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December 12
10:00 AM – Akhil's Room
The curtains hadn't moved all morning.
A faint chill hung in the room like a ghost that refused to leave. Cold wind crept in through the slightly cracked window, brushing against the side of Akhil's bed where he sat, spine against the wall, knees up, phone in hand. The heater in the corner blinked lifeless. He hadn't bothered turning it on. He didn't feel the cold anymore.
He hadn't moved since dawn.
The phone screen glowed in his palm—still stuck on the same chat. Her name sat on the top.
Wifeee ❤️
Three unread messages. Four ticks. No reply.
> Please come to school today, otherwise I'll come to your house and punch you so hard in your face.
It had that usual teasing tone.
That chaotic softness only she knew how to pull off.
But today, it felt distant.
Unreachable.
He had left it on "seen." That was six hours ago.
The screen dimmed again. The soft hum of silence filled the room—louder than anything else. The wind rattled the windowpane gently, like the world outside was knocking, asking him if he was still alive in there.
He closed his eyes.
> "I'm sorry. I really want to see you… but I have to pay for their sins."
The words came out like a prayer. A curse. Maybe both.
His gaze shifted.
The wall across from him wasn't decorated like a teenager's should be. No posters. No photos. Just one piece of paper, taped neatly in the center like a holy scripture.
A list.
His list.
He stood up slowly, knees aching from hours of stillness.
His bare feet padded across the cold floor. He stood before the list like a soldier reporting to war.
TARGET 2: Aditya
Status: Alive
Location: Unknown
Note: "Asked me to call her for a night with him."
His eyes darkened. The words burned into his memory like hot iron.
Akhil's jaw tightened. He grabbed the black marker from his desk, uncapped it, and in harsh, angry strokes wrote:
Today.
He stared at it.
Then flung the marker aside. It hit the edge of his study chair and fell to the floor with a dull thud.
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FLASHBACK – December 10, One Year Ago
3:10 PM – Classroom
The rain had poured relentlessly that afternoon. Outside, the playground had turned to mud, the sky a blanket of grey. But inside, the classroom held a different kind of storm.
She stood by the window, watching the rain trail down the glass. Her fingers lightly traced one of the drops as it raced downward.
> "You know what I wished for, every year on your birthday?" she asked suddenly, her voice barely louder than the rain.
Akhil looked up from his notebook. He tilted his head, confused but curious.
"Tell me."
She didn't look at him. Just kept watching the rain.
> "That you'd smile. Even for a second. A real smile."
Akhil's heart stuttered.
He moved beside her, leaning against the desk. His lips curled into something sad.
> "I'm sorry I ruined your wish every year."
She finally turned. Her eyes sparkled with something more than just light.
> "Maybe not this year."
And before he could react, before he could breathe—
She kissed his cheek.
He froze.
His eyes widened, mouth parted in disbelief. Blood rushed to his ears. His cheeks flared red.
But then…
He smiled.
> Just for a second.
A real one.
---
PRESENT – Akhil's Room
The memory hit him like a truck.
His knees gave way and he sat on the bed, clutching his phone like a lifeline. That moment—it felt like it belonged to a different lifetime.
His phone buzzed again.
Wifeee ❤️
> "Where are you?"
"Everyone's asking."
"I'm coming today to your house. Send me the address."
"Please. I'm scared. Why are you avoiding me?"
He read every word.
His thumb hovered over the keyboard.
Just say something.
Anything.
But the words wouldn't come.
He couldn't lie to her. He couldn't tell the truth either.
So he stood up again. Slowly reached for his black jacket hanging from the door. Slipped it on. Zipped it up.
And walked out of the room.
No reply.
No goodbye.
---
Scene Change – Somewhere in the Sky
John sat on a leather seat in a private jet, somewhere high above the clouds.
His hair was messy, suit wrinkled from days of travel. He stared out the window as the sky stretched endlessly beyond.
A flight attendant approached. "Would you like anything, sir?"
He nodded. "Could I get a whisky?"
She smiled politely. "Only a cup, sir. It's a short flight."
He leaned back, exhausted. "That'll be enough."
As she walked away, he looked down at the phone in his hand. A photo sat open on the screen.
A younger Akira, smiling—barely. His hair longer, eyes sharper. Dressed in a school uniform.
John sighed.
He whispered, "Hang in there, kid."
---
Scene Change – Tsu, Japan
Hinata sat on the edge of her bed, phone in hand. The late afternoon sun lit up her room, bathing everything in gold.
A notification flashed.
John:
> Akira is alive.
Congratulations, Hina.
I will bring him to you… so you can see him one last time.
Her heart dropped.
Alive.
But not for long?
Her hands trembled.
She quickly typed:
> Please bring him.
Please…
Her thumbs hovered for a second.
Then she hit send.
Tears welled in her eyes and slid silently down her cheeks.
"Akira… please…"
---
Scene Change – Akhil's School, Manali
The classroom was abuzz with nervous whispers.
Akhil's desk sat empty.
> "Hey… he's not here again?"
"Even Aryan is missing."
"Something's wrong."
"You heard about the club attack, right?"
"Yeah. That was brutal."
"Who do you think did it?"
"Some gang maybe?"
"I heard Aryan's in the hospital. He might lose a leg."
Eyes shifted to the front row.
Where she sat.
Akhil's girl.
Head down, barely blinking.
Her best friend leaned over, whispering gently.
> "Did he see your messages?"
She nodded. "Yeah. Seen."
> "No reply?"
She shook her head slowly. "Nothing."
Her friend bit her lip. "What are you going to do?"
A long pause.
Then she said quietly—
> "I have some plans… after school."
She didn't look up.
But in her voice, something cracked.
Something ambitious.
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To be continued…
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