The day started like any other.
Hot chai. Toast a little too burnt. Aarav rambling about a cartoon villain with laser eyes.
But something felt… off.
It wasn't the dream — she hadn't had one in days. That was the problem.
The silence in her sleep felt too clean. Like someone had scrubbed her mind.
---
🏫 At School
In history class, the teacher said something about a past war Isha swore she'd never read in any textbook.
"But that's not in the syllabus," she muttered to Aniket.
He frowned. "Sure it is. You just forgot."
He said it kindly — but something in his eyes didn't match his tone.
At lunch, Nina asked Isha how her chemistry prep was going.
"I told you. I dropped chemistry last semester."
"You did?"
Nina looked genuinely confused. Or… was she pretending?
"Are you sure?" she asked again.
---
👀 Something Strange
Later, walking to the canteen, Isha passed the biology lab.
Inside, Mrs. Fernandes and Riya were talking quietly. Riya wasn't laughing or making faces — she looked serious. Focused.
Mrs. Fernandes held something in her hand — a small glass vial.
When Isha stepped closer to get a better look, Riya suddenly turned.
Their eyes met.
Riya smiled too fast. "Hey! Hungry?"
Mrs. Fernandes didn't look up.
Isha nodded slowly. "Yeah. Starving."
She walked away — but the back of her neck prickled like static.
---
🏠 Back Home
The photo on the wall was gone.
The one she'd asked about a few days ago — the one her parents said was from a school function.
She checked every shelf. Every frame. Every drawer.
Gone.
---
🌘 That Night
Isha stood at the mirror brushing her teeth when she said out loud, quietly:
> "Something's wrong."
Not just with the photo. Or the school.
With everything.
> "Either I'm crazy… or this whole life is fake."
She stared at herself. Her reflection blinked a beat
too late.
And for the first time in her life — Isha Sharma was afraid of her own face.