When Vihaan returned to Detention Room 17 two weeks later, everyone tried to act normal.

Ayaan looked up and shrugged.

"Oh... you're back? We were actually enjoying the peace."

Vihaan laughed.

"Missed me that much?"

"Not even a little."

Before anyone could respond, Akruti quietly placed the sketch of the seven chairs back into her notebook.

This time, all seven chairs were filled.

Mrs. Sharma watched the exchange from her desk.

"You've all changed," she said.

No one answered.

She smiled knowingly.

"The first day you walked into this room, none of you could look at each other. Now you can't stop talking."

Ayaan leaned back in his chair.

"I guess detention isn't that bad anymore."

Mrs. Sharma glanced around the circle of students.

"Maybe the room didn't change."

She paused.

"Maybe the people in it did."

The bell rang, but for the first time, none of them rushed to leave.

Somehow, those four old walls had become the safest place in the entire school.

And none of them were ready to admit just how much that frightened them.

Because deep down, they all knew...

Detention wouldn't last forever.