सुन मेरे हमसफर,

क्या तुझे इतनी सी भी खबर,

के तेरी सांसे चलती जिधर,

रहूंगा बस वही उम्र भर,

रहूंगा बस वही उम्र भर।

जितनी हंसी यह मुलाकाते है,

उनसे से भी प्यारी तेरी बातें है,

बातों में तेरी जो खो जाते है,

आऊ ना होश मे मैं कभी,

बाहों में है तेरी जिंदगी।

सुन मेरे हमसफर,

क्या तुझे इतनी सी भी खबर।

The media-lab lights were dim except for the laptop glow flickering across four tired faces. Outside, the last drizzle from the evening still traced the windows; inside, the air smelled of popcorn, editing software, and mild insanity.

Maya's POV

Kabir sprawled across a beanbag, humming off-key. Rhea sat beside him, editing waveforms like she was composing a Grammy track. Arjun and I shared the same desk-dangerous proximity, considering we were one sarcastic comment away from a cold war.

> Arjun: "Render speed 14%. Matlab hum subah tak yahan ke permanent residents ban jayenge."

Maya: "Good. Tumhe toh campus me statue milna hi chahiye-'The Man Who Lagged.'"

Arjun: "Cute. Statue ka inauguration tum karogi na?"

Maya: "Haan, bas pehle uske upar ek board lagaungi-Warning: Talks Too Much."

Kabir snorted so loud even the CPU lagged.

Rhea flicked a popcorn at him. "Focus, editor-sahab."

I tried to watch the playback; the screen showed our rain footage, sunlight trapped in drops. For a moment, it looked magical-until Arjun's reflection appeared beside mine.

> Maya: "Focus video pe kar, mirror selfie nahi."

Arjun: "Main toh dono pe kar raha hoon-art aur artist."

I threw a pencil at him. Missed. Obviously.

He grinned, leaning closer. "Don't waste stationery; use words. Tumhara sarcasm zyada deadly hai."

Maya side-eyeing Arjun while laptop light flickers; their faces inches apart as she fires the line.

> Maya: "If you're done flirting with your reflection, can we save the project before the system dies like my patience?"

Arjun: "Patience bhi render ho raha hai-slow but worth the wait."

Arjun's POV

For someone who claimed to hate drama, Maya lived in cinematic close-ups. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear; the gesture hit like a perfectly timed cut-to-music moment. I pretended to check the audio levels.

> Arjun: "Noise reduction kar du?"

Maya: "Nahi, teri commentary hi background noise hai."

Kabir and Rhea burst out laughing.

> Rhea: "Guys, seriously, ek din tum dono ke dialogues viral honge."

Kabir: "Title: When Sarcasm Met Its Match."

Arjun (me) couldn't resist.

> Arjun: "Episode 1: 'Lagging Hearts, Fast Mouths.'"

Maya: "Episode 2: 'Ctrl + Alt + Delete Your Face.'"

They high-fived; I mock-bowed.

The laughter softened. For a rare minute, the room went quiet except for the hum of the machine. The project preview played-a shot of Maya laughing in the rain, unscripted, genuine. I didn't realise I was smiling at the screen until she caught me.

> Maya: "Stop looking at me like I'm some cinematic miracle."

Arjun: "Too late. Already submitted for Filmfare."

Maya: "Filmfare? Tumhe Oscar of Overacting milega."

---

Late night, 12:42 a.m. | St. Xavier's University - Hostel Terrace

The Mumbai skyline still shimmered from the rain. Streetlights glowed like melted gold. A light wind carried the smell of wet earth and Maggi from the canteen below.

Kabir dragged a beanbag up the stairs, grumbling, "Bhai, mujhe lagta hai hum hostel nahi, Bigg Boss house me reh rahe hain."

Rhea followed, holding four mugs of coffee. "You wish. Yahaan sirf coffee milti hai, masala nahi."

I-Maya-rolled my eyes and flopped down on the terrace floor, laptop open. Arjun sat opposite me, because of course the universe loved to torture me.

> Maya: "Don't sit here."

Arjun: "I didn't. I occupied the area. It's called alpha energy."

Maya: "It's called dumb energy."

Kabir chuckled. "Yeh dono shuru ho gaye. Ab yeh terrace ek battlefield banne wala hai."

Arjun leaned back, smirking. "Tumhara sarcasm ek din world heritage site declare ho jayega."

> Maya: "Aur tumhara overconfidence bhi-restricted area."

He grinned wider. "Tujhe realize hai, tum har baat me last word lena chahti ho?"

> Maya: "Kyunki main sahi hoti hoon."

Arjun: "Delusion ka TED Talk dena band kar, Miss Perfectionist."

Maya: "Tumse zyada flawed banda toh 'Word document' bhi nahi hota."

Kabir almost choked on coffee. "Savage! RIP Arjun Rai."

I smirked, satisfied. Arjun, though, didn't back down-he leaned in, eyes locked with mine, the grin still there.

> Arjun: "Tu college me fail ho jaye."

Maya: "Tujhe jail ho jaye."

Arjun: "Tere dialogues ka sale lag jaye."

Maya: "Aur tere confidence ka crash course chalu ho jaye!"

The laughter burst out so loud it echoed across the terrace.

Narration (Maya's POV)

That's the thing with Arjun Rai-he made you want to win every argument but never actually hate the fight. It was infuriating. Addictively so.

The rain had stopped, but he still had a drop of water on his jawline, glinting in the fairy light. Great. Now my brain had started noticing his jawline. I wanted to uninstall myself.

> Arjun: "Kya hua, lost in thoughts?"

Maya: "Haan, soch rahi hoon ki agar tum thoda kam bolo toh environment me shanti aa jaye."

Arjun: "Aur agar tum zyada bolo toh news channel ban jaye."

Kabir and Rhea were clearly the audience to our live comedy show.

Rhea whispered to Kabir, "In dono ko reality show me bhejna chahiye-'Sarcasm Express'."

Kabir smiled. "Episode 1: Rain, Roast, and Romance."

Arjun's POV

I swear, Maya Patel was chaos disguised as poetry. Her eyes carried the same spark as her words-sharp, confident, impossible to ignore.

> Arjun: "You know, if sarcasm was an Olympic sport, you'd have more golds than Neeraj Chopra."

Maya: "Aur agar stupidity ka medal hota na, tumhara cabinet full hota."

I couldn't help but laugh. That's what she did-she turned even insults into rhythm.

Rhea suddenly interrupted. "Guys, I need a short clip for the end of our project.

Something fun.

Maya, Arjun-tum dono improv karo."

Maya blinked. "Improv? Matlab abhi?"

Rhea grinned. "Yes. Kuch bhi-drama, roast, filmy dialogue-bas real lagna chahiye."

Arjun smirked. "Challenge accepted."

Maya muttered, "Yeh banda toh khud hi challenge hai."

Rhea hit record.

And just like that, we were in our own short film.

> Arjun (mock dramatic): "Tum jaanti ho na, main tumse nafrat karta hoon?"

Maya (sarcastic smile): "Aur main tumhe ignore karti hoon-but you keep showing up like unwanted ads."

Arjun: "Kyunki tumhara sarcasm mujhe addictive lagta hai."

Maya: "Aur tumhara face mujhe headache."

Arjun: "Perfect. Tum pain ho, main paracetamol.

Maya: "Aur main overdose."

Kabir shouted, "CUT! That's reel gold!"

Even Rhea was giggling.

Maya turned to me, eyes narrowing. "You flirted in character?"

> Arjun: "Character? Main toh naturally charming hoon."

Maya: "Naturally irritating."

Arjun: "Phir bhi tum hamesha meri line complete karti ho."

For a moment, neither of us laughed.

The wind blew her hair into my face, and she didn't move. Fairy lights shimmered between us.

Then Rhea broke the silence. "Ahem, romantic tension detected."

Kabir added, "Warning: Flirt Alert."

We both turned away instantly.

> Maya: "Kabir, shut up."

Arjun: "Next time, bring popcorn."

---

6:07 AM | St. Xavier's University - GIRLS' HOSTEL

Mumbai woke slowly, like someone stretching under a heavy blanket. The rain had washed the city clean, leaving the air smelling of wet earth and new chances. Soft, golden sunlight spilled through Maya's window, turning the dust floating in the air into glitter.

Inside Room 214, the aesthetic scene lasted exactly 0.2 seconds.

Because Maya's alarm went off with a shrill:

> "KAAJRA REEEE-"

Maya shot up like someone hit by lightning.

> Maya: "Arre shut uppp! Subah subah mujhe item girl banane ka kya shauk hai?"

She slapped her phone, missed, slapped again, missed harder, and finally threw her pillow.

The pillow hit Rhea.

> Rhea: "Uff! I'm awake, I'm awake! Why are you attacking me?

Also... why were you smiling in your sleep?

Dream me koi tha kya?"

Maya froze.

Rain. Fairy lights. A certain annoying filmmaker staring at her.

Nope. Not going there.

> Maya: "Nahi! Bilkul nahi! Mujhe bas... coffee ka sapna aa raha tha."

Rhea (smirking): "Coffee ka colour bhi thoda familiar tha na?"

Maya: "Rhea. Shut up."

(Maya POV)

I dragged myself to the window. The campus was glowing — trees dripping raindrops, the sports field shining like a fresh painting, pigeons doing whatever shady business pigeons do.

And then I spotted him.

Down in the courtyard, Arjun Rai was talking to Kabir, both holding paper cups of tea

Arjun was laughing about something, head tilted back, hair a little messy from the wind.

And just like that—

My brain betrayed me again.

No. Stop. Bad brain. Reverse.

> Rhea: “You’re staring.”

Maya: “I’m observing.”

Rhea: “Haan haan. National Bird Watching Day.”

Maya: “Shut up.”

---

6:40 AM — BOYS’ HOSTEL

Kabir was trying to tie his shoelaces.

Arjun was trying to survive.

Because Kabir was narrating last night’s terrace moment like it was a Karan Johar climax.

> Kabir: “Bhai, jab tu bola ‘Tum pain ho, main paracetamol’ naa—

ufff fire moment!

Rhea toh pagal ho gayi has kar!”

Arjun tugged on his hoodie.

> Arjun: “Bas kar. Woh impromptu tha.”

Kabir: “Impromptu? Bhai, woh chemistry scripted lagti!”

Arjun: “Meri aur Maya ki chemistry? Bro, please. Woh mujhe dekh kar hi roast mode on kar deti hai.”

Kabir leaned closer.

> Kabir: “Aur tujhe pasand hai woh.”

Arjun froze.

Then:

> Arjun: “Pasand? Mujhe? Maya?

Bhai, main usko pasand karun?

I enjoy pain but not THAT much.”

Kabir laughed so hard his toothbrush fell.

---

7:12 AM — St. Xavier’s University Cafeteria

The whole university felt new after rain. The canteen smelled like fresh pav bhaji, cutting chai, and students’ crushed dreams.

Maya and Rhea reached the queue.

Behind them: chaos.

Ahead: more chaos.

Beside them: Arjun and Kabir entering.

The moment Maya saw them, her eyebrow twitched.

The moment Arjun saw her, his jaw tightened.

Perfect.

> Arjun (smirking): “Good morning, Miss Attitude.”

Maya: “Good morning, Mr Unnecessary.”

Kabir: “Subah subah koi shubh shabd bol lo, nahin toh toaster phat jaayega.”

Rhea: “Toaster nahi, in dono ka patience phat jaayega.”

Arjun stepped beside Maya in queue.

Too close.

She moved.

He moved with her.

> Maya: “Stop following me.

Arjun: “I’m getting breakfast. Not you.”

Maya: “Then maintain social distance.”

Arjun: “Covid khatam ho gaya, Maya.”

Maya: “Tera ego nahi.”

Arjun: “Baap re. Aaj ka roast ka quota bhi shuru ho gaya.”

But then—

A moment happened.

Maya reached for the butter toast at the same time Arjun did.

Her fingers brushed his.

She froze.

He paused.

The world narrowed.

And then—

> Maya: “Ew. Jaldi haath hata.”

Arjun: “Tumhari nails ne mujhe attack kiya.”

Rhea whispered:

> Rhea: “Okay… the sexual tension is honestly louder than the canteen blender.”

Maya almost dropped her plate.

A random guy behind them suddenly said loudly:

> Random boy: “Arjun bhai, kya scene hai? New girlfriend?”

Maya: “Haan. Main uski girlfriend hoon—

Bas uske nightmares me.”

The whole line cheers, hoots, whistles.

Arjun stared at her like—

Did she just roast me to death in public?!

Maya tossed her hair, walked past him COOLLY.

Classroom — 8:00 AM

Today was the first lecture for their film project module.

The classroom was big, glass windows wet with raindrops, projector flickering, students buzzing with excitement.

Professor Nandini Iyer entered — saree, spectacles, and the aura of “I can emotionally destroy you with one comment.”

> Prof Iyer: “Settle down. Roll call.

Kabir Sinha?”

Kabir: “Present, ma’am.”

Prof Iyer: “Rhea Kapoor?”

Rhea: “Present!”

Prof Iyer: “Arjun Rai?”

Arjun: “Here.”

Prof Iyer: “Maya Patel?”

Maya: “Present, ma’am.”

Prof Iyer: sandhya gupta

Sandhya: "Present ma'am

Then—

> Prof Iyer: “All right. I will now announce your project partners.”

The room tensed.

Kabir’s fingers crossed under desk.

Rhea muttering prayers.

Maya tapping her pen.

Arjun staring ahead, expression unreadable.

> Prof Iyer: “Kabir Sinha…”

Kabir whispered: “Please Rhea please Rhea please—”

Prof Iyer: “…and Rhea Kapoor.”

Kabir: “YESSS!”

Rhea: “Umm… I mean—yes, ma’am.”

Arjun smirked.

Maya smiled at them genuinely.

But then—

> Prof Iyer: “And finally…

Maya Patel and Arjun Rai.”

Silence.

Then two voices erupted together:

> Maya: “WHAT?”

Arjun: “NO.”

Students giggled.

Professor Iyer raised one eyebrow — her deadliest weapon.

> Prof Iyer: “Any problem?”

Maya: “Ma’am, he is… he is… irritating.”

Arjun: “Ma’am, she is… impossible.”

Prof Iyer: “Excellent. Perfect chemistry for filmmaking. Sit together.”

--

8:05 AM | – St. Xavier’s

The classroom buzzed with leftover rain-cold air and fresh gossip energy. The projector hummed. Sunlight streaked diagonally across the rows, catching dust motes like floating glitter. The wooden desks smelled faintly of old books and ambition.

Maya entered with her notebook, confidence, and mild annoyance.

Arjun entered with his hoodie, messy hair, and overconfidence.

They locked eyes.

Instant static.

Kabir and Rhea sat two rows behind, ready with snacks.

Professor Iyer tapped her register.

> Prof Iyer: “Maya and Arjun — front row, together.”

Maya stiffened.

Arjun blinked.

Crowd whispered like hungry piranhas.

They walked to the front, both refusing to walk slower than the other.

Their bags hit the desk at the same time.

(Maya POV)

Sitting beside Arjun was like sitting beside a malfunctioning heater — too much unnecessary warmth and too much unnecessary energy.

He leaned back, smirking.

> Arjun: “Good we got front row. Tumhare tareeke se notes likhne ka live show dekh lunga.”

Maya: “Good we got front row. Tumhari stupidity teacher ko clearly dikhegi.”

Arjun: “Teacher ko dikhegi kya, teacher se padh lunga.”

Maya: “Tum padh loge?

Haath se ya telepathy se?”

The class giggled.

Professor Iyer raised an eyebrow but allowed it.

---

Arjun tries to whisper something…

But Maya cuts him.

> Maya: “Talk less. Think more. Try it once — challenge.”

(Arjun POV)

Maya had this irritating quality: she roasted you AND looked good doing it.Unfair. Illegal. Should be banned.

He tapped his pen rhythmically.

She glared at the tapping.

He tapped louder.

She glared harder.

> Maya: “Pen gira doongi main tumhare sir pe.”

Arjun: “Tumhare hints se toh pen bhi confuse ho jaata.”

Maya: “Main hint nahi deti. Main insult deti hoon.”

Arjun: “Delivery free hai kya?”

Class burst out laughing.

Professor Iyer finally snapped.

> Prof Iyer: “Since you both have so much to say, why don’t you perform an improv right now?”

Both froze.

She pointed at them.

> Prof Iyer: “Scene: Two rivals arguing at a train station.”

---

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