Ishaan didn't sleep for even a second the entire night.
The diary was right beside him, but his mind was stuck on just one question —
Should I tell someone about the diary and the chip?
Even if I do… will anyone even believe me?
There were slight dark circles under his eyes, but without thinking much, he jumped into his usual routine —
"Brush… facewash… clothes…" Everything was normal, yet something inside felt heavy, like an invisible pressure 😵💫
While leaving home, he made up his mind.
Today, he had proof.
He was going to tell his friends everything.
And this time… they had to believe him.
---
In the college canteen, everyone was at their usual spots — Aaryan, Kabir, Tanuj…
Ishaan quietly joined them.
Riya arrived a little later.
Ishaan: (directly) "Guys, I need to talk to you all… seriously."
Kabir: (with a slight laugh) "Looks like our boy had another dream last night…"
Ishaan pulled the diary out of his bag and placed it on the table. 📔
---
Ishaan:
"This diary… I found it in an old shelf in the library's basement.
I think… the world we're living in isn't real.
It's a virtual world.
Everything is mentioned in this diary. Just read it once…"
Tanuj: (laughing)
"Bro, did you watch The Matrix again last night?"
Aaryan: (picking up the diary)
"Looks old, for sure. But what are you trying to prove with this?"
Ishaan flipped through a few pages and began reading aloud to them —
Same cars, same dialogues, same events…
"Don't you feel something's off in this world?" 🤨
Kabir: (laughing hard)
"Something's off alright… but not in the world, bro — it's in your head! 😂"
Everyone burst out laughing.
An awkward silence followed…
Ishaan quietly sank into it.
That's when Riya picked up the diary.
There was no doubt in her eyes, only curiosity.
She started reading…
With every page she turned, her face grew more serious.
Everyone else continued goofing around… but Riya's focus was only on the handwritten pages. 📝
---
Finally, she shut the diary, took a deep breath, and looked at Ishaan.
Riya: (softly)
"This is… strange. But what you're feeling… I can't call it a lie.
When the same people, the same things, the same events keep repeating…
that can't be just coincidence.
You can't be wrong."
Ishaan looked into her eyes.
For the first time, it felt like someone truly understood his world.
Ishaan: (emotionally)
"Everyone thinks it's a joke, Riya…
But I feel alone in all of this…"
Riya gave a faint smile — the kind that said "You're not alone."
Riya:
"I'm here, okay?
And if this world really is the way you say it is…
then we have to find the truth.
We'll do it together." 💫
A soft silence filled the air.
Ishaan just kept looking at her…
She was no longer just watching him — she was with him on this journey.
---
In that moment, Ishaan paused for a second —
It felt like his heart and mind were in a battle.
He slowly leaned closer to Riya… and whispered in her ear:
Ishaan:
"There's something else I found with the diary… a chip — it's mentioned in there too."
Riya's eyes widened in shock. Her heartbeat quickened.
"A chip? Seriously?" she asked nervously.
Ishaan: (slow but intense)
"Yes… but it's in some unknown language. I couldn't understand it.
Maybe it's encrypted…"
Riya: "Did you open it?"
Ishaan: (slightly hesitant)
"No… I was scared.
What if it really holds something?
What if it's a gateway to another reality?" 🧩
Riya stared at him in shock.
In that moment, she understood —
This wasn't just some crazy theory.
Something real was going on.
---
Ishaan:
"Tomorrow evening… let's go to the basement where I found the diary.
Maybe we'll find a way to unlock the chip too.
Whatever it is… we'll face it together."
Riya simply nodded.
But her face held a mix of excitement and fear.
And one thing was crystal clear now —
> "Tomorrow… everything could change."
To be continued…