Love at First Sight

Amaan was never the kind of boy who believed in love stories. He always thought they were exaggerated tales people told to make life sound more colorful than it really was. But on the first day of college, that belief shattered like fragile glass.

It was a bright Monday morning, and the college campus was bustling with nervous energy. Freshers ran around trying to find their classes, carrying new bags, wearing new clothes, hearts full of hope. Amaan, dressed in a light blue shirt and dark jeans, walked across the lawn toward the main building, his hands tucked in his pockets and earphones plugged in.

Just then, he spotted her.

She was standing under the shade of a large gulmohar tree, holding a diary close to her chest. Her long hair fell in soft waves down her shoulders, and her eyes — large, curious, slightly confused — scanned the building names. She wore a white kurta with delicate embroidery, paired with blue jeans. It was simple, yet there was something incredibly graceful about her.

Amaan’s feet slowed. His heart did something it had never done before — skipped a beat, almost refusing to keep its usual rhythm. He didn’t even realize he was staring until she noticed him. Their eyes met, and in that brief, electric moment, the noise of the campus faded away. It felt like time had frozen, letting only the two of them exist.

Embarrassed, Amaan quickly looked away and walked on, but his mind stayed right there under that gulmohar tree. Who was she? What was her name? Would he see her again?

---

Destiny Plays Its Part

As fate would have it, his first class was in the large auditorium at the end of the hallway. He walked in, trying to appear casual, but secretly hoping — praying — that she would be there. And there she was, sitting alone in the third row, nervously fidgeting with her pen.

Amaan’s heart leapt. Without thinking, he walked straight to her row and sat two seats away. His hands felt clammy, his throat dry. Should he say something? Would she think he was being forward?

Moments later, the professor walked in and started the orientation. Amaan tried focusing on the slides, but all he could think about was how close she was sitting. Every now and then, he’d steal a glance. Once, their eyes met again, and she gave a shy, polite smile. His stomach did a little flip.

---

A Chance Conversation

The session ended, and the professor invited the students to come forward for ID verification. As she stood up, her diary slipped from her hands and landed right near Amaan’s feet. He bent quickly, picked it up, and handed it back to her.

“Thanks,” she said, her voice gentle. “I’m Zoya.”

“Amaan,” he replied, suddenly aware of how his name sounded on his own tongue.

“Isn’t this place huge? I thought I’d get lost,” she laughed lightly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

“Yeah, same here,” Amaan grinned. “I’ve already passed the same corridor three times.”

They both laughed, and just like that, the awkward tension melted into a warm familiarity. It was as if they’d known each other for ages. Amaan offered to walk with her to the next hall. Zoya agreed.

---

The Beginning of Something Beautiful

As they walked side by side across the sunny campus lawns, they shared little stories — where they grew up, what they wanted to study, how nervous they were. With every word, every smile, Amaan felt something inside him grow — a spark he had never experienced before.

When they reached the next building, Zoya turned to him. “Thanks for helping me not feel so lost today,” she said.

“I should be thanking you,” Amaan replied. “You made my first day a lot less scary.”

She smiled again, that same gentle smile that had first captured his heart. Then she waved and disappeared into the crowd. Amaan stood there for a moment, watching her go, feeling strangely hopeful.

He knew it was too soon to call it love. Maybe it was just an infatuation, a crush born out of nervous excitement. But deep inside, a small voice whispered: “This is different.”

And sometimes, that’s all it takes — one look, one smile, one shy conversation — to set two hearts on a journey that would change them forever.