Chapter 8 – Hostel Evening: Catching Up
The sun had dipped low over the campus, painting the courtyard in shades of amber and gold. Arjun and Raghav returned to their hostel after a long day of lectures, the echo of student chatter and laughter following them through the corridors.
"This first day went smoother than I expected," Raghav remarked quietly, adjusting his bag.
"Smooth? You mean it didn't explode into chaos yet," Arjun replied with a grin, one hand sliding into his pocket as they walked. "Don't worry, the fun hasn't even started."
When they reached their respective rooms, the familiar sight of their roommates waiting—or casually lounging—brought a sense of comfort. Arjun pushed open Room 204, greeted by the relaxed figures of Kabir Malhotra and Imran Sheikh. Kabir, lounging on his bed, gave him a wide grin.
"There he is! Took you long enough to grace us with your presence," Kabir said, tossing a pen toward Arjun.
Arjun caught it effortlessly and dropped his bag near the corner. "Had to make sure nothing interesting happened without me." His grin was playful, not arrogant, as he leaned back against the wall.
Imran, seated quietly at his desk and sketching in his notebook, finally looked up. His eyes were sharp and observant, taking in every detail. "Welcome back," he said simply, returning to his sketch.
"Quiet as ever, Imran," Arjun said lightly. "But I respect it. You've got that… calm strength thing going."
Imran's faint nod was all the acknowledgment he offered, yet it was enough. Arjun smiled softly, appreciating the silent understanding.
Kabir stretched, hopping off his bed. "So, tell me everything! Classes, lunch, the campus chaos—how was it?"
Arjun dropped onto the bed across from Kabir, stretching. "Honestly? Surprisingly smooth. But I already know tomorrow will be fun—table football, coding challenges, maybe a little harmless mischief."
Kabir laughed. "That's what I like to hear. Imran, you're going to enjoy this… or at least tolerate it."
Imran only smirked faintly, keeping his eyes on the sketchbook. He didn't speak much, but the occasional subtle comment had a way of piercing through Arjun's jokes. And Arjun liked that.
---
Meanwhile, Raghav Chauhan entered Room 205 and found Sameer Verma sprawled across his bed, grinning from ear to ear.
"Finally! The laid-back legend returns," Sameer said, nudging him. "I was starting to think you'd vanished into thin air."
Raghav chuckled lightly. "Not vanished, just… moving at my own pace."
On the other bed, Vikram Solanki was doing a short set of push-ups, muscles taut with discipline. He glanced up with a faint smile. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous tonight, Chauhan. Otherwise, you'd be doing half of these too."
Raghav smirked faintly. "I'll survive for now. But maybe tomorrow…"
Sameer laughed, tossing a packet of chips toward him. "Tomorrow? You should join us now. You're missing out!"
Vikram shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Don't encourage him, Sameer. He'll take it seriously."
Raghav just leaned against the bedpost, smiling quietly. He enjoyed the chaos without needing to be at the center of it. That calm detachment often worked in his favor, especially when dealing with Sameer's antics.
---
By now, both rooms had settled into comfortable routines. Snacks were shared, stories exchanged, and minor competitions were proposed.
In Room 204, Kabir leaned closer to Arjun, whispering. "So, Rathore… do you really think you can beat me in table football tomorrow?"
Arjun laughed softly, shaking his head. "I don't play to prove I'm better, Kabir. I play because it's fun. Winning… is just a bonus."
Kabir smirked. "Wise words. But we'll see."
Imran, observing silently from his desk, commented only once: "Don't underestimate him. He enjoys more than he shows."
Arjun grinned faintly at the remark, appreciating the insight. "Exactly. You're learning fast, Imran."
The conversation drifted naturally, touching on classes, professors, campus life, and even memories from their hometowns. Arjun spoke about the hills of Himachal, the rivers he and Raghav used to swim in, and the mischievous pranks they played in childhood. Kabir laughed at the antics, occasionally teasing Arjun about exaggerating details, while Imran quietly listened, occasionally adding subtle remarks that made the stories sharper or funnier.
Across the hall, Room 205 had its own rhythm. Sameer recounted a funny mishap from the afternoon class, dramatically imitating the professor, while Vikram corrected his exaggerations with calm amusement. Raghav listened quietly, smirking at Sameer's theatrics.
"You always make it look like chaos is fun," Raghav said mildly.
"That's because it is," Sameer replied, grinning. "And one day you'll admit it, Chauhan."
Vikram shook his head with a faint smile. "I think he already does, in his own quiet way."
Raghav simply smiled faintly, enjoying the balance—Sameer's humor, Vikram's discipline, and the calm of the evening.
---
In Room 204, the conversation naturally turned to friendly challenges. Kabir suggested a mini chess match, which Arjun accepted, keeping it lighthearted and playful.
"Chess? Fine," Arjun said, stretching his fingers dramatically. "But remember, I play for strategy… and entertainment."
Kabir laughed. "Don't underestimate me, Rathore. I'm serious about winning."
Imran quietly observed, sketching the game setup in his notebook. Occasionally, he offered a calm comment or suggestion, which surprisingly helped Arjun think two moves ahead.
Across the hall, Sameer dragged Raghav into a quick card game while Vikram insisted on timing them with a stopwatch, trying to sneak in a small test of focus and patience.
"Relax, Vikram," Raghav said mildly. "We're just playing cards."
"I know," Vikram replied, smirking. "But even small games teach discipline."
Sameer groaned theatrically. "Discipline in cards? Really?"
Raghav smiled faintly, shaking his head. "Sometimes, discipline is in the details."
The rooms echoed with laughter, teasing, and playful rivalry, but nothing serious. Everyone was getting to know each other better—not just their quirks, but the subtleties of their personalities.
--
By the time lights dimmed slightly, both rooms had grown quieter. Arjun leaned against the wall near the window, glancing at Kabir and Imran. "You know… I didn't expect it, but this room feels… comfortable. Not just fun, but… right."
Kabir smirked. "Told you. You just had to survive the first day."
Imran didn't speak, but his faint nod and calm demeanor conveyed agreement.
In Room 205, Raghav lay on his bed, glancing at Sameer and Vikram. "Quiet, calm, chaotic… somehow it works. Feels like home already."
Sameer grinned, nudging him. "See? I told you. Chaos is part of the charm."
Vikram, ever disciplined, adjusted his posture on the bed. "It's not just chaos. It's balance. And I think we're finding it."
Raghav smiled faintly, letting the words settle. The hostel had become more than a place to sleep—it was a small ecosystem of laughter, friendship, challenge, and comfort.
Arjun, lying back on his bed in Room 204, looked out the window at the fading light. Tomorrow would bring more classes, competitions, and perhaps a little mischief. But for now, the day had been enough: bonding with friends, teasing, laughter, and the quiet sense that they were all in this together.
"Not bad at all," Arjun whispered to himself. "Not bad at all."
And with that, the two rooms settled into a peaceful, lively rhythm, the hostel alive with energy, companionship, and the subtle promise of more adventures to come.