invisible string ✓

twenty four

Though it seemed out-of-the-world, it did sound like a plan.

“Yeah, right! Ask her for that. We'll make a decision when you're convinced of it,” Dhruv added, supporting Shaina while I took my mobile already to text Miss Bansal.

Me:
Hello, Miss Bansal. Thank you for giving me time to prove my statement. And… To give you an update of my process, it's done and unsuccessful. I searched for evidence to prove my evidence but it failed. I get that he's not a person from this world. But, who is he for real? How would you like to prove your statement?

I think that I have a plan for this. You claim that Ishaan is from another world, but where does that exist? What does it look like? I think these answers can be answered only if you take me to that universe. Yes, you read it right. Take me to that world. Prove me that your statements are right and I'll make a decision.

A few hours later, when I was watching Gossip Girl along with Shaina, I heard the mobile ping. Taking it out while Shaina paused the series and called Dhruv to the living room, I read aloud Miss Bansal's reply to my suggestion text.

0dv1k0._.:
Hello, Miss Chatterjee. Glad to know about the result of your statement. And, I would be more than happy to introduce your world to you: who deserves to see that if not you? I will contact you again on the date, time, and place.

“Wow! Sis has some guts indeed!” Shaina commented and let out a lopsided grin.

“I'm Team Advika, though! I mean, nobody could be this confident if they were lying,” Dhruv stated with a proud grin on his face. “What about you, Shay?”

“I'm Team Aadya!” Shaina exclaimed and gave me a side hug while I received another message, that time from Avinash Chauhan.

Avinash Chauhan:
By the way, let me warn you of this as well. I did this at the stake of my career, only for the sake of Mahima. Though I know you won't, I would warn you not to misuse the information I have given you. You will face dire consequences if you break this.

***

TWO WEEKS LATER…

“So, you believe that Ishaan is from the fictional world. Right?” Shaina asked me for the nth time with a no-nonsense look on her face for which I nodded a yes.

I visited an under-construction site (upon Miss Bansal's insistence) two days after she assured me that she would take me to the world I “created”. I ensured that Miss Bansal and Ishaan didn't inject any drug and that I didn't eat too much to get sleepy. I was wide awake for the entire time until Miss Bansal played You Belong With Me and the next thing I saw was myself inside Ishaan's room.

Then, for the rest of the week, I spent time with Ishaan, getting to know about his life and the people involved. I couldn't believe that I had met Fiorella, Ishaan's housemaid, as well. Even before the week ended, I was convinced that I was living in the world I created.

When I came back to the world I lived in, I asked Miss Bansal, “Will everyone who plays You Belong With Me the song move to my world?”

Yes. That's my world as well.

Miss Bansal chuckled and replied, “No. My presence is mandatory to access that world. My friend once tried to go there without my presence and failed.”

“So, what's your plan?” Dhruv asked over the video call.

“I don't know. First of all, let me clear my head. Only then, I can make a decision,” I stated in a firm tone, though the context sounded otherwise. “I didn't know that stuff could get this complicated.”