Nikhil Varma 1 The night was hushed, the tech city’s towers glowing like watchful giants against the deep blue sky, when Vihaan Mehta quietly wheeled his bicycle out of the garage. The faint hum of air-conditioners and the occasional flicker of a neon sign were the only sounds breaking the silence. Vihaan, his mind heavy with equations and career expectations drilled into him by his parents, pedaled out into the open streets with a sense of release that was almost intoxicating. Each push of the pedal loosened the chains of suffocating responsibility. His heart raced, not with fear of being…
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Sayantan Bramha One The evening air in Kolkata’s metro station carried its usual blend of dust, damp concrete, and faint echoes of hurried footsteps. Soumya’s heart pounded as he stood with a spray can hidden inside his backpack, waiting for the crowd to thin. Riya leaned against a pillar, eyes sharp and excited, tapping her phone screen nervously while pretending to scroll. Sam and Tanya were already whispering about colors, their hushed giggles bouncing off the walls. Imran, tall and quiet, kept scanning the platform with the kind of vigilance that made him look older than his years. For weeks…