Riya couldn't ignore her doubts anymore.
"Tell me the truth," she demanded.
Aarav took a deep breath.
"I've seen this before."
"What do you mean?"
"Different stories. Different people. But always the same pattern."
"Are you saying this… isn't the first time?"
He nodded.
"Then what happens at the end?"
Aarav hesitated.
"The story ends," he said quietly. "And everything resets."
Riya stepped back. "So none of this is real?"
Aarav looked hurt. "It's real to me."