The campus looked the same.
But Sarthak—
Was not.
He walked through the corridor, eyes calm… but sharper than ever.
Watching.
Observing.
Measuring.
"She was already pushed."
That sentence had changed everything.
This was not guilt anymore.
This was—
Truth hunting.
"Sarthak!"
Vansh caught up to him, slightly out of breath.
"Bro, where did you disappear yesterday? I went to the old building—"
Sarthak stopped.
"You went there?"
"Yeah. You said secret mission, so obviously I followed."
"…Did you see anyone?"
Vansh frowned. "No. It was empty. Creepy as hell. Why?"
Silence.
That did not match.
Sarthak clearly heard a voice.
Saw a figure.
Then—
Either…
Someone was lying.
Or—
Someone was playing a much bigger game.
"…Nothing," Sarthak said.
Vansh narrowed his eyes. "You are hiding something again."
"Yes."
The direct answer caught him off guard.
"…At least you are honest now," Vansh muttered.
Classroom.
Everything looked normal.
But now—
Sarthak saw things differently.
Mahi was already there.
Sitting quietly.
But her eyes—
Immediately found him.
Concern.
Guilt.
Fear.
All at once.
And then—
Riya.
She entered slowly.
Avoiding eye contact.
Avoiding him.
Because of yesterday.
Good.
That meant she was safe.
At least for now.
And then—
Ananya.
Confident as always.
Sharp gaze.
But this time—
She was not just looking at him.
She was studying him.
Like she knew—
Something had changed.
Sarthak sat down.
And for the first time—
He did not avoid them.
He observed them.
All three.
Suspect 1: Mahi
She was there that day
She hid the truth
She knows more than she says
Suspect 2: Ananya
She knows his past details
Too aggressive
Too focused on him
Suspect 3: Unknown
The messages
The voice
The one from yesterday
And then—
A thought.
A dangerous one.
"…What if," Sarthak muttered under his breath,
"…they are all connected?"
"Sarthak?"
Mahi's voice.
Soft.
"We need to talk."
"…Now?"
"Yes."
He looked at her.
Then—
Stood up.
"Come."
They moved to the empty staircase.
Quiet.
Isolated.
Perfect.
"…You went there, didn't you?" Mahi asked.
"Yes."
Her expression tightened.
"…And?"
Silence.
Sarthak looked directly into her eyes.
"…She did not jump."
Mahi froze.
"…What?"
"She was pushed."
The words landed like a shockwave.
Mahi stepped back slightly.
"…No… that is not possible…"
"You said you were there."
"I was!"
"Then tell me," Sarthak's voice hardened,
"…who else was there?"
Silence.
Mahi's lips parted—
But no words came out.
"…I…"
Her hands trembled slightly.
"I did not see anyone else…"
Sarthak watched her carefully.
Every expression.
Every movement.
Truth—
Or lie?
"…You are hiding something," he said.
"I am not!"
"Then why are you scared?"
Silence.
Because she was.
"I…" she whispered,
"…I heard something."
That changed everything.
"…What?"
"A voice…"
Sarthak's eyes narrowed.
"…What kind of voice?"
"I could not recognize it…"
Her breathing became uneven.
"But it was there… before she…"
She stopped.
"…Before she fell."
Silence.
That matched.
Exactly.
Sarthak stepped back.
So it was true.
Someone else was there.
But then—
A new question.
"…Why didn't you tell this before?"
Mahi closed her eyes.
"…Because no one would believe me."
A pause.
"…And because I was scared."
Fear.
The same reason everything broke.
Sarthak exhaled slowly.
"…We are done being scared."
Mahi looked at him.
And for the first time—
She nodded without hesitation.
"…Yes."
But outside—
Someone was listening.
A shadow near the staircase corner.
Silent.
Still.
Watching.
And then—
A faint smile.
A vibration.
Sarthak's phone.
He checked instantly.
"Good progress."
His eyes darkened.
"But you are still looking in the wrong place."
Silence.
"…What do you mean?"
No reply.
Just one last message.
"Trust no one."
Sarthak slowly lowered his phone.
His gaze shifted.
Toward the classroom.
Where—
Vansh was laughing casually.
Riya sat quietly.
Ananya watched from the window.
And Mahi stood beside him.
Anyone.
Could be lying.
Anyone—
Could be the reason.
Sarthak's expression hardened.
"…Then I will not trust anyone."
Not even—
The ones closest to him.
To be continued…