Aditi decided not to mention her visit to the woods, the wolf, or the mysterious boy to her sister. She wasn't even sure how she'd begin to explain it without sounding...well, completely out of her mind.

That morning, Ritika bustled around the kitchen, hurriedly preparing breakfast. "Toast and tea will have to do today," she mumbled, setting a cup in front of Aditi before noticing the wound on her arm. Her brow furrowed. "What happened here?" she asked, reaching out to touch Aditi's arm.

Aditi tensed, quickly forcing a smile. "Oh, it's nothing. I, uh, just took a little fall."

Ritika gave her a skeptical look as she hurriedly packed her bag. "Make sure you put some ointment on it, okay? And be careful next time. I don't need you getting injured."

"Got it," Aditi replied.

Ritika slung her bag over her shoulder, pausing just long enough to glance at Aditi again. "I've got to leave now, but I'll see you this afternoon. And don't forget to lock up when you go."

With that, Ritika hurried out the door. As soon as she was gone, Aditi rolled up her pant leg to inspect the damage to her knee. The scratches were worse than she'd realized—bloody and swollen, and they hurt every time she moved. She'd applied ointment last night, but it hadn't helped much. She'd need to pick up something stronger today.

After locking up, she drove over to pick up Priya, deciding she'd tell her friend everything on the way.

As Priya hopped on, Aditi blurted out, "So, something happened yesterday. I, uh, I went into the woods, and... I got chased by a wolf."

Priya's eyes widened as she clung tightly to Aditi's waist. "Wait...what? You got chased by wolves?! Are you serious?"

"Yes, completely serious," Aditi replied, keeping her voice low as she recounted the encounter in rushed, hushed tones, as if speaking louder would make the memory more vivid—and more terrifying.

Priya shook her head in disbelief. "And you didn't tell anyone?"

"I know, I know. I should've gone straight to Ritika, but I didn't want to worry her," Aditi said.

Priya grabbed her shoulder, stopping her mid-sentence. "Aditi, this isn't about worrying people. You could've been hurt! What if that wolf was rabid? We're getting you checked out—right now."

"Relax, Priya," Aditi protested. "The wolf didn't actually touch me. I'm fine!"

Priya narrowed her eyes. "Are you absolutely sure? Rabies is no joke, Aditi."

Aditi nodded, though the memory felt surreal, like a half-forgotten dream. "I remember it all. The animal didn't touch me. Then the boy showed up and helped me."

Priya raised an eyebrow. "Wait, what boy?"

Aditi hesitated, then said quietly, "This boy just...appeared. He saved me. It's like he came out of nowhere, and before I knew it, the wolf was gone. He was...strange."

"Strange?" Priya echoed a hint of amusement in her voice. "You're saying some mysterious boy saved you from the wolf, and you think he's strange?"

"Yes!" Aditi insisted. "I know it sounds crazy, but there was something different about him. He had this...intensity. And it felt like I'd seen him before."

Priya pursed her lips, looking unconvinced. "Alright, mysterious wolf-saving hero aside, let's at least get something to clean up those scratches. They're looking pretty bad."

Aditi sighed. "Fine. Maybe some ointment. But no hospital, okay?"

Priya smirked. "Fine. Just as long as you don't faint on me from an infection."

They stopped at a local pharmacy, where Aditi quickly bought an ointment. Priya helped her apply it, gently smoothing it over the scrape before carefully placing a bandage on top. Once done, they got back onto Aditi's scooty and continued toward the college. As the familiar hum of the engine filled the air, Aditi's mind wandered back to the forest. She couldn't stop thinking about those piercing grey eyes and the strange, quiet pull of the woods. The memory lingered, vivid, and unsettling, as if it had carved a space in her thoughts that wouldn't easily fade.

Suddenly, she thought she saw someone—*him*—standing by the roadside, watching her with that same intensity. She craned her neck, squinting to get a better look, only to jerk back when she nearly veered into an oncoming bike.

"Aditi!" Priya yelped, grabbing her shoulder. "What is wrong with you? You're totally spaced out! Pullover—I'm driving."

Aditi reluctantly pulled to the side, feeling her cheeks flush as she handed Priya the handlebars. Priya slid forward, giving her a side-eye as she took control. "Maybe you hit your head when you fell," she joked, rolling her eyes playfully as they set off again.

Aditi managed a laugh, though her mind was still elsewhere. Who was that boy? And would she see him again?

___

Classes had started, as usual, the professor's voice echoing through the room, but Aditi found herself barely able to pay attention. Her mind drifted constantly, replaying the boy's face in her mind—the intense look in his grey eyes, the way he'd stood between her and the wolf without hesitation. She felt almost haunted by it, unable to focus on anything else.

"Aditi?" a voice broke through her thoughts, but she didn't register it until Priya nudged her sharply in the ribs.

"Aditi!" Priya hissed, looking between her and the professor.

Snapping back to reality, Aditi's eyes widened as she realized the professor was standing right next to her desk, arms crossed. Her expression was expectant.

"Sorry, ma'am," Aditi murmured, feeling her cheeks burn with embarrassment.

The professor gave her a pointed look. "We were discussing *Waiting for Godot*. What kind of play is it?"

"Oh, um..." Aditi stumbled over her words, desperately trying to recall anything about the play. "It's an...absurd play, ma'am."

The professor nodded but didn't seem entirely satisfied. "Yes, exactly. It's an absurd play, where nothing happens but everything matters. Much like the way you seem lost in your own thoughts today," she remarked. Her gaze shifted to Aditi's bandaged hand. "Are you alright?"

Priya jumped in, offering an excuse. "Ma'am, she fell yesterday—got a bit scraped up."

The professor's expression softened slightly. "I see. Well, if you're in pain, feel free to excuse yourself."

Aditi shook her head quickly. "I'm all right, ma'am. I'll pay attention."

"Very well," the professor replied, turning back to the board. "Let's continue."

Determined to keep her focus, Aditi forced herself to take notes, though her mind kept wandering back to the forest. When class finally ended, she followed Priya to the courtyard, hoping a change of scenery would help clear her head. They found a shady spot under a large tree, settling in with their bags and notebooks as they waited for the next class.

Priya nudged her, noticing how Aditi kept glancing around. "Alright, who are you looking for?"

Aditi hesitated before answering. "The boy...from the forest. I didn't get a chance to thank him properly. I thought maybe I'd see him around."

"Do you even know his name?" Priya asked.

"No," Aditi admitted, feeling a little silly.

Priya raised an eyebrow. "And what does he look like?"

"He has black hair and piercing grey eyes, and he wore this old green jacket," Aditi said. "I think he's around our age—maybe a year or two older."

Priya shook her head, laughing. "Aditi, you can't just give me 'black hair, grey eyes, and a green jacket.' Half the guys on campus fit that description! Got anything more specific?"

Aditi looked down, frustrated. "He...seemed familiar. Like I'd seen him before. I don't know how to explain it."

Priya's playful smile softened as she glanced thoughtfully at Aditi. "Okay, let's think this through. You said he was in the forest?"

"Yes," Aditi replied, nodding. "Maybe he lives nearby?"

"Then there's a good chance Raj might know him," Priya suggested. "His family has a farmhouse close to the woods. If your mystery guy lives near there, Raj might know him."

"That's actually a good idea," Aditi said, perking up. "Maybe he knows who I'm talking about."

"I'll ask Raj. But hey, it's a small town—if he's around, you're bound to run into him again. Probably here on campus, even," Priya said with a reassuring smile.

As the day dragged on, Aditi found herself scanning the faces in the halls, hoping to catch a glimpse of the boy, though she knew it was probably pointless without even knowing his name.

That afternoon, as Aditi drove home, her gaze flickered toward the edge of the forest. For a fleeting moment, she thought she saw a figure standing just beyond the tree line, his dark hair catching the dappled sunlight. Her heart skipped a beat.

"What is happening to me?" she murmured, shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts. Yet, her eyes darted back to the trees, scanning the shadows. But the figure—if it had been real—was gone.

Why was she searching for the boy? She didn't know the answer, but the question lingered in her mind, insistent and unyielding. And as much as she tried to ignore it, one thing became clear: if she wanted to find him, she'd have to go back to the forest.

That night, as Aditi lay in bed, staring at the faint glow of the moonlight through her window, the idea solidified. Her heart raced with a mixture of apprehension and excitement. There was a pull, an invisible thread tugging her back to the woods. It was reckless, maybe even foolish, but something deep inside her whispered that she'd find him there. She closed her eyes, letting the thought settle like a promise: she had to go back.

___