The night felt longer than usual.
Kavya lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her phone resting beside her—screen dark, but her mind anything but.
Sleep didn't come.
Not when everything inside her was wide awake.
Aarav's voice echoed in her thoughts.
"You shouldn't be around me."
"It's not safe."
And yet—
That one moment…
The way he had gently tucked her hair behind her ear.
So careful.
So… real.
Kavya turned to her side, pulling the blanket closer.
"This is ridiculous," she whispered to herself.
She had known him for one day.
One day.
And already—
There was mystery.
There was danger.
There was… something else.
Something she couldn't name yet.
Her phone buzzed suddenly.
She grabbed it instantly.
Unknown number.
Unknown:
Stay away from him.
Kavya sat up straight.
Her heart skipped.
Then raced.
Kavya:
Who is this?
No reply.
Just silence.
She called the number.
Switched off.
A chill ran down her spine.
"Not funny," she muttered.
But deep down—
She knew this wasn't a joke.
The message.
The girl in blue.
Aarav's warning.
The man near the canteen.
It was all connected.
It had to be.
And somehow—
She was already in the middle of it.
Kavya didn't sleep that night.
Not even for a minute.
Next Day
The college looked the same.
Bright.
Busy.
Normal.
But for Kavya—
Nothing felt normal anymore.
She entered the campus with sharp eyes, observing everything.
Every face.
Every movement.
Every corner.
"Whoa," Raghav appeared beside her suddenly. "Why do you look like a detective today?"
Kavya didn't smile.
"Because something's wrong."
Raghav's grin faded slightly. "Still thinking about yesterday?"
"Yes."
"You're overthinking."
"No, I'm not."
He studied her face for a moment.
Then sighed.
"Okay… maybe you're not."
They walked toward the classroom together.
Aarav wasn't there yet.
Which was strange.
"He's late," Kavya said.
Raghav shrugged. "That's new."
Five minutes passed.
Ten.
The lecture started.
Still no Aarav.
Kavya's fingers tightened around her pen.
Something felt off again.
Worse than before.
"Relax," Raghav whispered. "He'll show up."
But his voice lacked confidence.
Halfway through the lecture—
The door opened.
Aarav walked in.
Kavya immediately looked at him.
Relief hit first.
Then confusion.
He looked… different.
Not physically.
But something in his expression—
More guarded.
More distant.
"Late," the professor said.
"Sorry," Aarav replied simply.
He walked to his seat.
Sat down.
Didn't look at Kavya.
Not once.
Kavya frowned.
"What's wrong with you?" she whispered.
No response.
"Aarav."
Still nothing.
Now she was getting annoyed.
The lecture ended.
Students began to leave.
Kavya stood up quickly.
Grabbing his wrist before he could walk away.
"We need to talk."
Aarav froze.
Just for a second.
Then slowly turned toward her.
"Not here," he said.
"No," Kavya replied firmly.
"Now."
Raghav looked between them.
Then quietly stepped back.
"Yeah… I'm gonna give you guys space."
They stood in the emptying classroom.
Tension thick in the air.
Kavya crossed her arms.
"You said you'd tell me the truth."
Aarav looked at her.
Really looked this time.
And she could see it—
The conflict.
"I will," he said.
"Just not here."
Kavya shook her head. "Enough of that. Something's wrong. You're acting different."
A pause.
Then—
"You got a message, didn't you?"
Kavya's breath caught.
"How do you—"
Aarav closed his eyes briefly.
Exhaling.
"That means they've started already."
"They?" Kavya's voice rose slightly. "Who are 'they', Aarav?!"
He stepped closer.
Lowering his voice.
"Listen carefully," he said.
Kavya's heart pounded.
"Whatever happens… whatever you hear…"
"Don't trust anyone."
Her eyes widened.
"That includes you?"
Aarav didn't answer.
And that—
That scared her the most.
"Say something," she demanded.
A long silence.
Then finally—
"Yes."
The word hit harder than anything else.
Kavya stepped back.
"…You're serious?"
"Yes."
A painful pause settled between them.
"Then why should I even listen to you?" she asked, her voice quieter now.
Aarav looked at her.
And for the first time—
There was something vulnerable in his eyes.
"Because," he said softly,
"I'm the only one trying to keep you alive."
Silence.
Kavya's emotions clashed inside her.
Fear.
Anger.
Confusion.
And something else—
Trust.
Before she could respond—
A sudden noise echoed from outside.
A scream.
Both of them turned instantly.
Students gathered in the corridor.
Panic rising.
"What happened?" Kavya whispered.
Aarav's expression darkened.
"We're too late."
They rushed outside.
Pushing through the crowd.
And then—
They saw it.
A phone.
Lying on the ground.
Screen cracked.
A group of students stood around—
Whispering.
Shocked.
"That's… that's her phone," someone said.
Kavya's heart dropped.
"Whose?" she asked.
The answer came slowly.
"The new girl."
The girl in blue.
Gone.
Just like that.
Kavya looked at Aarav.
Her voice barely a whisper—
"This isn't coincidence… is it?"
Aarav didn't hesitate this time.
"No."
And somewhere far away—
A phone buzzed.
Next part Tommorow...