Chapter 1:- The Reunion
The morning sun slipped through the half-drawn curtains of their Middleton Row's apartment. Inside, the room was filled with the warm smell of coffee and the distant hum of traffic from the main road. Ajay sat cross-legged on the sofa, flipping through a Hercule Poirot novel while drinking his cup of coffee. Rohan had already finished his cup, so he was tossing a cricket ball in the air with rhythmic boredom.
“Another slow day,” Rohan sighed, letting the ball fall on his chest. “Bro, are we even detectives anymore? Or glorified watchmen?”
Ajay didn’t look up. “Cases come when they come. You can’t force crime.”
“I’m not saying force crime,” Rohan protested. “But a little murder here and there wouldn’t hurt.”
Ajay raised an eyebrow.
“Say that louder and the neighbours will call the police, thinking we did something.” Rohan snorted and rolled off the sofa, heading to the kitchen. “What if we advertise? ‘Detective duo available — discount on first murder!’”
“You’re hopeless,” Ajay said, finally smiling.
The apartment was quiet again. Peaceful. Calm. Too calm for detectives who were used to tension, clues, and adrenaline. For days, no client had come. No phone calls. Not even Mrs. Mukherjee complained about someone stealing her flower pots. Ajay was about to turn another page when his phone buzzed. A WhatsApp notification. He ignored it. Two seconds later, it buzzed again. Then again.
“Spam?” Rohan called out from the kitchen.
“Probably,” Ajay murmured—until he looked at his screen.
A group invite.
You’ve been added to: “Batch 2025-2026”.
For a moment, he stared.
“Batch 2025-2026?”
He opened it. And froze.
The group members were familiar. Very familiar.
Sanjhana… Mohsin… Suhana… Shaira… Ayesha… Aditi… Samir… Arghya… Abhinash …
And—
His heartbeat stuttered for half a second.
Ishita.
His first love. His childhood crush. The one he hadn’t seen in fifteen years.
Rohan walked back in, holding two plates of omelette. “Who’s texting you like it’s an emergency?”
“Nothing,” Ajay said quickly—but his smile betrayed him.
He typed in the group. The chat immediately became active.
Mohsin:-Eyyy look at this! All these old names in one place after soooo long! I’m emotional already.
Arghya:-Bro same! Feels like we’re back in school again.
Abhinash :-HELLOOOO MY PEOPLE! The legends have assembled.
Suhana:-Hi everyone! I can’t believe this group actually exists.
Shaira:-Roll call time! Everyone says PRESENT before I mark you absent.
Samir:-PREEEESENTTTTTT MAAAMM!!!
(group floods with loudspeaker emojis)
Ayesha:-Omg Samir is still loud..Some things never change.
Aditi:-Guys this group feels so surreal, I’m smiling like an idiot.
Ishita:-Hi everyone…It feels amazing seeing all these names again after so many years. Missed all of you!
Mohsin:-Arre look who’s here! Ishita! Our class topper slash artist.
Suhana:-YESSS the whole gang is here..
Sanjhana:-Guys… serious question… should we meet? Like ACTUALLY? A proper reunion?
Abhinash:-YES. FINALLY SOMEONE SAID IT.
Arghya:-We have been TALKING about meeting since the dinosaurs. Let’s do something real this time.
Ayesha:-We should finalize today only.
Shaira:-Venue, date, time. Quick. Before Abhinash gets hungry and leaves.
Abhinash :-I’m always hungry. But I’ll stay.
Everyone laughs.
Samir:-I’m ready. I’ll bring my old jokes also.
Mohsin:-NO BRO PLEASE DON’T
Ajay:-It will be great to see all of you again. Count me in.
Sanjhana:-YESSS DETECTIVE BABU IS IN! Now it’s official!
Ayesha:-But this group name…‘Batch 2025-2026’… it’s too boring…
Abhinash :-Rename it ASAP.
After a pause…
Ajay renamed the group to “BACKBENCHERS FOREVER”
Group name changed: BACKBENCHERS FOREVER
Abhinash :-WHAT A NAME. LEGENDARY.
Samir:-BACKBENCHERS FOR LIFEEEEEEE.
Suhana:-This name brought back so many memories omg.
Ishita:-It actually feels perfect.We always had the most fun at the back benches.
Arghya:-Okay now we have the team and the group name. Next the venue!
Ayesha:-Somewhere we can gossip properly.
Aditi:-And take good pictures.
Shaira:-And where Abhinash doesn’t finish the whole menu.
Abhinash :-No promises.
Everyone sent laughing emoji..
Ajay:-How about AquaVibe Restaurant & Bar, College Square? Good ambience, good food.
Sanjhana:-OHHH YES AquaVibe is perfect!
Mohsin:-I approve. Great choice.
Ayesha:-Friday evening?
Suhana:-Friday is good!
Arghya:-Done.
Samir:-This is going to be EPIC.
Abhinash :-I’m coming early. Save me a seat and the menu.
Ishita:-I can’t wait to meet all of you after so long…Friday it is then.
Sanjhana:-Yesss it is!!
Ajay stared at the last message longer than any reasonable adult should.
He didn’t even realize he was smiling until Rohan spoke.
“What’s with that goofy grin?” Rohan asked, sipping his tea. “You look like you just solved a triple murder.”
Ajay closed the chat, still smiling.
“No… nothing like that.”
Rohan narrowed his eyes. “Then why are you smiling like a Bollywood hero?”
Ajay exhaled.
“Because… after fifteen years… I’m finally going to see my school crush again.”
Rohan almost threw the omelette from his mouth.
“Oyyy this reunion is about to become a Bollywood comeback!”
Ajay just smiled quietly.
And somewhere far in the city, plans for a reunion at AquaVibe had already begun to shift the air around him—bringing with it memories, excitement.
Rohan again headed to the kitchen with the plates.
The notifications in the WhatsApp group finally slowed, and the apartment settled back into quiet.
But Ajay was still smiling at his screen—completely unaware of how visible it was. Rohan emerged from the kitchen. He paused. Stared. Then pointed dramatically.
“There it is. The Smile.”
Ajay jumped slightly. “What smile?”
“That smile,” Rohan repeated, walking closer, squinting like a detective inspecting evidence. “The one that comes only when one person texts you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh please,” Rohan scoffed. “I saw your face glow when she replied. My guy, that was not normal lighting. That was pure emotion.”
“Shut up and do your thing bro.”
Rohan shook his head slowly, grinning.
“You’re gone, bhai… absolutely gone.”
Ajay threw a cushion at him. It bounced harmlessly off the wall.
“You missed. Again,” Rohan said and walked away triumphantly.
Later that night, Ajay lay on his bed, lights dim, the city hum muted beneath the window. His phone buzzed softly.
Ishita:-Good night everyone.
He stared at the message a moment too long before typing:
Ajay:-Good night, Ishita.
A reply came almost instantly.
Ishita:-Good night, Ajay.
He felt warmth spread across his chest, an old memory resurfacing—of school benches, shared laughter, soft eyes that once made him forget his books. From the other room, Rohan’s voice echoed:
“I HEAR YOU SMILING!”
“GO TO SLEEP!”
But he couldn’t stop laughing.
Next morning sunlight spilled into the apartment. Rohan barged directly into the room—as always.
“Rise and shine, Mr. Sentimental.”
“I am blocking you from my life.”
“No you’re not,” Rohan said, settling on the edge of the bed. “Now listen. Your reunion is tomorrow. Wear a black shirt. The grey one makes you look like a college lecturer who hates his job.”
“Okay, enough.”
“And don’t act awkward. Don’t overthink. Don’t be shy. Don’t forget to breathe.”
“Are you done?”
Rohan nodded seriously.
“Yes. Now get up. Your coffee is getting cold.”
Later that night…
The group lit up again.
Sanjhana:-6 PM tomorrow. AquaVibe. No excuses.
Abhinash :-I’ll reach early. I want a seat near the window.
Arghya:-You always want that seat.
Abhinash :-Exactly.
Suhana:-Wear something nice, all of you. We need good pictures.
Then came the message Ajay had been waiting for.
Ishita:-6 pm is perfect. Can’t wait to see everyone.
He typed slowly…
Ajay:-See you all tomorrow.
Rohan, peeking from behind the doorframe, whispered,
“Smooth… Romeo-level smooth.”
Ajay threw a pen at him.
Rohan dodged and vanished.
The city was glowing with the golden softness of early evening when Ajay parked his car in AquaVibe’s lot. He sat there for a moment, hands on the steering wheel, heart steady but heavy with nostalgia. He checked his watch. 5:59 PM. He stepped out.
The warm breeze carried faint music from inside the restaurant, mixed with the smell of grilled food and fresh cocktails. The neon “AquaVibe” sign flickered softly, casting blue light on the entrance. As he pushed open the glass door, a familiar wave of warmth and sound greeted him. Laughter. Clinking glasses. Memories waiting to breathe again.
Inside, five figures turned toward him instantly.
Ayesha, Suhana, Shaira, Arghya, and Abhinash .
Abhinash raised both hands like a cricket commentator announcing a century.
“THE DETECTIVE ARRIVES!”
Everyone burst out cheering.
Ajay smiled, hugged, shook hands, and took a seat.
The atmosphere shifted instantly into old-school chaos—inside jokes, half-remembered stories, exaggerated memories that had grown funnier with time. One by one, the rest of the old gang began to arrive. Samir was the first, bursting in through the door with his usual loud energy.
“BACKBENCHERS, MAKE SOME NOISE!”
Everyone groaned and cheered at the same time.
Aditi arrived next, waving shyly before being pulled into the group hug pile. Mohsin entered with the confidence of someone arriving on a red carpet.
“Your hero has arrived,” he announced. The group booed him affectionately.
Finally, Sanjhana walked in briskly, already scolding Abhinash from across the room for trying to eat without the full squad. Within minutes, the table was loud, messy, full—voices overlapping, chairs shifting, memories spilling out like confetti.
Even with everyone around him, Ajay’s eyes kept drifting to the entrance. Ishita still hadn’t come.
Ayesha and Sanjhana were arguing about the music.
“I want English pop!” Ayesha protested.
“No! Play Hindi classics or I’m leaving!” Sanjhana snapped.
Arghya tried explaining his job, only for Mohsin to interrupt loudly,“Bro, your job is basically scrolling through spreadsheets and pretending it’s rocket science.”
Arghya nearly died. Everyone else nearly died laughing. Abhinash kept attempting to steal the menu. Shaira kept snatching it back. Ayesha knocked over a glass of water. Samir blamed Abhinash . Abhinash denied everything. The entire table was chaotic—loud, messy, nostalgic.
And in the middle of it…
Ajay’s eyes kept drifting to the entrance.
Again. And again. He checked the time. 6:20 PM. He checked the door. Nothing. He checked again.Still nothing.
His heartbeat grew heavy—anticipation mixing with a pinch of fear he didn’t expect.
Sanjhana noticed first. She walked up quietly, stood beside him, and whispered: “She will come. Don’t worry.”
He nodded but didn’t look convinced.
Sanjhana smirked. “You’re worse than a groom waiting at the mandap.” He shot her a glare but said nothing.
Finally, the door opened. A rush of evening light spilled in. And then she stepped inside.
Ishita.
She draped in a soft blue kurti, earrings glinting as she brushed her hair back. Her presence didn’t demand attention—it simply pulled it. The entire table fell silent for half a second.Then Sanjhana elbowed Ajay.
“Told you,” she whispered, grinning.
Ishita walked toward the group, smiling, greeting everyone warmly as she approached.When she finally stood in front of Ajay, her smile softened.
“Hi, Ajay.”
He didn’t reply.
He just stared—frozen, struck, lost in the moment he’d replayed in his head for 15 years.
Mohsin leaned in from behind and pinched him sharply.
“Ow—uh—Hi, Ishita.”
She laughed, the sound soft and familiar.
“You haven’t changed at all.”
He smiled helplessly.
“Neither have you.”
They fell into conversation—life updates, work, scattered memories—the kind that made time fold in on itself. Everything felt warm. Everything felt safe.
Until something happened. Their life was about to change. The reunion was about to become an unforgettable experience for them..
A sudden engine roar broke through the evening calm.
Heads turned. A black motorcycle shot through AquaVibe’s front gate, headlights slicing through the courtyard. The rider’s face was hidden under a dark visor. The bike didn’t slow. It raced straight toward the pool.
And then—
THUD. SPLASH.
A large black duffel bag flew from the rider’s hand, hit the water, and sank partially. Gasps filled the restaurant.
The bike skidded, swerved, and bolted through the back gate—disappearing into the Kolkata evening.
Silence. Only the pool ripples moved.
Ajay stared at the sinking bag. As the ripples reached the edge of the pool, a thin, dark ribbon of red began to bloom from the zipper of the bag.
And in that moment, the detective in him woke up.
Something had begun. Something big. Something deadly.
