It was around 11 PM when the bus carrying Nitu and Mitu stopped in front of a small hotel for a meal break. The passengers had 30 minutes to relax, eat, and stretch their legs before continuing their journey home. Mitu, feeling hungry after the long ride, got off the bus and headed towards the restaurant to have dinner. At the same time, Nitu, who was sitting in her seat, realized that her water bottle was empty. She decided to get off the bus too, but instead of going for food, she went to the restaurant to fill her bottle.
After filling her bottle, Nitu stepped outside and waited near a small stall with a dim light, just in front of the restaurant. The night was quiet, with a cool breeze blowing softly. She wasn’t hungry, but she wanted to stretch her legs a little. Just then, she saw Mitu coming out of the restaurant, holding a cold drink he had just bought from the stall.
At the same time, Nitu decided to ask the shopkeeper for ice cream. The shopkeeper chuckled when he heard her request, finding it amusing that someone was asking for ice cream at such a late hour. “Ice cream at 11 PM? You’re still a kid, huh?” he laughed. Nitu smiled shyly, not minding the playful tease, but before she could respond, she turned to Mitu, who was just standing behind her.
“Hey, are you an engineering student too?” Nitu asked him curiously, looking over her shoulder.
Mitu didn’t hear her at first, lost in his own thoughts. He was about to open his cold drink when he noticed Nitu looking at him. “Sorry, what did you say?” he asked, stepping closer.
Nitu repeated her question, “Are you an engineering student?”
Mitu smiled, nodding. “Yes, I am. I’m in my final semester of a diploma course. How about you?”
Nitu grinned, feeling a little excited to find something in common. “I’m a first-year B.Tech student in Chemical Engineering.”
They chatted for a bit, exchanging stories about their college life. Nitu told Mitu how exhausting hostel life had been, and Mitu laughed, saying he understood exactly how she felt. As they were talking, a group of people nearby started joking about engineering, saying things like, “Engineering is so easy, anyone can do it,” and “It’s just a degree with no real challenge.”
Nitu and Mitu couldn’t help but react. “Easy?!” Nitu exclaimed, raising her eyebrows. “You have no idea how tough it is!”
Mitu joined in with a smile, “Exactly! If it’s so easy, why don’t you try it?”
The group laughed, not taking it too seriously, but Nitu and Mitu shared a quick glance, both amused by the little debate they had just had.
As they continued talking, another bus pulled up in front of the hotel, and 5 or 6 of Mitu’s friends stepped out. They spotted Mitu and came over to greet him. “Hey, Mitu! What’s up?” one of them called out.
Mitu smiled and waved them over. “Hey, guys! Meet Nitu. She’s a new friend I made on this bus ride.”
Nitu smiled shyly as Mitu’s friends greeted her warmly. They didn’t chat for long, as everyone was eager to get back on the road. Soon, the bus driver signaled that it was time to leave. Mitu and Nitu both returned to their seats—Nitu back to her 13th seat by the window, and Mitu to his seat on 18, just behind her.
As the bus started moving again, Nitu glanced back at Mitu with a small smile. It had been a random encounter, but somehow, it felt special. Mitu smiled back at her, lifting his cold drink in a small toast.
And just like that, as the bus rolled through the quiet night, a new friendship had begun—one that neither of them had expected, but both of them were glad for.
