7:00 AM – Silence After Storm
The first rays of sunlight hit the damp soil behind the base.
Smoke still rose gently from the place where Aarav's body was burned the night before. No one had spoken about it. No one needed to.
Inside the base, the air was heavy. Not with fear… but grief. Disbelief. And a strange sense of guilt.
Ayush sat near the front door, staring at the horizon. His machete lay untouched beside him.
Ayush (murmuring to himself):"Was justice supposed to feel this... hollow?"
Footsteps approached.
It was Shivam, holding two cups of hot black tea. He sat beside Ayush, handing him one.
Shivam (quietly):"You did what had to be done."
Ayush:"We all did. But it still left something behind… like a scar you can't see."
Shivam:"Then let it be a reminder. That we protect our own. Always."
They clinked cups.
8:30 AM – Kartik and Sanaa
Kartik hadn't spoken a word since last night.
He stood at the far end of the backyard, shirtless, bruised hands clenched, practicing strikes against a tree.
Each punch was heavier than the last.
Sanaa walked up behind him, holding a cloth and a bowl of antiseptic water.
She gently touched his shoulder. He flinched.
Sanaa (softly):"It's over. You can breathe now."
Kartik (broken voice):"I should've been there sooner… I should've protected you better…"
Sanaa:"You protected me the moment you walked into my life."
She slowly wiped his bruised knuckles, tears silently running down her cheeks.
Sanaa:"You didn't just save me… you reminded every girl in this house that she's safe here."
They looked into each other's eyes.
A long silence.
Kartik (whispers):"I'd burn the world for you."
Sanaa (smiling through tears):"Then stay here. And build one with me instead."
They hugged — tight, trembling, human.
10:00 AM – The Group Meeting
Ayush called everyone to the common room.
The mood was heavy. But they gathered.
Ayush (standing in front):"What happened yesterday… wasn't easy. But it was necessary. We've all lost too much already. We cannot allow monsters to grow among us."
Everyone nodded, silent.
Ayush (cont'd):"But this… this is the line. From this point on — no more secrets. No more broken trust. If we're going to survive, we do it together."
Ananya (gently):"We also need to heal. Not just wounds, but our hearts."
Suraj (from the back):"And the kids. They saw too much. I'll take charge of them. Keep their days full of stories, learning, games… innocence."
Ayush looked at him, nodded.
Ayush:"Good. And Shivam — help reinforce the south gate. It's weak after last week's attack."
Shivam (smirking):"Already started. And added spikes. No one's sneaking through that again."
Lucky:"What about food supplies? We're down to four days of clean grains."
Ayush:"We'll send a small group tomorrow to scout east. Only essentials. Safety first."
A slow shift. From mourning… to rebuilding.
1:00 PM – A Quiet Moment
Ananya found Ayush on the roof, staring at the sky. A small smile curved her lips.
Ananya:"You've been quiet all day."
Ayush:"Trying to listen to the world."
Ananya (smiling):"What's it saying?"
Ayush:"That maybe… after all the blood… we will get few days of peace."
She sat beside him.
Ananya:"Do you ever think about… the future? What happens after all this?"
Ayush looked at her, finally allowing a smile.
Ayush:"Yeah. I think about a house by a lake. A child running barefoot. And you… yelling at me for burning the rice again."
Ananya (laughing softly):"That future sounds perfect."
She gently leaned her head on his shoulder.
5:00 PM – Music and Laughter
For the first time in weeks, laughter echoed through the base.
Lucky had found an old speaker. Suraj rigged up a power source using a car battery. Music played — soft, old Bollywood classics.
Kids danced.
Sanaa cooked simple dal for everyone — her way of saying, "We're still here."
Ayush pulled Ananya into a mock dance. She kicked him playfully.
Kartik joined after being dragged by Sanaa.
Even Suraj chuckled watching them. Just for one night, they allowed joy back into their bones.
8:00 PM – Rooftop Stars
The group sat on the roof, wrapped in blankets, looking at stars.
Lucky:"You think people in space survived this apocalypse?"
Shivam (grinning):"Yeah, they're probably watching us like Bigg Boss: Zombie Edition."
Suraj (laughing):"They'd vote Kartik out first. Too serious."
Kartik (smirking):"I'd take the camera crew with me."
They laughed.
And for a few hours… the world felt normal.
11:00 PM – Final Scene
Ayush sat alone near the campfire.
He held the burnt end of a stick and scratched something into the wall beside the entrance.
"Scars don't define us. What we choose next does."
Ananya walked up behind him, holding two mugs.
Ananya (softly):"We'll be okay, won't we?"
Ayush (nodding):"As long as we stay together."
They looked out at the stars.
Darkness around them.
But hope in their hearts.