Total words: 1427
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[Other's pov]
The flight from Russia to India just landed. Crowds moved in every direction, families reuniting, kids crying, phones ringing. But one man stood still in the middle of it all, unfazed.
The sliding glass doors opened, and Delhi's heat hit him the moment he stepped out. His boots thudded against the floor, a duffel bag hanging from his shoulder, sleeves rolled up to his elbows. People glanced at him. he ignored them.
He hated airports, too crowded for his liking. he was about to walk away when he noticed her.
Near a vending machine, a girl stood laughing with a guy in a simple outfit. Blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and black heels. Her hair was tied in a sling ponytail that somehow made her stand out more than anyone else there.
She grabbed a can of Coke, opened it, and then handed it to the guy beside her. Then she took one for herself and took a sip.
Nothing unusual. Just a normal girl.
But something about her made his body lock up. The air felt heavier. His jaw clenched, his muscles tensed.
What the hell is this?
He didn't know her, yet his instincts were already on edge, like his body recognized something before his mind did.
She laughed again, soft and careless. Then she turned. And it happened. Their eyes met.
It was brief. Barely a second. But it was enough.
For the first time in a long while, he forgot to breathe.
She looked away and walked toward her family, completely unaware of the stranger watching her like she'd just disturbed something in him.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. he pulled it out.
"We're outside," a vice said.
He hung up, expression blank, and walked through the exit like nothing happened. But one thought stayed with him, stuck somewhere in the back of his mind.
What the hell did I feel?
[ Advika's pov]
"Advika! Came fast or you'll miss your flight!" Maa's voice echoed from the living room.
"This girl is always late," Papamuttered, checking his watch for the fifth time.
"I'm here!" I shouted, dragging my suitcase out of my room. Blue jeans, a black t-shirt with black heels, and a sling ponytail. And Papa," I said with a smirk," you say that like you were on time."
He glared at me but didn't argue. That's me- Advika Sharma,
my brother leaned against the doorframe, phone in hand. " Cab's here!"
"Coming!" Maa said, rushing out, trying to handle her dupatta and her emotions at the same time.
I'm finally going to college.
My dream college.
We're in the cab heading to the airport, and I can't stop smiling. I'm nervous, excited, and scared all at once. It took a lot of convincing to get my parents to let me stay in a hostel, but after one dramatic breakdown, two emotional speeches, and my brother's full support, we won.
He's also the only one who knows my secret.
By the time we reach the airport, I can already feel that weird mix of pride and homesickness. Maa's trying not to cry, Papa's pretending he's fine, and my brother keeps teasing me to lighten the mood.
We grab Coca-Cola from a vending machine and sit together for a few minutes. My flight's about to board. It's the first time I'm leaving home, leaving India, a nd it still doesn't feel real.
After some time,
I've wanted this forever.
Blackthrone University, Russia.
One of the top colleges in the world. I got into the medical program, though the university also offers business, criminal law, and architecture. I even got a scholarship of only 20%, but still.
The flight was long. When I finally landed in Russia, the first thing that hit me was the cold. The air smelled different.
And there were people everywhere.
I've never liked crowds, too many eyes, too many voices, too many opinions.
A car sent by the university was waiting outside to pick up new students.
When I reached the campus, I couldn't stop staring. The place looked like a dream: tall glass buildings, huge lawns, everything clean and quiet. It felt unreal.
At the reception, a woman checked my documents and handed me a key.
"Room P24. Fourth floor. You'll be sharing."
I nodded. Maybe I'd get lucky and find a decent roommate.
Room P24 was surprisingly big with two beds, two study tables, a mirror, and a small window overlooking the courtyard. It already felt more like home than I expected.
I took a few pictures and sent them to my family group. Maa called right away.
"You reached safely?"
"Yes, Mamma. Everything's fine."
"Good. If you face any problem, call us anytime, okay?"
"I will. They said I'll have a roommate. Not sure how I feel about that yet."
"It's good for now. You don't know anyone there. You can always change later."
"Yeah, maybe."
I spent the next few hours unpacking, arranging clothes, and setting up some photos on the wall. By the time I was done, it actually felt cozy.
one week later,
My roommate's name is Kaira, and she's honestly amazing. We clicked instantly. Same vibe, same humor, same obsession with late-night snacks.
It's been a week, and today's our first official day of college.
Kaira left early to meet someone from her department. I decided to walk on my own.
The campus looked different today. Louder. Busier. Full of new faces, nervous smiles, and students clutching papers or coffee cups. Everyone was trying to find their bearings, but somehow the chaos felt exciting.
I walked down the hallway, backpack slung over one shoulder, my mind racing with all the things I had to remember: class schedule, my roommate Kaira, and where the cafeteria was. My stomach was tight with excitement and nerves.
And then I heard it.
A scream.
At first, I froze. Maybe it was someone playing a prank. Maybe it was just my imagination.
Then it came again. Louder.
My heart jumped into my throat.
I shouldn't have moved. I should've ignored it. But I didn't.
Without thinking, I followed the sound. It led me down a side corridor I hadn't noticed before, quieter than the main hallways, darker, the fluorescent lights flickering slightly overhead. Every step I took made the hairs on the back of my neck rise.
The screaming stopped.
Suddenly, silence.
I hesitated. My hand hovered over the door at the end of the corridor. My stomach churned. You're a medical student, Aadhya. You'll have to deal with blood, with people in pain. You can't run from this.
I pushed the door open.
And froze.
Four men were inside.
All of them are wearing masks. Black, intimidating masks that hid their faces completely. Each one held a gun.
A fifth man sat in the center of the room, tied to a chair. Blood ran down his jaw and lip, and a knife was stuck in his thigh. His eyes were wide, terrified. The metallic smell hit me before I even fully processed the scene.
My legs went rigid. My stomach dropped.
One of the masked men turned his head, and our eyes met. For a second, everything slowed. My heart beat so fast I thought it would burst out of my chest.
Then instinct took over.
I ran.
I didn't look back. I didn't think. I didn't breathe.
I ran until I stumbled into a crowded hallway, pressed against a wall, gasping for air, my backpack slipping off my shoulder.
My hands shook. My vision blurred. My mind raced.
Who were they?
What were they doing?
And if it was just bullying. Why the hell were they wearing masks?
My hands were trembling as I brushed a strand of hair from my face. My ears were ringing.
Somewhere behind me, students passed by, talking and laughing, completely unaware of what I had just seen.
I wanted to scream, to call someone, to make someone stop this. But the fear was paralyzing.
I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to think. I needed to remember everything. The men. The masks. The knives. The gun. Everything.
I didn't know what I was going to do with that information. I just knew I had to get out of there.
But part of me. Part of me wanted to go back.
I shook my head violently. No.
I stood up, wiped my hands on my jeans, and slowly backed away from the hallway. My legs felt like jelly. My heart refused to slow down.
I told myself over and over: it's a prank, it's just a prank.
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So this was the first chapter. Don't forget to vote
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Was it actually a prank or not?
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