Chapter 7 — To the Journey
The day finally arrives. Bags are packed, hearts are restless, and a journey begins—one none of them will forget.
One day passed.
Then another.
Three.
Four.
Five.
And before anyone realized it—
Six days were gone.
The alarm rang.
Once.
Then silence.
Then again.
Sid’s eyes snapped open.
“Uhh… why did I snooze the first alarm…” he groaned, grabbing his phone.
7:17 AM
Thursday, 5th February 2026
“…shit.”
He jumped out of bed.
“Mom! Mom! Heat the water please!”
From downstairs—
“Go check the bathroom! I already kept hot water. Stop shouting and hurry up!”
Sid paused for half a second.
“…you’re the best.”
A few minutes later—
Sid rushed down, hair still slightly wet, shirt half-tucked, bag hanging off one shoulder.
“Breakfast! Fast! I’m already late—Amit is there, and Rohan’s called me like three times!”
His mom placed the plate in front of him.
“Maybe don’t sleep like a pig next time.”
“Yeah yeah, my fault. I accept all responsibility. Just give me food.”
He started eating quickly.
“Did Dad leave?”
“Hmm. Early.”
She added casually—
“He left some money for you. Check your pocket.”
Sid froze mid-bite.
“…what?”
He quickly checked.
His eyes lit up.
“Ohhh damn—he’s in a good mood today.”
“Say thank you later.”
“Tell him thank you from me!”
Phone rings.
Sid glanced.
“Rohan again.”
He picked up instantly.
“I’m coming! Just hold the bus for me!”
Rohan’s calm voice came through—
“Take your time, bro. The bus isn’t going anywh—”
“DON’T TAKE YOUR TIME!” Amit’s voice exploded through the call.
“COME FAST! We need to get seats together!”
Sid pulled the phone slightly away.
“Bro—my ears—”
Rohan sighed.
“Stop shouting, Amit.”
Amit ignored him.
“SIDDD! RUN!”
Sid laughed.
“I’m coming. Two minutes.”
The college ground was already buzzing.
Students everywhere.
Bags. Noise. Energy.
The air itself felt different.
Jannat stepped out of her father’s car.
An orange strap top paired with jeans, perfectly fitted.
Effortless.
As always.
She walked straight toward Vaani.
“You look amazing, Jannu,” Vaani said immediately.
Jannat smiled.
“Thanks. That black top suits you too.”
Vaani grinned.
Other girls slowly gathered around them.
Like orbit.
Nearby—
Faizal scanned the crowd.
“Where the hell is he…”
Then—
He spotted him.
Dev stood with Mahir and Rahul.
Faizal walked up, smirking.
“Finally remembered you have friends?”
Dev understood instantly.
A small smile.
“Come on, man. You missed me that much?”
Faizal scoffed.
“I was busy,” Dev continued casually.
“Extracurriculars.”
He gave Faizal a side hug.
“Don’t worry. Full trip together.”
Faizal accepted it.
Naturally.
Mahir watched.
You’re just his wallet, he thought quietly.
Not his friend.
But he smiled anyway.
“Don’t forget us,” Mahir said.
“This is a group.”
Rahul nodded.
“Yeah.”
Dev smiled.
Genuine.
Across the ground—
Sanvi stood with her phone, checking her list.
“Mobile… check.
Charger… check.
AirPods… check.
Sunscreen… check…”
She kept scrolling.
“Snacks… money… cap… perfume… glasses… extra clothes…”
Pause.
“Tanya… not check.”
She frowned.
“Where is she…”
She looked around.
“I called her three times already—”
poke
She turned.
Tanya stood behind her, slightly out of breath.
“Sorry… I’m late.”
Sanvi exhaled in relief.
“Oh thank God.”
She looked back at her phone.
“Tanya… check.”
Then smiled.
“List complete.”
Tanya blinked.
“…what?”
Sid ran into the ground, slightly out of breath.
Phone pressed to his ear.
“Where are you guys? I’m near section C—I can see Ravi and Zohaib—”
Rohan replied—
“Turn right. Then left of the stage. Bus number 5683.”
“Got it.”
Sid jogged forward.
“Attention everyone!”
A teacher’s voice cut through the noise.
“Stand in proper lines according to your sections!”
“Don’t push!”
Students quickly started arranging themselves.
Some still talking.
Some still laughing.
Some already planning seat strategies.
Sid slipped into the line.
Amit waved aggressively.
“Finally!”
Rohan shook his head.
“You made it.”
“Move line by line,” the teacher instructed.
“Don’t rush.”
Everyone ignored that part.
Sanvi and Tanya stepped into the bus first.
They moved toward their seats.
Struggling slightly with their bags.
“Hurry up!” someone shouted from behind.
Tanya lifted hers.
But Sanvi tried pushing hers up.
It wasn’t working.
Then—
“Let me.”
Sid stepped forward.
Lifted the bag easily.
Placed it on the upper rack.
“Done.”
Sanvi looked at him.
“Thank you.”
Sid smiled lightly.
“No problem.”
“Anyone would’ve done it.”
“SID!” Amit shouted from behind.
“Seats!”
“Oh—yeah.”
Sid moved quickly.
Sanvi sat down.
Tanya beside her.
A small smirk appeared on Tanya’s face.
“Ohhh… I think someone wanted someone else to help her.”
Sanvi rolled her eyes.
“Shut up.”
“At least Sid helped. That was getting embarrassing.”
Tanya chuckled.
“He’s strong though.”
Sanvi tried not to react.
The bus filled quickly.
Noise rising again.
Excitement building.
The engine started.
A low vibration spread through the bus.
A teacher stood near the front.
“Welcome everyone.”
“This is a long journey.”
“So enjoy the view…”
He paused.
“…or start playing games if you get bored.”
A few students cheered.
Someone shouted—
“Antakshari!”
That was enough.
The bus erupted.
Laughter.
Voices.
Music.
Movement.
And slowly—
The bus began to move.
Behind them—
The college faded.
Ahead—
The road stretched long.
Unknown.
After nearly two hours on the road—
The bus slowed down.
Then stopped.
“Everyone, come down! Line by line—don’t push!” a teacher shouted from the front.
Groans and excitement mixed instantly.
Students stood up, stretching, grabbing their bags, pushing toward the exit anyway.
“Line by line means LINE BY LINE!” the teacher repeated.
No one listened properly.
Outside—
A large roadside dhaba spread across the highway.
Not a small one.
This was built for travelers—
for buses.
Three college buses lined up one after another.
Students from other sections were already getting down from theirs.
The place was big enough to hold everyone—
and still feel half empty.
Within minutes—
Groups formed.
Friends clustered.
Noise returned.
At one corner—
Teachers gathered near a table.
“Your bus students are too loud,” one of them muttered.
“They’re kids,” the Section B teacher replied calmly.
“They’re excited. Let them enjoy.”
The other teacher sighed.
“Still… good-for-nothing little—”
“Relax,” she cut him off gently.
“They’ll settle.”
Meanwhile—
Sanvi and Tanya sat across from each other, menus in hand.
“Tanya, what are you ordering?” Sanvi asked.
Tanya scanned the menu.
Not the dishes—
The prices.
Her eyes moved quickly, calculating.
“Umm… I think I’ll just take a veg thali.”
Sanvi looked up immediately.
“What? We eat that in the canteen too.”
“It’s a trip—let’s order something good.”
She leaned forward, excited.
“Okay—Shahi paneer, butter naan… and maybe dal makhni with rice?”
Tanya’s fingers lightly touched her pocket.
A small pause.
“But… isn’t that too much?” she said softly.
“I’m not that hungry.”
Sanvi hesitated.
Her excitement dropped slightly.
“…okay. Then just dal and rice?”
Tanya quickly shook her head.
“No, no—it’s fine. Let’s order Shahi paneer too.”
A small smile.
“Let’s enjoy.”
Sanvi’s face lit up again.
“That’s my girl.”
On another table—
Sid, Amit, and Rohan were already eating.
Sid took a bite and paused.
“…this is actually really good.”
Amit nodded with full focus.
“I’m packing this for later.”
Rohan smirked.
“Relax. We’ll reach before night.”
Sid leaned forward.
“Really? Do you know how the resort looks?”
Rohan shrugged.
“Not exactly. I try to search on gpt nothing much come up. But I heard it’s big. And pretty luxurious.”
Sid’s eyes lit up.
“I’m excited to see it.”
Across the dhaba—
Faizal sat with Dev, Mahir, and Rahul.
Dev tasted the food.
“It’s decent.”
A pause.
“I hope the resort has better food.”
Faizal leaned toward Mahir.
“Did you bring what I told you?”
Mahir smirked.
“Everything’s in the bag.”
“I slipped it in during the checking.”
Dev raised an eyebrow.
“What are you guys talking about?”
Mahir quietly unzipped his bag just a little—
A glimpse.
Beer bottles.
Then closed it instantly.
Dev blinked.
“…damn.”
Then casually—
“I brought some wine too.”
“Pretty expensive.”
“We’ll use it later.”
Faizal grinned.
“That’s too good man”
After a moment—
Faizal leaned closer to Dev.
Lower voice.
“I need a favor.”
Dev looked at him.
“Hmm?”
“I like someone.”
Dev raised an eyebrow.
“You already have girlfriend, didn't you?”
Faizal shrugged.
“That’s done. I broke up.”
Then subtly pointed.
Toward Sanvi.
Dev followed his gaze.
“Oh.”
“What kind of help?”
Faizal smirked.
“Just bring her to me. I will plan to ask her out.”
Dev didn’t answer immediately.
Then—
“Are you serious about her?”
“Or just another thing?”
Faizal leaned back.
“I’m serious.”
“Can’t you see it?”
Dev studied him for a second.
Then nodded.
“…okay.”
“I’ll help.”
He stood up.
“I’m going to wash my hands.”
As Dev walked away—
Mahir leaned in.
“Why involve him?”
Faizal smirked.
“I heard on the but that she has a crush on him.”
A pause.
“Convenient, isn’t it?”
Mahir’s grin widened.
“You’re too good, man.”
They both laughed.
Meanwhile—
Sanvi stood up.
“I’m going to wash my hands.”
Tanya nodded, still eating.
“Okay.”
At the washing area—
Sid was already there.
Sanvi walked beside him.
A brief glance.
A small pause.
Then—
“Thanks… for earlier,” she said while washing her hands.
Sid shook his head.
“Don’t mention it.”
“It’s nothing.”
“Hmm.”
A quiet moment.
Then both stepped away.
As Sanvi walked back—
A thought crossed her mind.
He seems like a good guy…
She blinked slightly.
Wait… is this the first time we actually talked?
She shook her head lightly and returned to the table.
Tanya had finished eating by then.
“I’ll wash and come,” she said.
Sanvi nodded.
By the time Tanya returned—
The table was already cleared.
Sanvi had paid.
Tanya stopped.
“How much was it?”
Sanvi shook her head.
“Don’t worry. You can pay next time.”
“But—”
“Come on, we’re getting late.”
A teacher’s voice echoed—
“Everyone back to the bus! Move!”
Sanvi grabbed her hand.
“See? Let’s go.”
Tanya hesitated—
Then nodded.
Students rushed back.
Lines broke.
Energy returned.
Seats reclaimed.
Soon—
The bus started again.
This time—
“Dum Charades!” someone shouted.
And just like that—
The game began.
Laughter.
Shouting.
Wrong guesses.
Chaos.
Hours passed.
The sunlight softened.
Shadows grew longer.
Around 5:40 PM—
The road changed.
Trees grew denser.
The air felt… quieter.
Zavian sat by the window.
Headphones on.
Music low.
His gaze fixed outside.
Watching.
Observing.
Then—
Something caught his eye.
Deep in the forest—
Under a large tree—
Birds.
Dead.
And others—
Of the same kind—
Feeding on them.
Zavian’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“…cannibalism?”
He laugh. Leaned a little closer to the window.
“Interesting.”
The bus moved forward.
The scene passed.
Then—
Another.
Snakes.
Multiple.
Coiled together.
Twisting.
Biting each other.
Fangs visible.
Aggressive.
Unnatural.
Zavian’s expression changed.
“…that’s not normal.”
A pause.
Birds.
Then snakes.
Same pattern.
Something felt—
Off.
But before he could think further—
The bus slowed down.
Then stopped.
“Everyone, we’ve reached!” a teacher shouted.
“Get down line by line!”
Students stood instantly.
Energy returning again.
Excitement overpowering everything else.
One by one—
They stepped down.
And then—
They saw it.
The resort.
Sanvi’s eyes widened.
“This is amazing…”
Tanya stepped beside her.
“…beautiful.”
Sid, Amit, and Rohan got down behind them.
All of them—
Looking at the same thing.
The same place.
The same beginning.
None of them knew—
What this place would become.