The college courtyard was buzzing like a marketplace. First-year students were scattered everywhere—some excited, some yawning, some pretending to be excited and yawning.
Two blue college buses waited at the gate.
Kiran stared at them like they were funeral vehicles.
"Bro… why are these buses always smelling like dust and old socks?" he whispered.
Vicky shrugged. "Standard college package. Education + dehydration + intoxication through bus smell."
Kiran nodded. "Correct."
They found seats near the back. The fan above them shook like it was about to detach and attack someone.
As the bus started rolling, Kiran elbowed him."Okay, now tell me the actual truth… why are you so obsessed with TCS Butterfly?"
Vicky stared out the window. Chennai's traffic rolled by—flyovers, cut-fruit stalls, autos trying to kill pedestrians with style.
"I tested the device," he said quietly."It picked something up from there. Strong."
Kiran raised an eyebrow. "Device? You mean that 'USB-charger-but-from-another-planet' thing?"
"Yeah."
"And it showed… what exactly?"
"I don't know. Just two… blips. Then gone."
Kiran clicked his tongue. "And your brilliant plan is to go there and… what? Ask the security uncle if they lost any 'blip'?"
"No," Vicky said. "I just need to see the place. Maybe something will click."
"Bro, this is TCS, not Ramoji Film City. Nothing will click."
Vicky ignored him.
He rested his head against the glass window, the bus vibrating beneath him. His thoughts ran in circles.
What if those blips were nothing?What if it was a glitch?What if… that dream wasn't a dream?
He shook his head.
It didn't matter.He was here.He had a direction.
Kiran nudged him again."At least tell me what you'll do once we reach."
"I'll look around," Vicky said. "Check the buildings. The layout. Any lab areas."
"And?"
"If I get a chance… I'll use the device again."
Kiran blinked slowly."Inside TCS campus. Filled with CCTV cameras. Security. Tech guys. And you want to switch on your alien Walkman."
"It's not alien."
"It is definitely alien."
"Look—" Vicky leaned in, lowering his voice. "If something's happening around that building, I need to know. I'm literally getting pulled toward it."
Kiran stared at him for a second, then shook his head.
"Bro… you're going to get me arrested one day. And for what? I don't even know."
Vicky smirked."You can run away. Leave me."
Kiran folded his arms."I'm Tamil. We don't leave friends. We leave girlfriends, wives, and sometimes family WhatsApp groups… but not friends."
Vicky laughed.
The mood lightened, but the tension stayed under the surface like a slow current.
A group of girls were taking selfies two rows ahead. One shouted, "Butterfly campus da! Heard they have slides inside the office!"
Kiran leaned forward, eyes widening."Slides? Like playground slides?"
"Corporate slides," Vicky corrected. "For stress relief."
"That's even better! We should also get slides in hostel."
"Hostel will get slides when we get running water without ghosts in the bathroom," Vicky said.
"True."
The bus turned into the main highway, picking up speed. The cityscape washed past—big IT buildings, metro pillars, endless dust banners hanging from every corner saying ADMISSIONS OPEN.
Vicky checked his pocket—the Beacon was there, cold and perfectly silent.
Today you're getting tested, he thought.Either I get a clue… or I accept I'm imagining things.
Kiran nudged him one last time.
"Bro… if anything starts glowing or vibrating in your pocket, please tell me BEFORE it explodes."
"I will."
"And if security catches us—"
"Run."
"Yes, I will run. Leaving you behind. With full confidence."
The bus slowed.
Up ahead, past the gates and guards…
The massive TCS Butterfly Campus rose like a steel-and-glass spaceship.
Vicky sat up straighter.
Kiran whispered,"Okay, bro… we're here. Now what?"
Vicky swallowed hard.
"Now?Now we go inside…And I hope I find something that makes sense."