It’s August 22^nd, and we’re all set for what was supposed to be a perfect “Night Under the Stars.” The sky had just cleared up after a brief shower, painting everything in this soft, Instagram-worthy shade of pink. The kind of sky that makes you pause and think, “Okay, this might actually turn out to be pretty neat.”

Monash Field looked like it was straight out of my Pinterest board, with gingham picnic tablecloths everywhere, all cutesy and very mindfully laid out by the MUSA Activities Committee. And let’s talk about the bean bags. They were so comfy, but getting one was like trying to grab the last slice of pizza at a party. No one wanted to give theirs up, and I totally get it.

The vibe? Totally on point. Fairy lights were strung up around the field, and a photo booth was there for everyone to capture memories. The air was filled with the smell of popcorn, mingling with the cool breeze, and the free flow of soda, ice cream, and yes, more popcorn, kept everyone (me) in a pretty good mood. They even handed out glow-in-the-dark bracelets at registration, which made the whole thing feel like a mini festival. Honestly, I wouldn’t have minded if there were some mini-games set up as well, just to add that extra bit of fun.

More and more people started showing up as the night went on, kind of surprising considering the earlier rain and the fact that midterms and assignments are just around the corner. It felt like one of those nights you’d see in a Netflix teen movie, where everything just clicks, and you think, “Yeah, this is gonna be one to remember.”  I have this knack for not being able to sit still, and as a result, my mind kept racing with a hundred different scenarios like, what if a bear suddenly ran into the field and started chasing us all away? Maybe that’s just my overactive imagination.

But just as we were getting comfy, ready to dive into “How to Train Your Dragon,” around 8 PM, the weather decided to change things up. Maybe it was for the plot. We ended up moving to the badminton court, it was kind of funny seeing everyone rush over together in this unspoken agreement.

The organisers handled it like pros, and in no time, the court was transformed into our new movie spot. The projector was back up, and the movie started rolling. Was it the outdoor movie night we’d imagined? Not really. But it worked. People were still cheering, laughing, and enjoying themselves, and there were these moments when you could feel the whole crowd just vibing together.

And then there was the lucky draw. About 10 people walked away with cute avocado plushies (yes, they were as adorable as they sound), and one lucky person even scored a movie projector.

So, was it the perfect night under the stars? Not exactly. But it had its own charm, sort of vibe that I think everyone appreciated. With midterms and assignments looming, it was a welcome break. I’m already looking forward to the next movie night. Maybe next time, the weather will be on our side, but either way, you can bet I’ll be there.

Article by Jananee Jagadeesan

Photos by Kai Yi and Li Lyn