Ritu couldn't sleep that night.
She kept replaying the evening in her mind again and again.
The frozen road.
The silent world.
And that mysterious boy.
Her wrist still felt warm where he had held her.
"Maybe I imagined everything…" she whispered to herself.
But the fear in her chest felt too real to be imagination.
The next morning, Ritu got ready for college.
Everything looked normal again.
People were moving, talking, laughing.
Just like always.
Still, she felt different.
During lecture, she couldn't focus.
Her eyes kept moving toward the window, as if expecting something unusual.
Nothing happened.
After classes ended, Ritu started walking back alone.
Her steps were slow, careful.
She didn't know why… but she was waiting.
Minutes passed.
Cars moved.
People crossed the road.
Everything was normal.
Ritu sighed.
"See… it was just a one-time thing."
She took out her phone and started walking again.
Then suddenly…
Silence.
Her heart skipped a beat.
The sound of traffic disappeared.
A man talking on phone froze mid-sentence.
A bird in the sky stopped in the air.
Ritu didn't move this time.
She slowly turned around.
He was standing there again.
Same calm expression.
Same quiet eyes.
"You're not surprised this time," he said softly.
Ritu swallowed.
"So… it wasn't my imagination."
"No," he replied.
She took a step closer.
"Who are you?"
The boy didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he looked around at the frozen world.
"You shouldn't ask questions that will scare you," he said.
"I'm already scared," she replied honestly.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You're brave," he said.
Ritu crossed her arms.
"You stopped time again. That's not normal. And you expect me to stay calm?"
He chuckled quietly.
Then he suddenly looked serious.
"Tell me," he said, "did anything strange happen to you before yesterday?"
Ritu thought for a moment.
"No… my life is completely normal."
He looked at her carefully.
"Not anymore."
A chill ran down her spine.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
Before he could answer, he stepped closer.
Too close.
Ritu's heart started beating faster.
"You can move when time stops," he said quietly.
"That means… you're connected to this."
"Connected… how?" she whispered.
He didn't reply.
Instead, he raised his hand — and snapped his fingers.
Time started again.
Noise returned.
People moved.
Everything went back to normal.
Ritu looked around quickly.
Then she looked back at him.
But once again… he was gone.
Only this time… something was different.
In her hand, she noticed a small folded paper.
Her fingers trembled as she opened it.
Three words were written inside:
"Be careful tomorrow."
Ritu's heartbeat echoed loudly in her ears.
Tomorrow?
What was going to happen tomorrow?