UNIVERSITY ARC
Even after Rahul was rushed to the hospital, my mind wasn't at peace.
I kept thinking—who was to blame for this? Him? The corrupt system? Myself for being too naive?
But in the end, it didn't matter. No one would believe me.
That thought clawed at my chest like a slow-burning fire. I had nothing—no proof, no way to fight back.
Then, another thought surfaced, one that gave me a shred of hope.
Kusuma.
She was my anchor, my light in all this darkness. She had always stood by me, always believed in me. If there was anyone I could turn to, it was her.
Clinging to that hope, I headed toward our classroom. My steps were heavy, my body still aching from the fight, but my heart pushed me forward.
I needed to see her. I needed to hear her say that everything would be okay.
But instead—
I heard something else. Something that made my blood run cold. The words she spoke sliced through me like a blade. Her voice floated through the air, clear and unmistakable.
My breath hitched. My fingers curled into fists.
No…
My mind went blank, my heart hammering against my ribs. I had faith in our love. But now, I don't know what to believe.
I stepped outside the door, my fingers hovering over the handle.
Had I been wrong about her all along? Without any words, I just ran towards my hostel room, by crushing all my pride and hopes.
– – – –
The night felt endless.
The dim glow from the street lamps barely seeped through the curtains, casting long, ghostly shadows across the walls.
But inside my room, there was only darkness.
I sat on my bed, unmoving. The air around me was thick, suffocating. But inside my mind—there was nothing but chaos.
A storm of thoughts. Regret. Pain.
Kusuma's voice echoed inside my head, over and over—"You promised me… you promised me you'd make it."
I clenched my fists. My promise? It was worthless. I had given her hope, only to destroy it in a single moment. I took my phone that I threw before. The edges were slightly damaged. I opened and stared at my phone screen.
Her.
Kusuma's smile froze in time. I once looked at this photo with love.
Now? It felt like a dagger to my chest. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to blame her.
But I couldn't. Because she was right.
I failed. I had lost.
And no matter how many times I replayed the interview in my mind, nothing changed. The weight of it all pressed down on me, crushing, relentless.
I inhaled shakily, my chest tightening. Maybe it was always meant to be like this. Maybe I was always meant to lose everything.
Suddenly—A loud banging.
My head snapped up. Footsteps. They sound somewhat urgent.
Then, voices followed through it.
My friends.
"Manoj! Open the damn door!"
I stayed silent. The door handle rattled violently.
"Don't make us break it down, you idiot!"
Ramu. I could hear the anger in his voice—but also something else. Fear.
They weren't just here because they were worried. They were here because they thought I'd do something stupid.
|"Manoj, I swear if you don't open this door, I'm gonna kill you myself!"|
Ramu's voice was rough and frustrated. But I knew him.
He was scared. Keshava spoke next, his voice softer, pleading.
"You don't have to say anything. You don't even have to look at us. Just open the door, man. Please."
I squeezed my eyes shut.
No!
They didn't understand. They couldn't.
They didn't know what it felt like to lose everything in a single moment. To have a dream turn to dust. To watch someone you love walk away, believing you weren't good enough.
I pressed my palms against my face, shaking. No! They didn't understand.
I was alone. I had always been alone. Even my family, they left me alone.
Tears falling, I can't control it.
Did they know what it was like to be locked away for ten years?
To have everything stolen from you and never know why?
To have your entire existence reduced to nothing?
They didn't understand. They didn't know what it felt like to be—Completely, Utterly Helpless.
The air in the room felt thinner. My chest tightened more. I gritted my teeth. I wanted to scream. I wanted to tell them to go away.
But then—Suresh. His voice was quiet. Steady.
"Manoj."
Just my name. That's all he said. A simple call.
A reminder.
I swallowed hard, my throat aching. I squeezed my eyes shut.
"Manoj, we don't care what happened. You don't have to face this alone." Keshava's words hit something inside me. "You're not alone"
Huh? I….. I'm not alone?
I could hear the desperation in Keshava's voice. I could hear the fear in Ramu's. I could hear Suresh's quiet, unwavering faith.
Something inside me cracked.
A breath escaped my lips. A sob.
I gripped my hair, shaking.
They were here. Yes. They weren't leaving.
And suddenly, I was terrified.
Terrified of losing this. I didn't deserve them. I didn't deserve their kindness.
But still…
They were here. My friends…. even my family leaves me, they are the only people who stand by my side, given the support to stand on my own feet.
I lifted my head. And wiped my face with the back of my hand, fingers wet with tears.
How could I ever call myself unlucky when I had them?
I clutched my phone tighter, staring at Kusuma's face. Then, I pressed the power button. The screen faded to black. The past was still there. The pain still burned.
But with their support, I can do anything. Because they proved it.
Slowly, I stood up, my body weak, unsteady. My fingers trembled as I reached for the door. The lock clicked. The door creaked open.
Three faces stared back at me.
Ramu—his fists clenched, his face tight with frustration.
Keshava—his eyes full of relief and worry.
Suresh—holding a bag of food, trying to hide his emotions with a small smile.
The moment they saw me—Ramu punched my shoulder, hard.
"You asshole." His voice shook. "Do you know how worried we were?!"
I winced. "Ow."
Keshava suddenly pulled me into a hug. Tight and warm.
"You idiot," he murmured. "You don't have to carry everything alone."
Suresh simply held up the food.
"Eat, dumbass."
I let out a small, breathless laugh. It was broken, but it was real.
They weren't going anywhere. They were really here. And for the first time since the interview—
This friendship… this bond… I would never, ever abandon it.
– – – –
After I opened the door, they came inside and made me sit. Each one tried to make me laugh at their best. It really helped me to change my mood.
That way, the time had passed away to me.
....
The night was silent. Too silent.
Even the usual sounds—the creaking of the old fan, the distant murmurs of other students—felt like they had faded into nothingness.
We had just finished dinner, and my friends were already sprawled out on their beds, lost in their own thoughts.
I lay there, staring at the ceiling. But sleep never came. My mind was restless.
Kusuma's face still haunted me. The interview replayed in my head like a broken record.
And yet, somewhere beneath the exhaustion, there was… something else. A small warmth.
I turned my head.
Ramu snored softly. Keshava was curled up in his blanket, lost in dreams. Suresh, even in sleep, clutched a bag of chips like a lifeline.
I exhaled, closing my eyes.
Maybe, just maybe… tomorrow would be different.
Then—
BZZT.
A sudden vibration against the mattress. My phone. I frowned, reaching for it.
A message at this hour?
I unlocked my phone and squinted at the screen. It was from an unknown number.
The message preview made my stomach drop. I clicked on it, my pulse pounding.
"Mr. Manoj Vardhan, you are now free. Your family has lifted all restrictions imposed on you. Starting tomorrow, you will regain your place and fame. Please read the remaining instructions carefully. We request you to kindly follow all procedures accordingly. Thank you, sir."
My breath caught. My fingers tightened around the phone.
Free?
I blinked. My vision blurred. I reread the words.
Once.
Twice.
A third time.
No! This couldn't be real!
After ten years… why now? After everything they did to me—why now?
My hands trembled. A slow, creeping chill ran down my spine.
The world that once abandoned me…..was now calling me back?
I swallowed hard.
And more importantly—what had changed?