Scene: Hostel Room - Rising Tension
Ruhan paced the length of their room like a caged tiger, his footsteps echoing the frantic rhythm of his thoughts. The space, usually a sanctuary, felt suffocating. "Where could Nivan have gone?" he muttered, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. "Without telling a soul... not even picking up calls... What if he's in trouble? What if Atharv or someone else—" He couldn't finish the thought, a cold dread gripping his heart at the possibilities.
Neerav, who had been watching him with growing concern, finally spoke up. "What happened, Ruhan? You've been like this for an hour."
"Nothing... just thinking about Nivan," Ruhan replied, his voice tight. "I don't know where he disappeared to. I've called a dozen times; it just goes to voicemail. Let's go back to the hostel. Maybe we'll find a clue there."
"Yeah, bro, let's go. You call the others. I'll get the jeep out now." Neerav's practical response was a small anchor in Ruhan's swirling anxiety.
Soon, Ruhan had his bag, and Neerav maneuvered the jeep out of the college parking lot. Sadhya, Anvesh, and the girls piled in, the vehicle filled with a tense silence that was a stark contrast to their usual lively journeys. They all set off for the hostel, the unspoken worry for their missing friend hanging heavy in the air.
Upon reaching the hostel, Ruhan didn't wait for the jeep to come to a complete stop. He flung the door open and sprinted towards his room, taking the stairs two at a time. Bursting through the door, he found Nivan standing there, hair damp and a towel around his neck, having just emerged from the bathroom.
A wave of relief, so potent it was dizzying, was instantly eclipsed by a surge of raw, unfiltered anger. "You!" Ruhan's voice was a low, sharp crack in the quiet room. "Bro, where were you today? And you didn't even pick up your phone? Who do you think you are? You couldn't make a single call? You could have at least told someone!" The words tumbled out, each one laced with the fear he had been carrying all morning.
Nivan, startled by the intensity, fumbled with his shirt. "That... that Ruhan, I..." he stammered, his eyes wide.
Just then, the rest of the friends crowded into the doorway, drawn by the raised voices.
Neerav stepped in, his tone cautious. "What's going on? Are you two fighting?"
"No... I was just talking to Ruhan," Nivan said quickly, avoiding everyone's gaze.
Anvesh, ever the peacemaker, asked gently, "Bro, where were you today? We were all worried sick."
Nivan took a shaky breath. "I was feeling a bit unwell, so I went to the doctor early in the morning. I thought you guys would worry, so I left without telling." The lie felt heavy on his tongue.
Ishika chimed in, her voice a mix of concern and reproach. "Yeah, but bro, you could have at least picked up our calls, right?"
"My phone was on silent," Nivan explained, the rehearsed words sounding hollow even to him. "I was in the hospital. They put me on a drip, so I had to sleep there, and because it was on silent, I couldn't hear your calls."
Nisha's expression was soft but firm. "You could have called us after coming to the hostel. We were all so worried about you, man."
Neerav, trying to defuse the situation, added, "Sorry, guys, his phone was on silent, so he couldn't hear."
But Ruhan wasn't placated. The fear that had clenched his heart all morning was now a hard, cold knot in his stomach. "What happened that you had to go to the hospital?" he demanded, his voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "And if you had to go, you could have taken at least one of us with you! You didn't have to go alone!"
"I was feeling dizzy in the morning, got a little weak. So I was put on a drip. I didn't want to bother you guys, so just..." Nivan's voice trailed off weakly.
"What's the bother in that?" Ruhan's voice broke. The image of Nivan alone and vulnerable in a hospital room was too much to bear. "You could have at least told me! I wouldn't say no to you, would I?" The unspoken words hung in the air: I will never say no to you. Not in this life, not in any other.
Seeing the conversation spiral, Neerav intervened firmly. "Bro, calm down... everyone is watching here." He placed a hand on Ruhan's shoulder before turning to Nivan. "Bro, what we all mean is, if something like this happens next time, tell one of us before going. We're a team, remember?"
"Okay guys, sorry. I apologize," Nivan said, the guilt a sharp sting in his chest. He could feel Ruhan's hurt radiating across the room.
The tension slowly dissipated as everyone started changing their clothes, the boys in one room and the girls in another. Later, they all gathered in the common area to eat. Ishika, trying to lighten the mood, turned to Ruhan. "Ruhan, today's food is very tasty, isn't it? Here, eat..." she said, offering him a bite from her plate.
But Ruhan, his emotions still too raw and close to the surface, recoiled. "Ishika, don't you understand? I can eat with my own hands. Stop acting like a child." The words came out harsher than he intended. Before anyone could react, he stood up abruptly and left the room, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
All the friends were left staring at the empty doorway.
Anvesh was the first to speak, his voice laced with confusion. "What's wrong with him? He never gets angry like this..."
Neerav quickly covered, "No bro, he's just a little stressed. His assignment got messed up, so maybe he's tense."
Nisha nodded, trying to smooth things over. "Okay guys, let's all eat. We'll calm him down later."
"Yeah, let him be alone for a while," Neerav agreed, giving Ishika a sympathetic look. "Ishika, don't feel bad, he's just frustrated about the assignment."
Ishika forced a small smile. "It's okay, Neerav, I can understand."
Nivan kept listening to everyone quietly, but his mind was racing. Maybe it's a college problem, he thought, but a deeper, more intuitive part of him whispered that it was something else entirely, something connected to the dreams they both shared.
Scene: Hostel Room - A Deep Conversation
After the meal, Nivan gathered his courage and opened the door to Ruhan's room. Ruhan was lying on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling as if it held the answers to all his turmoil.
"Bro," Nivan began softly, closing the door behind him. "What happened? Why did you run off leaving the food? Everyone was waiting for you."
Ruhan didn't turn his head, his voice barely a whisper. "Nothing... just college tension. The assignment isn't going well."
Nivan sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He didn't believe the excuse for a second. He could feel the turmoil emanating from Ruhan, a chaotic energy that resonated with his own hidden fears. They sat in silence for several minutes, a strange, heavy understanding passing between them—a connection that transcended words, perhaps forged in the fires of a forgotten past.
Finally, Nivan stood up. "Okay, if you won't eat food, you have to eat at least something. I'll get it."
Ruhan tried to refuse, "Oh no, you don't have to..." but Nivan was already out the door, a determined set to his shoulders.
Scene: Hostel Garden - Friends Talking
A little later, Nivan returned to the room carrying two plates of simple, comforting food. He handed one to Ruhan, who, after a moment's hesitation, accepted it with a small, grateful smile and began to eat.
"If you need to talk like always, then tell me," Nivan said, his voice firm yet gentle. "I'm here, right?"
Ruhan put his plate aside, his shoulders slumping. "You understand, don't you?" he whispered, his guard finally crumbling. "Sometimes it feels... like an old burden is placed on my chest. Those dreams... that strange feeling... as if I failed someone, a long, long time ago." He couldn't bring himself to look at Nivan, the confession leaving him exposed.
Just then, Neerav arrived, his presence breaking the intense moment. Seeing them sitting together in the dim light, he managed a small smile. "What's this! Is there a secret meeting going on here?"
Nivan gestured for him to join them. Neerav sat down and his expression turned serious. "Listen, Ruhan, you seem very troubled today. We are your friends. If there's a problem, tell us. You don't have to carry it alone."
Encouraged by their solidarity, Ruhan finally opened up a little more. "I don't understand myself... just feeling very strange. As if some big task was left unfinished, and time is running out."
Neerav placed a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Bro, next time anything like this happens, just tell us. Why should you be troubled alone? We are all with you, right?"
Nivan nodded in fervent agreement. "Neerav is right. We are friends. We are there for each other. No matter what."
A profound gratitude shone in Ruhan's eyes as he looked from one friend to the other. The weight on his chest felt a little lighter. "Thank you... really," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm fine now."
The three friends sat together, the simple act of sharing a meal and their worries slowly mending the frayed edges of the evening. The conversation not only eased Ruhan's visible tension but also wove their friendship into something stronger, more resilient.
The Unseen Message
As the mood began to lighten, Neerav reached over to hand Nivan his phone, which had been lying on the bed. As he did, the screen lit up, and a message preview in a hidden folder became visible for a split second before the screen went dark again.
It was from the same mysterious sender.
Mysterious Sender:"The item received yesterday was successful. No one should find out until the next opportunity arises. Silence!"
Neerav's breath hitched in his throat. His blood ran cold. He looked at Nivan, who was still looking at Ruhan with a face full of genuine concern and friendship. The final word of the message burned in Neerav's mind, a stark, terrifying command that shattered the moment of peace.
Silence!
The trust that had just been fortified now had a hairline fracture, and Neerav was left holding the secret, his own heart pounding a frantic, fearful rhythm. The danger was no longer a vague threat in messages to Nivan; it was a chilling reality in their very midst.