Scene: Tension in the Hostel Room
Ruhan was pacing restlessly in his room. "Where could Nivan have gone? Without telling... not even picking up calls... I hope he's not in any trouble?"
Neerav asked, "What happened, Ruhan?"
"Nothing... just thinking about Nivan. Don't know where he went? I called too, he's not picking up. Let's go to the hostel, maybe we'll find out."
"Yeah bro, let's go. You call the friends, I'll get the jeep out now."
Ruhan brought his bag. Neerav drove the jeep and Ruhan also got in with all the friends. They all set off for the hostel.
After a while, they reached the hostel. Ruhan quickly got out of the jeep and ran to his room. There he saw—Nivan had just come out of the bathroom.
Ruhan said angrily, "You! Bro, where were you today? And you didn't even pick up calls? Who do you think you are? You didn't make a single call! You could have at least told someone!"
Nivan put on his clothes and said, "That... that Ruhan, I..."
Just then, all the friends came in.
Neerav said, "What's going on? Are you two fighting?"
"No... I was just talking to Ruhan," Nivan said.
Anvesh asked, "Bro, where were you today?" "I was feeling a bit unwell,so I went to the doctor early in the morning. I thought you guys would worry, so I left without telling." Ishika said,"Yeah, but bro, you could have at least picked up our calls, right?" "That,Ishika, my phone was on silent and I was in the hospital. I was on a drip, so I had to sleep there, and because it was on silent, I couldn't hear your calls." Nisha said,"You could have called us after coming to the hostel. We were all so worried about you, man." Neerav said,"Sorry, guys, his phone was on silent, so he couldn't hear." Ruhan said,"What happened that you had to go to the hospital? And if you had to go, you could have taken at least one of us with you!" "I was feeling dizzy in the morning,got a little weak. So I was put on a drip. I didn't want to bother you guys, so just..." Ruhan said,"What's the bother in that? You could have at least told me! I wouldn't say no to you, would I?" Neerav intervened,"Bro, calm down... everyone is watching here. Bro, what we all mean is, if something like this happens next time, tell one of us before going." "Okay guys,sorry. I apologize," Nivan said. Everyone started changing their clothes.The boys went to one room and the girls went to another. Then everyone sat together. Ishika said,"Ruhan, today's food is very tasty, isn't it? Here, eat..." Ruhan said,"Ishika, don't you understand? I can eat with my own hands. Stop acting like a child." Saying this, he got up and left. All the friends were left staring at him. Anvesh said,"What's wrong with him? He never gets angry like this..." Neerav said,"No bro, he's just a little stressed. His assignment got messed up, so maybe he's tense." Nisha said,"Okay guys, let's all eat. We'll calm him down later." Neerav said,"Yeah, let him be alone for a while. Ishika, don't feel bad, he's just frustrated about the assignment." Ishika said,"It's okay, Neerav, I can understand." Nivan kept listening to everyone quietly and thought—maybe it's a college problem. Everyone ate their food.The girls went to their room and the boys to theirs.
Hostel Room - A Deep Conversation
Nivan opened the door to Ruhan's room. Ruhan was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
Nivan: "Bro, what happened? Why did you run off leaving the food? Everyone was waiting for you."
Ruhan didn't take his eyes off the ceiling, just said softly: "Nothing... just college tension. The assignment isn't going well."
Nivan sat on the bed next to him. He knew it wasn't just assignment tension. Their eyes said a lot without words - a strange connection that perhaps existed from a previous life.
Both were silent for a few minutes. Then Nivan got up and said: "Okay, if you won't eat food, you have to eat at least something. I'll get it."
Ruhan tried to refuse: "Oh no, you..." But Nivan left for the hostel mess without listening.
Scene: Hostel Garden - Friends Talking
A little later, Nivan returned with food on two plates. He handed one plate to Ruhan. Ruhan finally tried to smile and started eating.
Nivan: "If you need to talk like always, then tell me. I'm here, right?"
Ruhan: "You understand, don't you? Sometimes it feels... like an old burden is placed on my chest. Those dreams... that strange feeling..."
Just then, Neerav arrived there. Seeing both sitting together, he smiled: "What's this! Is there a secret meeting going on here?"
Nivan gestured for him to sit with them too. Neerav sat down and said seriously: "Listen, Ruhan, you seem very troubled today. We are your friends, if there's a problem, tell us."
Ruhan finally opened up: "I don't understand myself... just feeling very strange. As if some big task was left unfinished."
Neerav said wisely: "Bro, next time anything like this happens, just tell us. Why should you be troubled alone? We are all with you, right?"
Nivan agreed: "Neerav is right. We are friends, we are there for each other."
Gratitude was shining in Ruhan's eyes. He looked at both of them and said softly: "Thank you... really. I'm fine now."
The three friends kept eating, and slowly Ruhan's mood also started to normalize. Their conversation not only reduced Ruhan's tension but also strengthened their friendship.
---
Ruhan's mood had started to improve, but when Neerav reached over and picked up Nivan's phone, his eyes fell on another message in a hidden folder within the screen. The message preview read:
Mysterious Sender: "The item received yesterday was successful. No one should find out until the next opportunity arises. Silence!"
Neerav's breath caught in his throat. He looked at Nivan, who was still reassuring Ruhan. The phone screen went black again, but the final word pierced his mind like an arrow – "Silence!"