A warm glow spread across Luna's face as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the leaves. She moved slightly, blinking against the brightness. The world around her felt quiet—calm.
As she shifted, she noticed something draped over her shoulders. A shawl. The same one she had been wearing last night now covered her completely, wrapped around her as if shielding her from the cold
She sat up, adjusting the shawl, her fingers brushed against the soft fabric. The open field stretched around her, bathed in daylight, the jackfruit tree standing tall as ever.
Her eyes scanning her surroundings. "Nikhil?" she called out, her voice slightly hoarse from sleep.
Silence.
She stood up, shaking off the drowsiness, and looked around the empty field. Where did he go?
Leaving the tree behind, she hurried across the campus, searching for him. The corridors, the canteen, even the basketball court—he was nowhere to be found.
Then it struck her. Maybe he went home last night.
It was late. Of course, it was natural for him to leave.
With that thought, she took a deep breath and walked out of the college gates. Unlike the eerie silence of last night, the streets were now alive. People passed by, shops were open, and the world seemed... normal.
A sudden realization hit her.
She still didn't know where she was.
Luna approached a few people, asking about the name of the place. After a few attempts, she finally got an answer. She had never been here before.
Unfamiliar with the area, she decided to head to the police station for help.
It took some time, but after asking around, she finally found her way there. The moment she stepped inside, she felt a strange mix of relief and unease.
Taking a deep breath, she walked up to an officer and reported everything.
She told them about how she was kidnapped, how she escaped, and how she ended up at the college. The officer listened carefully, taking down every detail.
After that, she contacted her family.
The wait felt long, but soon enough, they arrived.
Her parents rushed to her, relief written all over their faces. She let herself be pulled into a tight hug, feeling the warmth of home after what felt like an eternity.
As they sat down to talk, Luna told them about Nikhil.
She told them everything—how he found her, how he helped her, how he stayed with her the entire night.
Her parents listened, a deep sense of gratitude in their eyes.
"He helped you a lot," her mother murmured.
Luna nodded. "Yeah… he really did."