Sunday morning.
Sunlight warmed the corridor as Nidhi walked with her usual bounce. The mess buzzed—weekend chaos: clinking plates, tired laughter, someone playing music too loud.
But her stride paused.
A group of seniors stood around a fresher—cornering him.
"Tell us a joke that makes us laugh, or else—"
The boy stammered, "Uh, why—why did the—"
"That's pathetic!" one snapped. "Start dancing instead!"
Nidhi stepped in, flipping her ponytail casually.
"Guys," she said, bright and sharp, "if this is your idea of fun, your boredom issues are worse than I thought."
The tallest senior scowled. "Who asked you?"
She shrugged. "No one. Just figured you were running out of dialogue. This feels like a bad school play."
Some freshers giggled.
Another senior tried, "Big mouth for someone so small."
Nidhi tilted her head. "Big ego for someone so threatened."
That landed.
The lead senior forced a grin. "Whatever. Let's go."
They walked away, their power draining with each step.
Nidhi turned to the fresher. "Next time, just say you're allergic to stupidity."
He laughed. "Thanks… I will."
She gave a quick salute and walked off, unaware of the stares she left behind.
Up above—behind the foggy old library window—a boy leaned forward.
Watching.
Not blinking.
His lips barely moved.
"So… you're here."
He didn't look away.
That's when Meher and Ananya appeared, coffee in hand.
"What happened?" Ananya asked.
Meher didn't answer right away.
Her eyes had drifted to the window.
To the boy.
Still watching Nidhi.
Meher's gaze softened. And slowly… she smiled.
Not for the scene below.
But for Nidhi.
Because she had waited long for a moment like this—
Where the world noticed her light.
And maybe… something else did too.
Back in their room, the trio had kicked off their shoes and sunk into the regular chaos of hostel life.
Meher connected the Wi-Fi.
Ananya plugged in her laptop.
Nidhi flipped open hers. "Okay, downloading Python now. Finally."
"Ugh," Ananya groaned. "Mine's stuck on 99%!"
"Don't jinx the internet," Meher warned.
They giggled, half-frustrated, half-lost in excitement. The day had slipped by fast—coding apps, arranging folders, adding widgets to the desktop.
Outside, darkness crept in.
Streetlights flickered. The corridor quieted.
Then—
Slide.
A black envelope slipped in from under the door.
Nidhi was the first to spot it. "Ooh, what's that?" She picked it up before either Meher or Ananya could blink.
It was sleek. No name. Just a silver stamp on the flap.
She ripped it open with a dramatic grin.
Inside:
A black card with bold gold lettering.
> You're invited to the Freshers' Night.
Hosted by your seniors.
Date: Tonight.
Time: 12:00 AM sharp.
Location: Will be revealed just before the event.
Dress Code: BLACK.
Compulsory Mask.
(No entry without both.)
Ananya blinked. "Tonight? At midnight?"
Meher narrowed her eyes. "That's... dramatic."
Nidhi looked even more thrilled. "It's like a secret mission. I love it."
They all exchanged a look—excitement, nerves, mystery brewing in the air.
Outside, the corridor was still. The envelope lay open like a riddle waiting to unfold.
the envelope lay open on the table like a silent dare.
Ananya frowned. "At midnight? Isn't that... weird?"
Meher crossed her arms. "Suspicious too. Why the secrecy?"
Nidhi grinned, already imagining the vibe. "Come on, it sounds fun! It's not a horror movie invite—just seniors being dramatic."
"But we don't even know where it is yet," Ananya pointed out.
Nidhi flopped onto the bed. "That's the thrill! Like a midnight treasure hunt. What's the worst that could happen?"
"Don't tempt fate," Meher muttered.
After a few more playful arguments and overthinking, they finally agreed.
"We'll get ready by 10 PM," Meher declared. "If we get the location, we go. If not, we don't."
Deal.
10 PM.
The second envelope arrived—just like clockwork. It slid under the door in silence.
Meher opened it this time.
Inside was a simple card:
> "Follow the black petals to the garden."
They exchanged looks.
Showtime.
Getting Ready:
Each of them dressed in black, but their personalities shaped their looks:
Ananya wore an elegant off-shoulder black satin prom dress, flowing just enough to feel royal. Her hair curled loosely, a soft shimmer highlighting her eyes.
Meher chose a fitted black gown with long sleeves and a subtle slit—graceful and composed. A sleek ponytail and a minimalist black mask completed her mysterious aura.
Nidhi dazzled in a short black sequined dress with a playful flare, paired with high black boots and bold red lipstick. Her black feathered mask screamed drama and charm.
They looked at each other in awe.
"Damn," Nidhi whispered, "We're killing it."