The Collision
St. Xavier’s College was abuzz with excitement for the annual Freshers’ Party. The hall was a kaleidoscope of lights and energy, filled with students eager to make an impression. For Jhanak Chatterjee, the queen bee of the college, it was just another stage to dominate. Draped in a stunning black dress and her signature leather jacket, she entered with her entourage, radiating confidence. Her bold, piercing gaze silenced conversations, and the room practically parted to let her through.
On the other side of the hall, unnoticed by most, stood Aniruddh Bose, a senior psychology student who had been roped into the party by his friend Sameer. Aniruddh had little interest in the social chaos around him. He adjusted his glasses and focused on his phone, hoping the night would pass uneventfully.
But fate had other plans.
When the emcee announced a game, the crowd buzzed with excitement. Two bowls were presented: one contained the names of seniors, and the other, the names of freshers. Two chits would be drawn, and the chosen pair would have to perform a romantic couple dance.
Jhanak leaned back, confident her name wouldn’t come up. She had better things to do than dance with some random senior. But as luck would have it, her name was the first one drawn from the fresher’s bowl. A wave of cheers erupted. Jhanak smirked, flicking her hair, as she walked toward the center of the hall.
The senior’s name was drawn next: “Aniruddh Bose.”
The room went silent for a moment before laughter and whispers filled the air. Jhanak froze, her smirk vanishing. Aniruddh’s head shot up, his face pale as he processed what had just happened.
As Aniruddh hesitantly walked toward her, Jhanak’s disgust was evident. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered under her breath.
The music started, and the crowd began chanting for them to dance. Aniruddh, visibly uncomfortable, extended his hand toward Jhanak. “Let’s just get this over with,” he mumbled.
Jhanak scoffed loudly. “With you? Are you serious?” Her voice cut through the noise, and everyone turned their attention to the pair. “I’d rather dance with a broomstick than with you.”
The crowd erupted into laughter, and Aniruddh’s face flushed with humiliation. He turned and walked off the stage, his shoulders slumped. Jhanak’s friends cheered her for her wit, but a small flicker of guilt gnawed at her as she watched him leave.
Later that night, Aniruddh sat in his dimly lit room, replaying the humiliation in his mind. The words stung more than he cared to admit. “Why did I even go to that stupid party?” he muttered. Sameer tried to console him, but Aniruddh waved him off.
Meanwhile, Jhanak was equally frustrated. While she reveled in her queen-bee image, her sharp words had unsettled her. She drowned her thoughts in loud music, hoping to shake off the unease.
Both found themselves venting to their respective friends. Sameer, in an attempt to cheer Aniruddh up, mentioned a new app that promised casual encounters with strangers—no strings attached. “Dude, you’ve been stuck in your books for too long. It’s time to live a little,” Sameer said.
On the other end, Jhanak’s friend Megha suggested the same app. “You keep talking about breaking that ‘untouchable’ image. Why not just go for it? No one will know.”
Fueled by frustration and a desire to escape their emotions, both Jhanak and Aniruddh reluctantly downloaded the app and created profiles.
The app worked on a unique algorithm—it paired users based on their proximity and preferences. Within minutes, both received a notification: You’ve been matched.
Jhanak smiled smugly, assuming she’d get paired with someone who matched her fiery energy. Aniruddh hesitated but finally accepted the match, hoping for someone who’d help him break free from his self-imposed isolation.
The instructions led them to a small, discreet café where strangers often met before heading to private arrangements. Both arrived at the same time, unaware of what awaited them.
Jhanak entered first, scanning the room confidently. Her eyes landed on a figure sitting awkwardly in the corner, fidgeting with his glasses. She froze.
“Aniruddh?!” she blurted out, louder than she intended.
Aniruddh looked up, equally stunned. “Jhanak? No way…”
They stared at each other in disbelief, the absurdity of the situation sinking in.
———-
The End
