The school library during self-study period was supposed to be silent. Rows of dusty shelves, the faint hum of the old ceiling fan, occasional page-turns and suppressed coughs. But in the far back corner—behind the rarely-used ancient history section where the lights flickered and the CCTV didn’t quite reach—silence had already been broken.

It was 2:45 p.m., third period on a Wednesday. Ananya, Priya, Rohan, and Vikram had slipped away one by one, claiming “project research.” Didi had stayed home, promising to “prepare” for tonight, but she’d sent a single text that morning: