Morning light slowly filled Kami's room.
Kami opened his eyes and sat up suddenly.
The first thing he noticed—
The sword was gone.
Just last night, it had been right beside him.
He looked around the room again.
Nothing.
His heart started beating faster.
He checked the time.
School time had already passed.
Kami sighed.
"Today… I won't go to school."
---
He stepped out of his room and called out,
"Maa…?"
No reply.
"Papa…?"
Silence.
Kami frowned.
Did they go to the lab again?
Or maybe they haven't come back yet…
"It's fine," he muttered.
"I'll tell them everything in the evening."
He felt exhausted.
He took some milk from the fridge and drank it slowly.
His body wanted to sleep again.
But then he remembered—
Maybe the news said something about what happened last night.
Kami sat on the sofa and turned on the TV.
But before he could even focus—
Sleep took over.
---
When he woke up again, it was already evening.
Kami checked the time.
"Yaar… I slept way too much today."
He looked around.
Still no sign of his parents.
His head felt heavy.
Automatically, he took out a small medicine bottle.
A pill.
He swallowed it.
He didn't even remember why he took it every day.
Only one thing—
His father had told him to.
So Kami never questioned it.
---
His phone rang.
It was his friends.
"Why didn't you come to school today?" one of them asked.
Kami told them everything.
About the night.
The star.
The sword.
The forest.
There was silence.
Then—
"Bro… are you okay?"
"Maybe your mind is just messed up after everything."
That hurt.
Then one of them said,
"Tonight we're going out. Come with us."
Kami hesitated.
"Maa will scold me if I go without asking."
One friend laughed.
"We'll explain it to aunty."
Another added,
"By the way… you never introduced your parents to us."
Kami thought about it.
"Yeah… they're usually home only at night.
And I never really had a reason before."
---
Night arrived.
Still, no sign of his parents.
Kami stared at the door.
Maybe I should go out…
"They'll scold me later," he whispered.
"I'll listen."
When his friends arrived on their bikes, Kami went with them.
Three bikes.
Kami sat behind one of them.
The night city looked beautiful.
Lights.
Roads.
Wind.
Kami smiled slightly.
They raced through the streets, laughing.
---
Suddenly, Kami's phone rang.
His friend asked, "Whose call?"
Kami replied softly,
"My girlfriend's."
Everyone reacted instantly.
"Arre! School ki most popular girl!"
"Stop the bike—let him talk first!"
Kami talked to her for a bit.
Then she said,
"Let's meet."
Kami's heart jumped.
His friends grinned.
"Say yes! We're here to help."
Kami agreed.
On the way, his friends kept teasing him.
"When was the last time you even met her?"
"Bro is nervous!"
Soon, they reached her house.
She was standing near the gate.
Kami smiled and walked toward her—
But she stopped him.
"Wait here," she said.
"I have a surprise."
"Close your eyes."
She asked everyone to close their eyes.
They did.
Then she said—
"Open them."
---
Kami's smile vanished.
Standing in front of him was the same boy—
The bully he had fought at school.
Kami didn't understand.
Why was he here?
The girl smiled and said calmly,
"This is the surprise."
"From today… he's my new boyfriend."
Kami couldn't speak.
He couldn't even breathe properly.
Before he could react—
The bully and the girl kissed.
On purpose.
Right in front of him.
Just to break him.
---
Kami's friends lost it.
They rushed forward angrily.
But Kami raised his hand.
"Stop."
They looked at him.
"If you touch them today," Kami said quietly,
"Our friendship ends here."
Everyone froze.
Without another word, they took Kami back home.
No one spoke.
The mood was dead.
---
Kami entered his house and closed the door.
He didn't say anything.
After waiting outside for a while, his friends left.
He needs space… they thought.
We'll talk tomorrow.
---
The next day at school—
Whispers filled the classroom.
"Did you hear? Kami and his girlfriend broke up."
"She's dating the bully now."
Kami's friends sat quietly.
Worried.
Class started.
But Kami didn't come.
The teacher entered and said,
"Kami has submitted a letter.
He's unwell and won't attend school for a few days."
---
That evening, his friends went to his house.
The door was locked.
They called him.
No answer.
Then they heard something.
A phone ringing.
From the dustbin nearby.
Kami's phone.
Their hearts sank.
---
To be continued…