A World I Didn’t Know I Could Have

Fest prep mode: ON.Classes: OFF.Life: UNREAL.

For the first time in years, I wasn't rushing between pain and silence.I was walking through colors, noise, and laughter.

It felt like I was living in a parallel world.One where people smiled without masks.Where no one knew about the Chandu-shaped hole in my chest.

And still… I smiled back.

Our gang had taken over the campus like unpaid event managers.

We weren't assigned any official work… but we made ourselves irreplaceable.

Pavan made posters like a five-year-old but convinced people they were abstract.

Vinod, with a megaphone in hand, became the voice of the fest announcing things even the faculty didn't approve yet.

Raju? He quietly arranged chairs and carried mics, never asking, never stopping.Vicky flirted with every girl at every stall, and still somehow didn't get slapped.Sreeja? She was the manager of our madness.

She bossed all of us around like our attendance depended on it.

And me?

I was in the middle of it all.Living.

We had a schedule for things we weren't even part of.Dance auditions? We watched and clapped.Singing competition? We cheered like it was IPL.Even fashion show rehearsals? Don't ask. Vinod nearly got us kicked out for giving "creative suggestions."

Each day ended with us under the big neem tree near the ground.Bags on laps. Snacks in hand.Stories flying. Laughter echoing.

It was simple. Silly. Beautiful.

And somewhere in between… I paused.

They fed me while I was mood off.

I looked around at these idiots.These strangers who became friends.These friends who unknowingly began healing me.

Was this what normal felt like?

That evening, while going home, I plugged in my earphones.Not to cry. Not to drown.Just to replay the day in my head like a montage.

"Chandu…," I whispered to the sky.

"If you saw me now…Would you still recognize me?"

Maybe she would.Maybe she wouldn't.

But I was starting to recognize myself.

The one who jokes.Who leads.Who belongs.