Time: 12:10 PM | Place: PG College Bathroom

Dhruv leaned heavily against the cold, grimy wall of the bathroom stall, his fingers trembling as he scrolled through his call log. He had called Bansee five, maybe six times, and every single one had gone unanswered. His brow furrowed in frustration, a scowl creeping across his face.

"What’s wrong with you?" he muttered, his thoughts spiraling into anger. "Are you too ashamed to face me after what I said yesterday? All I did was tell you the truth. You’ve been lying to me for months, and you thought I wouldn’t notice. You thought I’d just forgive and forget forever?"

With a deep breath, he dialed her number again. He let it ring, his heart pounding harder with every unanswered second, but this time she didn’t even let it reach voicemail. She cut the call.

The sharp, repetitive tone from his phone echoed in the small, cold bathroom. Dhruv slammed his fist into the side of the stall, the sound reverberating off the walls.

“Is that how it is now? Blocking me, huh?” He chuckled darkly to himself, but there was nothing funny about it. His fingers moved swiftly across his phone screen, typing a message full of venom and frustration.

*"Oi, what do you think I’m doing here? Calling you like an idiot while you keep hanging up? Why aren’t you responding?"*

He hit send. Nothing. The message didn’t go through. His confusion melted into realization. She had blocked him.

"She blocked me? You pathetic little coward," Dhruv hissed, his grip tightening around the phone. "You always know how to push my buttons, don’t you? Fine, play your little game. But don’t come crying later."

His anger swirled in his chest, turning his thoughts darker by the second. With a final sneer, Dhruv stormed out of the bathroom, his mind already calculating his next move.

---

Time: 12:15 PM | Place: PG College Canteen

Dhruv walked into the canteen, the buzz of casual conversations washing over him like white noise. He barely noticed it. His focus was singular—sharp, like a blade. He was hunting for her. Bansee.

"Hey, Dhruv!" a voice called out. Dave, one of his classmates, waved him over from a corner table. "Where’ve you been, man?"

Dhruv slid into the seat across from him, still simmering with frustration. “Bathroom. Have you seen Bansee?”

Dave raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, she was in class earlier. I think she left a little while ago. What’s up? You look pissed."

"Pissed?" Dhruv forced a laugh, but there was no humor in it. "Do I look pissed?"

“Obviously,” Dave said, leaning back in his chair. “What happened this time?”

“The usual,” Dhruv muttered, rubbing his temple as though trying to massage the tension away. “Same crap, different day.”

Dave gave him a knowing nod. “She’s pulling her tricks again, huh? What’s her angle this time?”

“The dumbest one yet.” Dhruv’s jaw clenched. “She blocks my calls after I called her out yesterday. Typical. Now she wants to play the victim, as if I’m the bad guy.”

Dave shook his head. “You need to get out of this, man. She’s toying with you.”

Dhruv let out a sharp breath, checking the time on his phone. "We’ve got twenty minutes. I need coffee. You want one?"

Dave nodded. "Sure, let’s go."

---

Time: 12:25 PM | Place: Canteen, Back Table

A few minutes later, they were seated at the far end of the canteen, their steaming cups of coffee between them. Dhruv took a long sip, trying to calm the storm brewing inside him. But it wasn’t working. Bansee’s face kept flashing in his mind, her laughter, her manipulation, the lies she spun so effortlessly.

“You know she’s using you, right?” Dave said, breaking the silence.

Dhruv glanced up from his coffee, his expression sharp. “What?”

“I said, she’s using you.”

Dhruv nodded slowly, staring into the black liquid swirling in his cup. "Yeah. I know."

“So why are you letting her?” Dave pressed, his voice more serious now. “Why aren’t you doing something about it?”

Dhruv stared down at the cup, lost in thought. “It’s complicated.”

Dave scoffed. “It’s not that complicated, Dhruv. You’re smart enough to see what she’s doing.”

Dhruv leaned back, letting out a slow breath. “The semester’s almost over. Everything’s going to change soon anyway. Bansee told me months ago that she doesn’t take any of this seriously. She was planning to end it before graduation—said she’d leave everything behind and disappear. At the time, I thought she was bluffing, you know? Trying to get a rise out of me.”

“But now?” Dave asked.

“Now I see it was all planned,” Dhruv said bitterly. “She’s setting it up to walk away clean. No mess, no strings. She made it look like I was the one who wasn’t serious. It’s perfect for her.”

Dave took a sip of his coffee, eyes narrowing. “So you’ve been preparing yourself for this, huh? You knew it was coming.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t make it easier,” Dhruv admitted, his voice low, almost defeated. “She played her cards perfectly, and now she’s got the upper hand. The worst part is, she’s going to act like she’s the victim, like she’s the one who was hurt.”

Dave shook his head, clearly frustrated for his friend. “You can’t keep letting her get away with this. You’re better than that.”

Dhruv chuckled darkly, the bitterness evident in every word. “Yeah, I know. But it’s like quicksand. The more I struggle, the deeper I sink.”

They sat in silence for a moment, the chatter of the canteen fading into the background. Dhruv’s mind was racing, but it was like a hamster wheel—no matter how much he turned it over, the result was the same. Bansee had played him, and she had played him well.

Dave set his coffee down, his expression serious. “Dhruv, listen to me. You need to let this go. Walk away before it messes you up even more.”

“I can’t,” Dhruv said quietly. “Not yet.”

“And why the hell not?”

Dhruv looked up, his eyes filled with something darker. "Because I’m not done playing this game. Bansee thinks she’s won. She thinks I’m just going to sit back and watch her walk away unscathed. But she’s wrong. Dead wrong."

Dave raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

Dhruv’s lips curled into a wicked smile, his voice chilling. “I’m going to let her think she’s in control. Let her think she’s got me wrapped around her finger. And then, when the time is right, I’ll tear it all down. She’s going to learn what happens when you underestimate me.”

Dave’s eyes widened slightly, a nervous laugh escaping him. “Dhruv, you’re scaring me, man.”

Dhruv leaned in, his voice a low growl. “Good. You should be scared. Because when I’m done, she won’t know what hit her.”

With that, Dhruv stood up, draining the last of his coffee before tossing the cup into the trash. Without another word, he walked out of the canteen, leaving Dave sitting there, unsure whether to be impressed or terrified.

One thing was clear: Dhruv wasn’t going to let this slide.

And Bansee was in for a rude awakening.

---

Time: 12:25 PM | Location: PG College Stairwell

Dhruv climbed the stairs with heavy steps, his mind clouded by frustration and rage. Each step seemed to echo the dark thoughts spinning in his head. He was barely aware of the familiar voice calling out to him from behind.

"I know you're hurt, but is this really the right way to handle things?"

Dhruv clenched his fists, his voice cold and sharp as he replied without turning. "I know exactly what I’m doing. That bitch thinks she can use people and get away with it. She needs to learn she can’t walk all over everyone. I’m not like the rest of them. I have every right to take my revenge."

The voice softened, almost pleading now. "Dhruv, I’m not here to stop you. But think it through. Make your decision when you're calm. Anger can cloud your judgment. You don’t want to end up doing something you’ll regret later."

Dhruv sneered, feeling his patience wearing thin. "Regret isn’t my concern right now." He stormed forward, pushing open the classroom door only to find it completely empty.

“What the...?” Dhruv scanned the room, his confusion quickly turning into irritation. "Where the hell is everyone? Bingo?"

He fished out his phone, scrolling through his notifications until he saw the campus-wide message: *Classes Cancelled.*

“Of course,” he muttered under his breath, rubbing his forehead. “How could I forget? It’s probably because of her. Bansee’s everywhere—in my life, in my damn head.”

Still frustrated, Dhruv pulled out his phone and dialed Dave’s number.

---

Time: 12:45 PM | Location: PG College Garden

Dave sat in the shade of a large tree, absorbed in a book. The calm, quiet hum of the garden was a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Dhruv’s voice on the other end of the phone.

“Where are you?” Dhruv’s tone was sharp. “I forgot classes were cancelled.”

“I’m in the garden, reading,” Dave replied calmly. “Come down here.”

A few minutes later, Dhruv arrived, his face still set in a grim expression, frustration rolling off him in waves. He dropped onto the bench across from Dave, his mind clearly still churning. The peaceful garden and distant student chatter seemed irrelevant to the tension that hung between them.

Dave glanced up, setting his book aside. “So... what’s the plan now?”

Dhruv leaned back, crossing his arms over his chest, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the ground. “I don’t know,” he finally admitted, his voice low and simmering. “Part of me wants to keep this going until finals. I’ve got too much at stake to let it fall apart now.”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “What exactly are you riding on?”

Dhruv let out a sharp breath. “Before I even set foot in PG, I had one goal: to be top of the class. That was the plan during my bachelor’s, too, but then COVID happened, and everything went to hell. I got lazy. Lost my edge. I swore I wouldn’t let that happen again.”

Dave nodded. “Yeah, I remember. COVID messed things up for everyone.”

Dhruv’s eyes darkened. “Exactly. But PG? It’s a different world. This place is crawling with sharks. Everyone’s out for blood. It’s not enough to just work hard. You need an edge. That’s when Bansee came into the picture.”

Dave smirked slightly. “Ah, Bansee. The source of all this frustration.”

Dhruv’s lips curled in contempt. “Yeah. Bansee and her little crew—smart, ambitious, the type who know how to game the system. I figured if I got close enough, I’d get the edge I needed. So I made her my girlfriend.”

Dave blinked, caught off guard. “Girlfriend? That’s... pretty strategic.”

Dhruv chuckled darkly. “Strategic, yes. Ruthless, absolutely. But that’s how things work around here. You can’t trust anyone. Everyone’s a rival. Friends? They’re just enemies waiting for the right moment to strike. Bansee was the perfect target—smart, ambitious, and pretty. I figured she’d be useful when things got tough.”

Dave raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “So, how did that work out for you?”

“At first, it worked perfectly,” Dhruv said, though his voice held a bitter edge. “She was sweet, supportive, always around when I needed her. But then, within weeks, her real self started to show. She became rude, argumentative, picking fights over the smallest things. I lost interest fast.”

“So, you ended it?” Dave asked, already knowing the answer.

Dhruv gave a bitter smile. “Of course. I figured she was just as bored as I was, so I cut her off. Moved on.”

His eyes hardened as he recalled what happened next. “Then I met another group. Ritu’s group.”

“Rituparna?” Dave asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

“Yeah. Ritu’s the only one here who can really compete with me academically. Guy’s sharp, no doubt about it. He introduced me to his circle—some smart girls, a few wannabe intellectuals. One of them, Archana, caught my eye. Brains, looks, ambition—the whole package. I thought she’d be a better fit than Bansee.”

“So, did you go for her?” Dave asked.

Dhruv smirked. “I was about to. But things didn’t go as planned. Instead of Archana, I ended up getting close to Tisha. She wasn’t as pretty, but she had drive. Leadership potential. The kind of person who could push me forward.”

“So, did you ask her out?”

Dhruv laughed, but it wasn’t a pleasant sound. “No. Turns out she was already with Ritu.”

Dave, in the middle of taking a sip of water, nearly choked. “Wait, what? Seriously?”

Dhruv handed him a napkin with a smug grin. “Yeah. It was a mess. After that, I stopped bothering with any of them. Focused on my studies. Didn’t miss a single class. I put in the work, and it paid off. I was climbing the ranks. I could feel it—I was better than them.”

Dave shook his head in disbelief. “But Bansee wasn’t done with you, was she?”

“No,” Dhruv’s voice grew cold, his tone hardening. “She wasn’t. She noticed the change in me. Started circling back, dropping compliments, acting all sweet, trying to worm her way back in. But I wasn’t falling for it. Not this time.”

He paused for a moment before adding, “But then I saw her in the library one day, reading manga. Same app I use—MT. It caught me off guard. Suddenly, she wasn’t just this manipulative rival anymore. We had something real in common. We started talking again, texting, staying up late. I almost believed she’d changed.”

Dave raised an eyebrow. “So... did you ask her out again?”

Dhruv sighed, leaning back against the bench. “I was going to. But then I realized something—maybe I hadn’t misjudged her. Maybe I was just getting pulled back into her game.”

Dave’s expression shifted to one of concern. “You’re twisted, Dhruv. You’ve played this entire situation like a game, and now you’re caught in your own web.”

Dhruv shrugged, a dark grin spreading across his face. “Yeah, I guess that’s how it goes. You play the game, and sometimes... the game plays you.”

Dave stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or be concerned. “So... what now?”

Dhruv’s grin faded, replaced by something colder, more calculated. “Now? I let her think she’s won. And when the time is right, I’ll pull the rug out from under her. Completely.”

The bell rang, signaling the end of their break. Dhruv stood, glancing at his phone. Bansee’s name was still blocked, her last messages hanging unanswered, like loose threads waiting to be cut.

As they walked back toward the main building, Dave shook his head, his voice low. “You’re dangerous, Dhruv.”

Dhruv’s eyes glinted with dark amusement. “Yeah. But only to people who deserve it.”

And with that, they vanished into the crowd, the tension between them palpable, like the calm before a storm.

Time: 1:00 PM | Location: PG College Grounds

As the midday sun cast long shadows on the campus, Dhruv waved goodbye to Dave, his mind still buzzing from their intense conversation. With every step he took, his frustration boiled just beneath the surface.

After walking for a while, he saw Bansee and her crew leaving the library. They were laughing, unaware of his presence, as if everything in their world was perfect. The sight of them—especially her—set Dhruv’s blood on fire. He quickened his pace, determination driving him forward.

But before he could reach them, he noticed the girl from earlier, the one who had warned him. She stood at a distance, her hair swirling in the wind, her eyes a mixture of concern and curiosity. Dhruv ignored her completely, his focus locked on Bansee.

He planted himself firmly in front of her. “Well, well, well, if it isn’t the queen herself crawling back from whatever hole she slithered into.”

Bansee looked up, visibly annoyed but maintaining her composure. “Do you have any manners? Is this how you talk to a woman?”

Dhruv’s voice was cold, sharp. “Manners? For you? A bitch like you doesn’t deserve manners. You really think people will talk to you with respect after what you’ve done? You’re out of your mind.”

Bansee folded her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. “If I’m so awful, then why are you wasting your time talking to me? Move on. No one’s forcing you to stand here. It’s only you who has this problem, not anyone else.”

Dhruv’s anger flared. “Oh, is that what you think? That you can screw people over and just walk away? You’re a coward. Pathetic. You think you can hide behind your words and charm, but people will see your true colors soon enough.”

For a moment, something flickered in Bansee’s eyes—fear, maybe. But she quickly masked it. “So what now, Dhruv? What do you want from me? You think you’re going to do something and I’ll just stand by? I’m not your puppet, and you’re not important enough to affect my life.”

The last remark pushed Dhruv over the edge. His temper snapped as he grabbed Bansee’s wrist tightly. She winced, her eyes flashing with anger and fear.

“Let go of me,” she hissed.

Dhruv leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “I want to see you try and stop me.”

Bansee's voice was tight with warning. “You know this could get you suspended? You could ruin your entire career.”

Dhruv’s grip tightened. “Don’t worry about me. A scum like you deserves worse than suspension.”

Suddenly, a loud, irritating noise filled the air. It was a helicopter, the sound growing louder and closer by the second. Before Dhruv could react, a deafening explosion rocked the campus. The helicopter crashed into the college grounds, sending fire and debris flying. The blast was massive—students screamed as the shockwave hit, and smoke billowed up, darkening the sky.

Dhruv immediately released Bansee’s wrist, both of them turning toward the destruction in shock.

“What the hell?” Dhruv whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief. “What the fuck just happened?”

Bansee stood frozen, her hands covering her mouth in horror as she watched the chaos unfold. Flames licked the edge of the campus as students ran in every direction, some of them covered in blood, others screaming for help.

Without thinking, Dhruv ran toward the crash site, joined by a group of other students trying to help the injured. Bodies lay scattered across the ground—some lifeless, others writhing in pain. Dhruv worked quickly, helping as many as he could, pulling them from the wreckage.

But then, one of the boys helping them cried out in pain. “What the hell?” The boy staggered back, clutching his hand, which was now bleeding profusely. A half-burnt man, barely alive, had sunk his teeth into the boy’s flesh, gnawing at his arm.

“Get away!” Dhruv shouted, rushing forward to pull the boy back.

But it was already too late. The man’s eyes were wild, unfocused, his movements erratic. He was no longer human.

More figures began to crawl from the wreckage of the helicopter—twisted, deformed, their bodies hunched unnaturally. They groaned and moved with a terrifying speed, lurching toward the students who had rushed to help. Dhruv recognized the threat immediately.

“They’re zombies,” he muttered, eyes narrowing. The horror of it sunk in fast. “Shit.”

The students who had been bitten or scratched by the creatures began convulsing, their skin turning a sickly gray as they transformed into the same monstrous beings.

Meanwhile, Bansee had retreated to the medical room, trying to help treat the wounded. Dhruv didn’t waste any time. He sprinted to her, grabbing her arm and pulling her forcefully.

“We need to get out of here. Now.”

Bansee yanked her arm back, glaring at him. “What the hell are you doing? You think you can just—”

Dhruv didn’t give her a chance to finish. His hand came down hard across her face, the slap echoing in the chaos around them. “Shut the fuck up,” he growled. “I don’t have time to explain. If you want to live, follow me.”

Bansee’s friends, shocked by Dhruv’s aggression, stood frozen. Two of them, recognizing the seriousness in Dhruv’s tone, quickly fell in line, following him. Another tried to protest, but Dhruv shoved him aside without a second thought.

The group made their way outside, only to be greeted by a horde of zombies, staggering and lurching toward them. Bansee stopped in her tracks, her face pale with terror.

Dhruv grabbed her again, pulling her forward. “What are you doing, you idiot? Do you want to die here?”

Bansee’s eyes darted around, taking in the grotesque scene—the dead rising, biting into the living, tearing them apart. “This... this can’t be happening,” she stammered.

But Dhruv wasn’t interested in comforting her. “Snap out of it!” he barked. “Move, or you’re going to end up one of them.”

The group bolted toward the department building, but the zombies were fast. They noticed the movement and began chasing them, their rotting forms moving with unnatural speed.

As Dhruv, Bansee, and her friends sprinted across the campus, the scene behind them grew more horrifying with every second—a relentless horde of undead, closing in fast, hungry for flesh.

Dhruv didn’t look back. He wasn’t running from them—he was running toward survival. And Bansee, whether she realized it or not, was coming with him, whether she liked it or not.