The next morning, the sun rose gently, and birds sang cheerfully in the trees. The roadside leaves swayed in the fresh wind, filling the air with peace. But on that calm road, two figures were rushing with urgency - Mano and Bhairava.
Mano pedalled Bhairava's cycle furiously, while Bhairava sat on the back seat, urging him on. "Go faster, Mano! We're getting late!"
Mano shot back, scolding as he rode. "You idiot! Yesterday I told you to wake up early. Look at the time now—it's almost the same as always!"
Bhairava, holding tight, replied apologetically. "Sorry… I don't know how I slept so long."
Mano stood on the pedals, pushing harder, his voice sharp. "It's not the time to apologize. Just hold on tight!"
Bhairava gripped Mano's shoulders firmly as the cycle sped down the road toward their college.
The truth was, Bhairava had endured a restless night. His lucid dream had turned unstable, slipping out of his control, and it had dragged him into sleep paralysis. Fear had shaken him, leaving him unsettled and sleepless. Though he eventually drifted back into slumber, he had no memory of when or how. By the time he opened his eyes, it was already 8 a.m. Shivani had shaken him awake, and only then he did realize how late he was.
In a rush, he dressed quickly and left home, joining Mano on the cycle. And now, the two of them raced against time.
As they hurried into the college campus, Mano muttered angrily to Bhairava, "If we miss the bus, I swear I'll kill you."
Both of them looked ahead and saw the college bus still waiting. Relief washed over their faces. They quickly parked the cycle and walked toward it.
"Thank God the bus hasn't left yet," Mano sighed.
Bhairava smirked, trying to lighten the mood. "Didn't I tell you? Without us, how could the bus leave?"
But just as he said those words, the bus engine roared to life. The vehicle began to move forward. Both boys froze, their eyes wide in shock. Mano turned to Bhairava, his voice sharp. "What kind of mouth is that?!"
Without wasting another second, they sprinted after the bus. Their bags bounced against their backs as they ran, shouting for the driver to stop. At the last moment, they managed to catch up and climb aboard before the bus left the college grounds.
Inside, Professor Viraj was seated at the front, keeping a strict eye on the students. He frowned at the two latecomers. "You boys are always testing my patience!"
Both Bhairava and Mano bowed their heads, muttering apologies, before finding seats. There was only one empty spot left. Bhairava slid into the window seat, while Mano dropped beside him, still breathing hard from the chase.
The bus was crowded with their classmates. Professor Viraj sat in front, monitoring everyone. In the first row, Divin sat alone, leaning against the window, lost in his own thoughts. Behind him, a few more students filled the seats, chatting quietly among themselves. Behind him, more students filled the rows, their voices mixing into a lively hum. Mano and Bhairava squeezed together on one seat.
Across from them, Shreya sat with her friend. After a while, her friend shifted to another seat to make space for another girl. Soon, Raki came and sat beside Shreya, smiling as he joined the conversation.
Behind that row, Kiran and Devi sat apart from each other. Kiran had taken the window seat on one side, while Devi sat at the opposite end by the other window. Between them, a boy and a girl filled the middle seats, creating a quiet distance between Kiran and Devi. At the very back, Aarav and his gang were busy teasing Dev, laughing loudly as usual. Their playful chaos filled the last row, adding to the noisy atmosphere of the bus.
The bus was alive with laughter, chatter, and the kind of happiness that only comes when friends travel together. The voices of boys and girls mixed into a cheerful hum, filling the air with energy.
But Bhairava didn't join them. He sat quietly by the window; his eyes fixed on the passing trees and roads outside. His mind was elsewhere.
After a while, Raki walked to the front of the bus and played a song. The rhythm was lively, and he clapped his hands, insisting everyone join him. He was the first to start dancing, moving with confidence and joy.
One by one, the students joined in. Later professor Viraj also joined in dance. Soon, the bus was filled with dancing—girls and boys swaying, laughing, and enjoying themselves as if they were on a picnic trip rather than a college ride.
It was one of Raki's special qualities, something Bhairava lacked. Raki had the charm to attract people, to pull them into his energy. Even Mano, wild and carefree, jumped into the dance, his movements as crazy and fun as always.
Mano turned back and grabbed Bhairava's hand, trying to pull him into the crowd. "Come on, dance with us!" he shouted. But Bhairava shook his head, refusing. His heart wasn't in it.
As the bus rocked with music and laughter, Bhairava leaned against the window. His thoughts drifted back to the dream that had unsettled him the night before. His eyelids grew heavy. He hadn't slept properly, and now the exhaustion was catching up.
Without realizing it, his eyes closed. The noise of the bus faded into the background, and slowly, unknowingly, Bhairava slipped into sleep once again.
Bhairava's sleep did not last long. Just as he was slipping into deep rest, the bus suddenly jerked to a halt. The sharp brake threw everyone off balance. Students who were standing struggled to hold on, and a few tumbled forward, laughing at themselves even as they fell. Bhairava, half-asleep, was pushed forward by the sudden stop and hit his head lightly against the seat in front.
At the front, the bus driver leaned out of his window, shouting angrily at a car driver. "You fool! Where are you looking while driving?"
Raki, curious as always, turned to Professor Viraj. "Sir, what happened?"
Professor Viraj adjusted his glasses calmly. "Just a near miss. Nothing to worry."
The truth was, a car had tried to overtake the bus but swerved dangerously in front of it. Luckily, the bus driver reacted quickly, hitting the brakes at the right time. If not, it could have been a serious accident.
After a few minutes, the bus settled back into its journey. The students, tired from their nonstop dancing, began to rest quietly in their seats. The cheerful energy faded into a calm silence.
Bhairava, however, had lost all sleep. His head still throbbed faintly, and his mind was restless. He leaned against the window, watching the road until, finally, the bus slowed down again.
They had reached the forest.
The moment the students stepped out, excitement filled the air. They shouted joyfully, their voices echoing back from the trees. The forest was not dense—it looked more like a carefully planted woodland, with trees standing in neat rows. It was a safe place, free from wild animals, designed for a purpose greater than itself.
This was a conservation area, created to grow trees and help balance the climate. One forest alone could not save the entire world, but it was a step toward protecting the earth.
Yet, the sight was not perfect. Plastics, wrappers, and non-degradable waste littered the ground, spoiling the beauty of the woods. Careless people had thrown garbage across the area, leaving it scarred.
That was why the college had brought the students here—to clean as much as they could, to spread awareness, and to remind everyone of the importance of saving trees.
Professor Viraj stood tall in front of the students and raised his voice. "Everybody listen here. Clean only in this surrounding. Don't go inside. Raki, you are the in‑charge. Look after everyone."
Raki nodded seriously, accepting the responsibility. Viraj then walked toward a large tree nearby, sat down, and leaned back against its trunk, watching from a distance.
The students spread out, each picking up plastics and stuffing them into waste bags. But more than cleaning, they were enjoying themselves. Laughter filled the air, jokes passed from one group to another, and the atmosphere felt more like a picnic than a duty.
Bhairava and Mano worked together. After some time, Bhairava stood straight, stretching his back with a sigh of relief. His eyes wandered across the clearing. Shreya was smiling and chatting with her friend, and Raki had joined them, laughing along. Divin, as always, worked alone—disciplined, focused, and not distracted by anything around him. Other classmates were cleaning too, though some were simply roaming and playing.
In the distance, Bhairava noticed Kiran quietly walking deeper into the forest. He frowned but before he could think more, Mano appeared in front of him, his face glowing with excitement. "Look, Bhairava, what I found!"
In his hand was a teddy bear doll. Its fur was dusty and worn, but it still looked cute. Someone had thrown it away carelessly, leaving it behind like trash. Some people's treasure becomes trash when they get bored. Fate always decides where things end up.
Bhairava took it from Mano and studied it.
Just then, Shreya's voice rang out. "Is that a teddy bear doll?" She walked closer, her eyes lighting up. "Wow… it looks cute. Can I take it?"
Bhairava's heart softened at her smile. He was about to hand it over when Mano snatched it back, clutching it tightly. "No! I found it first. It belongs to me. I won't give it to anyone."
Shreya rolled her eyes. "I don't want it," she said, brushing past them. Mano stuck his tongue out playfully, teasing her.
Bhairava called softly, "Mano."
"Yes, Bhairava?" Mano turned back.
With a smile, Bhairava asked, "Can you give me the doll for a moment?"
Mano grinned and handed it over. Bhairava held the teddy and joked, "I don't have enemies outside. He is always with me."
Mano's eyes widened. "No, Bhairava. Don't do that!"
But Bhairava laughed and tossed the doll away. Mano shouted in shock, "My teddy!" and ran after it.
Nearby, Aarav and his gang were whispering to Dev, trying to convince him to join them in sneaking deeper into the forest. Dev shook his head firmly. "No, sir told us not to go inside. I will not come."
Raki overheard and stepped in. "Stop. No one is allowed to enter deep."
Aarav glared. "Why should I listen to you?"
Raki smiled calmly. "Because Professor made me in‑charge here."
Aarav smirked at Raki, his voice sharp. "Then try to stop me." He stepped forward toward the trees, Vihan and Sam following close behind, ready to accompany him.
But before Aarav could move further, a firm hand pressed down on his shoulder, halting him. Aarav froze, slowly turning to see whose hand it was.
It was Raki.
Raki's eyes were steady, his tone calm but commanding. "I said don't."
Aarav's face darkened with anger. "Take your hand off me."