Timeline of Events: 2008

Karan's POV:

Oh, well.

Today's lessons had two simultaneous chemistry lectures.

'What an exhausting day!'

The chatter of my classmates droned on, a cacophony of voices and laughter filling the classroom. Yet, for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to join in.

I trudged along the crowded hallway, my backpack feeling heavier with each step. The lights flickered overhead, casting an eerie glow on the faces of passing students. Their animated conversations and laughter felt distant, as if I were underwater, struggling to breathe.

As I sat at my desk, staring down at the blank page in front of me, I couldn't help but feel a sense of detachment from the world around me. It was as if I was watching everything from a distance, unable to truly participate or connect.

Jay was sitting at the other end of the room and was busy looking out of the window. I was planning to sit besides him but my plan failed when I saw Mr. Verma, our chemistry teacher walk into the classroom.

He walked to the front of the room and dropped a stack of worn textbooks onto the desk with a thud.

The students slowly fall silent, sensing the initiation of the class.

"Alright, everyone, settle down. Today, we're diving into organic chemistry — specifically, hydrocarbons and their classification."

A few students straighten up, pulling their notebooks closer.

On the blackboard, Mr. Verma draws a skeletal structure of a hydrocarbon chain, the white chalk squeaking against the board.

"Let's start simple. Hydrocarbons are compounds made up entirely of hydrogen and carbon atoms. They can be classified into two major categories: saturated and unsaturated. Who can tell me the difference?"

Riya, sitting in the middle of the class, raised her hand confidently.

"Saturated hydrocarbons only have single bonds between carbon atoms, right? While unsaturated hydrocarbons have at least one double or triple bond."

"Exactly! So, if we look at this example," he points to a structure of ethane, C₂H₆, "This is a saturated hydrocarbon, also known as an alkane. Can anyone name an unsaturated one?"

I try my best to concentrate, scribbling notes where I can. Organic chemistry has always appealed to me, though, there were too many formulas to memorize.

When the class momentarily falls into an awkward silence, I decide to stand up and answer the question.

"Uh, ethene? That's a double bond, so it's an alkene, right?"

I steal a glance at Jay who's giving me two thumbs up and I can't help but grin when I take my seat.

He beams. "Spot on, Karan. Ethene, or ethylene, has a double bond between its carbon atoms, making it an alkene."

Mr. Verma then proceeds to draw the structure for ethene, C₂H₄.

"And if we had a triple bond, we'd have an alkyne. Now, who remembers what homologous series are?"

Rahul, the infamous bully, answers this time. "It's a group of compounds where each successive member differs by a -CH₂ group"

Scribbling some more notes in my chemistry notebook, I notice a faint smile forming on my lips.

'Maybe there was still hope, after all.'

Arav's POV:

'Maybe there was still hope, after all.'

Flashes of the memories ran through my mind like a movie and I couldn't help but feel like a burden.

The people who I chased, hoping they'd be my friends, turned against me, while the ones I had turned against, Jay and Karan, the friends who were more than brothers to me, remained.

Destiny has a way of turning things around and two years later, even while the case remains unsolved, they're determined to fight for me.

A question lingers, however:

'Do I deserve it? Do I deserve their faith and perseverance for me even after I have let them down so many times?'

You bullied them, it's a miracle they're even by your side! Or... pretending to be.

My inner critic appeared to be my sole true friend during the highs and lows, but the mockery stung too much.

'We made amends. Of course we're back together.'

What if they're pretending all along?

'But there's no need to.. what could they even gain out of it?'

Keep convincing yourself that.

I let out a sigh and paced around the room when a letter, that was carefully tucked under the DVD box, caught my attention.

The letter had so many crease lines on the exterior from being folded and unfolded several times, almost as if the person writing it wasn't sure if they wanted to write it or if they did, they hid it so far out of sight that the words might disappear.

I blew the dust off of it and slowly unfolded the paper. The edges were frayed and the ink had dried.

'How long ago was it even written? And why was it hidden for such a long time?'

With a shaky breath, I start to read the letter.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Patel,

We trust this message reaches you safely. We find ourselves compelled to share a matter of great concern, one that weighs heavy on our hearts.

It is with a heavy heart that we write to you at this early hour, burdened by the gravity of the events that unfolded.

Recently, it has come to our attention that Arav was involved in an online exchange with someone by the name of Maya, and though we prefer not to dive into the specific details at this point, this interaction has led to certain unforeseen and troubling circumstances.

We understand the importance of handling this matter delicately and respecting the privacy of those involved. However, as our families have always shared a bond of trust and support, we felt it necessary to inform you of the situation.

While we are still processing the full extent of the situation ourselves, we believe it is important to take some time away to reflect, distance ourselves from external pressures, and allow Arav the space to come to terms with what has transpired.

We feel this period of retreat will also give him the opportunity to understand the weight of his actions and allow us as a family to address the matter in a way that encourages reflection and growth.

We kindly ask that during this time, no attempts be made to contact us, as we believe it is essential for Arav and us to go through this process without any outside influences or added stress. We will return and reconnect when we feel it is the right time.

Please consider this letter not as an accusation but as an earnest plea for collective strength and resilience. We look forward to your support and cooperation as we navigate through this challenging phase as a united front.

This decision is not made lightly, but we trust you will understand that it is necessary for the betterment of our family. We deeply appreciate your understanding and discretion in this delicate matter.

With sincere regards,
Mr. and Mrs. Shah

I read the letter again and again until the faded ink on the paper seemed to be disappearing.

It wasn't clear but I could see it was there — the accusation. They thought I did something, despite my attempts at trying to explain.

Life is all about second chances they say, but how long can you break before you're finally shattered?

I had explained my dad, though... how could he not see the truth? It hurt to be misunderstood, but hurt more to be accused of something I never did.

Would they ever understand?

Karan's POV:

Would they ever understand?

The thought crosses my mind as I think about the events of the past few months. The bullying never ceased. Rahul, Kiran and Faiz always found ways to pass a snide remark or pull pranks.

Despite our attempts at avoiding them or calling them out on it, they never listened. It wasn't as often or severe as before, which was relieving but I still hoped they'd stop entirely.

I do wonder what kept them going. Why make subtle remarks or do something so subtle yet annoying, just to tick us off?

Jay said he'd join in a while because he was submitting his Physics assignment two days before it was due. I smiled at his admiration.

I was too absorbed in my thoughts to see a figure walking in my direction, and I ran into them. When I looked up, I noticed an unknown woman, maybe in her late twenties or early thirties. I couldn't guess.

'Must be a new faculty here. I wonder which subject she'd be taking.'

Just as I was about to apologize and move on, I saw her outstretched hands in front of me. Threads of red and black adorned her right and an antique watch was on her left.

I looked down immediately, not knowing what to do.

"I am sorry, I didn't notice you." I mutter quickly, not knowing what to do.

For some reason, none of us move. Maybe she wants to talk.

"Don't worry, its good. Oh, I didn't introduce myself!" she dropped her hands to her sides and introduced her name.

A gasp escapes my lips and my ears start to ring.

No.

'I need to run right now.' I think to myself but the shock of the revelation keeps me planted to my spot.

Before I could process it, she disappeared out of my sight.

'Is this real or is life playing pranks?'

"Is this real or is life playing pranks?"

Jay asked, his expressions mirroring mine.

His hands were shaking and the book in his hand, which I assume was his signed assignment, was about to fall too. The pallor of his face dropped, almost becoming white.

One might think we saw a ghost. That, probably might be better than what we had witnessed.

None of spoke another word but our expressions conveyed the same message:

We need to find Suresh sir.

"We need to find Suresh sir."

Jay explained to someone when they questioned why we were running.

The break had just began but it felt like the end of the world.

On the third right, we found his cabin but before we could barge in, we stopped in our tracks.

There she was, the same unfamiliar woman casually talking to Suresh sir.

"We have never seen this side to him, is he really Suresh sir?" Jay asked me as we watched the unfolding chatter from the window.

"He must be, either that or he knows this person really well. Should we interrupt them?" I ask, turning my face to Jay.

"That doesn't sound like a good idea. We should wait."

We should probably be eating our food and not bother about people's lives.

But, this was different.

This person was HER.

The person who...

My train of thoughts was interrupted as Suresh sir noticed us and beckoned us to his cabin.

We share a confused look before deciding to go in.

"Eavesdropping on someone's conversation, especially a teacher's, is not a good idea, you know that, right?"

Suresh sir asked us in a calm collected tone. But I could sense he wanted to say more.

"We're sorry sir." Jay and I say in unison, our gazes fixed on our black shoes that was complemented by the grey tiles beneath our feet.

'Can the Earth open and swallow us? I would really wish it did.'

"I met you down the corridor, right?" She asked, turning to us.

Her voice was sweet and raspy and almost... welcoming.

None of us answered.

"I couldn't catch their names, are they your students, Suresh?" She returned her attention to Suresh sir and we're thankful that she did, because our cheeks were flushed red.

"Yes, they are." He answered, his lips forming a tight smile.

'This was getting more awkward by the minute.'

I looked at Jay who seemed to be thinking the same.

We start to walk out of his cabin, hoping to pretend none of this happened when a familiar name reached us.

More confused looks were exchanged between us.

Jay took a deep breath and asked the question, "Wait, did you say you worked for QD?"

There it was, the answer that we were searching for.

Yet, we don't think we were ready to hear it.

She nodded. "Worked for a while there but shifted later on. May I know why you ask, though?"

"It's... It's just we know of someone from that company but no records exist of that company." I try to explain, my words an awkward stumble into the unknown.

"Oh," her expression turned grim, "I could never figure out why, either. If it's not too much to ask, could I know their name?"

Jay and I look at each other before one of us utters the name.

"Maya Ramesh."

"Hey, that's me! Okay, that would explain the awkwardness. How do you know me and is there a specific reason you were looking for me?"

Her tone is so calm, one might think we were having a casual conversation.

But beneath our skin, pure terror etched its marks.

'How could she be so casual?'

Sensing the tension of the moment, Suresh sir pitches in, "Would you like to step outside?"

We nodded and we stepped outside, leaving Maya by herself in the cabin.

Thinking of her name alone gave me goosebumps.

Jay simply complied, his expressions unreadable.

"I probably shouldn't be interrupting, but I'd like to know - How do you know her and why?"

I gulped, the Adam's apple in my throat visibly moving up and down and looked at Jay. He seemed to be more aghast than me.

"Uh, sir..." I began but Jay beat me to the narration.

"We have a reason to believe that the person responsible for what happened to Arav might be her."

He said it in one breath but he was shivering, afraid to reveal the details.

"What‽" Shock colored his face, turning a beat red.

One couldn't tell if it was the impossibility of the news or the scorching sun.

He continued, "I don't know much details about the case since you guys only told that someone harmed Arav and he was so moved by it that some decisions were made on his behalf. But, accusing someone without proof isn't right."

He folded his arms across his chest, his gaze scrutinizing us, almost hoping that we were playing a prank.

"We do have proof..." I try to explain sheepishly, hoping he would listen to us.

He doesn't answer us but beckons us back to his cabin.

There was only one way to deal with this but none of us were ready to face the truth.

I wish this were a nightmare we could just wake up from.

The cool air from the air conditioner hits us, making us feel more cold than we were already feeling.

"So, Maya..." Suresh sir clears his throat before beginning, "I have known you since college days and I have faith in you but... there's a matter that has come to my attention and I am afraid it might involve you."

"I have no clue about what's going on but sure, please feel free to ask anything you must." She responded with a polite smile.

He bought both his palms forward, intervening his fingers and asked, "Okay, first... do you know anyone named Arav? Arav Shah."

She thought for a moment. I could see the gears of her mind running.

Jay's gaze was fixed on her expressions, almost as if he were hypnotized.

"I am afraid, not." She answered, her voice holding a touch of unsureness.

"So... you've never heard his name?" Jay asked, skepticism clear in his voice.

She shook her head, standing by her answer.

"Okay, sir," He turned to Suresh sir, "Could you give us a moment to grab some things and come back? I apologize for the discomfort this is causing."

"Yes, please sir." I added, "We've fought long enough for our friend to give up now."

He nodded, giving us the leave to go and return back. He still appeared confused, though, he was willing to help us out.

I and Jay ran down the corridors to our classroom.

Most students were starting to take their seats, signaling the near end of the recess break.

Jay shuffled through the items in his bag, hoping to find something.

We had decided that he would be the one to keep the evidence materials together.

"I wasn't prepared!" He announced, throwing his hands in the air, "The only thing I have is the logo of the QuanDatum with the words Deal written on it."

"This isn't going to help us a lot.. is it?"

Jay shook his head, feeling dejected.

"It might be a good idea to still take this, what do you say?" I ask him.

I could feel the curious gazes of students on us as they wondered about our discussion.

If only it were that easy.

Jay nodded. "Good idea. We'll try to start with this and since Arav is absent today, we cannot confirm or deny anything."

"Okay yes, that'd make sense. Let's take it to them. Hopefully we'll learn more about the company and hopefully, the case."

The bell rang, signaling the end of recess. Yet, we moved towards his cabin, hoping to have some solution.

"We're sorry sir but we only had this note with the logo of QD and the word 'Deal' written on it. I do hope this helps in some way." I explained as we were running out of breath.

Suresh sir was about to say something when Maya interrupted him.

"Wait, logo of QD? Please let me see the note."

"Sure," Jay said as he handed her the note.

She looked at the note and I could tell she was trying to make sense of it, too.

"This is different. The logo at the time when I was working was not this one. I may not understand the gravity of the situation since I am unaware of the details, but... are you guys sure this isn't a logo that was crafted by someone as a prank?"

"I mean, we considered that..." Jay explained, "But the logo is too articulate and funky to be done by someone just to mess with us. Plus, we had found a vague ID the other day with just the words 'QD' written on it."

She nodded, confirming the details, "The earlier logo indeed was just the words, QD. I do think they might've changed the logo after I had left."

"But... this isn't adding up a lot." Suresh sir added thoughtfully.

"It isn't," Maya agreed, "I don't know who Arav is or how I'm connected to what you all have been discussing, but... if we have more clues, I am down for the talk. Say, should we meet outside school? Sometime, perhaps in the evening?"

"Okay, that'd make sense." I said, "Sir, would you please join us too? It'd really ease our stress."

"Sure, what time are we agreeing upon?"

"Five-thirty tomorrow?" Jay suggested.

Deal.

❛I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.❜
― Friedrich Nietzsche