As I reached the corridor, I saw him again.
He was standing near the notice board, talking to another staff member. My steps automatically slowed down. I tried not to stare, but my eyes kept going back to him. He laughed at something the other person said, and for some reason, that simple smile made my heart beat faster again.
I quickly looked away and walked past him , pretending I hadn't noticed anything. But just as I crossed, I heard a voice behind me.
"Excuse me."
I stopped.
For a second I wondered if someone else was there, but when I turned around, he was looking directly at me.
"Yes?" I said softly, trying to stay calm.
"You're from FY class, right? You looked
confused in the morning," he said politely.
I felt embarrassed.
"Yes… it was my first day."
He nodded with a small smile. "I thought so. Don't worry, everyone feels lost on the first day."
His voice was gentle and reassuring. Somehow, my nervousness reduced instantly.
"I'm Aarav," he said.
I hesitated for a second before replying, "I'm… Sufiya."
"Nice to meet you, Sufiya," he said.
Before I could say anything else, one of my classmates called me from behind, and the moment ended just like that. I said a quick goodbye and walked toward the gate, but inside my heart there was a strange happiness.
On the way home, I kept thinking about the conversation. It was short, simple, and normal, yet it felt special. I realized that for the first time since morning, I wasn't feeling lonely anymore.
The next day, I reached college early — something I never usually did. I told myself it was because I didn't want to be late again, but deep down I knew the real reason.
Priyanka noticed immediately. "Wow, early today? What changed?"
"Nothing," I said quickly.
She laughed. "Something definitely changed."
Classes started, and slowly I began talking a little more with my classmates. Maybe college wasn't as scary as I thought. Maybe I just needed time.
During lunch break, while I was sitting quietly and eating, someone placed a notebook on my desk.
I looked up.
It was Aarav.
"You left this near the notice board yesterday," he said.
"Oh… thank you," I replied, surprised.
He sat on the nearby chair casually. "So, how's college now? Still scary?"
"A little less," I admitted.
"That's progress," he smiled.
For the first time, I found myself talking freely without overthinking every word. The conversation felt easy, natural — something I usually struggled with.
After he left, Priyanka immediately leaned toward me with wide eyes. "WHO was that?"
I tried to act normal. "Just… someone from college."
She grinned. "Someone special, I think."
I rolled my eyes but couldn't stop smiling.
Days started passing, and slowly college life began changing. I still had only a few friends, but I no longer felt invisible.
Sometimes small conversations with Aarav in corridors or during breaks became the best part of my day.
I didn't know what this feeling was yet. Maybe it was just admiration, maybe friendship, or maybe something more. But one thing was certain — college was no longer just lectures and loneliness.
It had become a place where my story was finally beginning.
And maybe… that unexpected eye contact on the first day was not just a coincidence after all.
The next day felt different. I woke up earlier than usual and actually felt excited to go to college. I didn't know why, but college no longer felt boring or lonely. Maybe because now I knew at least a few people… or maybe because I was secretly hoping to see Aarav again.
When I entered the classroom, Priyanka and my other friend Nisha were already sitting and talking. As soon as they saw me, Priyanka smiled mischievously.
"Someone looks very happy today," she said.
"I always look like this," I replied, trying to sound normal while arranging my books.
Nisha laughed. "No, today you look extra happy."
I ignored them and sat down, but my eyes automatically moved toward the door every few seconds. I didn't even realize I was doing it until Priyanka noticed.
"Are you waiting for someone?" she asked teasingly.
"No!" I said quickly, maybe too quickly.
Both of them started laughing.
During the break, we went to the canteen together. The canteen was crowded, full of noise and laughter.
While we were eating, I casually asked, trying to sound uninterested, "Do you know someone named Aarav?"
Priyanka suddenly stopped eating and looked at me with surprise.
"Aarav? Tall, dark, calm guy?"
I tried to act normal. "Maybe… I don't know."
Nisha's eyes widened. "Wait… you met him?"
"Yes… just normally," I said, feeling slightly nervous now.
Priyanka and Nisha looked at each other and then burst into laughter.
"What happened?" I asked, confused.
Priyanka leaned closer and said, "He's not new. He's our senior."
I blinked. "Senior?"
Yes," Nisha continued. "He studies here only. He's in the final year. That's why you felt he was new — seniors don't attend every lecture like us, so they come to college only sometimes."
Suddenly everything made sense.
The confidence, the way teachers talked to him, the calm attitude — he didn't look like a first-year student at all.
"Oh…" I said softly, feeling slightly
embarrassed. "I thought he was new staff or something."
Both of them laughed again.
Priyanka smiled teasingly. "So… how do you know him?"
"He just talked to me because I looked confused on the first day," I explained.
Nisha raised her eyebrows. "He doesn't talk to everyone, you know."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"I mean," she said, smiling knowingly, "he's quiet and mostly keeps to himself. Many juniors find him intimidating.
That surprised me.
He didn't seem intimidating to me at all. He seemed kind… and easy to talk to.
For the rest of the day, their words stayed in my mind. He's our senior. Somehow that made him feel even more mysterious. There was a small distance between us now — not just strangers anymore, but not exactly friends either.
After lectures ended, we walked toward the gate together. Just as we reached the corridor, I saw him again standing near the stairs, talking on the phone.
My steps slowed automatically.
Priyanka noticed immediately and whispered, "Senior alert."
I lightly pushed her arm, embarrassed.
As we walked past him, he looked up for a moment. Our eyes met again, just like the first day. This time, he smiled slightly — a small, simple smile — but it was enough to make my heart race again.
And at that moment, I realized something.
Maybe college wasn't just about studies anymore.
Maybe it was about unexpected people who slowly become important without you even noticing.