The Girl Who Didn’t Belong

Aarohi Kulkarni hated college corridors. They were loud with laughter, echoing with gossip, and crowded with people who seemed far too sure of who they were. She moved through Fergusson College with her skateboard tucked under her arm, oversized hoodie pulled tight, comfortable in her own quiet bubble.

Until it burst.

Her books slipped from her grip and hit the floor near the canteen entrance.

“Great,” she muttered. “That’s just perfect.”

Someone knelt beside her before she could react.

“Looks like gravity’s having a personal vendetta today.”

Aarohi looked up.

Raghav Malhotra. Campus favorite. State-level footballer. The guy everyone knew, even if they didn’t know him.

She blinked. “Gravity and Monday mornings,” she said dryly.

He grinned, handing her a notebook. “I’ll take that as confirmation.”

That should’ve been it. A moment. A coincidence.

But by lunchtime, Aarohi was already recounting the incident to her best friend, Naina, over a cup of matcha at 'Jim's Cafe' near FC Road.

“Wait... that Raghav?” Naina scoffed. “The golden boy of our college?”

“He was just… nice,” Aarohi shrugged.

And then, as if on cue, Raghav called out to her later that evening near the parking lot.

“You skating home?” he asked. “It’s freezing.”

“I’ve survived worse,” she replied.

He smiled. “Hop in anyway.”

She did.

And just like that, something started... something Aarohi could have never imagined