couldn't explain why, but as I walked through the college gate, everything seemed quieter than usual. Maybe it was just me. Maybe it was because of her.
The mysterious new girl.
Ever since she joined, nothing felt normal anymore.
"Oi, ki re? Tui abar chinta-te?" Rohan suddenly appeared beside me, slapping my back.
I snapped out of my thoughts. "Na… kichu na."
"Arre, ami bujhi. Tui oitar kotha bhabchis, right?" he smirked.
I frowned. "Kaar kotha?"
"New girl. Naam ki jeno… A—"
"Ayesha," I said before I could stop myself.
Rohan's grin widened. "Aha! Naam o mone rekhechis!"
I rolled my eyes. "Classmate. Naam mone rakha normal."
"Na re baba, eta normal na," he teased. "Tor chokh dekhei bojha jacche."
I didn't reply. Instead, I walked faster toward the classroom.
But deep down, I knew Rohan wasn't entirely wrong.
When I entered the classroom, she was already there.
Sitting quietly in the same corner seat.
Ayesha.
Her long black hair fell gently over her shoulders, and she was staring out of the window again—just like yesterday. As if the outside world was more important than everything inside.
Or maybe… she was trying to escape something.
I don't know why, but I kept looking at her.
There was something about her that felt… sad.
Not the kind of sadness you show.
The kind you hide.
"Bose por, class suru hote cholche," Rohan whispered, pulling me to my seat.
I sat down, but my eyes kept drifting toward her.
At one point, she suddenly turned her head.
And our eyes met.
For a second… everything stopped.
Then she quickly looked away.
But this time, I noticed something.
She looked scared.
After class ended, I decided something.
I couldn't just keep watching from a distance.
I had to talk to her.
Even if it felt awkward.
Even if she ignored me.
I stood up and walked toward her.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
"Hey…" I said softly.
She looked up, surprised.
"Hi."
Her voice was calm… but distant.
"I'm… uh… Arjun," I said, scratching my head. "We're in the same class."
"I know," she replied.
Of course she knew. That was stupid.
Silence.
Awkward silence.
"So… how are you finding the college?" I asked, trying to keep the conversation alive.
"It's okay."
Again, short answers.
She wasn't making it easy.
"Tum… I mean… tumi ekhane notun, right?"
She nodded.
Then, after a pause, she asked something unexpected.
"Why are you talking to me?"
I froze.
"What?"
"People usually don't," she said quietly.
Her words hit me harder than I expected.
"What do you mean?"
She looked down. "Nothing."
For a moment, I didn't know what to say.
Then I spoke honestly.
"I just… wanted to know you."
She looked up again.
This time, her eyes searched my face.
As if she was trying to figure out if I was lying.
After a few seconds, she said, "Why?"
I smiled slightly. "Because you seem… different."
She didn't reply.
But she didn't walk away either.
And for some reason, that felt like progress.
Later that day, something strange happened.
Very strange.
I was in the library, looking for a history book, when I saw her again.
Ayesha.
She was standing in a corner, holding an old book.
But it wasn't a normal book.
It looked… ancient.
Dusty. Worn out.
Like something that didn't belong in a college library.
Curious, I walked closer.
"What are you reading?" I asked.
She flinched.
Actually flinched.
As if I had scared her.
"It's nothing," she said quickly, closing the book.
"Can I see?"
"No."
Her response was immediate.
Too immediate.
I raised an eyebrow. "Okay… secret naki?"
She didn't smile.
Instead, she looked around nervously.
Then she leaned closer and whispered—
"You shouldn't be here."
My heart skipped a beat.
"What?"
"Just… go," she said.
Her voice was different now.
Not calm.
Not distant.
Urgent.
Before I could say anything else, she turned and walked away quickly.
Leaving me standing there.
Confused.
And honestly… a little scared.
That night, I couldn't sleep.
Her words kept echoing in my mind.
"You shouldn't be here."
What did she mean?
Why was she so scared?
And what was that book?
Something wasn't right.
And I was sure of it.
The next day, things got even weirder.
During lunch break, I saw a group of seniors talking.
"…she's back again…"
"…last time-o problem hoyechilo…"
"…principal jante parle—"
I stopped.
They were talking about someone.
"Excuse me," I said. "Kaar kotha bolchen?"
They looked at me.
One of them smirked. "Tui janish na?"
"Ki?"
"New girl."
My chest tightened.
"Ayesha?"
He nodded slowly.
"Stay away from her," he said.
"Why?"
They exchanged glances.
Then one of them said something that made my blood run cold.
"Because wherever she goes… something bad happens."
I laughed.
At least, I tried to.
"Ei sob ki bolchen? Eta kono horror story naki?"
But they weren't laughing.
Not even a little.
"I'm serious," he said. "Last college-eo same hoyechilo."
"What happened?"
He hesitated.
Then said quietly—
"A student disappeared."
Silence.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
"That's not funny," I said.
"I'm not joking."
I didn't know what to believe anymore.
Was this just rumors?
Or something real?
That evening, I saw her again.
Standing alone near the gate.
Just like the first day.
I walked toward her.
This time, without hesitation.
"Ayesha," I called.
She turned.
And for the first time…
I saw fear clearly in her eyes.
"Why are people saying these things about you?" I asked directly.
She went silent.
"Tell me the truth," I said. "What's going on?"
She shook her head. "You don't understand."
"Then make me understand!"
My voice was louder than I intended.
People nearby started looking.
She stepped closer and said softly—
"If you stay near me… you'll get hurt."
I frowned. "What does that even mean?"
She looked straight into my eyes.
And said something I'll never forget.
"I don't want that to happen again."
Again.
That word echoed in my mind.
Before I could ask anything else—
She turned…
And walked away.
I stood there.
Frozen.
Confused.
And now…
More curious than ever.
Because one thing was clear—
Ayesha wasn't just a mysterious new girl.
She was hiding something.
Something dangerous.
And somehow…
I had already become a part of it.