STRINGS and STANDOFFS

2: Plot Twist - Same College, Same Chaos

Ashi, trailing behind with wide eyes and a nervous smile, waved a little too hard. "H-Hi! Wow. Everyone's here."

Radha grinned and pulled her into the chaos. "Don't look so scared, Ashi. It's just us. Dysfunctional, but cute."

They talked about schedules, the canteen that apparently sold soul-crushing chai, and tried to guess how fast Rudra would get in trouble with a professor.

"Three hours," Kavya said.

"Two," Radha smirked.

"I feel attacked," Rudra said.

They took a group selfie in front of the NCU gate, everyone making faces. Rishi threw peace signs like he was in a K-pop band. Kavya made sure her side profile was visible. Ashi tried to smile but looked mildly terrified. Trisha forced Shree to smile. He didn't, but his eyes twitched, which was close enough.

Kavya immediately uploaded it to her Instagram story.
Caption: we're baaaaack 🎓👑 ft. trauma(highschool) bonding

*

Once settled into a corner of the campus canteen with iced coffees and greasy samosas, they all began chatting like they'd never left school. It was warm. It was safe. It was weirdly wonderful.

Kavya poked her straw aggressively. "Okay, but how long before we get matching hoodies? I vote for chaos slogans."

"'Survived High School, Now Majoring in Drama,'" Radha suggested.

"Or 'No One's Safe in This Friend Group,'" Rishi said, already opening Pinterest.

"Oh god," Trisha muttered, "please no. Matching hoodies are how cults start."

Rudra looked up, considering. "I mean, we are kinda a cult."

"I call dibs on being the pretty one," Kavya said.

"You already are," Ashi added shyly.

Kavya dramatically placed a hand over her chest. "I will protect you with my life."

A beat.

Everyone's phone buzzes.

"It's for bonding! We're the OGs, the final boss squad! Like the Avengers but with more trauma and snack issues!" Ashi says nervously.

A new Group chat is created, " Hot Mess Majors."

Radha squinted. "Cute. Slightly threatening. I approve."

"Why do you look like you set something on fire?" Rishi asks Ashi suspiciously.

Ashi fiddled with her bag strap. "Okay. So. Um. Tiny update."

Then Radha's smile froze.

Because the next notification said:
Ashi added Anirudh Shah.

Kavya blinked. "Excuse me what?"

Radha whipped her head toward Ashi so fast that even Rishi instinctively ducked.

Ashi was already bracing herself, hands up. "WAIT I WAS GONNA TELL YOU PLEASE DON'T THROW SOMETHING-"

"What the hell is Anirudh Shah doing in a chat called 'Hot Mess Majors'? Shouldn't he be busy haunting the foggy streets of London?"

Ashi squirmed. "S-So... plot twist... he didn't go. There was a visa delay. He's... um. Here."

Radha opened her mouth to scream, and that's when the courtyard behind them erupted.

A basketball hit the ground with a thud. A couple of people shrieked.