Chapter 18✨

Diwali vacations have always felt special, but this time they were even more meaningful. After spending months away at college, coming back home felt like pressing pause on everything and breathing again. The familiar smells of home, the sound of laughter in the neighbourhood, and the bright lights everywhere brought a wave of nostalgia. I spent most of my time with my family helping with decorations, eating all my favourite homemade sweets, and staying up late just talking. If anyone had seen me eat my favourite snacks they would have instantly known how deprived was I. I also met my society friends after a long time. We played so many games, laughed till our stomachs hurt, and talked about old memories like we were kids again. It felt so good to relive those simple moments. Still, there were times I missed my college friends. I’d catch myself thinking about them during the festive nights, wishing they were there too. So, we had a few video calls full of jokes, updates, and laughter...

 The last day before we went home for just seven days felt surprisingly emotional. Even though it was only a short break, it felt like the end of something special. Over time, the people around me had become more than just classmates they had become a family. We shared laughter, stress, secrets, and countless memories that made every day unforgettable. One of the best friends I made here was my roommate. She left two days before me, and I didn’t realize how much her absence would affect me until the night I slept in the room alone. It felt strange not hearing her constant chatter or her random jokes. The room just didn’t feel the same without her. On my last day, I spent time with friends .We roamed around, laughed endlessly, and tried to act like everything was normal, even though we all knew we’d miss these moments. When the time came to leave, I felt a mix of happiness and sadness. Going home felt nice, but leaving behind this little family even for a week reminded me how dee...

I still remember my first dance performance like it happened yesterday. It was a couple dance, and the moment I heard my name on the participant list, I felt a mix of excitement and fear. I had never performed on stage before, and the idea of dancing in front of so many people made my heart race. My partner and I practiced for almost 10 hours(for 10 days everyday) . At first, we kept forgetting steps, bumping into each other, and laughing every time something went wrong. But slowly, we started to get better. Each practice brought us closer to the rhythm and to the confidence we needed. On the day of the performance, I was so nervous I could barely breathe. The music started, the lights hit the stage, and suddenly everything else faded away. For those few minutes, it was just the two of us moving to the beat, completely lost in the dance. When the song ended, the sound of applause filled the hall. I couldn’t stop smiling. It wasn’t just a successful performance, it was one of the hap...

So this one random night, a bunch of us were just chilling in the common room(My room), playing UNO. You know how it goes  people shouting over +4s, accusing each other of cheating, full-on chaos but in the best way. Out of nowhere, someone goes, “Yo, why don’t we check out that spooky place the seniors were talking about?” And for some reason, all of us thought that was the perfect idea at 3 a.m. Because obviously, sleep is overrated and we had to go ghost hunting instead. So, off we went  up to the 15th floor. Actually, above it  the place everyone whispered about but no one really dared to go to. The moment we stepped in, the vibe changed. The lights were flickering, it was dead silent, and I swear even the air felt weird. None of us said it out loud, but we were all a little scared inside. Then we spotted them   four monkey-shaped dustbins lined up like they were waiting for us. At 3 a.m., they looked way creepier than they had any right to. We were alread...

 After a quick one-hour dash through Dakshin Chitra , it was obvious: the real hype was for the mall . Honestly, who spends two months in college waiting to go out and gets excited about a museum? We were buzzing for our first mall trip together , and the energy was unmatched. The moment we arrived, it was chaos in the best way possible. We wandered through stores, debated over the tiniest purchases like our lives depended on it, grabbed snacks like true food enthusiasts, and basically lived our best carefree lives . Every little moment helping friends pick stuff, taking a million selfies, joking around felt like pure joy. Even the bus ride was a vibe. We danced, sang at the top of our lungs, and laughed until our stomachs hurt. Eating together, exploring, goofing around it all felt like a mini celebration of friendship and freedom . By the end of the day, it wasn’t just a mall visit it was a legendary first-time experience , full of memes, laughter, and memories that will proba...

Our whole class went on an outing to Dakshin Chitra , a museum that shows the beautiful culture and traditions of Tamil Nadu. After almost two months of not being allowed to go out as first-semester students, this was our first trip together , and everyone was filled with excitement. Just the feeling of leaving the campus and being free for a day felt amazing. The bus was full of laughter, songs, and happy conversations  it was clear that we had all missed this sense of freedom. At the museum, we saw traditional houses , village scenes , and handmade crafts that showed how people lived in the past. Every exhibit had a story to tell about old customs, art, and architecture. Walking through the recreated villages and seeing the detailed carvings and decorations made us feel connected to Tamil Nadu’s rich history. It was not just a learning experience, but also a fun way to see how life used to be long ago. The best part of the trip was how it brought all of us closer. Away from clas...