Scene: College Library – Same Night, after the Bell incident
The silence between them sat heavy.
Parth leaned over the table, flipping a pen through his fingers. Aarav had just returned from the temple, his face pale.
> "That bell always rang with the 6 PM train," Aarav said. "But today? Nothing."
Neel looked up. "It stopped for a reason."
Aarav scoffed, rubbing his temple. "Weird, sure. But I still think this is someone messing around. A sick prank. Someone dangerous—a person, not… whatever you're thinking."
Parth met his eyes. "You really believe that girl just vanished… and no one remembers?"
Aarav frowned. "Maybe the college is hiding it. Like every other place these days. Sweep things under the rug for reputation. That's how it works."
> "So you admit it's a cover-up?"
"Yes. But not ghosts, Parth," Aarav said. "Not demons. Just human rot."
Neel stayed silent. He was sketching something in the corner of his notes again.
Parth glanced at it.
The danava. Again.
---
Anatomy Wing – Next Day
Parth waited for the perfect time.
The halls were nearly empty. Dr. Mehra,their anatomy professor, stood near the jar shelves, sorting tagged specimens with clinical precision.
Parth approached.
> "Sir, I have to ask. About… what happened in North Block."
Professor Mehra didn't react at first. Then, without turning, he said, "Nothing happened."
"But we saw—"
"You think you saw."
Parth stepped closer. "There was blood. Screams. A girl—"
Samar Mehra turned. "And where's your proof?"
Parth's throat dried.
> "Listen, Parth," the professor said, tone cold. "You're not special here. You're just another student trying not to fail anatomy. You throw around accusations without evidence—what do you expect to happen?"
Silence.
> "Let this go. For your own good."
Parth stood frozen.
He wasn't the Arjun with a bow anymore. He wasn't Parth of the Kurus. He was just a boy with a frightened heart and no ground to stand on.
He walked out.
---
Boys' Dorm – That Night
Parth sat cross-legged on the floor. Aarav was pacing now, tense.
> "Okay," Aarav said, "So Mehra shut you down. What now? You think he's part of this cover-up too?"
Parth didn't answer. Neel was curled on the bed, half-asleep, sweating.
Then—
He jolted upright, gasping.
Parth and Aarav jumped.
> "What did you see?" Parth asked.
Neel looked dazed. "A battlefield. I was there, but I wasn't myself."
> "Who else was there?"
Neel's eyes locked onto Parth.
> "You."
Parth blinked. "Me?"
Neel nodded slowly. "No...not you.I think it was Arjun."
Aarav raised an eyebrow.
> "Arjun. As in the Mahabharata?"
Neel turned to him.
> "And there was another man. Tall. Proud. His eyes—he hated me. Not you, me."
A pause.
> "He was Duryodhana."
Parth's voice was low. "And who were you?"
Neel shook his head. "I don't know. But I knew that look in his eyes. Like I betrayed him."
Aarav frowned. "Or maybe you've just read too much epic literature before sleeping."
> "I don't even read epics," Neel whispered.
The room fell quiet.
The crow tapped the window once. Just once.
Aarav sighed. "This doesn't prove anything."
But his voice lacked conviction.