EP02: Not Just Roommates...

There are some laughs that stay with you forever, echoing in the quiet corners of your mind. No matter how many people you meet, these laughs remain etched in your memories, a testament to the bonds that shape us. This is a story of Ashi and Manya—two women who, despite their differences, showed the world what true friendship looks like.  

CHAPTER-1

Ashi and Manya met on the first day of college, thrown together as roommates in the chaotic hostel of their engineering institute. Ashi was the kind of girl who could make friends with a wall. Her laugh—loud, unapologetic, and infectious—was her trademark. She had a habit of checking her reflection in every shiny surface she passed. Not for the desire of attention—no, no, she wasn’t that kind of person. But if there was a reflective surface anywhere between her hostel room and the classroom, she would definitely check her hair.

Mess mirror? Check.
Someone’s scooty mirror? Check.
The glass windows of the college building? Double check.
And if nothing else, she always had her phone’s front camera.

Manya, on the other hand, was the kind of girl who could not bear crease on her bedsheet and ironed her clothes before bed. She had long, straight hair that she brushed religiously three times a day, and she pasted a planner every month on her cupboard. She was the kind of person who remembered every detail—what Ashi had for lunch three Tuesdays ago, name and face of every person she ever met. She was the one with eidetic memory, remembering things in extreme detail, observing the minute details in everything and every event.

She loved chai, judged people silently and had a special talent—falling at the most unexpected moments (not in love duh...). She’d be walking normally, and then—bam—she’d trip over air. 

They were polar opposites, but somehow, they fit together perfectly.  

Their first real bonding moment happened during a particularly boring lecture. Manya, sitting next to Ashi, kept doodling in her notebook while Ashi diligently took notes. Ashi saw what Manya was doodling and suddenly, Ashi let out a snort-laugh so loud that the entire class turned to stare.

“What is wrong with you?” Manya hissed, her cheeks turning red.  

Ashi pointed at her doodle—a stick figure of their professor with an exaggerated mustache. “Look! It’s Professor Moustachio!”

Manya tried to stifle her laughter, but it was no use. She burst out laughing, and soon, the two of them were doubled over, tears streaming down their faces while the professor glared at them from the front of the room.  

Those seats in the second last row of the right side of lecture theatre became the favorite place for their asses to sit on.

Ashi had a contagious laugh that was witnessed all over the institute, in lifts full of people, in long mess queues, in serious situations. Like everywhere. 

Their room, 218-A, became their sanctuary. It was where they napped after heavy lunches, gossiped for hours, and cried over broken hearts and endless assignments. Manya loved leaving Post-it Notes for Ashi, and Ashi kept every single one, pressing them into her diary like fragile little memories.

One night, after a particularly grueling day of lectures, Manya flopped onto her bed, groaning. “I can’t believe we have to study for that stupid microprocessor exam tomorrow. I’m going to fail.”  

Ashi, sprawled on the floor amidst her notes, grinned. “Relax. Just cram everything, vomit it onto the paper tomorrow, and then delete it from your brain forever.”

Manya groaned but sat up. “Fine. Teach me.”

Ashi laughed, her signature loud, unapologetic laugh that made Manya’s lips twitch despite her annoyance. 

Ashi began explaining Manya about the ridiculous codes whereas she was continuously dozing off into sleep. Ashi threw a pillow at her. “You’re impossible. I am teaching you and you are busy napping.”

Manya caught the pillow, woke up straight from her sleep and hugged it, still laughing. “But you love me.”  

Ashi rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. “Unfortunately, I do. Now sit straight and listen carefully.”

Ashi made up the most ridiculous mnemonic for the commands. They laughed so hard they swore they’d remember it for life.

Plot twist? They forgot it by morning.

And wrote the wrong commands.

History was made that day.

Their friendship wasn’t just about laughter, though. It was also about being there for each other during the tough times. Like the day of their placement interviews.  

Manya, the perfectionist, had prepared meticulously. She spent weeks practicing her answers, researching the company, and even ironing her interview outfit the night before. 

Ashi, on the other hand, was her usual carefree self. “Manya, relax. It’s just an interview, not a life-or-death situation,” she said, lounging on her bed with her notes.

Manya glared at her. “Easy for you to say. You’re not even nervous. You don't panic at all.”  

Ashi shrugged. “What’s the worst that could happen? They say no, and we move on. Big deal.”

The next day, Manya aced two rounds but got rejected in the final one. Ashi, meanwhile, made it through.

Manya returned to their room, heartbroken. Later that evening, the results were out—Ashi had been selected.

Without a second thought, Manya ran to her, tears streaming down her face. Ashi’s smile faded as she saw her best friend’s pain. Without a word, she pulled Manya into a hug.

“I’m so sorry, Manya,” Ashi whispered.

Manya sobbed. “It’s not fair. I worked so hard.”

“I know. But you’re amazing, and you’ll get something even better. I know it.”

Manya grinned through her own tears. “And you know what? The first person in our batch to get a job is my best friend. That’s pretty damn cool.”

They cried together—one out of happiness, the other out of disappointment. In that moment, they proved that their bond was stronger than competition.

About a month later, Manya was placed in an MNC.

From that day on, Ashi and Manya became inseparable. Their hostel room wasn’t just a room—it was a chaotic,
glitter-filled,
dance floor-slash-movie theater-slash-snack heaven. 

They watched so many movies that they could probably recite entire dialogues from *Vivah* and *Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara* backward. Their room was a masterpiece of chaos: fairy lights tangled like spaghetti, posters of Aditya Roy Kapoor winking at them, and a BOAT speaker that saw their groovy dance moves.

Ah, the dancing. If there was one thing that defined Ashi and Manya, it was their ability to turn any space into a dance floor. And by “any space,” I mean literally any space—be it their tiny hostel room, the bathroom or even the hostel corridor.

 Ashi, despite being the kind of person who’d get exhausted by walking for 10 minutes, could outlast a Duracell bunny on the dance floor. Manya, on the other hand, had the energy of a caffeinated squirrel and the moves to match. Together, they were unstoppable.

One evening, during their much-anticipated hostel night, the two were cozily buried under a mountain of blankets, binge-watching *Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani* for the 47th time. Just as Bunny and Naina were about to have their iconic “tumse pyaar ho jayega...firse” moment...

The DJ outside blasted the opening beats of  “Yun toh premi pachhattar humare...”

It was like someone had injected them with pure adrenaline. Both of them shot up from the bed like synchronized jack-in-the-boxes, their eyes locking in a silent, unspoken agreement. Without a word, they drank water like they were preparing for a marathon, tossed their hair into what could only be described as messy bun and bolted out the door. 

Combs? Overrated.
Facewash? For kids.
They were on a mission.

The dance floor that night was their kingdom, and ruled it like Jhansi ki Rani. By the time the DJ wrapped up, their legs felt like jelly and their backs screamed in protest. 

The next morning, they woke up at 12 noon, groaning as they tried to move their bodies out of bed. But the pain was worth it. As the saying goes, if you don’t wake up after a party feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck but still grinning like an idiot, did you even have fun?

As graduation loomed, reality hit them like a ton of bricks. The farewell party was a rollercoaster of emotions—part joy, part nostalgia, and part “how on earth do I drape this saree?” 

Manya stood in front of the mirror, wrestling with six yards of fabric that seemed to have a mind of its own. 

“Ashi, I swear to God, if you don’t help me right now, I’m showing up to the farewell in my pajamas. And I’m not even sorry about it,” she declared, glaring at the rebellious saree like it had personally offended her.

Ashi, ever the savior, rolled her eyes, “Sit down, you disaster human. Let me work my magic.” With the precision of a saree-draping ninja, Ashi transformed Manya from “hot mess” to “hot damn.” Manya stared at her reflection, her jaw dropping. “Holy crap, I look… like a Bollywood heroine. Ashi, are you sure you’re not secretly a fashion designer?”

Ashi smirked. “Please. I may live in unmatched tees and pajamas, but I have hidden talents. Now stop staring at yourself and let’s go before the DJ starts without us.”

The night was a blur of laughter, tears, and way too many selfies. They danced like it was their last night on earth, twirling and laughing until their sides hurt. But beneath the joy was the bittersweet truth—this was the end of an era. As the night wound down, they found themselves in a tight hug, the kind that says more than words ever could. 

“Promise me we’ll stay like this forever,” Manya whispered, her voice cracking.

Ashi pulled back, pretending to wipe away a tear (but totally failing). “Duh. You’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not. Now stop being dramatic and pass me the chips.”

And just like that, amidst the laughter and the tears, they made a silent vow: no matter where life took them, their friendship would always be their greatest adventure.

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CHAPTER-2

Life after college swept Manya and Ashi in different directions. Manya moved to London for her corporate job, while Ashi embraced her wanderlust, becoming a travel journalist who explored the world. They promised to stay in touch, but life, with its relentless demands, made it harder than they’d imagined. Distance and responsibilities began to stretch the threads of their once inseparable bond.

One quiet night, Manya found herself scrolling through old photos on her phone. Her thumb paused on a picture from their college farewell party—a moment frozen in time. They were laughing, heads thrown back, eyes crinkled with joy. Tears welled up in her eyes as she typed a message to Ashi.

But life, as it often does, got in the way. Responsibilities piled up, and the trip remained a distant dream. Yet, the distance never truly came between them. Their bond, though stretched thin at times, never broke.

One day, Ashi found herself facing an unusual wave of nerves. She had a presentation with the President of her editorial company—a big moment in her career. For someone who thrived under pressure, the anxiety felt foreign. She picked up her phone and called Manya, her anchor in every storm.

Manya listened patiently, her voice calm and reassuring. “Remember how you always stayed cool during those chaotic college events? This is no different. You’ve got this, Ashi. You’ve always had this.”

Ashi felt the weight lift off her shoulders. Manya’s words reminded her of her own strength. By the time they hung up, Ashi was ready to face the challenge head-on.

The presentation was a triumph. Her editor was so impressed that Ashi was promoted to lead journalist for central India. Overwhelmed with joy, she called Manya, tears streaming down her face. “We did it,” she said, her voice trembling. “Well, *you* did it,” Manya corrected, laughing. “But I’m so proud of you.”

Meanwhile, Manya was climbing her own corporate ladder. As the newly appointed Architecture Design Lead, she was buried in work. 

One day, her manager approached her with an unexpected request: to attend the company’s exhibition in Mumbai the following week. Manya hesitated. She had plans to visit India later during Diwali and wasn’t keen on making the trip twice. 

But her manager insisted, and after much persuasion, Manya reluctantly agreed.

On her way home, she called Ashi to vent. “I can’t believe I’m being dragged to Mumbai for this,” she complained. But fate had other plans. 

Ashi, still asleep in India, snoozed the call, mistaking it for her alarm. By the time she woke up and saw the missed call, Manya had already gone to bed, her phone silenced.

A week later, Manya found herself on a flight to Mumbai, grumbling under her breath. “What would Ashi do in this situation?” she wondered. A smile crept onto her face as she imagined her friend’s response. “She’d probably turn it into an adventure—explore cafes, take a million pictures, and make the most of it.”

Inspired, Manya decided to do just that. After settling in, she convinced her colleagues to visit a cozy café called *Chai & Chapters*. As they sipped on steaming cups of elaichi chai and nibbled on perfectly brown French toast, Manya suddenly heard it—a familiar, uncontrollable laugh that sent a chill across her nerves. She turned around, her heart racing.

There she was. Ashi. Her wild curls, her expressive eyes, her infectious energy. She was interviewing the café owner, completely engrossed in her work. Manya stood up, her legs carrying her to the table before she could think.

“You have to be kidding me,” Manya said, her voice trembling with disbelief.

Ashi turned, her eyes widening. “Manya?”  

They collided in a tight hug, the years of separation melting away in an instant. Tears streamed down their faces as they laughed and talked, picking up right where they’d left off.

“You still smell like vanilla,” Ashi said, her voice soft.

Manya chuckled, wiping her tears. “And you still laugh like my best friend.”  

In that cozy café, amidst the clinking of cups and the hum of conversation, they found their way back to each other. The distance, the time apart—it all faded into the background. They were together again, and that was all that mattered.

Somewhere in the background, a familiar melody played.

“Abhi na jao chhod kar, ke dil abhi bhara nahi…”

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Ashi and Manya’s story is a testament to the power of healthy female friendships. They showed how women can uplift each other, celebrate each other’s successes, and provide comfort during failures. Their friendship was built on mutual respect, trust, and an unshakable bond that transcended distance and time.  

Healthy female friendships are not about perfection; they are about being there for each other, through the highs and lows. They are about growth, support, and the kind of laughter that stays with you forever.  

Ashi and Manya’s laughter still echoes in their hearts, a reminder that some friendships, like some laughs, never fade. 

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PS for the readers -

I have lived the Chapter-1 of this story. Waiting for fate to execute the Chapter-2 !