"Newton's laws discarded the idea of absolute rest, hence getting rid of absolute space.

Then Einstein came and got rid of absolute time with his theory of relativity.

If there's no existence of absolute space and time, even the things that govern the universe aren't absolute,
Then what is?

Ultimately, there's no constant in physics.

Everything is relative. "

---

Srishti was solving problems of inverse trigonometric functions, otherwise called ITF when her mother called her. She closed her textbook, careful to put a bookmark where she left and got up stretching her arms.

"Yep Ma? " she asked as she switched off her room's lights and descended the stairs.

She found her mother in the kitchen, wearing apron covered with flour. She loved experimenting with food and luckily, the taste buds of Verma Family are intact so far.

"What did you do this time? " Srishti chuckled.

Mrs. Verma shrugged and pouted. "I was trying to make pizza base with stuffed rice. Sounds tasty, right? "

"Eh... " Srishti wondered at her mother's taste and cringed. Pizza and rice? Ew...

"Did you make it? " Srishti asked, hoping a NO, but stars were never in her favour.

Mrs. Verma beamed and did a thumbs up. "Almost... I just need some extra cheese. Go and buy some from the store, please? "

Srishti grunted and banged her head on the table. Mrs. Verma did an 'Aw' and patted her head with flour-covered oven gloves.

"Money's there."

Srishti thanked the cashier and exited the departmentmental store with a carry bag filled with cheese. Her hand shot to the back of her head again, where her mother had stuck flour in her hair. She had already cleaned it with a dry towel and decided to take a shower when she reached home.

"What a weird day it was. " she said looking at the stars, trying to find the pole star but it seemed lost in the millions of little dots decorating the black canvas.

Srishti was lost in her thoughts and payed no heed to the fact that she was alone on the road. But for someone else, it was the perfect opportunity.

Soon the silence was trembled by the giant roar of engines.

Srishti's eyes widen and she stopped. She shivered subconsciously and held her breath as the darkness was stolen from the night. Big headlights came into view, along with black giants and its scary riders.

They didn't have bulky bodies or metal piercings like Srishti had always imagined them to be. Rather, they looked young and still into the transition of being called 'men'.

But they surely had tattoos.
And familiar faces.

There were five black Harley Davidson encircling Srishti, with two riders on each. She couldn't see the ones riding because they had helmets, but the ones sitting behind were visible, the lights from the bikes making them more scary.

Before that moment, Srishti wasn't scared of them. They were just Akshat's friends to her, but now... She wasn't sure if they would spare her life just because they go to same school.

"You shouldn't be scaring your classmate... " Srishti gulped and tried to act like she didn't recognize the Harley Davidson. Her mind refused to accept the neuron signals that reminded it of the lake and the body disposed by them.

"Aye... Miss Verma. " one of them, the boy with blonde hair that asked question from Father Joseph earlier that day said, mocking her tone of 'Aye'.

"You shouldn't have seen us that day... " another one, the boy Srishti never bothered to notice said slowly, the bikes still encircling her.

"What? What day... I didn't see anything. " Srishti said, goosebumps better than ever. She was shivering from fear and the quick breathing didn't go unnoticed either.

Then suddenly, another giant roar came and Srishti felt her soul living her body. 'Dead...' her mind told her and she slightly nodded.

All the bikes parted, like the sea was divided in some Greek mythology she had read. They made way for another bike with only one rider to come in front.

Probably the leader.

Srishti started counting her heartbeats but the neuron connections were messed. After one, she forgot two even existed.

One... Three.. Five... Eleven... Ninety-one... Nine... Zero and four

Instead of calming down, she became more frantic. And the last thought that invaded her mind before the supposed leader took off his helmet was...

The stupid article was false... Counting doesn't help.

'Well, it does. If you know how to count. ' a picture of the featured doctor came into her mind in his white coat with stethoscope hanging around his neck.

"Well... " a deep, familiar voice snapped Srishti back to reality and she looked deep into the honey brown eyes that sent shivers down her body.

"Akshat, I... "

Akshat laughed and under the moon light, honey seemed scarier than red.

"If you didn't see us, then why are you so scared? "

Everyone laughed except that blonde boy. He looked serious. "She's right bro. We just know it was a female and the night was dark too, so... It could be her mom. " and then he laughed, louder than others.

Srishti looked at their laughing faces and quickly scanned around. When they had scattered for Akshat, they left a gap and since everyone was busy mocking her, she could run.

At least she hoped she could.

So, she dashed at the gap. Someone saw her trying to escape and held her arm. Swinging the carry bag, she hit the person and the grip loosened.

She ran as fast as her muscles allowed and reached the middle of the bridge. She stopped, gasping for air. When she heard no engines roaring behind her or saw lights on the concrete, she thought, hoped that she had lost them.

But... When were stars in her favour?

The giant roars came to life and the lights turned on in sync, behind her.

Just when she thought she can run ahead, the lights made their presence known at the both ends of the bridge.

She was stuck.

Silent tears fell from her cheeks but she quickly cleaned them with her sleeves. The sound of waves hitting the bridge broke her trance and she stared into the blue, welcoming water.

Just like a true sailor, water calling her in the times of death.

One bike drove towards her and she stood straight, daring the rider to come near her.

Akshat stopped the bike, just as the front tyre as mere inches from Srishti. He got down and stood, supporting himself against the bike.

There is no hope with these boys, the idea of drowning seems more inviting.

Srishti decided, despite being unable to swim. The railing of the bridge was a bit taller and broader and Srishti needed time to climb it.

"You seemed so nice this morning and now..." Srishti began to fake sob, hoping to instil some humanity in him that she knew wasn't inside him.

"The gang wants you dead, there's nothing I can do. I'm just going on with it. " he came closer and grabbed Srishti's hand.

Just as Akshat pulled her in, a bright white light appeared in the sky blinding everyone except Srishti. Srishti was shocked by its sudden appearance but said nothing and climbed over the bridge's railing.

"Oh God..." she looked into the blue water and jumped.

Just as she thought she escaped the death, another splash beside her snatched her relief. She opened her eyes and saw Akshat.

Her eyes were burning but she willed herself to focus. She was about to swim away from him when he grabbed her waist. He pulled her towards himself just as the small disturbances rippled in the water around them.

His friends were shooting bullets, knowing he could get shot as well.

Anger burned inside him and he tried to steer his body away when Srishti jerked and a bullet grazed his skin. His blood turned the water red and Srishti freed herself from his grip. She looked at him in the eye and with full force pushed him so that his head hit the concrete pillar of the bridge.

His eyes closed at the moment and she felt black dots dancing in her vision.

And the last thing she felt before slipping into unconsciousness was the heat of the bright white light and the sound of laughter hitting her eardrum.

"Two birds, one stone. "

-----

A/N :

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