Two days went by in a haze.
Those two days seemed drawn out and slow — as if the world itself were holding its breath waiting for something to break.
Then, it was time.
The night was crisp and bleak, the heavens painted in hues of violet and gold. We all understood what tonight was going to be about, but none of us uttered it out loud. Krishanu's "plan" — the one he hadn't deigned to share fully — was finally going to roll out.
---
Earlier in the afternoon, Krishanu had greeted us outside the school compound. His tone was measured, the same one he used whenever he'd already decided something.
"I've established her whereabouts," he informed, talking about Jaanvi. "She waits outside that sweet shop after school. PK, Krrish — you guys will take her there this evening. Inform her Ravi's in trouble. She'll be on her way. Pick her up at the point Mayank sends."
I blinked. "Wait, you're taking her there?"
He nodded. "She's gotta see it. That's the plan."
PK frowned, still unsure. "You're sure about this, bro?"
Krishanu's voice was steady. "Completely. Just don't say my name."
And with that, he left.
---
Evening.
PK and Krrish spotted Jaanvi outside the school gate, laughing with her friends. She looked carefree, like none of the past weeks had ever happened.
They exchanged a glance — it was time.
PK approached first. "Hey… you're Ravi's girlfriend, right?"
He phrased it in a pretentious worried tone, just enough to catch her attention.
She blinked in shock. "Yeah? What about him?"
Krrish moved closer, voice steady but firm. "Please, come with us. Ravi's fighting someone now. It doesn't look good."
Her eyes widened in an instant. "Huh? He's fighting again? I told him not to—" she trailed off mid-sentence, mumbling something under her breath. "That idiot never listens…"
Then, nearly whispering to herself, "Krishanu may have been weak, but at least he wasn't like that. Ravi's been such a nuisance recently…."
PK balled his fists but worked up a courteous smile. "Please, just come. You'll see."
Jaanvi nodded, summoning her friends. "Come with us. Just in case."
They followed PK and Krrish carefully through the winding streets as dusk gradually deepened into evening.
---
Half an hour earlier, Krishanu had already left for Ravi's usual hangout — an old tea stall tucked behind a row of cracked buildings.
Ravi was there, as expected, surrounded by his group — four boys who laughed too loud and acted tougher than they really were.
The moment Krishanu stepped in, Ravi's smirk widened.
"Hey, look who's here," he sneered. "The guy I told you about — the one I defeated without him laying a hand on me."
The group erupted into laughter.
Krishanu didn't respond. He only smiled weakly.
"Then how about we discuss it somewhere else?" he said calmly. "You and your friends can accompany us too. Just… a small discussion."
Ravi smirked, raising an eyebrow. "Oh? Got some courage now, eh? All right, all right. Let's find out what this is."
One of his friends snickered. "Last time only Ravi enjoyed. This time, we all will."
Krishanu slowly turned his back, never losing his smile.
"We'll see who enjoys this time," he murmured, before exiting.
The tone in his voice caused the amusement behind him to cease for a moment.
---
Present —
The narrow alley near the abandoned shop was empty except for the flicker of a lone streetlight.
I stood there, phone in hand, watching the location pin on the screen — the one I'd sent to PK a few minutes earlier.
Then, one by one, the pieces started falling into place.
First came PK and Krrish, taking Jaanvi and her two friends down into the alley. Their footsteps clapped off into the brick walls, hesitant and uncertain. Jaanvi asked them where is ravi. Wait a minute he's on the way— PK said.
Then the second group — Ravi and his four friends, joking, laughing, having no idea what they were getting themselves into.
And last, from far down at the end of the alley, stepping out of the shadows, came Krishanu.
Quiet.
Silent.
Facial expressionless.
Three groups.
One place.
One evening.
No one said a word. The air itself seemed to be frozen.
And at that instant, looking at our eyes meeting, I realized —
the scheme was never about rage.
It was for closure.
What Krishanu had initiated could no longer be halted.
---
To be continued.