COLLEGE ROMANCE? LEFT SWIFE

What seems like a fever dream romance can turn into your worst nightmare, filled with dramatic breakups, friendship betrayals, awkward encounters, and chaos that follows you everywhere.

By Anoushka Gulati

The idea of college relationships seems dreamy, sitting in classes together

and experiencing “firsts” hand-in-hand. The reality is quite the opposite.

Dating in college can be more dramatic than being a part of the drama

society. One day, you’re sharing coffee from the same glass; the next, you’re

avoiding eye contact in the cafeteria like it’s a professional sport.

The ratio of boys to girls in a fashion college is a joke, everyone looks good,

dresses the same, and probably has the same personality because they’re all

in the same creative field. The dating pool is not a pool, it’s a puddle. And

once you’ve dated someone, there’s a high chance their next love story is

with someone you have to see every day.

Nishchay Khemka, a 21-year-old fashion design student at Pearl Academy,

knows this pain all too well. He was dating Divya Mahna, a 20-year-old from

the same course, and keeping the relationship afloat felt like a full-time job,

minus the paycheck. “My girlfriend expected me to pick and drop her off at

college every day like I was some kind of Uber with benefits. Carrying her bag

went without saying. Hanging out after classes wasn’t a choice; it was a duty.

Even when I had assignments piling up, skipping a date was a crime. And

after all that? She ended up dating my friend.

”And just when you think it can’t get worse, enter the new girlfriend. The same

girl who was part of your friend group, who used to eat lunch with you, sit in

class with you, and smile at you while you poured your heart out over this guy.

The whole friend group is sacrificed. Suddenly, the people you call your

closest friends are unreliable. Turns out, girl code is just a myth just like

finding true love in college.

Sanya Aggarwal, a 19-year-old fashion styling student at Pearl Academy,

sums it up perfectly. She’s dating Arav Chaudhary, a 20-year-old fashion

communication student, and while the relationship seemed exciting at first,

she quickly realised the cons. “I barely get to spend time with my friends

because my boyfriend expects me to be with him all the time. If I want to go

out with my girls, there’s always this obligation to include him. I’ve missed out

on so many fun moments, impromptu shopping sprees, weekend trips, even

just chilling in the cafeteria—because my relationship somehow always

comes first.” Relationships aren’t just about love, they also determine your

social freedom.

There’s no such thing as a peaceful breakup when you’re trapped in the

same four walls. The moment you spot your ex, the mental debate over

whether to pass a smile (can seem desperate) or ignore them (will make

them believe you have not evolved) begins. Walking through campus feels

like dodging a maze of awkward eye contact.

Varun Shishodia, a 20-year-old interior design student at Pearl Academy, has

seen the chaos firsthand and puts it bluntly: “I wouldn’t recommend anyone to

date in their first year. Everything falls apart- the friend groups, the

enthusiasm to learn, and even the excitement to experience new things. It’s

all fun and games until your breakup overshadows your actual college

journey.”

College is meant to be an experience, not an emotional battlefield where your

biggest challenge isn’t the assignments but dodging your ex. Maybe it’s best

to leave romance out of the curriculum (unless you love chaos).

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