Dhivika, a 15-year-old, sat in the backseat of the car with her cousins, Harika and Tejas, who were just a year older than her. Today, the trio was going to join a new school. Dhivika sat in between her cousins. On her right was Tejas, and on her left was Harika. Like typical teenagers, the trio was busy on their phones.

The car came to a halt. The trio looked outside and saw that they had arrived at the school campus. The name of the school, Delhi Public School, was written in huge letters. The car entered the campus and stopped in front of a building, which was probably the hostel.

Dhivika stepped out of the car. She was wearing a white shirt with folded sleeves and black jeans. They entered the building and found a few people in the lobby. After waiting for their turn, they completed the entry process. Soon, they were allotted their respective rooms.

After bidding goodbye to their parents, they walked to their respective rooms. The hostel building had a total of four floors. The ground and first floors were allotted to girls, while the upper two floors were allotted to boys. Tejas went to his floor. Dhivika and Harika were on the same floor, but both were allotted different dorms.

Dhivika’s POV

I’m Dhivika Malhotra. I’m not exactly excited about the new school and hostel, but a weird kind of peace has settled inside me, a peace not everyone can describe. This is my first time staying in a hostel. Everything is new. New place, new school, new hostel, new people, new classmates.

I don’t know how I’m going to survive this. I’m an introvert, and the best part is that my cousin Harika and I were allotted different dorms.

(Note the sarcasm....)

The room was moderate sized with an AC, three shelves on the wall, two beds and a study table in between. Cupboards were placed in hall to give extra space for students. Washroom was attached to the room.

Every dorm in this building has three rooms, with two students in each room. Still, I was sent to a completely different dorm.

Couldn’t I at least stay in the same dorm but in different rooms? Leave it.... I should just accept my fate and set up my side of the room since my roommate hasn’t arrived yet.

I spread the bedsheet on my bed. As I was about to unpack my stuff, a girl stood at the doorway of my room. I looked at her. She looked a bit older than me, probably a senior.

“Hi, I’m Mehak Walia,” she said, breaking my chain of thoughts.

“I’m Dhivika Malhotra,” I replied.

“Well, I’m here to take my books,” she said, pointing at the shelf just above my bed.

I said nothing, just nodded my head. God, why am I like this?

“I can’t reach it. Can I stand on your bed?” Mehak asked.

“Yes, you can,” I said. Finally...

She climbed onto my bed and pulled down a huge pile of books. She looked at me and smiled.

“Thanks. By the way, which grade are you in?”

“Grade 11, stream Biology. What about you?” I said.

“We are classmates!” she replied with excitement.

Wait… Classmates? I wasn't ready for this....

“Yes.... I guess” what else could I say?

“I should leave now. See you later!” she said.

As usual, I just smiled and watched her disappearing figure. I turned to take my luggage, but my attention was drawn to the door as a middle-aged lady entered with a little girl, probably my junior.

I’m going to stay with a kid? Shit....

Wait... Junior = obedient kid = peace.

Finally, something good.....

After some time, the woman left. She was my little roomie’s mother. We didn’t have any conversation. The girl quietly started setting up her bed. I glanced at my luggage, patiently waiting for me to unpack it. Just as I was about to pick it up

“Dhivi,” a familiar voice called out.

Not now, please… THIS IDIOT...

I turned around to find my sister, Harika. She glanced at my roommate and immediately dragged me out of the room. She took me straight to her room and finally let go of my hand as we entered.

“Help me set my things up,” Harika said.

Can I just hit you, sisi? If you weren’t my best friend and favourite cousin, I swear…

She’s your older sister.... Control Dhivi...

“Idiot,” I muttered, helping her anyway. Of course I had to, I was the younger one here....

After unpacking Harika’s stuff, she told me about her friend who had also joined the school. We went to the next room in the dorm and knocked on the door to get their attention. When we entered, we found two girls around our age sitting on their beds. Harika sat down beside her friend.

“You must be Tanvi. You texted me, right?” Harika asked the girl sitting on the other bed.

She was wearing glasses, looking kinda nerdy and innocent.

“Oh, Harika? Raina told me about you, so I thought I’d text you,” the specs girl replied.

“This is my cousin, Dhivika,” Harika said, introducing me.

“Hi! I’m Tanvi, and she’s Raina. Why are you standing? Take a seat.”, Tanvi said.

She’s kinda talkative, but kind....

I smiled and took my seat beside Tanvi. We talked about random things.

Guess what? Like every typical girl's gossip, those 'random things' somehow led us to discover that Tanvi and I had a mutual friend from my previous school....

We talked for a while until the bell rang. Mehak came in, informing us that it was snack time. We went downstairs and found the other girls already gathered. Near them stood our warden with a lady beside her, probably her daughter.

“Students! Welcome to the hostel. We know it won’t be easy living here. As long as you are here, you need to follow certain rules and regulations,” warden ma’am’s daughter said.

“Mehak!”

She called out, and Mehak stepped forward with a huge smile.

I don’t know why, but I already love her bubbly personality.....

(I’m straight, by the way....)

“She is Mehak. She has been here for the last four years. Technically, she is your senior in this hostel, so she will guide you all,” ma’am continued.

We nodded. As instructed, Mehak guided us to the mess for snacks. It wasn’t far, just a few steps away from the hostel building.

We walked into the mess. It was a huge hall with tables and chairs arranged neatly. We washed our hands and took our seats. I chose a corner seat.

Near the wall and away from people.… Peace

Harika sat to my left, the wall to my right. Raina sat beside Harika, and Tanvi sat next to her. After some time, we were informed that snacks were ready. We formed a line, served ourselves, and returned to our seats.

I was minding my own business when I heard Tanvi’s voice.

“She is Harika, and that’s her sister, Dhivika,” she said.

Maybe she was introducing us to someone.....

I leaned back to see who Tanvi was talking to, but I couldn’t see her. Then an unfamiliar yet melodious voice hit my ears.

“You can come to my room whenever you want.”

I chose to ignore everything and focused on my snacks instead.

After some time, we returned to our respective rooms. My roommate was nowhere to be seen. Probably chilling with her friends. I pulled out my luggage.

“Dhivi!”

Not again.…

I turned around to find my sisi and new friends standing at the door.

“What are you doing?” Raina asked.

“Unpacking my stuff,” I replied.

“Where’s your roommate?” Tanvi asked.

“Maybe with her friends.”

The trio nodded and dragged me to the dorm right in front of mine.

“I need to unpack my stuff,” I protested.

“Do it later, girl,” Harika said.

They kept dragging me until we reached a room. We knocked on the door. It unlocked, welcoming us in. Inside, we found Mehak and a girl with glasses. She had soft features, a round face, and a healthy, chubby build that made her beautifully cute. She looked a bit older, and her glasses made her even more adorable.

“Hey! Take your seats,” the girl said, welcoming us with a warm smile.

Tanvi and Raina sat beside her on the bed, while I sat with Harika next to Mehak.

“Hi, I’m Omisha, your senior, the one and only,” she smiled. “Harika and Dhivika, right?”

We nodded and smiled back.

“Oh, wait!” she said, bending down and pulling out a suitcase. She opened it and took out a box. Inside was a cake. She cut it and offered us pieces.

“Have it as a welcome gift, and don’t you dare act shy,” Omisha di said playfully.

A smile spread across my face. We took a piece and ate it.

“It’s delicious,” Tanvi said.

“It’s actually really tasty,” Raina and Harika added.

“It’s awesome, Omisha di,” I said.

“Thanks! You guys can call me Omi or Omu, whatever you prefer,” she said.

We talked for a while. Time passed, and we didn’t realize it was already dinner time until the bell rang again. We walked downstairs and waited for the others. Once everyone arrived, we headed to the mess.

I took my seat, only to notice a duckling faced girl sitting right in front of me.

(It was a compliment.... She was actually cute....)

“Hi! My name is Hansika,” she said.

“I’m Dhivika,” I replied.

“You know what?” she asked.

“What?” I said.

“My Kaju di used to sit at your place,” she said, smiling widely.

“You mean your older sister?”

“No, they were our seniors, but more like sisters,” Mehak replied, her smile just as wide as Hansika’s.

“Oh, really?” I said, smiling back.

And once again, we slipped into random conversations. Guess what? By the end of dinner, I came to know about all the creatures...

I mean, former students, who used to study here...

After dinner, we went back to our respective rooms. I was exhausted from traveling and setting everything up. I entered my room.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath.

HOW COULD I FORGET ABOUT IT…

So yeah, this was how Dhivika’s first day at the hostel went.

Thank you for reading till the end.

This is my first story, and I’d love to know what you think!

More chapters going soon✨

Stay tuned....