He watched the megabytes drain like sand in an hourglass. Each percentage point was a blood pact.

The Wi-Fi died completely. A transformer blew somewhere in the lane. The lights flickered. The fan stopped spinning. The oppressive humidity descended like a physical weight.

He stared at the screen. The file was corrupt. The universe did not want him to see what happened after Arisu held that lighter over the bonfire.

It began with a single tap. A desperate, caffeine-fueled tap on a cracked phone screen.

He wouldn’t delete it. Not ever.

He turned off the screen. The exam could wait.

Arjun let out a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He plugged his phone into a power bank, jammed in his earphones, and pressed play.