At exactly 5:00 AM, Nila woke up — like clockwork. The whole bay was still fast asleep, wrapped up in the hush of the weekend. No alarms, no chatter, not even the sound of shuffling slippers.
She stepped outside, enjoying the quiet. Since it was the weekend, she decided to stretch her yoga routine beyond the usual fifteen minutes. One full hour of peaceful breathing, slow stretches, and birdsong in the distance. It felt good — calm, focused, like her body was saying thank you. Afterward, she sat down to meditate, letting her breath anchor her thoughts.
By 6:30, she was showered and fresh. Still, not a soul stirred in the bay.
Nila grabbed her math textbook and headed to the study hall. The quiet morning gave her the perfect space to revise the first chapter. She had already done most of the homework earlier in the week, so this was more about making sure everything truly clicked. With no distractions, her mind was sharp and steady. Pages turned quickly.
Around 8, her stomach reminded her it was time for breakfast. She walked into the dining hall only to find it... empty. A lone mess aunty was setting up extra trays.
"Breakfast is till 10 on weekends," the aunty said with a friendly smile. "Most kids show up late or skip it altogether."
"Ohh... okay," Nila smiled back.
She learned something else too — the TV in the dining hall gets switched on during weekend food timings. And if she wanted, she could also go to the common TV room in the hostel. Today, both were open.
Since no one else was around, the mess aunty gave her the remote. "You pick," she said.
Nila laughed, slightly surprised, and tuned into the news. Just because she was living in a hostel didn't mean she had to live under a rock. It was important to stay in touch — with the world, with people, with herself.
She lingered there until around 9. As other students slowly began trickling in, the dining hall filled with chatter and clanging plates. Someone changed the channel to a music show — loud, bouncy beats filling the air.
Nila grinned to herself and headed back to the dorm. It was funny how a building could go from meditative silence to absolute chaos in under five minutes. A different kind of energy had arrived — the buzz of a new day, and a special one at that.
By the time the clock struck 10:00 AM, Nila was done with everything. Not just done — updated. First chapter revised, problems solved, worksheets completed, margins filled. For the first time since arriving at the hostel, she actually felt ahead of her schedule.
A strange kind of freedom settled into her chest. Now I can enjoy the weekend without that weight in the back of my mind, she thought, stretching with a little smile. The quiet morning had worked its magic.
She walked back to the dorm just in time to catch a bit of action. The warden was in the corridor, deep in conversation with the hostel in-charge. As soon as she spotted Nila, she waved her over.
"Nila, dear, can you please wake up the rest of your bay girls? Ask everyone to be ready for a short meeting in fifteen minutes — right here in the dorm."
"Okay, ma'am," Nila nodded.
Back inside, the dorm was buzzing with half-sleepy voices. Some were just getting up, others still had pillows over their heads. Nila clapped her hands gently, "Guys, wake up! Bay meeting in fifteen minutes. Warden ma'am's orders!"
There were a few groans.
"Five more minutes, yaar," someone muttered.
But slowly, the energy shifted. Blankets were folded, hair was brushed, faces washed. By the time the warden returned, most of the girls had gathered, sitting cross-legged on the floor or perched on the edge of their beds.
The warden cleared her throat and began, "Okay, first of all — good morning, girls. Hope everyone's starting to settle in."
There was a scattered mix of nods and yawns.
"Let's begin with general issues. If you're facing any problems with your cupboards, fan, lights, or AC — inform your bay leader. She will write it down and submit a formal letter to the in-charge."
That got some attention. Two girls glanced up, whispering about a cupboard that wouldn't close properly.
"And speaking of bay leaders," the warden continued, "we're officially appointing Shivani from Grade 10 as your Bay Leader."
Shivani Di smiled and gave a tiny wave.
"Vice-leader will be Amara from Grade 9. If there's anything you can't discuss directly with Shivani, talk to Amara."
Nila liked the choice. Shivani had a quiet strength and was always neat and well-organized. Amara was chatty but sweet, already friendly with most of the younger girls.
"Now," the warden went on, "Laundry. Everyone got their clothes back from the last cycle?"
There was some murmuring.
"Anyone missing anything?" she asked.
A ninth-grade girl raised her hand. "Ma'am, I didn't get my green kurti."
"Noted. Meet Aunty Latha in the laundry room after lunch. You need to search your pile of Non-collected clothes."
Then came the part that perked everyone up.
"Weekend updates. The ground is open the whole day — except between 12 and 3 PM, when the sun is too harsh. TV hall will remain open, and dining hall TV during food hours. But remember, no one is allowed to go near the school block. That area is closed until Monday."
A few sighs were heard. Everyone had secretly hoped to sneak into the Computer Lab.
"Lastly," the warden said with a smile, "Freshers' Day will be held next week. So all you new girls — this is your time to shine! Whether it's singing, dancing, acting, poetry, mimicry — solo or group — we want to see your talent!"
A few heads turned and grinned at one another.
"There will be no interference from the staff. You're free to create your own show. But —" she held up a finger, "you must submit your performance plan and participant list by tomorrow lunch."
The girls looked at each other with rising excitement. Plans were already forming in whispers. Group dances? Duets? A skit?
Nila didn't say much, but her mind was already whirring.
The meeting wrapped up quickly. As soon as the warden left, the dorm exploded into voices — people calling out ideas, forming teams, checking schedules. The calm of the morning was now replaced by a new kind of energy — light, sparkly, and full of possibilities.
After the bay meeting, the rest of the day flowed like a lazy river. Lunch was slow and filled with sleepy chatter, and most girls disappeared into their dorms for a nap or to catch a movie in the TV hall. But Nila stayed back in the cabin, sorting out her books and folding her clothes. The quiet gave her peace.
She was dusting the windowsill when Shivani Di walked in, holding a plate of mango slices she'd smuggled from the mess.
"You didn't eat fruit?" she offered a piece casually.
"I had mine earlier," Nila smiled.
Shivani settled on her bed, curling her legs up. "By the way, are you planning to do something for Freshers' Day?"
Nila paused, mid-fold, and turned around. "Me? No."
"Why not?" Shivani asked, a bit surprised. "Don't you have any talents?"
Nila laughed softly, "I do! But no, I'm not going on stage. Not this time."
Shivani tilted her head. "Stage fright?"
"Sort of," Nila said. "Mostly, I don't want to risk it. There's no participation certificate or house points. Everyone's new. Group coordination with strangers is too much pressure. And solo… too much spotlight." She chuckled, "I don't want to be booed off the stage before my school life even begins."
Shivani Di smiled knowingly. "Fair. But I don't think anyone would boo you. People here are nicer than they look."
Nila nodded, "Maybe. But I've decided — this time, I'll just watch. Get a feel for the place, the students, how everything works."
"Hmm. That's smart," Shivani said, popping another mango slice into her mouth. "Anyway, there'll be cultural competitions in two or three months. Much bigger. Proper contests, and you get house points too."
Nila's eyes lit up. "Now that sounds tempting."
"Yup," Shivani grinned. "Plus, you'll know the crowd by then. Easier to form teams. Or even go solo if you want."
"Good," Nila said. "This time, I'll just observe... see who my competitors are."
They both laughed. The conversation drifted to lighter things — the best chutney in the mess, the weirdest rules in school, which teacher was the strictest. All the while, Nila continued folding and arranging, her hands working as her mind relaxed.
By the time the sun started dipping outside the window, the cabin was clean, calm, and cozy — much like her thoughts. She wasn't ready for the spotlight just yet. But she wasn't hiding either. She was simply watching, waiting… and preparing.