The girls' hostel room hummed softly with the quiet buzz of evening conversations. Pratima and Avni, perched on their beds, were deeply engrossed in phone calls, their laughter mingling with hushed whispers. The three seniors scattered across the room lounged comfortably, scrolling through their phones and occasionally exchanging amused glances.
Amidst the casual chaos, Jia sat at her study desk, the glow of her table lamp casting a warm halo over her notes and textbooks. Her pen moved steadily across the pages, eyes focused and unblinking as she prepared for the upcoming exam. The sounds around her seemed distant, almost like a background melody to her intense concentration.
Suddenly, her phone vibrated sharply against the wooden surface. She glanced down at the screen—an unfamiliar number flashing insistently. Without a second thought, she silenced the call and returned her attention to her studies.
But then, minutes later, the phone rang again. The same unknown number. This time, a flicker of curiosity nudged her to answer.
"Hello?" she said cautiously, her voice steady but tinged with surprise.
A brief pause followed, then a calm, confident voice broke the silence. "Hey, I know you."
Jia's brow furrowed, confusion knitting her features. "I think you've got the wrong number," she replied carefully.
"Nope," the voice said with a teasing ease. "I'm sure of it. And one day… I'll be your boyfriend."
Before she could respond, the line went dead. The silence that followed felt heavy.
Jia stared at the phone in her hand, her heart suddenly racing. Who was this mysterious caller? How did he know her? And why was he so certain about something neither of them had even begun?
---
Across town, in the boys' hostel common room, a different kind of energy crackled. Arav lounged on a battered sofa, a playful smirk tugging at his lips as his friends circled him, their voices filled with amusement and disbelief.
"You seriously think you can make Jia Sharma your girlfriend?" one friend asked, shaking his head. "She's the college topper—serious, focused, all work and no nonsense."
Arav's eyes gleamed with mischief. "That's exactly why I'll do it," he said coolly. "Challenges like these are the best kind."
The group exchanged knowing smiles, already anticipating the fun and games that were about to unfold. For Arav, this wasn't just a bet—it was a game he was ready to win.
Jia sat frozen for a moment after the call ended, the stranger's words still echoing in her ears. "And one day… I'll be your boyfriend." She blinked and stared at her phone, unsure whether to feel disturbed, amused, or simply confused.
She turned toward her roommates. "Something weird just happened," she said quietly.
Pratima looked up from her phone. "What's wrong?"
Jia explained the call — the unknown number, the strange voice, and the confident declaration. The room, once filled with casual chatting, now buzzed with curiosity.
"Call him back," Avni suggested immediately, reaching for the phone.
Jia hesitated but handed it over. Avni hit redial. The phone rang several times, then went silent. No one picked up.
Pratima tried next, but the call was cut almost instantly. "Whoever it is, he's avoiding us now."
One of the seniors, Ruchi, frowned. "This sounds creepy. We should report it. To the college or the police."
Malti, the most thoughtful among the seniors, finally spoke, her voice calm but firm. "No. That would only create unnecessary trouble. If we involve the police, the college will panic, and our parents might get involved. It'll become a mess."
"So what do we do?" Avni asked, frustrated.
"We catch him," Malti said simply, closing the book in her hand. "Smartly."
The room fell quiet, listening.
"Tomorrow," she continued, "during a lecture—when everything is silent—we'll call the number again. If his phone rings in class, we'll know exactly who it is."
Everyone nodded, the plan simple but clever.
That night, they stayed up speculating. Avni guessed it might be someone from the football team. Pratima named a few boys from their lab group. Ruchi mentioned a guy from the library who often stared at Jia.
But Jia said little. Though she tried to sleep, her mind kept circling back to the voice—familiar, maybe, but she couldn't place it. There was something about his tone. Confident. Almost... playful.
---
The next morning, college life resumed as normal. Jia entered her lecture hall with her usual calm composure, but inside her chest, her heart thudded with nerves. She took her seat, acting as if nothing had changed.
A few rows behind her, Arav leaned back in his chair, laughing softly at something his friend whispered. He looked relaxed, carefree.
At exactly twenty-five minutes into the lecture, the professor was deep into a complex explanation, and the room had settled into complete silence.
Jia pulled out her phone discreetly beneath her desk. She opened the call log and tapped the unknown number. The phone started ringing.
For a moment, there was nothing.
Then, suddenly, a ringtone echoed sharply through the quiet hall. All heads turned.
Arav, caught off guard, fumbled to silence his phone. But the damage was done. Eyes locked onto him.
Jia turned slowly in her seat, and their eyes met for the first time.