Prologue: A New Semester

Opening Scene: Rohan’s Monotony The sun rose lazily over the sprawling campus of Zenith Engineering College, casting long shadows across the familiar stone pathways. Rohan trudged through the bustling corridors of the mechanical engineering block, his backpack slung loosely over one shoulder. Routine had always been his comfort zone. Wake up, attend classes, work on projects, and spend hours in the workshop tinkering with machines. It was predictable—safe. But now, in his third year, the repetition had started to feel suffocating. As he sat on a bench near the department notice board, sipping a lukewarm cup of chai, Rohan couldn’t help but notice the excited chatter of students around him. The buzz of a new semester. Everyone seemed to have a story—internships, trips, new relationships. Rohan’s summer had been quiet. A few freelance projects, some hours in the workshop, and a lot of time spent alone. The Introduction of Meera His introspection was interrupted by the sound of laughter—a melodic, infectious kind that seemed to brighten the hallway. Rohan looked up and saw her. Meera. She was surrounded by a small group of friends, gesturing animatedly as she recounted some anecdote. Her presence was magnetic—confident yet approachable. Dressed in a casual kurta and jeans, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail, she looked effortlessly poised. Rohan vaguely remembered her from a robotics club meet the previous year, but she seemed different now— more self-assured, radiant even. She had just returned from a prestigious summer internship at a leading tech company, and the whispers of her achievements had already reached every corner of the campus. The Orientation Session Later that day, Rohan found himself in the packed auditorium for the orientation session of the inter-department project initiative. The dean was delivering a speech, but Rohan’s attention wandered. The sound of someone settling into the seat beside him made him glance to his left. It was Meera. She gave him a polite smile before turning her attention back to the stage. Rohan froze. His heart seemed to skip a beat. He was used to being invisible, blending into the background, but sitting this close to her felt like the world had suddenly tilted on its axis. As the presentation droned on about teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration, Rohan stole a few glances. Meera was jotting down notes with a sense of focus that made him feel self-conscious about his own empty notebook. The Spark The session ended with a brief announcement: participants would be paired randomly for the projects. As everyone shuffled out of the auditorium, Rohan lingered behind, his thoughts swirling. He watched as Meera walked away, her laughter echoing in the hallway as she chatted with her friends. For a brief moment, she turned and caught his gaze. Rohan quickly looked away, feeling a warmth rise to his cheeks. There was something about her that unsettled his carefully constructed world of logic and order. He didn’t know it yet, but this moment—this fleeting spark—was the start of something that would change him forever. Closing Scene As Rohan walked back to his hostel, the evening sun casting a golden glow over the campus, he allowed himself a small smile. For the first time in a long while, the monotony of his routine didn’t feel so heavy. Maybe this semester would be different.