"What happened to her?"
"I don't know." Nagul said.
No one said anything after that. The explanation was simple enough, but it didn't sit right with Akasa.
With nothing urgent left to discuss, the conversation drifted back to screens and half-finished tasks.
While Kumar was coding all by himself in his zone but suddenly, he noticed Akasa's faded face and said—
"What happened Akasa do you know her."
"Umm… no, it's just—that was a serious mess"
Kumar grinned: "done deal, Akasa. Big thanks, Nagul."
Eyes locked on the whirring fan, Akasa blurted, "Ahh… crap—yes, let's head out."
Staying felt louder than leaving. Akasa picked up his phone and stepped out.
Room behind them, Kumar went his way.
Akasa went to the balcony above.
Dawn broke with a reddish sky—is it a sign? Sweating buckets, Akasa's standing.
The evening air was cooler, but it didn't help.
"Hey, chilling here alone—" Adi suddenly broke out at the balcony.
Fidgeting with his nails, Akasa waved him off: "No… nothing. You can go."
Forehead pressed, Adi stared hard: "Fever? You look pale—what happened, spill."
After five minutes of relentless grilling, Akasa caved truth poured out.
"Listen close—you're my only hope. Don't breathe a word to anyone, Adi."
"Believe in me Akasa." Adi replied.
"Crushed on a girl since semester one's kick-off."
"Can't spill all the details now." Eyes off Akasa said.
Grinning, Adi clapped his shoulder: "Piece of cake. I'll help you ask her out."
"No, it is not about that."
"Then what."
He recapped Nagul's words to Adi in a rush.
Yash circled in, arms draped over them: "Aw, Akasa—tears for a chick? Lame."
Glued in place, they eyed the sky: "How much did you hear?"
Yash eyed Adi, narrowing his gaze. "From when Akasa pulled that constipated face," he said, clapping sharply.
Akash burst out crying: "Ain't shit amazing for you in my drama."
The eyebrows pull down and together, creating vertical lines between them and Yash said—
"Don't speak to me that way for a chick."
Red-hot rage lit Akasa's skin, fist quivering: "Stop, man—if no friendship, you'd be floored."
Nose-to-nose, Yash flipped his eyes: "Pfft, a single chick? Hundreds come and go."
"I don't give a damn about them—friendship trumps it all for me."
Akasa grabbed Yash's collar tight. "Stop that shit."
"I ain't." He yanked harder
accidental push —Yash fell hard, fabric torn to bits.
Akasa's eyes flicked toward the corridor—
"I didn't do it purposely, I am sorry."
"You crossed the line—pay with blood," Stance locked, Yash spat.
He surged forward at full speed.
Fist rocketing toward Akash's mouth.
Akash stood frozen, soulless and dazed.
Yash's fist rose to his face but hung there—no punch landed.
Hand on ripped collar, Yash said—
"We were friends—but not anymore."
"Next time, your face gets smashed," he added.
"Hey, don't fight we are friends"— Adi cut it out.
Water filling his eyes, Yash ran straight to his room.
Standing there an hour, eyes on the darkest sky, Akasa—
"Was that really necessary?"