Ayaan slept soundly, the soft hum of Isha and Rohit's song lingering in his ears, lulling him into a peaceful slumber. The warmth of the fire and the quiet atmosphere wrapped around him like a comforting embrace. But his serenity was short-lived, as Dev's loud voice cut through the stillness.
"Ayaan, wake up!" Dev called, his voice breaking through the calm and dragging Ayaan back to the waking world with a jolt.
Ayaan slowly opened his eyes, the remnants of the song still echoing in his mind. He sat up, glancing around the campfire, but his gaze immediately landed on the empty spot where Isha and Rohit had been. They were gone. A sense of unease washed over him. He turned to Dev, who was stretching lazily beside him.
"Isha and Rohit... where did they go?" Ayaan asked, his voice still thick with sleep.
Dev blinked, looking around as if the answer would present itself. "I don't know," he replied honestly. "But when you were asleep, I saw something. Rohit was by the military truck near the main gate, talking to Rathore. He had his luggage with him."
Ayaan's frown deepened, but Dev added, "And... I saw something else. Through the truck window—just a glimpse. I could swear I saw Isha's hair. She was with him."
Ayaan stood up, his thoughts racing. Why had they left so suddenly without a word? What was going on?
Dev watched Ayaan's tense expression as he stared at the truck, then leaned in with a teasing grin. "So, Ayaan, you're awfully quiet today. Could it be that you've got feelings for Isha?" he teased, raising an eyebrow.
Ayaan turned to him, a grin tugging at the corners of his lips, his grip tightening on Dev's wrist. "Idiot.." . Ayaan bonks dev head and continuous "I don't have an older or younger sister, so I guess Isha feels like a sister to me," he replied, his tone light but with a hint of defensiveness.
Dev raised his eyebrows, clearly amused by the response. But then his teasing softened, replaced with something more serious. "Speaking of family... have you gotten any updates about your older brother? The one who went missing a few months ago ?" he asked, his voice lowering in concern.
Ayaan's eyes darkened at the mention of his brother. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep his emotions in check. "No," he said sharply, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone. "Nothing."
Ayaan sat on the edge of his bed, staring at the floor, his thoughts swirling. Why did Isha and Rohit leave without saying goodbye? His mind kept returning to the same question, like a broken record. Rohit was always the one to slip away without a word; that much Ayaan understood. But Isha? She was different. She was the one who would tease, who would challenge him, who would make sure to leave her mark. She never disappeared quietly. The fact that she had left without a single word was... unsettling. Was I that unimportant to her?
But then, like a shadow creeping into his mind, a chilling thought struck him: Since Rathore left... could it be that Rohit was selected for Project M? Ayaan's heart skipped a beat. And if Rohit was chosen, was Isha also part of it? Was that why she had been so distant? So quick to leave? But why hadn't she said anything to him? Why hadn't she trusted him with that? The questions gnawed at him, growing louder with each passing moment.
Suddenly, the silence was broken by Dev's voice, sharp and teasing, pulling Ayaan from his thoughts. "Ayaan," Dev said, his tone mocking. "You know it's your turn to pack, right? You've been staring at that empty space for way too long."
Ayaan snapped out of his reverie, his eyes meeting Dev's with a flicker of irritation. "It's nothing," he muttered, the weight of his thoughts heavy in the air. But deep down, he knew it wasn't nothing. Something was off. He could feel it in his bones. Something about Isha's sudden disappearance, about the silence that had followed, felt like the calm before a storm. And the storm was coming. But for now, he had to push it all aside. There was no time for these distractions.
-----------
The military truck rumbled down the road, its cabin filled with an uneasy silence. Rohit sat among a mix of unfamiliar faces—some looking like well-trained soldiers, others appearing unprepared. His gaze flickered toward the front, where Rathore sat beside the driver, his expression unreadable.
Beside him, Isha sat unusually quiet, staring ahead without her usual playful energy. Something was off.
Rohit nudged her lightly. "You've been acting strange since morning. What's wrong?"
Isha remained silent for a moment before finally murmuring, "It's nothing."
Rohit didn't believe that for a second. He let out a small sigh. "You're missing them especially Ayaan, aren't you?"
A faint, worried smile crossed Isha's lips. "Yes. Not only missing Ayaan , I was missing our new friends… and but also our old frie.... no our family.What about you ?"
Rohit's face darkened slightly as he lowered his gaze. "Same."
The truck jolted slightly as it hit a rough patch of road, but neither of them moved, lost in their own thoughts. Then, Isha exhaled softly.
" Speaking of our old family , I missed her so much, she was our remaining frie... our family member, I don't know when we will reunite with her . So you are also missing her ? "
Rohit's fingers clenched slightly. He didn't need to ask who she meant. His voice dropped lower, steady but filled with something unspoken.
"Same. I also want to see her again."
Isha turned her head slightly, meeting his gaze. In that brief exchange, no more words were needed. The decision had already been made.
Isha leaned in closer to Rohit, her voice barely above a whisper. "Rohit… all these people… they're selected for Project M."
Rohit's eyes flickered over the group again—some looked confident, others uncertain. He whispered back, "Maybe… but I remember what the president said? Training was just one of the factors." His mind replayed those words, the weight behind them settling deep in his chest. Selection wasn't just about skill. It was about something else—something bigger.
Before either of them could say more, Rathore's voice rang out from the front. "IT'S TIME." His tone was firm, leaving no room for hesitation. The truck came to a sudden stop, the tires kicking up dust as they halted in the middle of a vast open field.
As Rohit looked ahead, his eyes narrowed at the sight of four black jeeps parked in formation, waiting. From one of the jeeps, a man stepped out—the president's bodyguard. He walked toward the truck, his presence commanding as if he had already sized up each of them.
Rathore climbed down and approached him. Without a word, they exchanged a firm handshake, a silent acknowledgment between two men who understood the weight of what was coming next.
Then, Rathore turned back to face the truck. His voice was sharp, cutting through the silence like a blade. "For you all, this is the one and final chance to turn back. From this moment forward, your lives are no longer guaranteed. If you wish to move ahead, stay in the truck. If not, step down now." His eyes scanned each of them, waiting. "Once again, it's your decision."
The air grew thick with tension. No one moved—yet. Rohit felt his heartbeat quicken, his fingers twitching at the weight of the moment. This wasn't just a journey—it was a point of no return.