The next day felt different.
Not because anything had changed—
but because something was about to.
The campus was louder than usual.
Music echoed through the corridors, decorations hung everywhere, and groups of juniors stood awkwardly, trying to look confident.
Fresher's Day.
"Bro, look at this crowd," Raj said, adjusting his shirt. "Whole college showed up."
Karan glanced around. "Free food does that."
Aarav walked beside them, hands in his pockets.
He nodded. Smiled. Responded.
But his mind wasn't fully there.
"Today is going to be interesting," Raj continued. "New faces everywhere."
Karan smirked. "New people to judge."
Aarav let out a small laugh.
They entered the auditorium.
The lights were bright, the stage already set.
Students filled the seats, voices blending into noise.
Performances began.
Music.
Dance.
Laughter.
Raj reacted to everything like it was the best thing he had ever seen.
Karan judged everything like it personally offended him.
Aarav sat between them.
Watching.
But not really seeing.
His thoughts drifted.
They always did.
After a while, he stood up.
"I'll be back."
Raj didn't even look at him. "Don't get lost."
Aarav stepped out.
The noise faded instantly.
The corridor was quieter.
Cooler.
He exhaled slowly.
For the first time that day—
he felt like he could breathe.
He started walking.
No destination.
Just movement.
And then—
he stopped.
Not because he wanted to.
Because he couldn't move.
A few steps ahead—
stood a group of juniors.
Talking. Laughing.
Normal.
Until—
one of them turned.
Time slowed.
It wasn't just a face.
It wasn't just familiarity.
It was her.
Aarav's breath caught.
She looked the same.
And completely different.
Her hair slightly longer.
Her smile… easier.
More confident.
More real.
But that laugh—
He knew that laugh.
He had heard it through a screen.
Late nights.
Endless calls.
And now—
it was right in front of him.
Real.
Aarav didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Couldn't.
For a second—
everything else disappeared.
The noise.
The people.
The present.
All gone.
Just her.
And him.
In the same place.
After all this time.
His mind raced.
Should I go?
Should I say something?
What do I even say?
His heart beat faster.
Louder.
Too loud.
He took a step forward—
Then stopped.
Because suddenly—
it didn't feel real anymore.
It felt like a memory.
Like something he wasn't supposed to touch again.
Before he could decide—
someone called her.
She turned.
Walked away with them.
And just like that—
She was gone.
Aarav stood there.
Frozen.
"Bro!"
Raj's voice snapped him back.
"What happened to you?" Raj asked, walking toward him with Karan.
Aarav turned slowly.
"I…" he paused.
His voice felt stuck.
"I think I just saw someone."
Karan frowned. "Someone?"
Aarav nodded.
"Yeah."
Raj glanced behind him. "Where?"
Aarav pointed. "Right there… she was standing with the juniors."
They looked.
Nothing.
Just people moving around like nothing had happened.
Karan turned back. "You sure you didn't imagine it?"
Aarav didn't answer immediately.
Because even he wasn't sure what he had just seen—
A memory.
Or reality.
"…No," he said finally.
Raj raised an eyebrow. "Who was it?"
Aarav looked away.
For a moment—
he thought about saying it.
About finally putting a name to it.
But he didn't.
"…Just someone I used to know."
Karan studied him.
Raj went quiet.
Because that answer—
said more than it explained.
Aarav clenched his jaw slightly.
And in that moment—
he knew one thing.
If that really was her—
then his past wasn't done with him yet.