The changes were subtle at first.
Ananya's evenings were busier.Meher's mornings were sharper.Pihu's nights were earlier.Nandini's afternoons were fuller.
They still laughed.
They still shared food.
But the spaces between them were filling with different things.
One night, while brushing their teeth, Pihu said suddenly, "Do you feel like we're in different seasons of the same show?"
Meher smirked. "And all of them got renewed."
Ananya rinsed her mouth and said softly, "I'm scared we'll stop fitting."
Nandini turned. "We're not meant to fit. We're meant to connect."
They stood there in mismatched pajamas, toothbrushes in hand, hostel lights buzzing.
Four girls.
One room.
Four rhythms.
One root.
Mumbai outside.
Becoming inside.