely different. Every shadow seemed heavier, every sound stretched farther than usual. I pulled my jacket tighter, conscious of a chill that wasn't entirely from the night air.
By the time I reached my building, the questions weighed on me too much to ignore. The seminar had been only a faint scratching on the surface—of something vast, unsettling, and just beyond reach.