Pratik Handore
For most people, college life is their first true taste of freedom. However, with this freedom comes a host of problems, and the Indian comedy-drama series ‘Hostel Daze’ puts the microscope on these challenges. The series created by Saurabh Khanna and Abhishek Yadav follows a group of new entrants at an engineering college. The first season of the light-hearted and feel-good series premiered in 2019 and is powered by exceptional performances from the lead cast, including Adarsh Gourav, Nikhil Vijay, and Ahsaas Channa.
In the first season, freshers Ankit, Chirag, Jaat, and Jhantoo go through a rollercoaster of experiences and develop a strong friendship over the course of a semester. If you are curious to find out how the freshers’ first semester ends, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a rundown of ‘Hostel Daze’ season 1. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Hostel Daze Season 1 Recap
In ‘Hostel Daze,’ freshers Chirag Bansal and Rupesh “Jaat” Bhati start the first chapter of their emerging adulthood at an engineering college. At their hostel room, another entrant named Ankit Pandey arrives. The trio realizes that the room has been allotted to Ankit instead of Chirag. They talk to the warden about the situation.
One of them must share a room with Jhantoo, a fresher who has recently joined the college but has been living in the hostel for a long time. Unaware that Jhantoo is brash and a bad influence, Ankit agrees to live with him. The trio is put into an embarrassing situation by their seniors under the name of ragging and is saved by Jhantoo. The trio wants to repay Jhantoo by doing something nice, and he asks the three to become roommates.
Ankit struggles to adjust to hostel life and create his own identity among the thousands of students. Chirag and Ankit try to join the various extra-curricular clubs, but none of them suit their talents or personality. Eventually, Chirag finds popularity by recording lectures and sharing them online. Ankit, who has been secretly and unknowingly sharing porn, becomes popular after the truth spills out.
During chemistry practicals, Akanksha, a girl Ankit is smitten with, asks for his help. Ankit’s friends coax him into trying to date Akanksha. He begins texting with Akanksha, and their friendship blossoms. Ankit confesses his feelings, and the two decide to go on a date. However, it turns out that Jhantoo has been texting Ankit pretending to be Akanksha. The news spreads on the campus, and Ankit becomes the joke of the college. Seeing Ankit’s plight Akanksha shares her real number with him starting their true friendship.
Soon, Ankit’s birthday arrives, and he tries to hide his real birthdate to save himself from the vicious birthday celebration that takes place in the hostel. The birthday boy is given a beating (birthday bumps), and by the fear of it, Ankit hides in the library. There he meets his lab partner, Nabomita. Nabomita has a crush on Ankit and takes him to celebrate his birthday in a nice way.
Ankit’s friends think that he is poor and is ashamed that he won’t be able to give them a birthday treat. They organize a surprise party for Ankit. However, the group learns that Ankit is celebrating his birthday with Nabhomita and Lolly, and they get enraged. Ankit tells them the truth and apologizes. The group celebrates Ankit’s birthday, but when Nabomita reveals the rude things Ankit said to her about his friends, they end up giving him birthday bumps.
In the season finale, the end-of-semester exam is a night away. Ankit and Jhantoo are counting on Chirag to help them pass the exam. However, Chirag has to go to look after his sick legal guardian. Ankit and Jhantoo realize that they are doomed and scramble to cover the syllabus in one night. After various attempts, the duo figures out a solution.
Hostel Daze Season 1 Ending: Do Ankit, Jaat, and Jhantoo Pass The Exam?
Towards the end of the season finale, after various failed attempts to study, Ankit and Jhantoo realize that the same question paper is repeated every year. They try various schemes to obtain the previous year’s question paper but to no avail. Jaat then reveals that he has already obtained an answer key to all the questions. The trio mugs up the answer key and also shares some tips with other tensed students. At the exam, the toppers are having a tough time. Ankit, Jaat, and Jhantoo write everything they have mugged up.
As soon as they leave the examination hall, the trio realizes that the question paper for this year had been reset. The season ends on a cliffhanger without revealing whether or not the trio passes the exam. It is likely that they concoct some scheme to pass the exam. After all, the trio is very resourceful, and the person in charge of checking the papers is tight with Jaat. Therefore, it is possible that they passed the exam by bribing the checker. The more likely alternative is that they fail the exam and have to reappear. This failure could prove to be a wake-up call, and the three might take up studying more seriously in the future.
Is Ankit Dating Nabomita?
In the fourth episode of the season, when the group is celebrating Ankit’s birthday, they tease Ankit by calling Nabomita his girlfriend. However, Ankit is quick to reveal that they are only friends. Nabomita clearly has feelings for Ankit but hasn’t expressed them. On the other hand, Ankit has a crush on Akanksha.
As the season goes on, Ankit hides his feelings for Akanksha in favor of a friendship. However, it is plenty evident that he still has a crush on her as he gets nervous while talking to her. Meanwhile, Ankit is more comfortable talking to Nabomita and treats her like a friend. Therefore, there is no reason to believe that the two are dating. It’s a classic love triangle that might get explored in future seasons.
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