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The aftermath of Arjun's mysterious fall sent shockwaves through the school. The once lively corridors now hummed with tension, whispers, and wary glances. The police presence on campus only heightened the unease. For Sanaya, however, the stakes had shifted.

She had made her move, but now she needed to ensure her survival.

---

Under the Spotlight

Sanaya sat across from the school principal, flanked by two stern-faced police officers. Her posture was composed, her expression neutral. She had been called in for questioning, as had many others who knew Arjun.

"We're simply asking everyone who interacted with Arjun recently," one of the officers explained. "It's routine."

Sanaya nodded. "Of course, I understand. I didn't know him well, but he seemed like a nice guy."

Her responses were measured, her tone calm. When they asked about the last time she had spoken to Arjun, she gave them a carefully crafted answer.

"I think it was during practice a few days ago. He was talking to Tushar about the upcoming cricket match. I didn't stay long."

The officers noted her words but gave nothing away. Sanaya walked out of the office with her mask firmly in place. She couldn't afford to let anyone see the cracks beneath the surface.

---

Maya's Resolve

Maya sat in the library, poring over her notes. She had started keeping a detailed record of everything she had observed about Sanaya-the subtle manipulations, the lies, and now, the connection to Arjun.

But it wasn't enough. She needed evidence, something concrete to bring to the authorities.

As she flipped through her notebook, Tushar approached her. His expression was conflicted, a mix of guilt and confusion.

"Maya, can we talk?"

She looked up, her eyes narrowing. "What do you want, Tushar?"

He hesitated, then sat across from her. "I've been thinking about what you said... about Sanaya. Something doesn't feel right."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "Finally seeing the cracks in her perfect act?"

He sighed. "I don't know. She's been acting strange lately, and Arjun... he mentioned something about her before he-" He stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

Maya leaned forward. "What did he say, Tushar? This could be important."

"He said she was hiding something. That she wasn't as innocent as she seemed." Tushar lowered his voice. "I didn't think much of it at the time, but now... I'm not so sure."

Maya nodded, her determination hardening. "We need to find out the truth."

---

The Police Close In

The investigation intensified. Witnesses were called back for follow-up questions, and the police began piecing together a timeline of Arjun's last movements.

One detail stood out: Arjun had been seen near the cricket field shortly before his fall. A few students mentioned seeing Sanaya nearby as well, though none could confirm if they had interacted.

The officers took note of these testimonies, and Sanaya's name slowly began to climb their list of persons of interest.

---

The Pressure Builds

Sanaya could feel the walls closing in. Tushar had grown distant, and Maya's presence loomed larger than ever. The whispers in the hallways were getting louder, and though no one said it to her face, she knew her name was being dragged into the rumors.

She couldn't afford any slip-ups. Every move she made had to be calculated, every word spoken with precision.

But one evening, as she sat in her room, going over her plans, she received a text that made her blood run cold.

"I know what you did. Meet me behind the cricket field at 10 PM, or I'll go to the police."

Sanaya stared at the message, her mind racing. Was it Maya? Someone else? It didn't matter. She couldn't ignore it.

---

The Confrontation

At 10 PM, Sanaya arrived at the cricket field, her heart pounding. The darkness was oppressive, the faint glow of the field lights casting eerie shadows.

"Maya?" she called out, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

There was no response.

Suddenly, a figure stepped out from the shadows. It wasn't Maya-it was Tushar.

"Tushar?" Sanaya's surprise was genuine.

He held up his phone, showing her the threatening text. "I know you're behind this, Sanaya. Stop playing games."

Sanaya's mind worked quickly, assessing the situation. "Tushar, I didn't send that message. I thought it was from someone else."

"Stop lying!" Tushar's voice rose. "I trusted you, Sanaya. Arjun trusted you. And now he's in the hospital because of you, isn't he?"

Sanaya's mask slipped for a fraction of a second, but she quickly recovered. "You're letting Maya get into your head. She's the one who's been spreading lies about me."

Tushar shook his head. "No more lies. I'm going to the police."

Sanaya took a step closer, her voice soft but threatening. "If you do that, you'll regret it, Tushar. You have no idea what I'm capable of."

The tension crackled in the air as they stood facing each other. For the first time, Tushar saw the darkness in Sanaya's eyes-the side of her she had so carefully hidden.

---

A Dangerous Game

As Tushar walked away, Sanaya knew she had to act quickly. She couldn't afford any more loose ends.

Meanwhile, Maya watched from a distance, her suspicions confirmed. She had followed Sanaya, hoping to catch her in the act. What she had witnessed was more than enough to solidify her resolve.

Sanaya's web of deceit was beginning to unravel, but she wasn't going down without a fight. The game had turned deadly, and the stakes were higher than ever.

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