Between Timetable and Fate

Karan's POV

Finally

I stood before the college and it felt like walking into a storm. The last time I felt this kind of emotion was when I entered the field with my ball, becoming the center of attention for thousands of students. But I had braced myself for it. Every nerve was on edge, yet I had prepared for this.

I adjusted my backpack over one shoulder, glancing at my timetable, my mind focused on navigating the crowded corridors. I had mapped out every turn the day before. Being new to the city, I was relieved that I hadn’t gotten lost in the maze of look-alike streets. I didn’t want to be late on the first day. Things had gone pretty much according to plan so far. Predictability—that’s what kept me grounded.

As I made my way toward the lecture hall, I scanned the timetable once more, double-checking the room number. Everything was going according to plan—until it wasn’t.

Out of nowhere, I felt a jolt—a sharp impact that nearly knocked me off balance. "Whoa!" I stumbled back, my grip on the timetable loosening as papers flew everywhere.

Regaining my footing, I looked down to find a girl kneeling on the ground, hurriedly gathering her scattered papers.

I’ll be late.

I knelt to help her, my eyes scanning the scattered papers for my timetable.

I lifted my head when her hair came into view—a mix of black and subtle brown, tied back in a messy bun. She had fair skin, and when she turned, her brown eyes locked with mine. Though a bit embarrassed, they were strikingly expressive.

"Sorry!" she blurted out, her voice shaky. "I wasn’t paying attention."

I didn’t really know how to respond. The whole thing felt more inconvenient than anything else. "It’s okay," I muttered, handing her some of the papers that had landed near my feet. "I wasn’t paying attention either."

She looked up and suddenly laughed, a sound that was oddly cheerful considering the situation. "Well, I guess we’re both guilty then," she said with a small smile.

I nodded, not sure what else to say as I handed her the last of her papers. "Yeah, I guess."

She stood up, brushing off her jeans, and offered a quick, "Have a good day," before walking away. Her voice faded like a distant echo. Before I could even process what had happened, she was gone, swallowed up by the sea of students.

First human interaction in college… was unusual.

I pocketed my timetable and was about to head to the lecture hall when another jolt hit my shoulder. I turned sharply to see a guy jogging past me, his face flushed.

"Sorry, bro!" he called out as he jogged past, barely breaking stride. He was hopping on one foot, struggling to keep his balance, but seemed in too much of a hurry to stop and check if I was okay.

I glanced after him, feeling a mix of irritation and confusion. First the girl, now this guy who seemed to be in his own world. What was with today? It felt like the universe was conspiring to throw me off my carefully planned course.

Taking a deep breath, I adjusted the strap of my backpack and resumed my walk. The lecture hall was just ahead, and I could already see students filtering in.

As I entered the lecture hall, the familiar hum of voices and the shuffling of feet created a backdrop of activity. They were all talking like they’d been friends for years, which I suppose many had, having met a while ago. I really envied how some people could make friends so quickly.

The front rows were already packed, so I instinctively headed toward the back, where there were fewer people.

Spotting an empty seat by the window, I slipped into it, grateful for the slight breeze that drifted in, carrying the scent of fresh air and warmth from the sun. The sunlight streaming through the dusty glass cast delicate patterns of light on the desks, creating a sense of calm.

If my cat were here, it would try to catch the rays—his must-do activity every morning. After moving to the new place, I miss him more. I hope he's in a better place.

New day, new life—let’s not start on a note of sadness.

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