Episode 4: Separate Paths, Same Beginning
720 Words
(Aarohi’s POV)
By the time the day finally ended, my head felt heavy.
Too many instructions.
Too many new faces.
Too many things I didn’t fully understand.
As we stepped out of The Legacy, the evening air hit my face, and I let out a slow breath.
First day… done.
“Well,” Nisha stretched her arms dramatically, “I officially understood nothing.”
We all laughed.
“Same,” I admitted.
“At least we survived,” Kritika added calmly.
Pooja smiled softly. “That’s a good start.”
We stood there for a moment outside the office gate.
The building behind us looked different now—less intimidating, but still… powerful.
“So…” Nisha looked around, “where does everyone live?”
“I’m in a flat,” Kritika said. “Sharing with one friend.”
“PG,” Pooja added quietly.
“Same,” Nisha said. “But mine is decent, not like horror movie level.”
All eyes turned to me.
“I’m staying in a PG too,” I said. “With my college friend… temporarily.”
Riya nodded from beside me.
“We’re planning to shift soon.”
“Good,” Nisha said. “We should find a place nearby someday.”
“That would actually be nice,” Pooja smiled.
For a moment, no one moved.
It was strange.
Just a few hours ago, we didn’t even know each other.
And now—
we didn’t feel like strangers anymore.
“Okay, I’ll book a cab,” Kritika said, checking her phone.
“Same,” Pooja added.
Nisha stretched again. “I’m taking an auto. Budget life.”
I smiled.
“Same here.”
We slowly started parting ways.
“See you tomorrow?” Pooja asked softly.
“Of course,” I nodded.
“Don’t forget anything we didn’t understand today,” Nisha added sarcastically.
“Which is everything,” I replied.
We laughed again.
“Bye guys,” Kritika waved as her cab arrived.
“Take care,” Pooja said before leaving.
Nisha pointed at us, “Tomorrow—same confusion, same energy.”
“Done,” I smiled.
And just like that—
we all went in different directions.
I sat in the auto with Riya.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
I kept looking outside.
The city lights flickered past, faster than my thoughts.
“So…” Riya finally said, “how was your first day?”
I leaned back slightly.
“Overwhelming.”
She nodded.
“Expected.”
“And that Kayish…” I paused.
She smirked immediately.
“What about him?”
I frowned.
“He’s… too serious.”
“And?”
“And nothing.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“You noticed him though.”
I looked away.
“Everyone noticed him.”
She laughed softly.
“Sure.”
We reached the PG.
The same noise.
The same chaos.
But somehow—
it felt a little less unfamiliar today.
After dinner, I lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
My body was tired.
But my mind…
was wide awake.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Nisha:
“Group created: The Legacy Survivors 😂”
I smiled instantly.
Messages started flooding—
Nisha: “Emergency meeting: What did Kayish even say?”
Kritika: “We’ll revise tomorrow.”
Pooja: “I understood 40%… maybe.”
Me: “Teach me too 😭”
I laughed softly.
For the first time today—
I felt light.
Another message popped up.
Mom calling…
I quickly picked up.
“Hello?”
“You reached home?” her voice came, soft and caring.
“Yes, Mom.”
“How was your first day?”
I paused.
Then smiled.
“It was… confusing. But good.”
“Take care of yourself,” she said gently.
“I will.”
After the call ended, I closed my eyes.
But sleep didn’t come immediately.
Instead—
a face appeared in my thoughts.
Calm. Sharp. Unreadable.
Kayish Sinha.
And that one look.
I frowned slightly.
Why am I even thinking about that?
I turned to the other side, pulling the blanket closer.
“Focus, Aarohi,” I whispered.
“This is just the beginning.”
Outside, the city was still alive.
Inside—
five different girls, in five different places,
were starting the same story.
- Writer
