By the time they reached home, it was already 7 PM. Luna's parents were back. Without a word, Luna went straight upstairs to her room. Anya stayed back and greeted her parents, who immediately noticed something was off.
"What happened to Luna?" her mother asked, concerned.
Anya took a deep breath and sat down. She told them everything—every detail of the day, from the professor to Nikhil's house, to the truth they'd discovered. Her parents sat in silence, stunned by the revelations.
Meanwhile, Luna sat on her bed, staring blankly out the window. Her thoughts were a mess. The quiet hum of the evening outside clashed with the chaos inside her.
She felt hollow.
The images of Nikhil's smiling face, his laugh, the way he had called her "buddy"—all played on loop in her mind. And now... his mother's voice.
"He died… a year ago."
After what felt like hours, Luna finally got up and walked to the bathroom. She showered slowly, as if trying to wash away the weight of everything she'd learned.
By the time she came out, changed into her nightwear, her mother called her for dinner.
Luna walked downstairs, but Anya was gone. Her mother told her she had gone home.
The dining table was set, and her parents sat waiting. But Luna wasn't hungry. Still, her mother insisted, gently, "Just a few bites, sweetheart."
She sat down. The food was warm, comforting—but her heart wasn't in it. After four or five bites, she placed her spoon down.
"I'm done," she said softly. "Goodnight."
Her parents didn't say anything. They simply nodded, understanding without words. They didn't push her to eat more.
She returned to her room and lay on her bed, eyes wide open in the dark. The silence in the room felt heavier than ever.