Aditya High School, a prestigious private institution with classes only 9th to 12th, buzzing with the energy of youth. The morning air was filled with lively excitement, as students filled the surrounding, chatting, laughing, debating, and catching up before their class started. Whether it was about girls' celebrity crushes, a recent cricket match, the latest movies they watched, or even about heated political discussions, the school was always filled with lively young energy.
The courtyard and hallways were a sea of teenagers, many boys towering as tall as the teachers, and some even surpassing the height of the female staff. Their towering frames and youthful exuberance made them seem less like students and more like budding adults stepping into their prime. Each classroom echoed with their animated voices, the short moments they shared before the start of lessons cherished as precious snippets of camaraderie and expression in their fast-paced lives.
A beautiful girl, walked slowly through the main entrance of the school. Her light blue kurti flowed softly with her movements, contrasting against the black leggings and the black dupatta draped over her shoulder. A simple bag hung from her shoulder, its weight seeming almost insignificant compared to her expression. The emblem of Aditya High School was neatly present on the left side of her kurti, above the heart. She wore polished black shoes, completing her uniform, but regardless of her perfect uniform something about her seemed off, her face looked pale, and her expression held a shadow of fear, as if something was still haunting her.
Just as she was about to entered the school building, a familiar voice called out to her.
"Sristi"
Turning, she saw Riya, a close friend and classmate, rushing toward her. Riya's light blue kurti and black dupatta matched Sristi's, but she had a face filled with concern and rashness, against Sristi's drained expression. A beg swung at Riya's side as she hurried to catch up.
"Why didn't you come to school for last two weeks? I was worried," Riya asked as she reached Sristi, her tone was filled with genuine concern.
"I was… just…. Just a little ill," she responded. Her voice felt weak, barely above a whisper. She lacked the liveliness, making her sound distant.
Riya's brow furrowed at her friend's response. Unsure if she was still unwell, or something else was wrong.
"Oh… So, did you hear anything from Nira? She hasn't been to school either."
At the mention Nira's name, Sristi clutched her fingers around the strap of her bag, trembling slightly, her eyes avoided Riya's gaze. "I…. I don't know." she replied, her voice unsteady.
Was she really sick? Or something else was bothering her, Riya's concern deepened, her confusion growing but before she could say anything, a familiar voice called out from behind.
"Hey... Guys!"
Both girls turned, there was a boy approaching, it was their classmate, Manash. His black pants and the light blue shirt were neatly pressed, his shirt tucked in, a black belt around his waist. A black bag on his back hung securely by his shoulder. The school's logo was printed on the left side of his shirt, above his pocket.
"Morning! Manash," Riya greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning," Manash smiled warmly. His face, with its natural kindness, always gave off a sense of calm and strength. His slightly golden eyes seemed to glow softly, reflecting his sincerity. But his smile faded as his gaze shifted to Sristi. "You okay, Sristi?... you look tired." Manash's voice was calm and concerning.
"No… I am fine" Sristi insisted, forcing a small weak smile. Her voice was strained. She quickly turned and headed into the school building.
"Sristi! Wait!" Riya called, hurrying after her.
Manash's eyes followed them, filled with concern. Something wasn't right. Sristi's pale complexion, her fear, avoiding them, all of it felt strange. Yet, somehow, Manash wasn't surprised.
Inside the class 12, section 'B', Sristi rushed to her usual seat. Riya followed close behind, setting her bag beside her friend's.
The classroom was buzzing with the unrestrained chatter of teenagers. In the back rows, a group of boys burst into laughter, their playful teasing filling the air. Nearby, clusters of girls leaned into their own conversations, their voices a mix of excitement and occasional giggle. The atmosphere crackled with the infectious energy typical of school mornings, a blend of anticipation and routine.
The classroom was organized in neat rows, two columns and six rows of desk-benches. An arrangement, that if girls sat in the first row, boys had to sit in the second, alternating through the room. And each desk-bench comfortably seated three students, though comfort was often subjective, depending on the company.
Seconds later, Manash also entered the classroom, his eyes scanning over the familiar sea of faces. The din of laughter and chatter seemed to fade as his gaze landed on Sristi, sill looked distant, her mind far away from the chatter. The liveliness of the classroom couldn't seem to reach her. Next to her, Riya looked on with visible concern, her own bubbly demeanor dimmed as she kept stealing glances at Sristi's pale face.
Riya leaned closer to Sristi, her voice low but tinged with worry. "Are you okay? Are you still feeling unwell?" she asked softly, her words tinged with genuine worry, almost drowned out by the noise around them.
Sristi didn't respond immediately, her gaze fixed on nothing in particular, her eyes unfocused as if looking at the past rather than the present. Whatever was troubling her seemed to weigh heavily on her, and it was clear to anyone paying attention that.
Seeing Manash entered the classroom, a group of students standing up from their seats. Approached him, two boys and two girls made their way over, all wearing the school's uniform, but their personalities shone through in their manner.
"Bro!" one of the boys, Suraj, raised his fist for a fist bump. Manash greeted him with a bump. His shirt was never tucked properly, giving him a casual and carefree look. Manash noticing that gave a faint smile, tapping Suraj's shoulder. He admired his friend's free spirit, a quality that seemed impervious to the weight of the world.
"Manash, Did you find anything?" one of the girls, Vani asked. She had a calm and kind demeanor, making her approachable, but what truly set her apart was her striking white hair, which contrasted beautifully with her black dupatta casually draped over her shoulder. Her beauty and grace were almost otherworldly. She seemed like a true goddess among them, not just for her appearance but for the warmth and compassion she exuded, making her someone everyone admired and respected.
Manash shook his head in denial, his brow furrowed. "Nothing yet," he admitted, his voice low but steady, "but Sristi… she definitely knows something."
Manash turned to the other boy, Bikram, he stood a little taller and bolder than the rest. "What about you?" Manash asked. "Did you get a chance to meet Nira?"
Bikram shocked his head, a serious expression crossing his face. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong arms that matched his bold demeanor.
"She hasn't left her house, she locked herself in."
"Miss Saya even went to her house" Bikram added. "She talked to her parents, and all they said was she was acting strange and they were worried. At first, she wouldn't even eat. Now she does talk to them, but she still won't leave her room."
The group exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of the situation settling over them like a shadow. It felt like a puzzle with missing pieces, answers just out of reach. They weren't ordinary students; that much was clear. There was something different about them, something that connected them to the strange events unfolding.
Their heavy silent was broken by a voice from across the room. "Hey, guys, it's almost 9.30. If you're done saving the world, maybe come back to the real world?" another student said. He had a smirk on his face, mocking their overly serious face, after all, they were just some bunch of school students.
Arunika, the other girl in the group, flashed a playful grin in response. "Sorry, didn't mean to make you feel left out," she quipped, her tone light but friendly.
Everyone rushed to their seats, Manash and Bikram sat behind Sristi and Riya in the fourth row. Manash sat directly behind Sristi, his mind still racing with thoughts, Sristi's pale and distant expression lingered in his mind tugging at his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Suraj made his way to the back of the classroom, to the last bench with two of his friends. As Suraj took a seat with the other two students, they were already engrossed in a conversation about the last cricket match. He taking his seat dived into their conversation.
At the front of the classroom, Arunika and Vani were sitting with another girl, their classmate Maya. Their eyes sparkling with mischief, Arunika's voice was low but brimming with teasing intent.
"Hey, Maya, you know what we heard?" Arunika, who was sitting in the middle began, drawing out her words with an exaggerated air of mystery.
"Oh, yes," Vani chimed in, her tone was also playful. "I heard that certain someone asked someone else out for a little date," she dragged out the last two words, with a wide grin on her lips.
Maya groaned, her cheeks flushing red as she covered her face with her hands and buried it on her beg on the desk.
"I didn't ask him out, okay?" she protested, her voice muffled by her hands. Her embarrassment was palpable. "We just made a plan to go to the expo!"
Arunika gasped theatrically, placing a hand on her chest. "An expo date! How romantic!" she exclaimed, earning a laugh from Vani.
"No! … Stop teasing me!" Maya exclaimed, her voice rising as she sat up straight, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She tried to muster some anger, though her wide eyes and awkward smile betrayed her nervousness. Maya had always been on the shy side, and it had taken her every ounce of courage to ask her crush out, even if it wasn't technically a date.
"Okay, okay… My bad, I'm sorry," Arunika said, holding up her hands in mock surrender. For a brief moment, she looked serious, but her mischievous grin quickly returned. "But who knew you were such a little sneak?" she added, her tone light and teasing as she leaned closer to Maya.
Maya groaned in frustration, pulling her dupatta over her head as if to shield herself from their relentless teasing. "You two are the worst," she muttered, though the faint curve of her lips suggested she didn't mind the attention all that much.
Vani chuckled softly, brushing a strand of her white hair away from her face. "We're just proud of you, Maya. Who would've thought you had it in you?"
As the playful teasing continued, Arunika suddenly froze. Her playful grin faded as her nose wrinkled. A sharp, acrid smell hit her senses, overwhelming and strange. Reflexively, she brought her hand up to cover her nose.
"Hey, are you okay?" Maya asked, her concerned breaking through the playful atmosphere. "Is it your nose again? Does it hurt?" Her tone was filled genuine care, Maya knew that Arunika complained of a sharp pain in her nose, at least, that was what Arunika had told her.
"No, it's fine," Arunika muttered quickly, her voice calm but clipped. She waved her hand dismissively as if trying to brush away both the smell and Maya's concern.
"Are you sure?" Maya pressed, still unconvinced.
Arunika managed a reassuring smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I'm fine, really," she said softly. Maya hesitated but eventually nodded, though the worry didn't entirely leave her face. She turned to her bag, rummaging through it in search of something.
As Maya became absorbed in her search, Vani leaned closer to Arunika, her voice barely above whisper "What is it?" she asked quietly, glancing around to ensure Maya wasn't listening.
Arunika's eyes flicked towards Vani, her expression unusually serious. "Something's coming," she murmured quietly. Her words were laced with unease.
"The smell… it's like sweet but rotten," Arunika whispered.
"Something is coming… Its presence is strong…"