The corridor outside Senate Hall turns into a frozen stage. Phones are already out—screens glowing, fingers flying, notifications chiming like funeral bells. Someone’s speaker is still playing Vikram’s voice on loop: “…immediate suspension pending full inquiry… Professor Arjun Mehra and Ms. Ananya Sharma…”

Arjun’s arms are locked around me. His heartbeat hammers against my ear. I can feel every shudder in his chest, every ragged breath he’s trying to control.