I don't know why, but when I woke up that Monday morning, my chest felt tight…
Not in a dramatic way—just a strange heaviness, like something inside me already knew the day wasn't going to be normal.
Maybe it was yesterday's memory.
Maybe it was the echo of my own thoughts bouncing inside me.
Or maybe… I don't know. I was thinking too much again.
I got ready, packed my bag, tied my hair, and went to school like always. Nothing felt off until I stepped into the classroom.
And there it was.
Aashi's seat was empty.
At first, I blinked.
Then I blinked again.
Then I stared longer than necessary.
"What?" I whispered to myself.
She never stays absent without telling me.
Never.
Not even once in all these years.
Even if she had a fever or stomachache, she would text me at 6 AM, "Hey, don't come today, I won't come." Or, "I'm coming, don't bunk."
But today…
Nothing.
And that silence bothered me more than it should.
I sat, waiting.
And waiting.
And waiting.
Every time the door slid open or someone walked past, my head snapped up automatically.
"She'll come," I told myself.
"She'll come. She must be on the way. Maybe she got late."
But she didn't.
First bell rang.
Then the monitor erased the board.
Then the teacher came.
Still nothing.
Aashi's chair was still empty, untouched, perfectly arranged… like even it was waiting for her.
And for the first time in years, the classroom felt bigger.
And I felt… smaller.
---
After First Period
I was packing my notebook when I suddenly heard someone call my name.
I turned—and saw Rayan standing at the door of my classroom.
Not Arnav.
Not Aashi.
Just him.
"Hey," he said, walking in casually, hands in pockets like always.
I forced a smile. "Hey. You look… early."
He shrugged. "Got free. Thought I'd come."
But the first question jumped out of my mouth before I could stop it.
"Where is Aashi? Do you know why she didn't come? She didn't text me. Nothing."
He blinked, surprised. "No idea. I didn't see her in the morning."
"And—and Arnav?" I added quickly.
"Oh, Arnav? He's absent too."
Something inside me dropped a little.
"Why?"
"He told me yesterday he has some house function. He told everybody, actually. He'll probably come tomorrow."
"Oh…" I breathed out.
So Arnav had told everyone.
Even him.
But… not me.
Why does that sting?
Why am I thinking so much?
But I think he was discussing about it but I don't be attention ,I guess.
Rayan raised a brow. "You look stressed."
"No, I'm not," I lied instantly. "I was just… surprised."
"Hmm." He crossed his arms. "But why is Aashi absent? That's the real question. She never misses school."
"Exactly!" I said louder than I intended. "That's what I was saying! If she doesn't come, she tells me. She didn't today. She didn't call, didn't text…"
"And you're worried," he completed for me.
I sighed. "A little."
He smiled faintly. "It's fine. Maybe she overslept."
"Yeah…" I said, staring at the floor.
But my chest still felt uneasy.
We talked a bit more—just random things, homework, teachers, nothing important.
Then the bell rang and he had to go to his section.
"See you after class?" he asked.
"Yeah."
And he left.
---
The Day Felt Long
Classes went on, one after another.
Hindi. Science. Maths.
Everything normal, everything routine, everything monotone.
Except me.
Sometimes I would glance at Aashi's empty desk.
Sometimes I would think of Arnav laughing in his classroom, but then I'd correct myself—he wasn't there today.
Everyone was absent today.
Everyone who mattered.
And I don't know why…
but I kept thinking:
"Maybe this is how it feels when something tiny is off, and suddenly your whole world shifts a little."
I didn't like that thought.
So I pushed it away and pretended to be fine.
---
After School
When the school ended, the corridor buzzed with noise.
Students ran with bags half-open, teachers shouted goodbyes, someone played music on a speaker.
And through all that chaos, I spotted Rayan waiting at my classroom door again.
"Oh, you're coming too," he said when I walked out.
"Obviously," I replied, nudging him lightly.
We walked downstairs, like we always did.
Same stairs.
Same steps.
Same conversations.
I like it .
With him.
But without Aashi walking beside me.
Without Arnav walking somewhere ahead or behind.But it not bad i spend my time with Rayan .And today we talk so much .
I like it .
I love it
But it felt strange.
Empty.
Like the day was incomplete.
When we reached the gate, I saw my father standing a little far away, waving at me.
"Okay, bye," I said to Rayan.
"Bye," he nodded. "See you tomorrow."
I smiled and ran toward my dad.
Normal day.
Normal goodbye.
Normal walk to the car.
Except the whole time…
I kept thinking:
"Why do I feel like something is shifting? Why am I thinking so much? Why can't I calm down?"
I didn't find the answer.
---
Night —
Dinner was normal.
My brother talked about some stupid fight in his class.
My mother scolded him for spilling rice on the floor.
My father watched TV, barely reacting.
And I just sat quietly, eating slowly, thinking about the whole day.
After dinner, I went to my room, changed into my night clothes, tied my hair, and sat on the bed scrolling my phone.
Still no message from Aashi.
Still nothing.
My stomach twisted again.
Maybe she really overslept.
Maybe her phone wasn't working.
Maybe I'm overthinking.
I sighed deeply and opened a book to distract myself.
But then…
"Come outside."
My father's voice.
Sharp.
Clear.
Serious.
Not the usual tone.
Not the "bring me the remote" tone.
Not the "what are you doing?" tone.
Something else.
Something heavier.
I froze.
"Beta, come," my mother added softly.
And suddenly—
my heartbeat changed rhythm.
That strange heaviness from the morning returned, pressing against my ribs.
I stepped out of my room slowly.
My father was sitting on the sofa.
My mother beside him.
The big light in the living room was on.
Even the fan seemed louder than usual.
My brother had already gone to sleep.
The air felt… different.
My father gestured at the sofa opposite him.
"Sit."
Just one word.
But something inside me whispered:
"This is it. Something big is going to happen."
My throat dried.
My palms went cold.
I sat slowly, quietly, without saying a word.
And then—
My father exhaled deeply, like he'd been holding something inside all day.
My heart thudded once, twice, too loudly.
Something was wrong.
I could feel it.
I could feel it so clearly that my stomach turned, my fingers tightened, and my breath got stuck halfway.
Something was about to change.
Something I wasn't ready for.
And right before he opened his mouth to speak—