The night before the fest, sleep was a joke.
Hostel Block C buzzed.
Clothes were borrowed.
Makeup was tested.
Speeches were practiced.
Playlists were fought over.
Room 407 turned into headquarters.
Meher tried outfits like identities.
Pihu stuck passes everywhere, including Nandini's book.
Nandini nervously reread her script.
Ananya stood in front of the mirror, mic in hand.
She practiced.
Stopped.
Practiced again.
Then suddenly said, "What if I mess up tomorrow?"
Pihu pointed a pen at her. "You will. And then you'll fix it."
Nandini nodded. "That's how you work."
Meher looked at her reflection in the mirror beside Ananya's.
"You're not scared of the stage," she said. "You're scared of being seen."
Ananya met her eyes.
"Yes."
Meher smiled softly. "Good. Means it matters."
Later, when the lights were off, they lay awake.
Pihu spoke into the dark. "Do you ever think about how this room won't always be ours?"
No one answered immediately.
Then Nandini said, "But this time will be."
Meher added, "And it will ruin all future friendships."
Ananya smiled into her pillow.
"Worth it," she said.
Outside, Mumbai glittered.
Inside, four hearts held the same quiet thought:
Tomorrow, something changes.