The Return Journey
The car ride back to the hostel was a mobile tomb of silence. Neerav drove, his knuckles white on the steering wheel, the usual playlist of upbeat songs conspicuously absent. In the backseat, Ruhan and Nivan sat side-by-side, a chasm of unspoken words stretching between them. They stared out of their respective windows, watching the city blur past, but their minds were trapped in the psychiatrist's office, replaying the doctor's earth-shattering words. Past lives. Shared dreams. A connected past. The concepts swirled in their minds, creating a turmoil that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring. The three reached the hostel gates, the familiar building now feeling like the entrance to a new, mysterious, and astonishing journey that was about to begin for them.
Hostel Room (Evening)
After entering the hostel, the weight of the discovery became a physical presence in the room. Nivan and Ruhan started actively avoiding each other's gaze, their movements stiff and self-conscious. It wasn't anger, but a strange, profound shyness, as if they had accidentally seen into each other's soul and didn't know how to act normally anymore. Without exchanging a single word, they both retreated to their respective beds, turning away from the center of the room and pretending to sleep, their bodies tense and minds wide awake.
Neerav saw them ignoring each other but, for once, didn't press the issue. He understood that the ground had shifted beneath their friendship in a way he couldn't fully comprehend. He cleared his throat, breaking the heavy silence. "Okay, you... both sit tight. I'll be right back."
Ruhan turned over, a flicker of panic in his eyes at the thought of being left alone with the swirling questions and Nivan's silent presence. "Bro, where are you going? Stay."
Neerav offered a small, reassuring smile. "Just, I'll be right back, bro. Promise." He slipped out, leaving the two alone with the echo of his footsteps.
In the quiet that followed, Ruhan gathered his courage. He looked over at Nivan's rigid back and asked softly, "Do you really not want to tell me, Nivan? We're in this together now, whether we like it or not."
Nivan didn't turn around, his voice muffled by the pillow. "Uh... we'll talk about this later, okay? I just... I need to process this."
Ruhan, respecting the boundary, simply nodded even though Nivan couldn't see him. "Okay," he whispered to the room. "As you say."
---
: Questions and Coffee
Common Room (Evening)
The tense silence in their room was abruptly shattered by the return of the rest of the group from college. The common room flooded with noise, backpacks were dropped, and the everyday chaos of hostel life resumed.
Ishika, ever observant, fired a direct question at the trio, her eyes narrowing. "Why didn't you three come to college today? Neerav said you had some work. What work did all three of you have that was so important?"
Ruhan, caught off-guard, quickly fabricated an excuse, "Nothing serious, we just went for Nivan's check-up." The lie felt flimsy on his tongue.
Nisha immediately turned to Nivan, her face etched with worry. "What happened, Nivan, are you okay?"
Nivan sat up, running a hand through his hair nervously. "It's nothing, really. I was just feeling a bit tired and run-down. I'm fine now."
Sadhya, not entirely convinced, pointed at Ruhan, who had resumed his fake slumber. "Tell us, bro, what happened? Why is he sleeping so oddly? And you look pale too."
Anvesh chimed in, also pointing towards Ruhan, "Bro, you're okay, but what happened to Ruhan? He's sleeping like he's been knocked out."
Ishika marched over to Ruhan's bed and poked his shoulder. "Tell us, Ruhan, what happened? You can't fool us."
Ruhan kept his eyes tightly shut, mumbling into his mattress, "Guys, nothing happened. We were just really tired, so we're catching up on sleep. You should all just sit down and relax."
Just then, the door opened and Neerav returned, his arms laden with a cardboard tray holding several cups of steaming coffee. He was the picture of forced normalcy. "Yellow guys, coffee! Everyone take one. And this..." he said, picking out one specific cup with a little heart doodled on it, "...special coffee for you, Kavya."
Nisha caught the gesture and wiggled her eyebrows, joking, "Oho! Special coffee! What's the occasion?"
Neerav laughed, a bit too loudly, "Oh no, man, just like that. It has an extra shot of caramel, that's all." He winked at Kavya.
Seeing this intimate exchange, Anvesh's jaw tightened. Without a word, he turned and left the common room, his departure subtle but noticeable.
Ishika immediately sidled up to Kavya, whispering behind her hand with a triumphant glint in her eye, "See? I told you! Anvesh got jealous, didn't he?" Kavya tried to hide her smile behind her coffee cup, her heart fluttering with hope.
As everyone settled down, sipping their coffee and the initial interrogation faded into general chatter, Anvesh returned a short while later, his expression neutral. "Guys, the food is ready in the dining hall. Come on, let's eat." The group, led by their stomachs, began to file out, the momentary dramas forgotten.
---
: Dinner and A Confession
Dining Hall (Night)
The dinner table was a stage, and Kavya was playing her part with newfound determination. Neerav, either oblivious or fully committed to his role as the supportive friend, was playfully feeding her a bite of dessert. "You have to try this, it's amazing," he said.
Seeing this, Anvesh deliberately averted his gaze, focusing intently on his plate as if it contained the secrets of the universe. Seizing the moment, Kavya decided to escalate. Smiling sweetly, she picked up a spoonful of rice and gently fed it to Neerav. "Here, you try this too," she said, her voice a little too bright.
Just then, perhaps from nerves or the hurried action, Kavya suddenly started coughing, the rice going down the wrong way. Neerav was immediately at her side, handing her a glass of water and patting her back gently.
It was Anvesh who spoke, his voice laced with a concern he couldn't fully mask. "Eat carefully, Kavya," he said, his eyes meeting hers for a brief second before flicking away. That small, seemingly casual statement sent a wave of pure joy through Kavya. He noticed. He cares.
As the meal wound down, Neerav leaned close to Kavya, his breath tickling her ear as he whispered, "Don't make any plans for later. Tomorrow is a special day for me."
Kavya pulled back, curious. "Which one? You don't have an exam or anything."
Neerav just smiled, a secretive, playful smile. "It's a secret. You'll see." Kavya, intrigued, simply nodded. "Okay."
Everyone finished eating amidst laughter and jokes, the weight of the day slowly lifting, and eventually drifted off to their rooms for the night.
Midnight (Surprise)
The hostel was steeped in the deep silence of midnight. A soft tapping sound pulled Kavya from her sleep. She groggily opened the door to find Neerav standing there, fully dressed and looking excited.
"Neerav, why did you call so late at night?" she whispered, rubbing her eyes.
"Come outside," he said, his voice a low, thrilled whisper. "There's a surprise."
Kavya was fully awake now, a mix of confusion and excitement bubbling within her. "What? So late at night? We'll get in trouble!"
"Just come," he insisted, his hand finding hers in the dark. He led her out into the corridor and, before she could protest, gently placed his hand over her eyes. "No peeking." He carefully guided her up the stairs to the hostel rooftop.
The cool night air brushed against her skin. "Can I open my eyes now?" she asked, her heart beating a nervous rhythm.
Neerav's smile was audible in his voice. "Yes. Now."
Kavya opened her eyes and gasped. The rooftop, usually a barren concrete space, had been transformed. Dozens of small, flickering tea lights formed a path leading to a small table where a beautifully decorated cake stood proudly. Colorful balloons were tied to the railings, dancing softly in the breeze. The entire city twinkled below them, a silent witness to the scene.
"Happy Birthday, Kavya!" Neerav announced, his face beaming.
Kavya's hands flew to her mouth, her eyes wide with shock and delight. "Oh my God! You... you remembered my birthday?" It was past midnight; it was officially her birthday.
"Always," Neerav said, the single word filled with a sincerity that made her heart skip a beat.
Overwhelmed, Kavya threw her arms around him in a tight, happy hug. "Thank you," she whispered into his shoulder. They then cut the cake, the two of them sharing the sweet slice under the starlit sky.
Then, Neerav presented her with a small, elegantly wrapped box. Inside, nestled on velvet, was a delicate silver chain with a small, shimmering crescent moon pendant.
"This is for you, Kavya," Neerav said softly, taking the chain and carefully fastening it around her neck. "The moon... because your smile shines like the moon on a dark night, bright and beautiful."
Kavya looked down at the pendant, then up into Neerav's eyes, which held a warmth she hadn't noticed before. For a moment, they just looked at each other, the cool night air feeling suddenly charged.
"Thanks, Neerav," she said, her voice soft and meaningful. "This is... the best birthday surprise ever."
With the city asleep below them, they cleaned up, the secret celebration ending as quietly as it began. They went back downstairs, the new moon pendant resting against Kavya's skin, a symbol of a night where surprises weren't just about birthdays, but about the confusing, wonderful flutter of a heart caught between a plan and a possibility.