By the time Pragya finally completed all the hostel formalities, she was convinced that she had signed enough forms to qualify for citizenship in an entirely new country.
First came the registration counter.
Then the hostel office.
Then the identification verification.
Then another signature.
Then another form.
Then another person telling her to keep a photocopy of something she had already submitted three times.
By the time she finally received her room key, she was exhausted.
She stood in the corridor with her suitcase beside her and looked at the tiny metal key in her hand.
For a few seconds, she simply stared at it.
This little key represented something much bigger than a room.
It represented a decision.
A secret dream she had fought for.
A future she had chosen.
And a life she had never imagined living so far away from home.
Pragya took a deep breath.
“Okay.”
She looked at the room number.
“Let's do this.”
She unlocked the door.
The room was simple but comfortable.
Two single beds stood on opposite sides.
Two study tables rested beneath a large window.
Two wardrobes stood against the wall.
There was a bookshelf beside each desk.
The afternoon sunlight entered through the window, falling across the empty floor.
Pragya stepped inside.
Her suitcase rolled behind her.
She closed the door.
Silence.
She looked around again.
“This is my room.”
She smiled.
Then the smile slowly faded.
“My room.”
Not her room in Kolkata.
Not the room where she had spent years surrounded by books, photographs, familiar walls, and memories.
This was different.
New.
Unfamiliar.
She walked toward one of the beds and placed her hand on the mattress.
“Okay, Pragya.”
She whispered to herself.
“You wanted this.”
She nodded.
“You worked for this.”
Another nod.
“You got it.”
Her eyes became slightly moist.
“So stop being dramatic.”
She sniffed.
“I am not crying.”
She wiped the corner of her eye.
“Absolutely not.”
Just then—
“Excuse me?”
Pragya turned around so quickly that she nearly lost her balance.
A girl stood at the doorway.
She had two bags in her hands, a backpack hanging from one shoulder, and an expression that suggested she had already battled half the hostel administration.
“Is this room 307?”
Pragya looked at the number.
“Yes.”
The girl's face lit up.
“Thank God!”
She walked inside.
“I thought I had been sent to the wrong block.”
Pragya laughed.
“I'm guessing you're my roommate?”
The girl put down her bags.
“Unless there is another person assigned to room 307.”
Pragya smiled.
“I'm Pragya.”
The girl extended her hand.
“Bristi.”
They shook hands.
Then Bristi suddenly narrowed her eyes.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“You're Bengali.”
Pragya blinked.
“Yes.”
Bristi's eyes widened.
“I'm Bengali too!”
Pragya laughed.
“Seriously?”
“Yes!”
“Where are you from?”
“West Bengal. Near Kolkata.”
Pragya's face brightened.
“I'm from the outskirts of Kolkata.”
“No way!”
Bristi threw her hands into the air.
“Finally!”
Pragya laughed.
“Finally what?”
“Someone who understands Bengali!”
“I think you'll hear enough Bengali from me.”
“Good.”
Bristi dropped onto her bed.
“I was terrified I'd get a roommate who speaks only English.”
Pragya stared at her.
“I'm studying in English.”
“So?”
“I can still speak Bengali.”
“Excellent.”
Bristi looked at her seriously.
“First rule of our room.”
“What?”
“Bengali is allowed.”
Pragya laughed.
“Agreed.”
Bristi began opening her luggage.
“So what are you studying?”
“M.Tech in Biotechnology.”
Bristi looked impressed.
“Wow.”
“What about you?”
“Mechanical Engineering.”
Pragya smiled.
“That's quite different.”
“Very.”
“So how did you end up here?”
“Long story.”
“I have time.”
Bristi laughed.
“Do you always ask so many questions?”
“Usually.”
“Then we're going to get along.”
Pragya grinned.
“Probably.”
They began unpacking.
Bristi folded her clothes and placed them neatly inside her wardrobe.
Pragya opened her first suitcase.
Books came out.
Bristi stared.
Then another book.
Another.
Another.
And another.
She slowly turned toward Pragya.
“Are you moving into a hostel or opening a library?”
Pragya laughed.
“Books are important.”
“How many did you bring?”
“Not that many.”
Bristi pointed at the growing pile.
“That's twenty-three.”
“Twenty-four.”
“You counted?”
“Obviously.”
Bristi shook her head.
“Okay. You're definitely weird.”
Pragya smiled.
“You haven't met my friends.”
“Why?”
“They're worse.”
The afternoon slowly disappeared.
The room gradually began to look lived-in.
Clothes went into wardrobes.
Books found their places on shelves.
Stationery filled drawers.
Photographs appeared beside the study table.
Pragya placed a small family photograph near her lamp.
Bristi noticed.
“Family?”
Pragya nodded.
“My father and brother.”
She paused.
“And my friends.”
“Mother?”
Pragya became quiet for a second.
“She passed away when I was five.”
Bristi's expression softened.
“Oh.”
“It's okay.”
Pragya smiled faintly.
“I'm used to talking about it.”
Bristi nodded.
She didn't ask more.
Pragya appreciated that.
Instead, Bristi pointed at another photograph.
“Who's this?”
“My brother.”
“He looks protective.”
Pragya laughed.
“That's an understatement.”
“Older?”
“Yes.”
“How much?”
“Five years.”
“He probably acts like he's twenty years older.”
Pragya burst out laughing.
“You have no idea.”
Bristi smiled.
“I think I'm going to like him.”
“You'll like him.”
“Good.”
By six in the evening, Pragya suddenly looked at the clock.
Her eyes widened.
“Oh no.”
Bristi looked up from her laptop.
“What?”
“I haven't called home.”
Bristi laughed.
“That's what you're worried about?”
“My father will think something happened.”
“Call him.”
“I am.”
Pragya immediately picked up her phone.
She had several missed calls.
Her expression softened.
She called Anubhab.
He answered before the second ring.
“Finally.”
Pragya smiled.
“Hi, Dabhai.”
“Where were you?”
“Unpacking.”
“You couldn't call?”
“I forgot.”
“I know.”
“I'm sorry.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“How's the room?”
“Good.”
“Roommate?”
Pragya looked at Bristi.
“She's here.”
Bristi waved.
“Hello!”
Anubhab laughed.
“Hello.”
Pragya smiled.
“She is from West Bengal too.”
“That's good.”
Then Anubhab's voice became serious.
“You've eaten?”
Pragya rolled her eyes.
“Yes.”
“Properly?”
“Yes.”
“Don't lie.”
“Dabhai!”
He laughed.
“Okay, okay.”
Then he said,
“Baba wants to speak to you.”
Pragya's expression immediately softened.
“Okay.”
The call was transferred.
“Hello, Ma.”
“Baba.”
Her father's voice immediately made something inside her ache.
“How are you?”
“I'm good.”
“Did you reach safely?”
“Yes.”
“Room okay?”
“Yes.”
“Food?”
“Yes.”
“Classes?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Are you nervous?”
“A little.”
“You'll be fine.”
Pragya smiled.
“I know.”
“Your mother would have been very proud.”
Pragya went silent.
Her eyes lowered.
“Papa…”
“Hmm?”
“I miss you.”
There was a pause.
“I miss you too, Ma.”
Pragya swallowed.
“I'll be okay.”
“I know.”
“Promise.”
“I know.”
Then another voice suddenly exploded through the speaker.
“PRAGYAAAA!”
Pragya jumped.
“Niharika!”
“FINALLY!”
“What?”
“YOU LEFT US!”
“I went to Chennai!”
“Exactly!”
Aarohi's voice appeared in the background.
“Give me the phone!”
“No!”
“I want to talk!”
“You've already talked for three hours today!”
“That's not enough!”
Pragya laughed.
“Both of you stop!”
Niharika yelled,
“NEVER!”
Aarohi grabbed the phone.
“Pragya!”
“Yes?”
“Do you know how emotionally traumatized I am?”
Pragya blinked.
“What happened?”
“You left.”
“That's it?”
“Yes!”
“That's not trauma.”
“Don't invalidate my suffering!”
Bristi burst out laughing.
Pragya looked at her.
“You're witnessing the reason I have no peace.”
Aarohi immediately asked,
“WHO WAS THAT?”
“My roommate.”
“ROOMMATE?”
“Yes.”
“Put her on camera!”
Pragya switched the camera.
Bristi waved awkwardly.
“Hi.”
Niharika gasped.
“OH MY GOD!”
“What?”
“She looks sane!”
Bristi burst out laughing.
Aarohi protested.
“That's rude!”
“I'm being honest.”
Pragya shook her head.
“Don't listen to them.”
Bristi smiled.
“I think I'm beginning to understand.”
Aarohi pointed dramatically at the camera.
“Bristi, I am Aarohi.”
“Niharika,” said Niharika.
“And that person behind me is Archismita.”
Archismita appeared.
“Hello.”
Bristi smiled.
“Hi.”
Aarohi continued,
“We are Pragya's emergency response team.”
Niharika corrected her.
“Correction. I'm the emergency.”
Archismita sighed.
“That's true.”
Pragya laughed.
“See?”
Bristi nodded.
“I see.”
Niharika immediately began interrogating Pragya.
“How was the flight?”
“Good.”
“Food?”
“Fine.”
“Did you cry?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Aarohi leaned toward the camera.
“She definitely cried.”
“I did not!”
“You have emotional eyes.”
“What does that even mean?”
“It means you cry.”
Archismita interrupted.
“Leave her alone.”
“Thank you, Archi.”
Aarohi looked offended.
“I'm trying to help.”
“You're making it worse.”
“I am emotionally supportive.”
Niharika laughed.
“You're emotionally exhausting.”
“Same thing.”
Pragya shook her head.
“I missed you idiots.”
There was silence.
Then Niharika said,
“Awww.”
Aarohi immediately added,
“She admitted it!”
Pragya groaned.
“I take it back.”
“No!”
“Too late.”
Niharika pressed her hand dramatically against her heart.
“She loves us.”
Pragya laughed.
“You're impossible.”
Suddenly, Anubhab's voice came from the background.
“Pragya.”
“Yes?”
“Did you meet Eleanor?”
“Yes.”
“And Ethan?”
Pragya paused.
Bristi looked at her.
“What happened?”
Pragya sighed.
“Don't ask.”
Niharika immediately became interested.
“What?”
Aarohi leaned closer.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
“That means something happened,” Archismita said calmly.
Pragya groaned.
“He's grumpy.”
Aarohi gasped.
“Ethan?”
“Yes.”
Niharika started laughing.
“You fought with him?”
“No.”
Eleanor's voice suddenly came through from somewhere.
“Yes, they did.”
Pragya stared at the screen.
“Eleanor!”
Niharika screamed.
“WE NEED DETAILS!”
“There are no details!”
Aarohi said dramatically,
“Pragya's first day in Chennai and she has already started fighting with billionaires.”
“That's not what happened!”
Anubhab laughed.
“I told you.”
Pragya frowned.
“You knew this would happen?”
“I know you.”
Bristi was laughing uncontrollably now.
Pragya looked at her.
“Don't encourage them.”
Bristi raised both hands.
“I'm innocent.”
Aarohi immediately said,
“Bristi, welcome to the family.”
Pragya groaned.
“Don't recruit her!”
Too late.
Niharika announced,
“She is ours now.”
Bristi laughed.
“I'm not sure I agreed.”
Aarohi replied,
“Agreement isn't required.”
Eventually, after nearly an hour, Anubhab intervened.
“Enough.”
“No!”
“Pragya needs to rest.”
“I am not tired!”
“You've travelled all day.”
“I'll sleep later.”
“Pragya.”
She sighed.
“Fine.”
Niharika immediately said,
“Call tomorrow.”
“I will.”
Aarohi added,
“And the day after.”
“Yes.”
“Every day.”
“Yes.”
Archismita smiled.
“Take care.”
“I will.”
Then Anubhab said,
“Goodnight, angel.”
Pragya smiled.
“Goodnight, Dabhai.”
Her father added,
“Take care, Ma.”
“I will, Baba.”
The call ended.
The screen went black.
And the room became quiet.
The laughter disappeared.
Pragya sat on the edge of her bed.
Her phone remained in her hand.
Bristi watched her carefully.
The girl who had been laughing seconds ago suddenly looked very small.
Pragya stared at the photograph on her lock screen.
Her family.
Her friends.
Her home.
Everything she had left behind.
She whispered,
“I miss them.”
Bristi nodded.
“I know.”
“I thought I would be excited.”
“You are.”
“Then why do I feel sad?”
“Because both things can exist together.”
Pragya looked at her.
Bristi smiled gently.
“You can be happy about your future and still miss your past.”
Pragya looked down.
“I don't want to regret coming here.”
“You won't.”
“How do you know?”
“Because you wanted this badly enough to leave everything you know.”
Pragya smiled faintly.
“Maybe.”
Bristi suddenly stood up.
“Okay.”
“What?”
“We're going out.”
Pragya frowned.
“Where?”
“Shopping.”
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Bristi.”
“Pragya.”
“I'm tired.”
“Perfect.”
“How is that perfect?”
“You'll sleep better after walking.”
“I don't want to walk.”
“Then we'll take a cab.”
“I don't want to shop.”
“Then we won't shop.”
Pragya stared.
“Then why are you saying shopping?”
“Because I need to trick you.”
Pragya burst out laughing.
“You're ridiculous.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn't a compliment.”
“I'll take it anyway.”
Bristi grabbed her bag.
“Come on.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere.”
Pragya hesitated.
Then she looked at her phone again.
She smiled.
“Fine.”
Bristi grinned.
“Victory!”
“But I'm choosing dinner.”
“Deal.”
“And I'm not buying anything unnecessary.”
“Fine.”
“And we're coming back early.”
“Absolutely.”
Pragya narrowed her eyes.
“You're lying.”
“Maybe.”
Pragya laughed.
She picked up her bag.
“Give me five minutes.”
“Three.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Fine.”
Bristi smiled.
“Deal.”
Pragya stood before the mirror and looked at herself.
For a moment, she could still see the homesick girl who had walked into the room earlier.
But now there was something else.
A little confidence.
A little curiosity.
And perhaps the beginning of something new.
She picked up her phone and looked at the last photograph from the video call.
Everyone had been laughing.
She smiled.
“I'll be okay.”
Bristi heard her.
“You will.”
Pragya turned toward her.
“Ready?”
Bristi grabbed the door.
“Born ready.”
They stepped into the corridor.
As the door closed behind them, Pragya glanced back at the room.
It still didn't feel like home.
Not yet.
But perhaps home wasn't always a place.
Perhaps sometimes—
home was the people who waited for your calls.
The friends who screamed your name through a phone screen.
The father who asked whether you had eaten.
The brother who pretended not to worry.
And sometimes, perhaps, home could also begin with something as simple as a roommate from West Bengal dragging you out for dinner because she refused to let you spend your first night alone with homesickness.
Pragya smiled.
“Bristi?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you.”
Bristi looked at her.
“For what?”
“For not letting me sit there and cry.”
Bristi smiled.
“That's what roommates are for.”
And the two girls walked down the corridor together.
Neither knew it yet.
But that evening marked the beginning of a friendship that would soon become one of Pragya's strongest anchors in Chennai.
A new city.
A new institute.
A new chapter.
And now—
a new friend.
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