The physics lab at 8:15 p.m. was lit only by the emergency tube lights and the glow from five phone screens already recording.

The long demonstration bench in the centre—usually covered in lenses, prisms and voltmeters—had been cleared. A thick black yoga mat (borrowed from the PE department) now covered the wooden top. Shraddha lay on her back across it—legs spread wide, ankles tied to the bench legs with lab safety ropes. Her wrists were cuffed above her head to the metal frame using the same padded restraints the biology lab used for dissections. The black net saree was torn open at the front—blouse ripped completely away—breasts heaving free, nipples clamped with small metal binder clips from the stationery drawer.