They say college is the place where stories are written… not just on pages, but in hearts.
For me, this chapter began in one of the most celebrated places of all.
Our university wasn’t just big, it was a world of its own. A sprawling, esteemed institution known for excellence, elegance, and energy.
With separate campuses for Engineering, Medical, Arts and Science, Modeling, and even a dedicated High School section, the university felt like a city tucked inside dreams. And I was a part of it, a proud student of the Modeling Department.
My third year had just begun. Normally, this would bring excitement. A fresh beginning. New ideas. New challenges. But instead, I found myself surrounded by a sense of quiet uncertainty. Because this year, we were given something different.
Something daring...
Something that made the entire Modeling campus buzz with curiosity.
Our professor, Mrs. Mehta, a woman with sharp eyes and sharper instincts, a woman known for her high expectations, announced the project in class with a spark that didn’t match the growing tension in our hearts.
“This will test your creativity, your ability to network, and your skill in presenting a professional portfolio. This isn’t just another styling task,” she said, pacing the front of the room. Choose your models wisely, because appearance alone won’t be enough… personality, aura, and presence matter just as much”.
She let the silence settle for a moment before continuing.
“Looks won’t be enough. You’ll need someone with depth, aura, presence… someone who can evolve in front of the camera. This is not just about outer transformation—it’s about bringing a hidden star to light.”
The room broke into murmurs and stifled gasps. It was bold. Audacious. And terrifying.
We were grouped into ten teams. I found myself with my best friends, Harika and Jaya Sree, in Team 7. The three of us had been inseparable since our high school days. We were determined to do something unique, something that would stand out but there was just one problem: finding the right model was proving to be much harder than we had imagined.
The college campus was in chaos. Ten teams, all hunting for the same thing… a strikingly handsome male model with a captivating presence. But no matter where we looked, we couldn’t find the right one.
We weren’t going to settle for someone ordinary. We were determined to leave our mark. We wanted someone… unforgettable. But finding that someone proved harder than we thought.
We roamed across the vast university… checking the Engineering campus, sneaking glances at Medical boys, scanning the Arts and Science buildings, even wandering past the High school gate. Nothing clicked. Some guys laughed at us. Others were too busy. Many simply didn’t match the vision we had painted in our hearts.
And then came the pressure not just from within, but from the other teams. Team 6 and Team 4, especially, seemed hell-bent on making things worse. Both teams had a reputation for causing trouble, bullying others, and looking down on anyone who didn’t share their values. While most girls in our college were either focused on academics or fashion, Team 4 and Team 6 were different. They indulged in things that went beyond the usual college lifestyle—partying, watching explicit movies like "365.25 Days," and spreading gossip. They saw me as an easy target because of my spiritual nature. I had never indulged in anything questionable, and I believed in living life with grace and dignity. This seemed to annoy them the most.
In Team 4, Neha, Naina, & Nancy had made it a personal mission to mock me every chance they got. They were the definition of mean girls armed with gossip, gloss, and glares sharp enough to slice.
Team 6, with Catherine, Christina, & Charlotte, moved with elegance, but their words were venom laced in velvet. Their arrogance wasn’t loud, it was smug, silent, and stung in a different way.
They didn’t just compete.
They targeted.
I knew why.
I didn’t fit in with their idea of “college cool.” I didn’t party. I didn’t wear revealing clothes or fall over boys. I believed in grace, elegance, and preserving innocence even in a world that called it boring.
“Still pretending to be a saint, Sowmya?” one of the girls sneered one afternoon. “No wonder you’re struggling to find a model. Maybe if you were more... open-minded, guys would actually want to work with you.”
“She probably wants a guy who chants holy verses while modeling,” Christina chuckled, sipping her overpriced café latte.
Their taunts didn’t bother me much, not when I had my best friends by my side. I had Harika’s fierce fire and Jaya Sree’s calm courage beside me.
“We’ll find him,” Jaya Sree whispered one night under the campus moonlight. “He’s out there. And when we do… this entire university will know.”
Still, I couldn’t deny the pressure creeping in.
Time was running out. And then… just as the winds of doubt were about to carry away our dreams…
He appeared.
Not with noise.
Not with a spotlight.
But with a presence so quietly powerful that it stirred something ancient in me.
He didn’t try to impress.
He didn’t need to.
And that was the moment… the true story began.
***
