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EPISODE 1: NEW BEGINNINGS

SCENE 1: SESHADRIPURAM COLLEGE – MAIN CORRIDOR – MORNING

The corridor buzzes with restless energy as the first day of college unfolds. Groups of new BCA students cluster together, laughing nervously, comparing schedules, and trying to make quick connections. The air is filled with overlapping conversations, the scrape of chairs, and the occasional burst of laughter.

Amid the chaos, Monika walks in quietly. Her posture is slightly stiff, her expression guarded. She adjusts the strap of her bag, her eyes scanning the crowd but never settling on anyone for too long. She looks like she’s already tired of the noise, like she’d rather be anywhere else.

Beside her walks Rashmitha, calm and observant. Unlike the others, she doesn’t rush to join a group. Instead, she watches people, occasionally glancing at Monika as if trying to understand her.

Suddenly, a cheerful voice cuts through the noise.

“Hey! You’re in the new BCA batch, right? I’m Vijaylakshmi.”

Vijaylakshmi steps forward with a bright, confident smile. She looks friendly, the kind of person who can talk to anyone without hesitation.

Monika freezes for a second. She looks down, tightening her grip on her bag strap. Her discomfort is visible. After a pause, she gives a small, stiff nod.

“…Yeah.”

The silence that follows feels longer than it is.

Vijaylakshmi waits, expecting something more—a question, a smile, anything. When none comes, her smile falters just a little.

“Oh… okay. Well, the orientation is in the main hall. See you there?”

Monika doesn’t respond. She simply shifts her weight slightly, avoiding eye contact.

Vijaylakshmi sighs softly, masking her awkwardness, and walks away.

Rashmitha watches the interaction, then turns to Monika.

“Don’t worry about her,” she says gently. “Some people just talk too much on the first day. I’m Rashmitha, by the way. I’ll stay with you.”

Monika exhales, her shoulders relaxing just a bit.

“Thanks, Rashmitha. I just… I prefer to focus on the work.”

Rashmitha smiles faintly, not pushing further. The two of them walk toward the auditorium together.

SCENE 2: COLLEGE AUDITORIUM – LATER

The auditorium is packed, but the atmosphere is far from dull. Instead of a formal lecture, the orientation feels more like an energetic event.

On stage stands a lively professor. She’s chubby, confident, and dressed casually in loose jeans and a bright yellow top. Her trendy bob cut swings slightly as she moves around with surprising enthusiasm.

“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!” she sings loudly.

Her voice echoes through the hall as she gestures dramatically, encouraging participation.

“Come on, everyone! English songs only! I want to see the actions!”

Students exchange amused looks. Some laugh openly, while others hesitate. Slowly, they begin to stand.

Rashmitha immediately joins in, laughing as she claps and follows the actions. Her energy is infectious.

Monika stands too, though more slowly. She mimics the movements, but her actions are small, almost invisible. Her eyes wander across the room, observing everything—the confident students, the shy ones, the ones already forming groups.

For a moment, she feels like she doesn’t belong. But she doesn’t stop participating.

SCENE 3: COLLEGE GROUND – AFTERNOON

The sun is bright overhead as the orientation shifts outdoors. Students gather in a large circle on the ground, forming uneven lines and clusters.

A local icebreaker game begins, and suddenly the quiet tension dissolves into playful chaos.

“Juice kudithiya? Juice! Juice kudithiya? Juice!”

The chant echoes loudly, repeated over and over as students laugh, shout, and move around in excitement.

The energy is wild, unpredictable, and strangely freeing.

Monika stands at the edge of the circle, watching. At first, she remains distant, her arms loosely folded.

But then—just for a second—a small smile appears on her face.

It’s quick, almost unnoticeable. But it’s there.

She doesn’t join in fully, but she doesn’t look away either.

SCENE 4: OUTSIDE THE COLLEGE GATES – EVENING

The day winds down as the sun begins to set, casting a warm glow over the college entrance.

Monika walks out through the gates, her pace slower now, more relaxed than in the morning.

Waiting for her is her grandmother, Muthu.

The moment Muthu sees her, her face lights up with warmth and affection.

“How was the first day, ma?” she asks, her voice filled with genuine curiosity.

Monika pauses, glancing back at the college building. The sounds of the day seem to linger in her mind—the laughter, the singing, the chanting.

She nods.

“Actually… today, I enjoyed it.”

Muthu smiles wider, clearly relieved.

The two of them begin walking away together, their silhouettes fading into the golden evening light.

SCENE 5: MONIKA’S BEDROOM – NIGHT

The room is quiet. Monika lies on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The day replays in her mind like fragments of a movie.

The professor’s voice. The laughter. The chant.

And then—Rashmitha.

“Rashmitha is good,” Monika thinks. “She’s nice.”

She turns onto her side, hugging her pillow.

“But she’s the type who has many friends. She’s popular.”

The thought lingers, heavy and familiar.

She closes her eyes, but her mind doesn’t rest.

“If she really wants to talk to me, let her. If not… that’s fine too.”

She pulls the pillow closer.

“I’ll find better friends. Or maybe… I’ll just be alone.”

A quiet pause.

“It was like that in school. It was like that in PUC.”

Her breathing slows.

“Maybe this is just how it is for me.”

The room falls completely silent.

Monika shuts her eyes.

The screen fades to black.

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