The promise

Arun leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, his gaze steady on Maya. His expression was serious but reassuring, a stark contrast to Maya's troubled one. "I'll try to figure out what's really happening in your dorm room," he said firmly. "You don't have to deal with this alone."

For the first time in days, Maya felt a weight lift off her chest. She had been drowning in unease, the eerie occurrences in room 279 eating away at her sanity. But now, with Arun taking an interest, she felt like she wasn't entirely helpless.

"What's your room number again?" Arun asked, his voice calm yet determined, as if he had already begun piecing together a plan in his head.

"279," Maya murmured. Saying it out loud sent an involuntary shiver down her spine. The room wasn't just a number anymore; it was a place that held a suffocating, unseen presence, one that watched, whispered, and sent chills through her bones.

Arun tapped his fingers lightly against the table, deep in thought. "Alright," he said after a moment. "I'll look into it. But listen, don't let this get to you too much. You're already stressed with your classes, and overthinking this will only make things worse. Focus on your studies and your health first."

Maya let out a small sigh, nodding. "I will… I promise." But even as she said the words, she wasn't entirely sure if she could. How could she focus when the very place that was supposed to be her safe space felt anything but?

A faint smile played on Arun's lips. "Good. And don't thank me for this, okay? What kind of brother would I be if I couldn't at least do this much for my little sister ?"

Maya looked at him, warmth creeping into her expression. "Still… it means a lot," she admitted. "I've been feeling so alone in this. I tried to shake it off, tried to ignore it, but it just keeps getting worse. And Liya… she's scared too."

Arun's eyes darkened slightly at the mention of Liya's fear. He wasn't just listening to Maya's concerns anymore, he was absorbing them, trying to understand every detail. "Then all the more reason to figure this out," he said. "If something's really wrong, we need to get to the bottom of it."

Maya felt the tension in her shoulders ease, just a little. Arun's confidence was contagious, even if her doubts still lingered.

Arun stood up, adjusting his bag. "Now," he said, looking down at her with a teasing glint in his eyes, "I need you to promise me one more thing."

Maya raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Don't put on that long face again. Seriously, you look like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. Whatever's happening, we'll handle it. So just… try to smile a little more, alright?"

A soft chuckle escaped Maya's lips, the first genuine one in days. "I'll try," she said.

"That's all I ask," Arun replied, ruffling her hair like he used to when they were kids. "Now, finish your food. You barely touched it."

Maya looked down at her plate. Half of her meal was still untouched, and now that she wasn't drowning in her thoughts, she realized she was actually starving.

Arun gave her a small nod before turning away. "I'll see you later, okay? And don't overthink this. I got it."

Maya watched as he disappeared into the crowd, his presence fading just as the noise of the cafeteria filled her ears again.

For the first time in a long while, she felt lighter.

But the relief was fleeting.

Because deep down, she knew something was coming.

And she wasn't sure if even Arun could stop it.

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