22 Journey To Delhi
The day of the big move had finally arrived, transforming the quiet neighborhood into a chaotic flurry of packing tape, heavy suitcases, and emotional farewells. The journey from their hometown to Delhi was being undertaken in a coordinated two-car caravan.
The Sharmas occupied their own sedan, a vehicle practically bursting at the seams with Niyati’s neatly labeled cartons, while the Raizadas followed closely behind in theirs.
The arrangement for the return journey had already been meticulously calculated by Ansh; he intended to leave his car in Delhi for his own daily commute to his new office.
When the parents eventually made the trip back home, Mrs. Raizada would simply join Mr. and Mrs. Sharma in their car, leaving the three young adults to begin their respective chapters in the capital.
The drive was a blur of highway landscapes and anxious, parental advice broadcast over phone calls at every rest stop.
By the time the two cars pulled into the sprawling, tree-lined gates of the university hostel, the afternoon sun was blazing down.
The stark reality of the relocation hit them all at once as they parked in the designated drop-off zone.
"You girls go ahead to the warden's office and secure your room allocations," Mr. Sharma instructed, stretching his back as he stepped out of the driver's seat. "The rest of us will start unloading the heavy luggage from the trunks."
Diya and Niyati nodded, linking arms tightly as they hurried up the wide stone steps of the administrative building, clutching their admission receipts like shields.
Meanwhile, Ansh, his mother, and the Sharmas began the grueling process of hauling out suitcases, duffel bags, and plastic buckets from the vehicles.
A few minutes later, the heavy glass doors of the office swung open.
The parents stopped what they were doing, immediately sensing the distinct lack of energy in the girls' footsteps.
Diya was pouting heavily, her shoulders slumped, while Niyati walked beside her with a thoroughly deflated expression.
Mrs. Sharma stepped forward, her maternal instincts flaring instantly. "What happened, girls? Why the long faces?"
"We got completely different rooms," Diya groaned, throwing her hands up in utter exasperation.
Niyati sighed, adjusting the folder in her arms. "And with entirely different roommates."
"It's awful," Diya complained, looking ready to stage a protest right there on the gravel. "I got assigned to a room on the third floor, and she’s all the way down on the first floor!"
Ansh, who was currently balancing a heavy cardboard box against his hip, looked at his sister with a dry, teasing smirk.
"Are you actually disappointed because you two didn't get the same room, or are you just throwing a fit because you didn't get the first floor and have to climb three flights of stairs every day? "
"Both!" Diya fired back honestly, narrowing her eyes at her brother.
"Mostly the stairs, but definitely both!
"
Mr. Sharma frowned, immediately turning toward the building.
"Should I come inside and speak to the hostel management?
Surely they can accommodate childhood friends if we request a transfer. "
Niyati offered her father a grateful but tired smile, gently shaking her head.
"We already tried arguing our case, Papa.
The warden said the computer algorithms handle the allocations based on the roll numbers to encourage students to mix with other departments.
There's no use pushing it. It’s okay... we'll manage. "
Mrs. Raizada stepped in, clapping her hands together to break the rising tide of disappointment. "Alright, then. Rules are rules, and a little independence will do you both some good. Let’s get you two settled into your respective rooms before it gets any later."
With the plan established, the group divided the luggage to begin the migration inside.
Since Diya’s room required a grueling trek up to the third floor, Mr. Sharma and the two mothers agreed to tackle her heavy trunks first, leaving Ansh and Niyati on the ground floor to drop off the first wave of Niyati's belongings into Room 104.
The corridor of the first-floor wing was bustling with other nervous freshmen and emotional families, creating a loud maze of open doors and stacked furniture.
Ansh carried Niyati’s heaviest suitcase in one hand and a box of her reference books in the other, walking closely behind her until she stopped outside her assigned door.
The room was temporarily empty, her unknown roommate having apparently gone out to collect her own keys.
Niyati walked inside, the stark simplicity of the bare twin bed, the wooden desk, and the metal wardrobe making the reality of her new life feel incredibly real and slightly daunting.
She set her backpack down on the mattress, suddenly feeling a wave of overwhelming vulnerability hit her.
Ansh set the heavy suitcase down with a muted thud and placed the box of books securely on the desk.
Turning around, he noticed the quiet, pensive way she was staring at the blank walls.
The lively, confident girl from the shopping mall seemed momentarily eclipsed by the gravity of moving hundreds of miles from home.
Stepping into her line of sight, Ansh closed the small distance between them, his presence instantly blocking out the chaotic noise of the hallway. "Hey," he said softly, his voice dropping to that deep, grounding register that always seemed to quiet her mind. "You're overthinking again."
Niyati looked up, meeting his eyes. Without the teasing presence of Diya or the watchful eyes of their parents, the air between them grew instantly intimate, charged with the same unspoken understanding that had passed between them at the traffic light days ago.
"It's just... it’s smaller than I thought," she admitted in a small voice, gesturing faintly to the room.
"And it's weird not having Diya right across the hall. "
Ansh looked down at her, a gentle, reassuring smile softening his features.
He reached out, his hand hesitating for a fraction of a second before he gently caught her forearm, his thumb brushing lightly against the fabric of her sleeve.
The brief, warm contact sent a comforting thrill straight to her heart, instantly shattering the cold unfamiliarity of the hostel room.
"You're going to do amazing here, Niyati," he said, his gaze steady and full of an unshakeable belief in her. "And remember, you aren't alone in this city. Diya is only two floors above you. And as for me..." He paused, his eyes darkening with a subtle, fierce intensity that made her breath hitch.
"...I'm only a fifteen-minute drive away. If you ever feel overwhelmed, or if you just want someone to bring you actual edible food, all you have to do is call me. Understood?"
Niyati stared at him, her chest swelling with a profound sense of safety.
The heavy anxiety that had been weighting her down since they crossed the Delhi border completely evaporated, replaced by a warm, blooming confidence.
"Understood," she whispered, a genuine, beautiful smile finally breaking across her face.
Before the moment could linger long enough to draw suspicion, the loud, echoing laughter of Diya and their parents resounded from the stairwell, signaling their descent from the third floor.
Ansh smoothly stepped back, breaking the physical contact just as Diya burst through the doorway, loudly complaining about the lack of an elevator, effectively bringing them both right back to reality.
"Alright, leading man," Mr. Sharma boomed cheerfully, slapping Ansh on the back as they reached the vehicles. "Show us the way to this bachelor pad of yours."
Ansh’s flat was located just a short, fifteen-minute drive away from the university zone, nestled in a quiet, tree-lined residential colony popular among young working professionals. It was a modest, semi-furnished one-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a neat standalone building.
As Ansh inserted the key and turned the deadbolt, Diya casually pushed past him the second the door swung open, eager to be the first to critique his space.
Niyati stepped in right behind her, her eyes instantly taking in the layout.
The apartment was clean, smelling faintly of fresh paint and wood polish.
It featured a small, compact living area with a single balcony looking out over the colony's central park, a tiny kitchenette, and a bedroom visible through an open door at the end of a short hallway.
"Oh, wow," Diya announced, spinning around in the middle of the living room and folding her arms critically.
"It’s actually nice. I was fully prepared to find a dark, depressing cave, Bhai.
"
"Thank you for your overwhelming vote of confidence, Diya," Ansh replied dryly, setting down the first wave of his heavy cardboard boxes onto the tiled floor.
Mrs. Raizada immediately went into full maternal mode, walking straight into the kitchenette to check the water pressure and inspect the gas connection, while Mr. and Mrs. Sharma began evaluating the sturdiness of the wooden furniture.
Niyati, however, found herself drifting away from the chatter of the elders.
She walked slowly toward the small balcony, her fingers brushing against the cool metal railing as she looked down at the peaceful park below. The cool evening breeze was just starting to pick up, rustling the leaves of the old neem trees outside.
A moment later, she heard familiar, quiet footsteps approaching from behind. She didn't turn around, already knowing it was him.
"So," Ansh said softly, stepping up right next to her and leaning his forearms against the balcony railing, mirroring her exact posture. "What do you think of the place?"
Niyati turned her head slightly, her gaze tracing the sharp, handsome profile of his face in the fading twilight.
The vibrant energy of the family bickering in the living room felt comfortably distant out here on the balcony.
"It suits you," she murmured, a genuine, soft smile gracing her lips.
"It’s quiet. Organized. A bit serious... just like you."
Ansh let out a low chuckle, turning his head to look directly into her eyes. The proximity was suddenly electric, the ambient sounds of the city humming softly around them. "Is that a compliment?"
"Maybe," she teased, her eyes sparkling with a rare touch of boldness.
She shifted slightly, her shoulder accidentally brushing against his upper arm, sending a warm, delicious spark straight down her spine.
"At least I know where to come when the hostel food inevitably becomes completely unpalatable. "
Ansh’s gaze darkened with a sudden, intense warmth that made Niyati’s breath catch in her throat.
He didn't move away from the contact; instead, he leaned a fraction of an inch closer, his deep voice dropping to a low, intimate whisper that was meant for her ears alone.
"The spare key will always be hidden right inside the fuse box by the front door.
You don't ever need an invitation to come here, Niyati.
This place is just as much yours as it is mine. "
Niyati stared at him, her heart hammering wildly against her ribs as the profound weight of his words sank in. Before she could find her voice to respond to the breathtaking promise dangling between them, Diya's loud voice shattered the spell from the bedroom corridor.
"Bhai! Why on earth do you have three identical navy blue shirts in this suitcase? Are you planning to audition for a cartoon character role?"
Ansh closed his eyes for a brief second, letting out a defeated, amused sigh that made Niyati laugh softly.
He stepped back from the railing, throwing a lingering, knowing look over his shoulder at Niyati before heading back inside to defend his wardrobe choices from his sister.
Niyati stood on the balcony for a moment longer, her cheeks flushed with a beautiful, radiant warmth.
Looking back into the brightly lit apartment where their families were laughing and working together, she realized that Delhi didn't feel threatening anymore.
In fact, it was starting to feel exactly like the beginning of everything they had ever wanted.
The next morning brought with it the heavy, inescapable reality of goodbye. The parents had packed their single car for the return journey, and the atmosphere in the hostel courtyard was thick with emotion.
Mrs. Sharma was already weeping openly, holding Niyati in a tight embrace that felt as though she might never let go, while Mr. Sharma stood by, blinking back tears of his own as he gave his daughter one last, firm pat on the back.
Nearby, Mrs. Raizada was holding both of Diya’s hands, whispering endless instructions about eating on time, before she turned to Ansh and pulled him into a fierce, lingering hug.
"Take care of them, Ansh," Mrs. Raizada murmured, her voice cracking slightly as she stepped back. "And take care of yourself."
Ansh nodded, his composure anchoring the emotional group. "Don't worry, Mom. I will."
With a final round of waves and heavy hearts, the parents finally climbed into the car and drove out through the university gates. The three of them stood on the curb, watching the vehicle disappear into the chaotic Delhi traffic until it was completely out of sight.
A profound, sudden silence settled over the trio. For the first time in their lives, they were entirely on their own in a strange city. Diya sniffled, wiping a stray tear from her cheek, before letting out a brave, dramatic sigh. "Well... I guess this is it. We’re officially college adults."
The afternoon passed in a blur of mandatory floor meetings and final room arrangements. By the time night fell, the reality of their separate accommodations truly set in.
In her room on the first floor, Niyati sat cross-legged on her narrow twin bed.
Her unknown roommate had turned in early, exhausted from the travel, leaving the room illuminated only by the soft, pale glow of Niyati's desk lamp.
The unfamiliar sounds of the hostel—doors slamming down the corridor, the distant rumble of the city highway, and the hum of a ceiling fan that wasn't her own—made the space feel incredibly lonely.
She stared at her phone, feeling a deep, hollow ache in her chest. She missed her mother's voice, her father's evening tea rituals, and oddly enough, she even missed the comforting bickering of the Raizada household.
Just as a wave of homesickness threatened to bring tears to her eyes, her phone buzzed softly in her palm. A text message lit up the screen.
Ansh : Are you awake?
Niyati’s heart skipped a beat, the heavy knot in her chest instantly loosening at the sight of his name. She typed back immediately.
Niyati : Yeah. I can't sleep. It's too quiet and too loud at the same time.
A few seconds later, the phone began to vibrate with an incoming call. Niyati quickly pressed it to her ear, keeping her voice to a soft, hushed whisper so she wouldn't disturb her sleeping roommate.
"Hey," she breathed.
"Hey," Ansh’s deep voice resonated through the line, incredibly clear and grounding in the quiet room. "I figured you’d be up overthinking. How are you holding up?"
Niyati leaned her head back against the cold concrete wall, a fragile, honest smile touching her lips. "Honestly? It feels really weird, Ansh. I keep looking at the door expecting Diya to burst in, or my mom to tell me to turn off the lights. It’s hitting me now that we’re actually here."
On the other end of the line, sitting on his own dark balcony with a view of the quiet colony park, Ansh listened intently. He could hear the slight tremor of vulnerability in her voice, and it made him wish he could cross the city lanes right then just to stand beside her.
"I know exactly what you mean," he admitted softly, his tone unusually gentle. "My apartment feels entirely too big tonight. I keep expecting to hear Diya screaming about my wardrobe or my mom fussing in the kitchen. It’s a strange transition for all of us."
"Do you think we made the right choice?" Niyati asked, voicing the secret fear that had been lingering in the back of her mind all day.
"Without a doubt," Ansh replied instantly, his voice laced with an unshakeable certainty that acted like a blanket of warmth around her shoulders.
"You worked entirely too hard to get here, Niyati.
Don't let a little first-night anxiety make you doubt that. Tomorrow is the orientation, and once classes start, you’re going to fall in love with this place.
" He paused, the silence stretching across the cellular waves, growing thick and profoundly intimate.
"And besides... you aren't completely cut off from home.
I'm right here."
Niyati closed her eyes, letting his words anchor her twisting thoughts.
The phantom warmth of his presence from the fitting room, and the quiet promise he had made her on his balcony earlier that evening, rushed back to her. She trusted him implicitly.
Knowing he was only a few miles away made the vast, intimidating sprawl of Delhi feel miraculously smaller.
"Thank you, Ansh," she whispered sincerely.
"I really needed to hear that tonight."
"Anytime, Niyati," he murmured, his voice dropping a register, carrying a low, soothing rhythm that made her feel incredibly safe.
"Now try to get some sleep. I'll be coming over tomorrow afternoon right after orientation to take you and Diya out for a proper dinner. No hostel mess food on your first official day."
"Deal," she chuckled softly, the lingering heaviness of her homesickness completely melting away. "Goodnight, Ansh."
"Goodnight, Niyati."
As the line went dead, Niyati pulled the blanket up to her chin, a genuine, peaceful smile gracing her lips. She stared up at the unfamiliar ceiling, but the fear was gone.
The city outside was still massive, loud, and entirely unknown, but as she drifted off to sleep, she realized that as long as they were walking under the same Delhi sky, she would never truly be alone.