The college gates would open at exactly ten o'clock. And yet by 9:30, half the students had already occupied the area outside the campus.

Everywhere I looked, people were revising formulas. Some sat on the compound walls. Some stood in groups. Some were frantically turning pages as if the laws of Physics would magically appear in their heads while writing the exam.

Beside me, Lavanya stood with her notebook pressed against her face like a shield. And Taarini was muttering derivations under her breath.

Karthik looked quite relaxed. But Revant kept pretending he knew everything while secretly peeking into Lavanya's notes every few seconds.

Meanwhile, Hridayansh... calmly stood beside them with a sheet of formulae in his hands.

For the next few minutes, everyone continued revising together. Someone, mostly Revant, kept asking silly doubts and derivation steps in the middle, that some or the other way helped all of us remember it.

But my brain was slowly melting. The closer the clock moved toward ten, the more nervous I became.

I opened my notebook again. Then again. And then once more.

A definition caught my attention. The same one that Lavanya asked Hridayansh about, during our group study.

It was very long. Almost six lines. At this point, I can't afford to learn and remember this for the exam. And as expected, I forgot the shortcut he told her that day...

"Hridayansh?"

He turned.

"Yeah?"

"Can you please repeat the shortcut for this definition?" I asked, pointing at the definition in my notebook.

He looked at the page briefly and answered.

"The ratio of charge carried by an electron to its mass. That's the whole idea of the definition. "

"Exactly," I waited, looking at him. For the shortcut.

Instead, he simply added, "Just remember charge upon mass."

I still waited. Because normally he would've said something like: "Think of it as how much charge one kilogram of electrons can carry," or some weird comparison involving cricket balls and electricity.

But now? Short and simple.

I couldn't process what just happened. This is unusual of Hridayansh.

I would still choose to think of the exam acting as pressure for him and that's why he cannot explain it as he would.

"Okay," I tried to smile and lowered my eyes toward the notebook.

Yet a strange feeling lingered inside me.

It felt like... he was avoiding me... I'm feeling this not just today, but since a few days before the group study.

No. It doesn't feel rude. Not at all. But, it feels... distant. As if he had quietly taken one step back without telling anyone. And I was the only one noticing it.

"I think they'll open the gates now," Taarini spoke, looking at our entry gate.

9:50 AM.

I didn't realize how time went by... I wish I could revise all three chapters a little more, but no worries.

"All the best, buds!" Lavanya chirped and put her hand forward.

We joined her by putting our hands on top of her.

"All the very best!"

I closed my notebook and kept it safely inside my bag, simultaneously wearing my ID card and adjusting my hair.

Lavanya walked beside me, still recalling and confusing the formulae with one another.

Karthik and Taarini had their classroom allotment on the first floor, while rest four of us had ours on the second.

We waved each other goodbyes and 'all the best's and head toward our respective classrooms.

Meanwhile, near their locality, the library mystery was about to get investigated.

This afternoon, when Ipsita, Hridayansh and their friends were writing their exams, the librarian had called for a meeting with all the staff members to investigate about the incident.

A dusty register lay open on the table. Beside it sat a steel flask of tea that had long gone cold.

"I am telling you, sir," one of the staff members insisted. "Those shelves didn't fall on their own. There must be someone behind all of these."

The librarian sighed.

No one exactly knew what to believe on, any more.

Right then, a younger staff member placed a file on the table.

The librarian adjusted his spectacles.

"What is this?"

"CCTV records."

The room fell silent. Every person sitting there knew that the archives section had no CCTV camera inside.

Plus, the library had only a handful of cameras. Most of which covered entrances and reading areas.

"According to the records, nobody entered the archive corridor after 5:30 PM."

"And?"

"The shelves collapsed at approximately 6:49 PM. Also someone had moved several files from Shelf A-12 only minutes before the collapse."

Everyone were stunned for a moment.

"Students?"

"No."

"Researchers?"

"No."

"Staff?"

The younger employee slowly shook his head. "No entry was recorded."

The librarian leaned back in his chair.

Every possibility, that they could think of, had a dead end. And no one knew how to lead the investigation after it.

The librarian was well aware of the fact that there could be no mistake or carelessness from his staff's side so he cannot blame any of the staff members.

"Wait," he said suddenly. "You said some files were moved?"

The staff member nodded his head in yes.

"What files were they?"

An older employee exchanged a glance with the younger one.

"Sir, admission files."

"Admission files? Why would someone move admission files?"

The atmosphere begin to grow more uncomfortable.

"How old were those files?"

"About twenty years old."

The librarian's expression hardened. "You're telling me someone entered the archive, removed a set of admission records, and disappeared without being seen?"

Nobody answered because that was exactly what the evidence suggested.

"Lock the archive section," the librarian announced. "And give me a copy of those admission records before evening."

The librarian looked toward the corridor visible through the cabin window. The corridor leading directly toward the archive wing.

For the first time in many years, he didn't have an answer. He was himself so speechless that the only option left for him currently was locking the section itself.

But he knew that such records and files don't disappear simply. And the reason behind this had to be found out soon.

By the time the final bell rang, the college campus had transformed into a battlefield of opinions.

Physics exam had gone way better than expected.

"Except Q4, I'd attempted every question," Revant said, proudly.

"It carried the highest weightage," I replied, smacking his head.

"Yeah, yeah, I did write something in it. At least I'll get two or three marks for it."

Karthik sighed.

"You both realize the exam is already over, right?"

"Buddy!" Revant opened his arms, that seemed like he was about to hug Karthik, but instead he slapped his cheek playfully.

Behind us, the girls seemed really happy. As much as I could eavesdrop, I heard them talking about a store in our locality which is newly opened and is selling one-piece dresses at almost forty percent off.

Peak female behaviour.

After another ten minutes of walking and 'kete khara achhi' complaining, we eventually parted ways. (Kete khara achhi - It's so hot)

The girls were off to Taarini's place for some work and we boys walked toward our own directions.

I reached home a little after 12:30. The familiar smell of lunch greeted me the moment I stepped inside.

"Maa?"

"In the kitchen."

I dropped my bag in my room and stretched my shoulders. After changing my clothes and washing my face, I felt somewhat human again.

"Wash your hands and come for lunch!" my mother called from the dining area.

"Coming."

I picked up my phone from the study table. The battery had almost died during the exam. Without thinking much, I plugged it into the charger.

The screen lit up immediately, showing a few notifications from WhatsApp groups, Instagram, e-mails, weather updates and a missed call.

I unlocked my phone and went to the call logs.

It was an unknown number that called me around at 11 AM.

Usually, I ignore unknown numbers as most of them turn out to be sales or spam calls. Yet, something about this number felt that I should call the person back.

My thumb hovered over the screen for a minute and I decided to call back on the same phone number.

The call connected after three rings.

"Hello?" I said, firmly.

Then a voice spoke from the other side.

"Hello. Am I talking Mr. Hridayansh Pradhan?"

"Yes," I alerted myself for a moment as the caller person knew my name. I internally assumed it must be someone from my college.

"This is Pritam Sahu speaking from the City Public Library."

"Yes, sir?"

"We would like to ask you a few questions regarding the incident that happened last week in our library. We came to know about your presence in our library on the same time of the incident through the library entry records."

My grip around the phone tightened. Every single moment of that day ran into my mind.

"Okay, sir," I replied, though the sudden drop in my voice was very noticeable.

"You're one of the last students who were present in the library before and during the accident."

I gulped.

Then the librarian answered carefully, "The shelf collapse was not the only thing that happened that evening, Hridayansh."

A chill ran through me. I didn't even know what should I assume about the situation.

"Hridayansh... do you remember seeing anyone near the archive section?"

For the first time since the call began, I sat completely still. Because suddenly, the figure I thought I had imagined no longer felt imaginary.

Two hours later

"Mr. Pradhan?"

"Yes."

"Sir is waiting inside."

I walked towards a small office cabin near the back of the building.

During the phone call by Mr. Pritam Sahu, he suggested me to come over and explain what and where did I see someone that day.

I knocked twice lightly on the glass door.

"Come in, Hridayansh," Mr. Sahu said, closing a few books that were on his desk. "Please sit."

I nodded and pulled a chair.

"We... are investigating the whole incident, Hridayansh," Mr. Sahu spoke quite seriously.

He continued, "Since you have been coming in our library from three years and I personally know you, I wanted you to narrate everything in-person."

I let out a breath and leaned onto my chair.

"Me and my two female friends, Ipsita and Lavanya, arrived at the library at 5," I began. "We were studying in the reading section. Lavanya left early. And Ipsita and I stayed until almost 7 PM. Then, we heard a sound. Like a whole shelf of books fell down. People around us were alert and scared at the same moment. The lights flickered shortly after. My friend, Ipsita, was quite worried and scared. She began packing her bag and right then we heard a metallic clang..."

"A metallic clang?" Mr. Sahu repeated, furrowing his eyebrows.

"Yes, sir. We heard that right. And Ipsita asked me to pack my bag too and she wanted us to leave immediately. But before we did, I saw someone, standing near the dark corridor of the archives section."

"What was he wearing?"

"If it was not a spirit but a person, I saw him wearing a long black full sleeve jacket and a big black hat that was successful in covering his face. But he disappeared in a moment when I tried to show him to my friend, Ipsita."

Mr. Sahu began scribbling something in a diary and looked at me.

"What if I told you..." he paused. "...that something important disappeared from the archive section that evening?"

"Disappeared?" I gulped down a lump.

Probably someone would have tried to steal a book?

"A set of admission files were moved that evening, from one shelf. And some of them are currently missing," he said.

"Admission files of which institution?" I asked slowly.

"Your college."

I felt an instant chill in my spine.

"Those were old. About twenty years old. But it had all the information. About many students, their contact numbers, residential address, college related information and some document copies."

For a few moments, I simply stared at him.

Twenty years old, I thought.

Those students might be twenty five or above now. Why would anyone want them now?

"Did someone specifically target those files?" I asked.

"That's what we're trying to determine. And whoever accessed those files knew exactly where they were kept. The intruder not only prepared to slip out safely, but also he had quite good knowledge about those shelves."

"Exactly how many files are missing, sir?"

"Four."

"And how many students' data it can hold?"

"We are not sure, but I guess it could be just one. Because documents occupy most of the space and hence we were advised to keep them in two different files. One for their admission details and one for some college information about the student or miscellaneous."

"So, the intruder wanted his target's every information and he carefully picked the right ones?" I contemplated.

He replied nothing but nodded his head and looked down.

"Now we are searching for that particular student, whose files went missing," he concluded.

"I hope you can get into that as soon as possible," I spoke, as I brought myself to get up from my seat. "May I please take a leave now, sir?"

"Yes, Hridayansh. Thank you for showing up with such a short notice and giving us more details," Mr. Sahu thanked me and got up while walking me till the exit of the library. "It's a request, please do not let any of your friends or other people the details that I gave you."

I smiled a bit and assured him, "Sir, don't worry about that. It'll be only between you and me."

I left the library building after a little goodbye talk with him and reached home back within a few minutes.

"So are they going to come at your place this Saturday?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"But what's their 'emergency' reason of arrival?"

"Maa knows it... It's something personal. But I'll try to ask her."

Taarini and I were aimlessly roaming around the mart with our trolley filled with all grocery items that Maa asked me to buy.

My paternal uncle and aunt will be arriving my home this Saturday and hence Maa sent me here to get some extra groceries for the initial days of their stay.

We'd spent almost fifteen minutes in the skincare section, deciding which face wash Taarini should buy. And we ended up buying the cheapest one since Taarini didn't want to regret wasting her money on something that wasn't her type.

"And one thing I never understood," I began, placing the items from my trolley on the billing counter. "Why does my Maa love to serve these people even after knowing that they criticise her behind the back?"

"That's universal, Ips," Taarini answered, holding the trolley. "Typical Indian moms."

"They did nothing good to us, and always criticised my whole family including papa. Like come on, Papa is uncle's brother, why the hell is one brother trying to pull down his own brother?"

"On the basis of what you've told me about them, I think your dad's brother is jealous of your dad, in some terms."

"I wonder what it could be."

We paid the bill and exited the mart with two full bags in our hands.

"When they'll be leaving?"

"Next Sunday," I whined. "One whole week, lord Jagannatha! And I hardly have five days to live peacefully."

"Don't worry, we'll get through this," Taarini said and side-hugged me with her free hand.

I reached home after having an ice-cream with her and handed the bags over to Maa.

"You took so much time," she said, as I entered the kitchen.

"Taarini was helping me."

Maa took one of the grocery bags from my hand and carried it toward the kitchen.

"Keep the remaining vegetables in the fridge."

"Okay."

After helping her unpack everything, I finally escaped toward my room.

The familiar scent of my room welcomed me instantly. My books were still scattered across the study table. A few pens lay abandoned near my notebook. And the curtains fluttered gently from the evening breeze entering through the window.

I closed the door behind me. And placed my phone on the couch beside.

The couch.

The exact couch where Hridayansh had sat during our group study.

Hridayansh sitting there with his Physics notebook in his lap.

Explaining formulas. Correcting my mistakes. Laughing on Lavanya's complaints. Trying not to get embarrassed when Maa told me to "learn something from him" and the kindergarten kid thing.

I groaned and buried my face in my hands.

Jagannatha. Why did Maa have to say that?

Even now the memory was embarrassing.

I walked toward the couch and sat down on the very corner where Lavanya had occupied that day and leaned my head against the cushion.

The image of him coming towards me during the Freshers' party flashed my mind. The way he walked, the way he had a subtle smile that day, the way he got up to the stage to receive my confession letter.

My confession letter.

A sudden warmth spread through my cheeks. I still couldn't believe I had actually done it. All thanks to Lavanya's blackmailing.

The only thing that still bothers me is the fact that he doesn't bring it up as frequently as Karthik and Revant do, which makes it impossible for me to understand what's going on inside his mind.

I lied down on the floor and stared at the ceiling.

I think I should confess. Properly. After the exams.

The thought instantly made my heartbeat quicken. Confessing face-to-face to Hridayansh sounded terrifying.

But it also sounded right.

Because if he rejected me, at least I would know. And if he didn't...

A smile slowly appeared on my lips before I could stop it. My imagination immediately began creating impossible scenarios.

Lavanya calls me 'delulu' for a reason.

But I'm seriously thinking about a face-to-face confession. And I would let Lavanya and Taarini know about my plan so that they slap me and get the thought out of my mind.

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