“Pragya.”
Nothing.
“Pragya, wake up.”
A faint movement beneath the blanket.
“Five minutes…”
Bristi looked at the clock.
“Five minutes?”
No response.
“Pragya.”
Silence.
Bristi sighed.
She had been trying to wake her roommate for several minutes now.
This was already the tenth attempt.
“Pragya, I'm warning you.”
The blanket moved slightly.
“I'm awake.”
“You are not.”
“I am.”
“Then open your eyes.”
“No.”
Bristi stared at the lump under the blanket.
“You are unbelievable.”
She walked to the window and opened the curtains.
Sunlight flooded the room.
Pragya immediately buried her face deeper into the pillow.
“Bristi!”
“Good morning!”
“Close the curtains!”
“No.”
“Please.”
“No.”
“Why are you torturing me?”
“Because you have class.”
Pragya groaned.
“I know.”
“Then wake up.”
“Five minutes.”
“You've already said that.”
“I mean it this time.”
Bristi checked the clock again.
Then her eyes widened.
She immediately turned toward Pragya.
“Actually…”
“What?”
“Forget five minutes.”
Pragya slowly opened one eye.
“What?”
“Wake up now.”
“Why?”
“Because it's eight-thirty.”
There was silence.
Complete silence.
Pragya blinked.
Once.
Twice.
Her sleepy brain took a few seconds to process the information.
“Eight…”
She looked toward the clock.
Her eyes widened.
“EIGHT-THIRTY?!”
Bristi nodded.
“Yes.”
“My class starts at nine!”
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you wake me?”
Bristi stared at her.
“I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WAKE YOU FOR THE LAST TEN MINUTES!”
Pragya threw the blanket away.
“Why didn't I hear you?”
“You were sleeping.”
“I know I was sleeping!”
“Exactly!”
Pragya jumped out of bed.
For several seconds, she simply stood there.
Then she suddenly remembered where she was.
Her eyes travelled around the room.
The unfamiliar cupboard.
The study table.
Bristi's belongings.
The half-unpacked books.
The IIT Madras ID card hanging near the desk.
Then everything came rushing back.
Chennai.
IIT Madras.
Her new hostel.
Her new life.
Her first proper week of classes.
Pragya looked at the clock again.
8:30 a.m.
“Oh God.”
She grabbed her towel.
“I'm going to be late!”
Bristi burst out laughing.
“You're only realising that now?”
“Stop laughing!”
“You stayed awake until almost two!”
“I was reading.”
“You were supposed to sleep.”
“The book was interesting.”
“The book has officially become your enemy.”
Pragya ran toward the washroom.
“Don't touch my books!”
“I won't.”
“And don't rearrange anything!”
“I won't!”
“And remind me to stop reading so late!”
“You'll forget.”
“I won't!”
Bristi called after her.
“You'll forget in two days!”
From inside the bathroom came Pragya's reply.
“Probably!”
Bristi laughed.
Pragya emerged from the bathroom fifteen minutes later.
Her hair was still slightly damp.
She hurried toward her wardrobe.
“What should I wear?”
Bristi looked up from her phone.
“Something comfortable.”
“That's not helpful.”
“Why?”
“Because I have too many clothes.”
“You brought half your wardrobe.”
“I did not.”
“You did.”
Pragya pulled out two outfits.
“This?”
Bristi shook her head.
“That.”
“Why?”
“Because you look more comfortable in that.”
Pragya looked at herself.
“Fine.”
She quickly changed.
Then came the next crisis.
“My ID card.”
“Table.”
“My notebook?”
“Bag.”
“Pen?”
“Bag.”
“Phone?”
“In your hand.”
Pragya looked down.
“Oh.”
Bristi covered her face.
“I'm going back to sleep.”
“Very funny.”
“Come on.”
Pragya suddenly stopped.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“My book.”
Bristi stared at her.
“You're not taking a book.”
“Why?”
“Because you'll start reading.”
“That's unfair.”
“It's accurate.”
Pragya reluctantly left the book behind.
“Fine.”
They hurried downstairs.
The hostel dining area was already busy.
Students were rushing toward their classes.
Some were eating quickly.
Some were discussing assignments.
Others were desperately checking their phones.
Pragya and Bristi grabbed breakfast.
Bristi looked at her watch.
“Eight forty-five.”
Pragya nearly choked.
“Don't tell me that!”
“I'm just informing you.”
“I don't need information.”
“You need speed.”
Pragya quickly finished her breakfast.
“Come on.”
They left the hostel.
The moment they stepped outside, Pragya stopped.
The campus stretched before them.
The morning sunlight filtered through the trees.
Students moved along the pathways.
There was something peaceful about the surroundings despite the rush.
Pragya looked around.
For a moment, she forgot that she was late.
This was the place she had dreamed about.
The place she had worked so hard to enter.
The place she had once imagined only from photographs and websites.
Now she was actually here.
At IIT Madras.
She smiled.
Bristi noticed.
“Happy?”
Pragya nodded.
“Very.”
“Still nervous?”
“Extremely.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“It means you care.”
Pragya smiled.
“True.”
They walked further.
Eventually, they reached the point where their academic blocks separated.
Bristi looked toward one side.
“My block.”
Pragya looked toward the other.
“Mine.”
Bristi smiled.
“Good luck.”
“You too.”
“Don't get lost.”
“I won't.”
“You got lost yesterday.”
“That was one time.”
“You asked a security guard where your classroom was.”
“It was a complicated building.”
Bristi laughed.
“Go.”
Pragya smiled.
“See you later.”
“Bye.”
They finally separated.
Pragya hurried toward the biotechnology block.
She had her timetable open on her phone.
Room number.
Second floor.
Lecture hall.
She looked down again.
“Room 204…”
She turned the corner.
At exactly the same moment, another student came from the opposite direction.
Neither saw the other.
Thud.
Pragya collided with him.
Her books slipped from her hands.
“Oh!”
Her balance shifted.
Before she could fall, someone caught her arm.
“Careful!”
A second hand steadied her.
Pragya froze for a second.
Then looked up.
A boy was standing in front of her.
He looked around her age.
He wore spectacles and had a neat, composed appearance.
His expression was concerned.
“Are you okay?”
Pragya immediately straightened herself.
“Yes.”
She looked at the books scattered on the floor.
“Oh my God. I'm sorry.”
“It's fine.”
He bent down to help her.
“So sorry. I wasn't looking.”
“Neither was I.”
They picked up the books together.
Pragya reached for one notebook.
So did he.
Their hands almost touched.
Both immediately pulled away.
“Sorry.”
“Sorry.”
They laughed awkwardly.
The boy handed her the notebook.
“Here.”
“Thank you.”
Pragya adjusted her bag.
“And thank you for catching me.”
“No problem.”
She smiled.
“I'm Pragya.”
He smiled back.
“Alekhyo.”
“Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too.”
There was a small pause.
Then Alekhyo looked at her name written on the notebook.
“Banerjee?”
“Yes.”
“Are you Bengali?”
Pragya's face brightened.
“Yes!”
Alekhyo laughed.
“I'm Bengali too.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you from?”
“Kolkata.”
Pragya smiled.
“Same.”
“Finally!”
“What?”
“A Bengali.”
She laughed.
“There's nothing surprising about that.”
“You'd be surprised.”
They started walking together.
“Which semester?”
“First.”
“Same.”
“Biotechnology?”
“Yes.”
“Same.”
Pragya smiled.
“Looks like we are classmates.”
“Looks like it.”
Neither knew that this brief conversation would become the beginning of a friendship.
And Alekhyo certainly didn't know that within those first few minutes, something about Pragya had already caught his attention.
Her eyes.
Her smile.
Her easy way of speaking.
The way she could look nervous and confident at the same time.
He didn't know what it was.
He only knew that he wanted to know her better.
They entered the classroom together.
The room was already filling.
Students were choosing seats.
Some were introducing themselves.
Some were desperately checking their timetables.
A few looked just as nervous as Pragya felt.
Alekhyo pointed toward an empty seat.
“Here?”
“Sure.”
They sat down.
Pragya checked the clock.
8:57.
She sighed in relief.
“We made it.”
Alekhyo smiled.
“Barely.”
“Don't remind me.”
The professor entered.
Everyone became quiet.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning, sir.”
The professor introduced himself and began explaining the course.
Pragya opened her notebook.
She took a deep breath.
Her first proper class at IIT Madras.
Her new life had officially begun.
The days began to blend together.
Friday.
Saturday.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Friday.
Each day brought something new.
New professors.
New assignments.
New classmates.
New laboratories.
New expectations.
The workload was demanding, but Pragya loved it.
This was exactly what she had wanted.
She had never expected it to be easy.
She had expected to work.
And work she did.
Bristi was equally busy with her mechanical engineering classes.
Yet somehow, the two girls still found time to eat together.
Sometimes breakfast.
Sometimes dinner.
Sometimes simply tea between classes.
Their friendship grew quickly.
Alekhyo became part of their little group too.
He was intelligent, polite, and easy to talk to.
Bristi teased him mercilessly.
Pragya often joined in.
And Alekhyo slowly became comfortable enough to tease them back.
Within a week, the three had become good friends.
Despite being busy, Pragya never forgot home.
Every day, she found some time to call.
Her father always asked the same questions.
“Did you eat?”
“Yes, Papa.”
“Are you sleeping properly?”
“Yes.”
“Are your classes manageable?”
“Yes.”
“Are you homesick?”
A pause.
“A little.”
Anirban would become quiet.
Then he would say,
“Whenever you feel lonely, call me.”
Pragya always smiled.
“I know, Papa.”
Sometimes Anubhab called too.
Those conversations were usually much noisier.
“Angel.”
“Dabhai.”
“How was class?”
“Good.”
“Did you eat?”
“Yes.”
“Properly?”
“Yes.”
“Don't lie.”
“I'm not!”
“Good.”
Then they would spend twenty minutes talking about absolutely everything.
Her friends also called regularly.
Aarohi had apparently decided that distance was not a valid excuse for reducing drama.
Niharika complained that Pragya was abandoning them.
Archismita calmly told them both to stop being dramatic.
Pragya laughed through most of the calls.
But after every call ended, there was always a quiet moment.
A moment when she missed them again.
She missed home.
She missed her father.
She missed Anubhab.
She missed her friends.
She missed the familiar streets of Kolkata.
Yet she knew she had made the right decision.
This was her future.
She had to build it.
Saturday finally arrived.
Pragya woke up much earlier than usual.
Bristi opened one eye.
“You're awake?”
“Yes.”
“Voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
Bristi sat up.
“Who are you?”
Pragya laughed.
“Very funny.”
“It's eight in the morning.”
“I know.”
“And you're awake.”
“I have somewhere to go.”
Bristi immediately remembered.
“Anubhab.”
Pragya smiled.
“My brother.”
“You're excited.”
“Very.”
“Have you missed him that much?”
Pragya stared.
“Yes.”
Bristi smiled.
“I can tell.”
Today was going to be different.
Anubhab had come to Chennai for Eleanor's grandparents' anniversary.
Pragya was going to pick him up.
And she wasn't going alone.
Bristi had agreed to come.
Alekhyo had also been invited.
After picking up Anubhab, they would have lunch together.
Then Bristi and Alekhyo would return to their respective hostels.
Pragya would spend the rest of the day with her brother at his hotel.
Tomorrow, they would attend Eleanor's grandparents' anniversary celebration.
Pragya couldn't wait.
The three of them walked toward the pickup point.
Alekhyo was carrying his backpack.
Bristi was talking continuously.
Pragya was checking her phone.
“He said he's landed.”
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
Bristi looked at her.
“You've checked that message six times.”
“I know.”
“You're excited.”
“I know.”
Alekhyo smiled.
“It's nice that you're close to your brother.”
Pragya nodded.
“He's always been there for me.”
Bristi smiled.
“You're lucky.”
Pragya looked at her.
“So are you.”
Bristi smiled.
Alekhyo looked away, giving them their moment.
A few minutes later, Pragya's phone rang.
She answered immediately.
“Dabhai?”
Anubhab's familiar voice came through.
“Where are you?”
“Almost there.”
“Good.”
“You better not have gone anywhere.”
“I wouldn't dare.”
Pragya smiled.
“Wait for me.”
“Always, angel.”
The call ended.
Pragya looked at Bristi and Alekhyo.
“He's here.”
Bristi grinned.
“Let's go.”
The three hurried forward.
And somewhere ahead of them stood the person Pragya had missed more than she had allowed herself to admit.
Her brother.
Her protector.
Her home away from home.
The first week at IIT Madras had passed.
The real adventure was only beginning.
The moment Pragya spotted him, everything else seemed to disappear.
There he was.
Standing near the entrance, one hand holding his phone and the other resting casually in his pocket.
Anubhab.
Her brother.
Her safest place.
For a few seconds, Pragya simply stared at him.
The week suddenly felt much longer than it had been.
She had been managing perfectly well.
She had attended classes.
Made friends.
Explored the campus.
Completed assignments.
Laughed with Bristi and Alekhyo.
Called home every evening.
She had convinced everyone—including herself—that she was doing fine.
But seeing Anubhab standing there made her realise how much she had actually missed home.
“Dabhai!”
Anubhab looked up.
His face immediately softened.
“Angel—”
He barely finished the word.
Pragya ran toward him.
Anubhab opened his arms just in time.
She crashed into the hug.
He laughed softly as he wrapped his arms around her.
“There she is.”
Pragya buried her face against his shoulder.
“You came.”
“Of course I came.”
“I missed you.”
“I missed you too.”
For several seconds neither moved.
Anubhab gently patted her head.
“Are you okay?”
Pragya nodded against his shoulder.
“Yes.”
“Really?”
She pulled back.
“Yes.”
He studied her face.
“You look tired.”
“I'm studying.”
“That isn't an excuse.”
“It is at IIT.”
He laughed.
“Fair enough.”
Bristi and Alekhyo stood a little distance away, smiling at the sight.
Anubhab finally noticed them.
He walked over.
“You must be Bristi.”
Bristi nodded.
“Yes, sir.”
Anubhab immediately frowned.
“Sir?”
She looked confused.
“Yes?”
“I'm not that old.”
Bristi laughed nervously.
“Sorry.”
“Anubhab is fine.”
“Okay.”
He turned toward Alekhyo.
“And you must be Alekhyo.”
“Yes.”
“Pragya has mentioned you.”
Alekhyo smiled.
“Hopefully good things.”
Anubhab glanced at his sister.
“That depends.”
“Dabhai!”
Everyone laughed.
Anubhab smiled.
“Come on. Let's have lunch.”
They found a nearby restaurant and settled around a table.
Anubhab insisted that everyone order whatever they wanted.
“Don't look at the prices.”
Bristi immediately protested.
“No, no. We can pay for ourselves.”
Anubhab waved her off.
“Absolutely not.”
“Sir—”
“Anubhab.”
“Anubhab.”
“Good.”
Pragya smiled.
“You've already started treating them like family.”
“Of course.”
He looked at Bristi and Alekhyo.
“You two are taking care of my sister.”
Alekhyo smiled.
“We're friends.”
“Exactly.”
Anubhab pointed toward Pragya.
“Which means you are responsible for her.”
Bristi laughed.
“We'll try.”
“Try?”
Anubhab raised an eyebrow.
“That's a dangerous answer.”
Pragya groaned.
“Please don't scare my friends.”
“I'm not scaring them.”
Bristi whispered,
“You are.”
Anubhab heard her.
He laughed.
“Good. At least you're honest.”
The food arrived.
Conversation quickly became easier.
Bristi told Anubhab about Pragya's first week.
“She nearly missed her first class.”
Anubhab immediately turned toward Pragya.
“You did what?”
“It's not a big deal!”
“She woke up at eight-thirty,” Bristi continued.
“Bristi!”
Anubhab stared at his sister.
“Your class was at nine?”
“Yes.”
“And you were reading until two in the morning?”
Pragya looked down.
“Maybe.”
“Angel.”
“I'm sorry.”
“You haven't changed.”
“Neither have you.”
Anubhab smiled.
“Good answer.”
The conversation gradually shifted.
Alekhyo mentioned that he enjoyed racing.
Anubhab immediately looked up.
“Racing?”
“Yes.”
“Bikes?”
Alekhyo nodded.
“Mostly.”
Anubhab leaned back.
“What do you ride?”
Alekhyo told him.
Anubhab's expression immediately changed.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“You've taken it on the track?”
“A couple of times.”
Anubhab smiled.
“Finally, someone here who speaks my language.”
Pragya looked between them.
“Oh no.”
Bristi laughed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Anubhab and Alekhyo were already discussing racing lines, track conditions, bikes, braking, and race strategy as if they had known each other for years.
Pragya stared at them.
“You met twenty minutes ago.”
Neither responded.
“Hello?”
Still nothing.
“Dabhai?”
Anubhab looked at her.
“What?”
“You're ignoring me.”
“I'm having an important conversation.”
Alekhyo laughed.
Pragya rolled her eyes.
“Unbelievable.”
Bristi leaned toward her.
“I think you've lost your brother.”
“Apparently.”
Anubhab and Alekhyo continued talking.
Soon, they were laughing.
Pragya shook her head.
“I can't believe this.”
Anubhab finally looked at her.
“Don't be jealous.”
“I am not jealous!”
“Good.”
“I just think you've known him for twenty years.”
Alekhyo laughed.
“Your brother is fun.”
Pragya pointed at him.
“Don't encourage him.”
Eventually, lunch came to an end.
They stepped outside the restaurant.
Anubhab looked at Bristi and Alekhyo.
“Thank you.”
Both looked surprised.
“For what?”
“For being there for her.”
His voice had become quieter.
“She doesn't always say when she's struggling.”
Pragya looked at him.
“Dabhai…”
He continued.
“She'll tell you she's fine even when she's missing home.”
Bristi smiled.
“We know.”
Alekhyo nodded.
“We'll look after her.”
Anubhab smiled.
“I know.”
He looked at both of them.
“From today, don't think of yourselves as Pragya's classmates.”
Bristi smiled.
“What should we think?”
“My younger siblings.”
Bristi's face brightened.
Alekhyo laughed.
“Then I suppose we have no choice.”
“No.”
Anubhab smiled.
“You don't.”
Pragya shook her head.
“This family is growing too quickly.”
Anubhab placed a hand on her head.
“You'll survive.”
Soon it was time for Bristi and Alekhyo to return to their hostels.
Bristi hugged Pragya.
“Call me tonight.”
“I will.”
“Don't forget.”
“I won't.”
Alekhyo smiled.
“See you day after tomorrow.”
“See you.”
Anubhab shook both their hands.
“Take care.”
“You too.”
They watched as Bristi and Alekhyo walked away.
Pragya stood silently beside her brother.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Anubhab looked at her.
“Ready?”
“For what?”
“Hotel.”
Pragya smiled.
“Let's go.”
The ride to the hotel was quieter.
Pragya sat beside her brother.
She watched Chennai pass by through the window.
Anubhab occasionally glanced at her.
Finally, he asked,
“Are you happy?”
Pragya looked at him.
“Yes.”
“Really happy?”
“Yes.”
“Not pretending?”
She smiled faintly.
“No.”
Anubhab nodded.
“Good.”
A few moments passed.
Then Pragya quietly asked,
“Dabhai?”
“Hmm?”
“Were you worried about me?”
Anubhab didn't answer immediately.
Then he smiled.
“Every single second.”
Pragya looked down.
“I didn't want to make you worried.”
“You're my sister. That's literally my job.”
She laughed softly.
“I'm serious.”
“So am I.”
He paused.
“Pragya, you don't have to pretend to be strong all the time.”
Her smile faded.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
She looked out of the window.
“I miss home.”
Anubhab's expression softened.
“I know.”
“I miss Papa.”
“I know.”
“I miss you.”
He smiled.
“I know that too.”
Pragya's eyes became slightly wet.
“I thought leaving would be easier.”
Anubhab reached over and gently squeezed her hand.
“Nothing worth achieving is always easy.”
“I feel guilty sometimes.”
“Why?”
“Because Papa is alone.”
“He isn't alone.”
“But…”
“He has me.”
She looked at him.
“And you have me.”
Pragya smiled through the emotion.
Anubhab continued,
“Your leaving doesn't mean you're abandoning us.”
“I know.”
“You're not choosing IIT over your family.”
He squeezed her hand again.
“You're choosing your future.”
Pragya looked at him silently.
“Papa will miss you,” Anubhab said. “I'll miss you. Your friends will miss you. That's natural.”
He paused.
“But none of us want you to stay back because you're afraid, we'll be sad.”
Pragya's eyes filled.
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
She leaned her head against his shoulder.
“I'm scared.”
“I know.”
“What if I fail?”
“You won't.”
“What if I can't handle everything?”
“Then you'll call me.”
“What if I want to come home?”
“Then you come home.”
“What if—”
“Angel.”
She looked at him.
“You don't have to know all the answers today.”
He smiled.
“Just take one day at a time.”
Pragya nodded.
After a moment, she whispered,
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For always being there.”
Anubhab smiled.
“Always.”
She hugged his arm.
He rested his head gently against hers for a moment.
Outside, Chennai continued moving around them.
Inside the car, everything felt strangely familiar.
For the first time since leaving Kolkata, Pragya didn't feel like she was between two worlds.
She realised something.
Home wasn't necessarily a place.
Sometimes—
home was simply the person sitting beside you.
And for Pragya, that person had always been Anubhab.
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