EPISODE 3 STRANGE MOMENTS

The next morning, Avni entered the college with far less nervousness than yesterday.

Maybe because now she knew she wouldn’t be alone.

As soon as she entered the classroom, she noticed Vidhi already sitting on the bench dramatically eating chips.

“You came this early just to eat?” Avni asked while laughing.

Vidhi looked offended. “Excuse me. Breakfast is important.”

“Inside the classroom?”

“Education can wait.”

Avni shook her head while smiling and sat beside her.

A few seconds later, Vivaan entered the classroom quietly.

Just like yesterday—

Calm.

Silent.

Almost impossible to notice.

But somehow, Avni noticed him immediately.

“Good morning,” she said softly.

Vivaan looked at her for a brief second before replying, “Morning.”

Vidhi narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Why does this feel like a married couple conversation already?”

Avni almost choked. “Vidhi!”

“What? I’m just saying.”

For the first time that morning, a small smile appeared on Vivaan’s face again.

And strangely—

Avni noticed that too.

Soon, the teacher entered the class.

“Today,” the teacher announced, “you’ll be working in groups for a small presentation.”

Instantly, loud reactions filled the room.

Some students looked excited.

Others looked completely dead inside.

Vidhi raised her hand dramatically. “Ma’am, can emotional support groups count too?”

The entire class laughed.

Even the teacher smiled slightly. “No.”

After a few minutes, groups were assigned.

Of course—

Avni, Vidhi, and Vivaan ended up together.

“Well,” Vidhi sighed dramatically, “at least I know I’ll pass because of you two.”

“You’re part of the work too,” Avni replied.

“That sounds unfortunate.”

The three of them later moved to the library to discuss their project.

The atmosphere there was much quieter compared to the noisy classroom.

Vidhi whispered loudly, “Why does this place feel haunted?”

“Because it’s a library,” Avni replied.

Vivaan sat across from them, flipping through pages calmly.

After a while, the discussion started properly.

But something felt strange again.

Every time Avni or Vidhi got confused—

Vivaan already knew the answer.

Not just normal answers.

Detailed ones.

Almost perfect ones.

Vidhi stared at him suspiciously. “Are you secretly a professor?”

“No,” he replied calmly.

“Then how do you know everything?”

Vivaan closed the book slowly. “I read.”

“That much?”

“Yes.”

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Vidhi leaned toward Avni and whispered dramatically, “He’s not human.”

Avni laughed softly.

But for some reason—

The words stayed in her mind longer than they should have.

A few hours later, dark clouds suddenly covered the sky outside.

Then—

Rain started pouring heavily.

Students near the windows became excited immediately.

“It’s raining!” Vidhi said happily.

Avni smiled while watching the rain fall outside the library windows.

The weather suddenly made everything feel calmer.

Peaceful.

For a brief moment, she forgot about assignments, nervousness, and college stress.

Then she noticed something strange.

Vivaan wasn’t looking at the rain.

He was staring outside with an unreadable expression on his face.

Almost distant.

Almost lost.

“You don’t like rain?” Avni asked softly.

Vivaan looked at her.

Then quietly replied—

“I do.”

“Then why do you look sad?”

For the first time—

He didn’t answer immediately.

And somehow…

That silence felt heavier than words.

Before Avni could ask anything else, Vidhi suddenly stood up dramatically.

“I’m hungry again.”

Avni blinked. “You literally ate thirty minutes ago.”

“Hunger has no timing.”

Vivaan quietly stood up as well. “I’ll go get coffee.”

Vidhi ggasped emotionally. “See? He understands my pain.”

Avni laughed softly as Vivaan walked out of the library.

A few seconds later, she suddenly realized something.

She hadn’t even heard the door open.

Confused, she turned toward the entrance.

The hallway outside was completely empty.

Vivaan was nowhere to be seen.

For some reason—

A strange chill ran through her.

And once again—

That unfamiliar feeling returned.

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