The clearing felt heavier now.
Not because something new had appeared.
But because something had become clear.
Everyone would have to face it.
Kabir looked around slowly.
Then pointed at himself.
“No.”
Dev didn’t even ask.
“Did anyone say your name?”
Kabir nodded.
“They were thinking it.”
Riya crossed her arms.
“You’re next.”
Kabir gasped.
“Why is everyone against me?”
Dev replied,
“Because you’re the most resistant.”
Kabir froze.
“…that sounds like a psychological attack.”
Raghav stepped forward.
“It’s not about who is ready,” he said.
“It’s about who is avoiding it.”
Kabir immediately stepped back.
“I am not avoiding anything. I am choosing peace.”
Dev smirked.
“You’re choosing escape.”
Kabir pointed at him.
“Same thing.”
Riya shook her head.
“No. Not here.”
Silence.
Kabir looked at the path.
Then at the symbol.
Then at Aarav.
Then at Meera.
“…you both came back too normal,” he said suspiciously.
Aarav replied calmly,
“We’re not.”
Kabir blinked.
“…that is not comforting.”
Dev folded his arms.
“Just go.”
Kabir took a deep breath.
“No.”
Riya stepped closer.
“Then stay stuck here forever.”
Kabir paused.
“…forever?”
Dev added,
“Because the path repeats. Remember?”
Kabir closed his eyes.
“This is emotional blackmail.”
Raghav didn’t argue.
He simply said—
“You already know what you’ll see.”
Kabir’s eyes opened.
Slowly.
That hit.
Harder than anything else.
He looked away.
Then laughed nervously.
“No… no I don’t.”
But his voice didn’t agree.
Riya softened her tone.
“Just go and come back,” she said.
Kabir muttered,
“That’s what people say before something goes wrong.”
Dev replied,
“You are something going wrong.”
Kabir sighed.
“Fine.”
A pause.
Then—
“BUT if I don’t come back, I want everyone to remember me as a brave person.”
Dev said,
“No.”
Riya added,
“We’ll remember you as dramatic.”
Kabir placed a hand on his heart.
“Pain.”
Aarav simply said,
“Go.”
Kabir looked at him.
“…you didn’t even try to stop me.”
Aarav replied,
“You won’t stop anyway.”
Kabir thought for a second.
“…correct.”
He turned toward the path.
Took one step.
Stopped.
Turned back.
“Last chance to cancel this.”
No one responded.
Kabir nodded.
“Okay. Betrayal confirmed.”
He stepped forward.
And disappeared.
—
Kabir opened his eyes.
And immediately frowned.
“…this looks normal.”
He was standing in a room.
His room.
Exactly the same.
Messy bed.
Clothes on the chair.
Half-open cupboard.
He looked around slowly.
“No.”
He walked forward.
Touched the table.
Real.
Too real.
He turned.
The mirror.
He walked toward it.
Looked at himself.
Same face.
Same expression.
But something felt… off.
Kabir whispered,
“This is not the forest.”
A voice came from behind.
“Of course it’s not.”
Kabir froze.
Slowly turned.
And saw—
Himself.
Same face.
Same posture.
But calmer.
Serious.
Not joking.
Kabir blinked.
“…no. Absolutely not.”
The other Kabir spoke,
“You knew it would be this.”
Kabir shook his head.
“No, I expected ghosts. Not… me.”
The other Kabir stepped closer.
“You keep joking.”
Kabir crossed his arms.
“Because I’m funny.”
The other Kabir didn’t smile.
“You keep avoiding.”
Silence.
Kabir’s expression shifted slightly.
Only slightly.
“I don’t avoid,” he said.
“You do,” the other version replied.
“You don’t take anything seriously.”
Kabir laughed.
“That’s called living stress-free.”
The other Kabir’s voice lowered.
“It’s called running away.”
That hit.
Hard.
Kabir’s smile faded a little.
But he forced it back.
“Okay… dramatic version of me, relax.”
The other Kabir pointed at him.
“You never stay.”
Silence.
Kabir’s eyes flickered.
Just for a second.
“You leave before things matter.”
No jokes.
No comeback.
Nothing.
Kabir looked away.
The room felt smaller now.
He whispered,
“…I just don’t like complicated things.”
The other Kabir stepped closer.
“Or you’re scared of them.”
Kabir swallowed.
Didn’t respond.
Because this time—
He couldn’t.
The voice softened.
“You think if you don’t take things seriously… they won’t hurt.”
Kabir closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then opened them again.
“…and?”
The other Kabir replied,
“They still do.”
Silence.
Long.
Heavy.
Kabir exhaled slowly.
For the first time—
No joke.
No escape.
Just truth.
“…so what do I do?” he asked quietly.
The other Kabir looked at him.
“Stay.”
A pause.
“Even when it’s not easy.”
Kabir stared at him.
Then nodded slowly.
“…okay.”
The moment he said it—
The room cracked.
Just like Aarav’s path.
The mirror shattered.
The walls faded.
Everything broke apart.
—
Kabir stepped back into the clearing.
Breathing slightly heavier.
But smiling.
Not his usual dramatic smile.
A smaller one.
Real.
Dev looked at him.
“…you okay?”
Kabir nodded.
“Yeah.”
Riya asked,
“What did you see?”
Kabir replied,
“My worst enemy.”
Dev smirked.
“Yourself?”
Kabir pointed at him.
“Don’t ruin the emotional moment.”
Riya smiled slightly.
Meera watched quietly.
Aarav understood.
Raghav said nothing.
Kabir stretched his arms.
“Okay. Growth achieved. Can we leave now?”
Dev replied,
“No.”
Kabir sighed.
“Of course.”
Raghav looked at the last person.
Dev.
And said—
“Your turn.”
Kabir immediately stepped back.
“Good luck.”
Dev rolled his eyes.
But didn’t argue.
Because now—
There was no avoiding it.