The campus was already loud when Aarav walked in.
Too loud.
People laughing like life made sense, rushing like attendance actually mattered.
Aarav just walked through it, hands in his pockets, mind somewhere else.
"OYE!"
He didn't react.
"Oye, hero! I know you can hear me."
Aarav finally turned.
Raj was waving like he was calling a taxi. Karan stood beside him, leaning against a pillar, looking like he'd been dragged there against his will.
"Bro, what took you so long?" Raj asked. "Did you come walking from Mysuru or what?"
Aarav smirked. "At least I came peacefully. You sound like a morning alarm."
Karan glanced at Raj. "Worse. Alarm you can snooze."
Raj ignored him. "I woke up early today."
Aarav raised an eyebrow. "That's suspicious."
"Preparation," Raj said proudly.
"For what?" Aarav asked.
Raj grinned. "Tomorrow."
Aarav frowned slightly. "What's tomorrow?"
Karan stared at him for a second. "You're kidding."
Raj stepped closer. "Fresher's party. Tomorrow. Juniors' fresher's day."
"Oh," Aarav said casually. "That."
"That?" Raj repeated. "That's your reaction? People wait for this."
Karan added, "New batch. New faces."
Raj continued, "New chances."
Karan smirked. "New embarrassment."
Raj pointed at him. "Ignore him. This is important. Whole college shows up."
Aarav shrugged. "Still sounds like a normal event."
Raj placed a hand on his shoulder dramatically. "You have no excitement in life."
Karan added, "He has. It's just sleeping.
Aarav let out a small laugh. "At least I'm consistent."
They started walking toward the building, merging into the crowd.
Raj was already talking non-stop.
"Bro, tomorrow is going to be crazy. Performances, music, everything."
"And food," Karan added.
Raj nodded instantly. "Obviously."
Aarav shook his head. "There it is. Real reason."
Karan smirked. "Always."
Raj bumped Aarav's shoulder. "You're coming. No disappearing."
Aarav hesitated.
Just a second.
"Yeah… I'll come."
Karan slowed his steps slightly, looking at him.
"That didn't sound convincing."
"It is," Aarav said quickly.
Too quickly.
Raj noticed.
Karan definitely noticed.
But Raj clapped his hands once. "Done. Tomorrow—full attendance."
"And if you ditch," Karan added, "we're coming to your house."
Raj grinned. "Uncle will help us."
Aarav sighed. "You both are jobless."
"Correct," Karan said.
"Proudly," Raj added.
They reached the corridor, students crowding around, voices echoing through the halls.
Raj kept talking about random things.
Karan replied just enough to keep the conversation alive.
Aarav walked with them.
Laughing.
Responding.
But not fully there.
Because even in the noise—
his mind slipped.
To something unfinished.
A name he didn't say anymore.
He clenched his jaw slightly.
"Focus," he muttered.
Raj turned. "What?"
"Nothing."
Karan looked at him for a second longer than usual.
But didn't say anything.
The bell rang.
Students started moving toward their classes.
Another day.
Just one more day.
Before something he wasn't ready for—
walked back into his life.