In the winter mornings at The BSS COLLEGE were really different. Everything was slower and softer. There was this kind of chaos in the air. You could see a fog that made the campus look blurry. Students would walk in with their hands in their pockets and their shoulders all hunched up because of the cold. When they breathed out you could see these white puffs that disappeared right away.
The canteen was still full of people. It was not as loud as it usually was. The cold made everyones voices sound muffled and when people laughed it sounded warmer and nicer. Some students were holding onto their notebooks while others were holding onto cups of chai like it was the only thing that could keep them warm. The smell of tea was coming from the cafeteria mixing with the cold winter air. It was like it was pulling everyone in before their classes started.
People were standing in groups in the corners trying to finish their work at the minute telling jokes or just trying to stay warm. It was nice in a way. The people, the same routines. But the winter mornings made everything feel more alive and real. You could tell it was going to be a day.
In that cold and quiet time when the whole world was still waking up it felt kind of special.
Today was not like that.
For Vaqzy Sharma nothing about this morning felt normal. He was standing in the canteen corridor leaning against a wall that was slightly cracked. He could hear the sound of students talking and laughing before their classes even started. Some were in a hurry while others were just taking their time. He was holding onto a cup of chai that had gone cold a long time ago.. He was not looking at the cup. He was looking at someone who was a few steps away.
Priya.
She was laughing at something her friend had said. Her voice sounded light and effortless. The kind of laugh that would make people turn around without realizing why. She looked the same as confident and radiant and totally out of reach.
"Bro you're checking her out again aren't you?" Rohit said, nudging him lightly with his elbow.
Vaqzy blinked, like he was pulled back into reality. "I'm not staring " he said.
"Oh really? So I'm the one staring now huh?" Rohit said with a smirk taking a sip of his chai. "How long has this been going on?"
Vaqzy did not answer away. He adjusted his glasses buying himself a seconds.
" year " he said finally.
Rohit let out a whistle. "That's some dedication… but today you're finally admitting it right?"
Vaqzys grip on the cup got a little tighter. "Yeah. Today " he said.
Rohit looked at his face for a moment like he was trying to decide whether to laugh or take him seriously.
"You're seriously crazy, man " he said finally though you could hear a bit of respect in his voice. "But it's okay… just say it. Otherwise you'll regret it for a lifetime..."
Regret. That word had been bothering Vaqzy for weeks now.
He had imagined this moment many times. Different scenarios, different outcomes. In some Priya. Said yes. In others she said no.. In every version at least he had the courage to say it.
Today he would finally find out which version was real.
The bell rang, signaling the start of the lecture and the hallway slowly emptied. Vaqzy took one look at Priya before following the others into class.
The lecture was a blur. The professor was talking about theories drawing graphs on the board but Vaqzy could not focus on a single word. His notebook was open in front of him untouched while his mind kept replaying the thought over and over again.
What if Priya says yes?
It was a thought. Not very realistic, even.. It would not leave his mind.
Priya was sitting a couple of rows ahead occasionally turning to whisper something to her friend. At one point she glanced back. For a second. And their eyes met. She smiled.
It was a gesture, probably meaningless.
For Vaqzy it felt like hope.
By the time the lunch bell rang his heart was pounding harder than ever.
The canteen was crowded as always. Students were filling every table their voices all mixed together. Plates were clattering someone laughed loudly and the smell of freshly fried samosas filled the air.
"Abhi " Rohit said firmly placing a hand on Vaqzys shoulder. "Ye perfect time hai."
Vaqzy hesitated.
"Bro just go " Rohit insisted. "If not then never."
There was no escaping it
Taking a breath Vaqzy stood up. His legs felt heavier with each step as he made his way through the crowd. Everything around him seemed to fade. The noise, the people, his own thoughts. Until there was only one thing left in his world.
Priya.
She looked up as he approached, her expression curious but warm. "Hey Vaqzy " she said. "What's up?"
His throat went dry.
"Can we… talk?" he managed to say. "Like… quiet?"
She raised an eyebrow slightly clearly surprised but nodded. "Okay."
They walked out of the canteen together leaving behind the noise and chaos. The campus felt quieter on this side with the sound of leaves rustling in the light breeze. They stopped near a tree away from the path.
Priya turned to face him. "You're scaring me a little " she said with a laugh. "Whats going on?"
This was it.
Vaqzy swallowed, trying to steady his voice. "I've been meaning to tell you something for a while."
She waited, her expression soft but attentive.
"I know this might be sudden " he continued, his words coming now "and maybe I should've said it earlier but… I just couldn't keep it in anymore."
He paused for a moment gathering what courage he had left.
"I like you, Priya " he said quietly. Then immediately he corrected himself. "No… I love you."
The words hung in the air between them.
For a moment everything felt still.
Priya did not react immediately. She simply looked at him her expression unreadable. Then she exhaled softly. Gave a small almost apologetic smile.
"Vaqzy…" she began.
That one word was enough to make his chest tighten.
"You're really sweet " she said. ". Honestly I kind of had a feeling this might happen."
His heart sank.
". " She continued gently "I don't see you that way."
There it was.
The answer he had been both waiting for and dreading.
"I like someone."
The world did not stop. The ground did not shake. Nothing dramatic happened.
Yet somehow everything felt like it had fallen apart.
"Oh " Vaqzy said, the word barely escaping his lips.
"I'm really sorry " she added. "I didn't want to hurt you."
"No it's okay " he replied quickly forcing a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. "I just… wanted to tell you. That's all."
There was a silence before she spoke again.
"Can we still be friends?"
The question felt almost routine like something people said because they were supposed to.
"Yeah " he said anyway.
Because what could he say?
When Vaqzy returned to the canteen Rohit looked up immediately.
"Ho gaya?"
Vaqzy nodded.
". "
He hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering.
"She said no."
Rohits expression changed the teasing gone from his face. "Bhai…"
"It's fine " Vaqzy interrupted. "Seriously. I expected it."
It was half true.
The group slowly returned to their chatter trying to act normal but something had changed.. Maybe it was just him.
He laughed when they laughed nodded when they spoke even added a joke or two.. It all felt distant like he was watching himself from the outside.
Later as the day ended and students began to leave Vaqzy found himself walking alone toward the college gate.
That's when he saw her again.
Priya.
She was walking with someone. A guy Vaqzy had seen around before. They were talking, smiling, at ease with each other.
She looked happy.
For the first time Vaqzy realized something painful.
He was never part of that happiness.
That night, lying on his bed with the lights, off
That day was really something. Vaqzy did not just tell someone how he felt. He also broke a part of himself that he did not even know was there.
Authors Note
I want to thank you for reading Chapter 1. ❤️
If you saw any mistakes or things that did not sound right please tell me. I will really appreciate it. Your thoughts will help make Vaqzys story better.
I also want to know what you thought when you were reading. Did Vaqzys story feel real to you? Did you feel like you were part of Vaqzys story?
More of Vaqzys story is coming soon…