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Chapter 8 - Episode 8 – “The Calm Before the Depths”

5:00 AM – Ayush & Ananya's Room

The sky outside was still dark, with just the slightest blue hue peeking in.

Ayush slowly opened his eyes, still half-asleep. But what he saw instantly made his heart skip a beat.

Ananya, fast asleep, had completely curled around him —Her arm resting on his chest, one leg wrapped over his.Her face gently tucked into his neck.Her hand near his private part , make him solid hard.He kissed her on cheeks and move more close to ananya both bodies touching each others.It didn't feel like they were in the middle of an apocalypse.

It felt… married.

He just stared at her for a few more seconds.

Ayush (in his thoughts):"Is this what it feels like… to have someone truly yours? Like a wife… like a home?"

A faint smile crept across his face.

Ayush:"Stay like this… for a little longer."

Meanwhile – Kartik & Sana's Room

Something similar… but a bit more intense.

Sana had fallen asleep resting on Kartik's chest.Kartik, still awake, ran his fingers through her hair, occasionally stealing glances at her lips.

He whispered into the silence:

Kartik:"If this world ends tomorrow… at least I got this moment."

Sana stirred and murmured half-asleep:

Sana:"You talk too much, Mr. Soldier."

Kartik laughed silently. He kissed her forehead and closed his eyes.

7:00 AM – Wake-Up Call

Kartik gently shook Ayush awake.

Kartik:"Rise and grind, Romeo. We've got a house to turn into a fortress."

Ayush smiled, still caught in that cozy warmth, but he got up.Today was about survival.

8:00 AM – Base Cleanup and Defense Setup Begins

The team split up:

Ayush, Kartik, Lucky, Abhi, Shivam took charge of fortifying the house.

Barricades were built at entry points using furniture, bricks, and doors.

Perimeter alarms using cans, wires, and bells were set.

Roof lookout was redesigned with a rotating watch shift plan.

Shivam's Discovery – The Secret Workshop

While exploring a sealed basement, Shivam found something gold —A fully intact workshop with:

A working toolbench

Metal scraps, wooden planks, ropes

Bolts, nails, even a welding torch

It looked like the previous owner was prepping for something big… but never finished.

Shivam (grinning):"Time to get creative."

By afternoon, he had built handcrafted weapons for each of them:

Compact machetes

Reinforced wooden spears

Spiked shields made from old cupboard doors

Each weapon had the owner's name carved into it.

Meanwhile – In the Kitchen (Women's Team)

While the boys secured the base, Ananya, Sana, and Niyati worked with the limited supplies they had:

Found lentils, canned beans, dry spices, and rice

Used a solar cooker and small gas stove left behind

Cooked a real hot meal for the first time in days

Ananya (laughing):"If this apocalypse ends tomorrow, at least they'll die eating biryani!"

5:00 PM – Lucky's Ultimate Find

While cleaning out the attic, Lucky stumbled on a massive wooden trunk. Inside?

Over 200 DVDs –Classic action, emotional dramas, horror, anime, foreign films, even Marvel movies.

Lucky (excited):"GUYS!! Tonight, we binge."

Thanks to solar panels, the old TV and DVD player worked.

Everyone gathered in the living room.

7:00 PM – Movie Night Begins

Plates in hand. Cushions everywhere.Laughs, claps, and full stomachs.

They watched "Iron Man" first.

Ayush and Ananya sat under a blanket, her head resting on his shoulder.Kartik and Sana shared a corner seat, giggling and occasionally feeding each other.

Shivam sat proudly, polishing the weapons he made, sneaking smiles during funny scenes.Even Suraj, now slowly opening up, sat near the edge, quietly observing…He finally looked like he belonged.

Lucky (teasing):"We should host a zombie drive-in theatre!"

Ayush (smirking):"Yeah. Just make sure the guests don't eat the audience."

Everyone laughed.

For the first time in forever…There was peace.There was joy.

Midnight – Journal Entry

Ayush (writing):"Today didn't feel like the end of the world.It felt like a new beginning.But tomorrow, we start digging into the truth.Kalki Reset is real.And we're going to expose it."

That Night

As the screen played the ending credits, people slowly dozed off.Ayush kissed Ananya on the forehead.

Ayush (whispering):"We'll have more nights like this. I promise."

Episode Summary – Day 7 Highlights:

 • Romantic morning moments between both couples

 • Base fully secured and defended with barricades, alarms, and lookouts

 • Shivam finds and uses a hidden workbench to craft melee weapons

 • Women cook a real meal from salvaged resources

 • Lucky finds 100+ movie DVDs, bringing joy and entertainment

Everyone bonds as a family during movie night

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