Morning light filtered through the classroom windows.
Calm.
Peaceful.
As if nothing had changed.
But for Sarthak—
Everything had.
"I was there too."
Mahi's words from yesterday echoed in his mind.
Again and again.
Relentless.
And then—
That message.
"Will she tell you the whole truth?"
His grip on reality felt… thinner.
Unstable.
"Sarthak?"
Vansh waved his hand in front of his face. "Bro, you are officially gone."
Sarthak blinked. "What?"
"I have been calling you for the last thirty seconds. Should I call an ambulance or a priest?"
Sarthak sighed lightly. "Neither. I am alive."
"Debatable."
Vansh leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Is this about yesterday? You and Mahi looked… intense."
Sarthak did not respond immediately.
Instead, he asked—
"Do you believe people can hide the truth for years?"
Vansh blinked. "That is a deep question for 9 AM."
"I am serious."
Vansh leaned back, thinking.
"Yeah… I guess they can. But not forever."
Not forever.
Sarthak looked down at his desk.
"…What if the truth is worse than the lie?"
Vansh shrugged. "Then it is still the truth. Running from it just makes it worse."
A simple answer.
Too simple.
If only it worked like that.
The classroom door opened.
And just like that—
The atmosphere shifted.
A girl walked in.
Soft steps.
Hesitant.
As if she was unsure whether she belonged there.
Riya Verma.
She clutched her notebook close to her chest, her eyes scanning the room nervously before settling—
On him.
Sarthak noticed.
Of course he did.
But he quickly looked away.
"New character unlocked," Vansh whispered. "And she is looking at you."
"Stop imagining things."
"I am not. Look again."
Sarthak did not.
Because he already knew.
Riya quietly made her way to an empty seat.
Two rows ahead.
Near the window.
She sat down.
But her attention—
Kept drifting back.
To him.
Classes began.
Lectures continued.
Time moved forward.
But small moments—
They stood out.
Riya dropping her pen.
Sarthak picking it up without a word.
A brief "thank you."
Soft.
Barely audible.
Their fingers almost touching—
But not quite.
A silence.
Not awkward.
Just… unspoken.
And yet—
In the middle of all this calm—
Something felt wrong.
Because peace like this—
Never lasted.
Lunch break.
The same tree.
The same place.
Vansh stretched. "I am telling you, something is going on."
"Nothing is going on."
"Then why is she sitting there?"
Sarthak glanced sideways.
Riya.
A little distance away.
Sitting alone.
Pretending to read.
But clearly aware of him.
"…Coincidence," Sarthak said.
Vansh smirked. "Sure."
A few seconds passed.
Then—
Unexpectedly—
Riya stood up.
And walked toward them.
Step by step.
Slow.
Careful.
Until she stopped in front of Sarthak.
"…Hi."
Her voice was soft.
Almost trembling.
Sarthak looked up at her.
Calm as always.
"…Hi."
A pause.
"I just wanted to say… thank you. For earlier."
"The pen?"
She nodded.
"You did not have to come here for that."
"I know," she said quickly.
Then—
Realizing how that sounded—
She looked down, slightly embarrassed.
"I mean… I just thought…"
She stopped.
Vansh jumped in, saving the moment. "You thought he is a nice guy?"
Riya hesitated.
Then gave a small nod.
"Wrong assumption," Vansh said casually.
Sarthak gave him a look.
Riya looked confused.
"He is not nice," Vansh continued. "He is just… weird."
That made her smile slightly.
And for a moment—
Everything felt light.
Normal.
But then—
A vibration.
Sarthak's phone.
That familiar feeling returned instantly.
Cold.
Heavy.
Unavoidable.
He already knew.
Still—
He checked.
Unknown Number.
Again.
His expression did not change.
But inside—
Something tightened.
He opened the message.
"You are getting close to her too?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Careful…"
His grip on the phone hardened.
"She will suffer too… just like her."
Silence.
The world around him faded again.
Not again.
Not this.
"…Sarthak?"
Riya's voice.
Close.
Concerned.
He looked up.
For the first time—
There was visible emotion in his eyes.
Not weakness.
Fear.
And anger.
"…Stay away from me."
The words came out sharper than intended.
Riya froze.
"…What?"
"I said—stay away."
Her expression fell.
Confusion.
Hurt.
"I just—"
"Please."
This time—
His voice was quieter.
But heavier.
"…Do not get involved."
Silence.
Riya slowly nodded.
"…Okay."
She turned.
And walked away.
Each step slower than before.
Vansh frowned. "That was harsh."
Sarthak did not reply.
Because he was not looking at Riya.
He was staring at his phone.
At that message.
Because now—
It was not just about him anymore.
Whoever was behind this—
Was watching.
Closely.
And targeting—
Everyone around him.
Sarthak's expression darkened slightly.
For the first time—
He was not running.
He was thinking.
Who are you…?
And more importantly—
What do you want?
To be continued…