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Chapter 15 - Secret in corridor

📍SCENE: HOSTEL ROOM & CORRIDOR – MORNING

The room buzzed softly with the sound of pages flipping.

Ananya shut her book with a dramatic thud and tapped Meher's arm.

Ananya (whispering):

"Agent Meher. It's time."

Meher (calm):

"You good?"

Ananya (intense):

"Shh! Walk slow. Enemy eyes are everywhere."

She crouched, tiptoeing to the door like a secret agent.

Meher just chuckled and walked behind her — completely normal.

They peeked down the corridor.

Nidhi stood by the railing, back turned, phone to her ear. No laughter. Just… stillness.

Ananya (whispers):

"She's distracted. Go! Go!"

Meher walked past casually. Ananya ducked behind her, using her like a shield.

Nidhi glanced sideways — just in time to catch a flicker of movement.

Nidhi (to phone):

"…hold on."

Before she could step forward —

her phone buzzed.

> > > MISSION ACCEPTED. PROCEED TO LOCATION.

No name. No sender.

Just a flickering map, blinking on a distant location.

Nidhi stared at it… her eyes changed.

She turned away and slipped toward the side stairwell — silent and unseen.

---

📍SCENE: LIBRARY – LATER THAT DAY

A warm hush filled the library. Dusty sunlight filtered between shelves.

Ananya and Meher sat at a table in the back corner, surrounded by old books.

Ananya:

"You know what's weird? Nidhi usually never lets me sneak away. She notices everything. But today… nothing?"

Meher paused, smile faint but thoughtful.

Her mind flicked to last night:

> > > MISSION CODE: OBSERVER – TRANSFERRED.

She'd swiped it away.

And reassigned it — to Nidhi.

She smiled faintly.

Meher (gently):

"Maybe she's just busy today."

Ananya (grinning):

"Busy letting me live my best spy life?"

---

📍SCENE: LIBRARY – EVENING (Before Campus Path)

Golden light bathed the empty library.

Ananya closed her book and stretched.

Ananya:

"Ugh. I can't sit still anymore. Just gonna take a walk before he shows up."

Meher (smiling):

"You sure you don't want me to come?"

Ananya:

"No no. You keep an eye. I'll be quick."

Meher nodded. Watched her go.

Then… her phone blinked.

> > > NEW ALERT – RED POINT LOCATION ACTIVE.

She opened it.

A map. Same spot Nidhi was sent to.

Her fingers hovered.

Her eyes narrowed — something was close, but not here yet.

She leaned back, gaze on the entrance, waiting — guarding.

---

📍SCENE: CAMPUS PATH – EVENING

Ananya walked through the empty corridor. Evening breeze brushed her hair.

She turned near the old storage shed— and froze.

A large, shadow-like dog stood ahead.

Fur glowing faint silver. Not evil… but powerful.

Beside it, Vihaan crouched — hand on the ground, whispering a chant too low to hear.

Ananya stayed still.

Heart racing, face calm.

The dog looked at her — intelligent. Curious.

Ananya (thinking):

What… are you?

It didn't growl. Just stared. Like it recognized her.

Vihaan turned.

Eyes locked.

Vihaan (thinking):

She sees him. Clearly. And she's not even afraid.

He stood, brushing off his jeans casually — but his hand flicked subtly.

A chant — disguised in a stretch.

The dog dissolved like smoke.

Ananya (thinking):

It disappeared. Just like that? That wasn't normal.

Vihaan walked over.

Vihaan:

"Didn't expect anyone else out here. You good?"

Ananya (steady):

"I'm fine. Just… dizzy today."

Vihaan (light smile):

"Ohh, that happens."

He walked with her, calm — but alert.

Vihaan (thinking):

She saw him. She wasn't supposed to. I need to be careful now.

---

📍SCENE: BACK TO LIBRARY – MINUTES LATER

Ananya entered first, brushing off her shoulder.

Vihaan behind her.

Meher glanced up.

Meher (teasing):

"You took longer than 'a walk.'"

Ananya (grinning):

"Yeah, I know."

Meher stood.

Meher :"okay then ,I'll be right back."

Ananya:

"No, stay—"

Meher (softly):

"I want to. But… teacher's calling me."

She gave Vihaan a brief nod as she passed — one he understood instantly.

Vihaan (thinking):

That was a red point call. The threat is near. I have to finish fast.

He sat down, trying to stay composed.

---

📍SCENE: LIBRARY – NIGHT (Vihaan & Ananya Talk)

Ananya:

"You look like you're sitting with ghosts."

Vihaan (half-laughing, distracted):

"Maybe I am."

She sat across from him. A silence passed.

Ananya:

"I don't ask questions I don't want honest answers to."

Vihaan (weary):

"I didn't betray her. I swear I didn't. But when she saw what she saw… I knew explaining would only make it worse."

Ananya:

"Then why not explain now?"

Vihaan (glancing toward the library door, tense):

"Because… I promised someone else I wouldn't drag Nidhi into their mess. And if I break that… then maybe I'm not the person she thought I was."

He clenched his jaw. One foot tapping nervously.

Ananya:

"So you're choosing silence over love?"

Vihaan (tight smile):

"No. I'm choosing her peace over mine."

She looked at him — really looked.

Ananya (softly):

"She's hurting. And she's angry. But she never hated you."

Vihaan (voice cracking):

"I know."

He looked down.

Vihaan:

"That's what makes it worse."

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