"Moonlit mischief"

The next day, preparations were underway for their nighttime mission.

Fa had packed a drone, a hacker’s laptop, and a portable staircase.

Jiya, on the other hand, brought a camera, portable games, and skates.

As the moon rose into the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the campus, the girls made final arrangements.

They tied a rope to the balcony railing of their dorm and tested its strength. Fa focused on synchronising the drone and mapped out a path to bypass CCTV coverage.

Once the restricted hours began, it was time to move.

One girl kept an eye on the patrolling guards while the other carefully lowered the rope.

Jiya descended first, her movements swift and silent. Fa tossed their bag down and climbed after her.

Avoiding the cameras, they crept through the shadows and approached the border wall.

Fa scrambled up the rocks, hauling herself onto the wall, then leaned down to help Jiya.

As Jiya landed with a soft thud, she grabbed Fa's waist to steady her, only to collapse with her in the bushes.

Jiya: "Fa, you're heavy! I can’t hold you. Get up!"

Fa: "Hehe, sorry! My bad!"

Jiya: "Let’s go. Before we get caught."

Fa: "Yeah, yeah. On it."

After a few paces, Jiya pulled out two pairs of skate shoes.

They laced up quickly and began gliding deeper into the forest path that led to the university’s shadowed rear entrance.

Suddenly, a silhouette darted across the moonlight, racing toward the campus.

Jiya flinched, feeling a cold tap on her shoulder.

Fa: "Relax! It’s just me," giggles

Jiya: "SHUT UP! Don’t scare me when we’re already sneaking around."

Fa stifled another laugh.

Jiya: "No seriously… I saw something move up there. Near the moon." points upward

Fa: "We’re committing mild trespassing here, Jiya. Of course, you’ll hallucinate a bit. Ignore it."

Jiya: "Hmm… Maybe you’re right."

Amidst the trees, a castle-like structure rises under the moonlight—an ominous silhouette with vast wings, encircled by high stone walls.

This… is their university.

Jiya: "It looks way scarier at night."

(Suddenly, a hand grips hers and pulls her forward.)

Jiya: "Yikes—who—?"

Fa: "It’s me, chill."

Jiya: "Fa! What was that for?"

Fa: "Do you want to get caught? Two guards are right there."

The castle gate—the grand entrance to the university—towers ahead. Its enormous wooden doors, lined with iron studs, stand slightly open, whispering tales of knowledge and secrets.

Above the archway, the university crest glimmers in the moonlight: an open book flanked by two swords—symbolising the union of wisdom and strength.

Two guards stand watch, scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes, their posture tense with alertness.

Jiya: "You're right. So… how do we sneak in?"

Fa: "I’ve already figured it out. Follow me."

(Silent as shadows, the girls dart to a secluded wall, far from the guards’ view.)

Fa pulls a folded ladder from her bag and props it against the wall.

Fa: "We climb. Simple."

Jiya: "Who goes first?"

Fa: "You. I’ll cover you."

Jiya: "Fine."

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Jiya ascends swiftly and slips over the wall. Once secure, she tosses the rope down, signalling Fa to follow.

Jiya: "Ugh, I’m already tired. Let’s head back. Exploration over."

Fa: "Excuse me? We just got in. The real fun’s about to begin!"

(Jiya chuckles, brushing dirt off her skirt. Fa smirks.)

Fa: "What? Are you scared?"

(Jiya folds her arms, eyebrow raised.)

Jiya: "Scared? In your dreams, baby."

Fa: "That’s my girl."

Jiya: "Alright. Where first?"

Fa: "Every department. We’re not leaving a single corridor unexplored."

They skate quietly to the main entrance. Jiya starts recording.

The pathways shimmer under the moonlight, dotted with dim, golden lamps.

Reaching the office door, Fa gives it a gentle push. It creaks open.

The room is bathed in soft yellow light. Desks lay untouched, papers frozen in time. A lone clock ticks on the wall, each second echoing like a heartbeat in the stillness.

Jiya: "Let’s search for our documents!" She teases.

Fa: "Relax, Sherlock. Our documents wouldn’t be kept here."

Jiya: "Then where, genius?"

Fa gestures toward a locked gate nearby.

Fa: "Right there. But are you sure you wanna check?"

Jiya waves her off with a smirk.

Jiya: "Nah, just messing with you."

With a mischievous grin, Fa flips on the lights. The room glows softly.

Jiya adjusts her camera onto a stick, her eyes lighting up with an idea.

Both slip into character as if it were old times, reviving their childhood role-playing game.

Jiya snatches a chair and plops down dramatically, playing the part of a strict Admissions Counsellor. Fa straightens her posture, transforming into a nervous, overly dramatic parent.

Fa (as a parent): "Miss, may I ask you something serious?"

Jiya (counsellor's voice): "Depends on how serious. Ask away."

Fa: "Will you admit my child to this prestigious university?"

Jiya: "That depends. What was his rank? Did he qualify? Passed 12th? Percentage? Hand over the documents."

Fa pulls out imaginary papers and hands them over. Jiya flips through them with exaggerated scrutiny.

Jiya: "Hmm… I’m sorry. I can’t approve his admission."

Fa: "Why not, Miss?"

Jiya: "He doesn’t meet the minimum eligibility. Not even close."

Fa: "Miss, just one chance. Please."

Jiya: sternly "Try again next year."

Fa: "You have no heart!"

Jiya suddenly leans forward and breaks character, grinning.

Jiya: "Wanna go check out more rooms or keep playing parents?"

Fa: "Haha, yeah! Let’s go."

The act ends. Jiya grabs the camera and the stick. Fa switches off the lights and quietly locks the office door behind them.

The corridor outside is hushed, cloaked in low golden light. Shadows stretch across the walls like ghosts of the day. The hum of electricity and the faint creak of floorboards are all that remain.

Fa: "Race you to the auditorium?"

Jiya: smirking "As you wish."

Fa speeds ahead on her skates, laughing wildly. Jiya dashes after her, nudging her playfully from behind. Fa spins around and gives her a playful shove back.

Their laughter echoes down the empty hallway as they race side by side, bumping and teasing until they finally skid to a stop outside the auditorium doors.

Inside, the auditorium feels like a hollow cavern swallowed by silence. Moonlight seeps through the tall windows, casting long, silvery beams over the rows of empty seats. Each sound reverberates as though the very walls are listening.

Fa: "It feels different at night... like the stage is waiting for a performance. Not creepy—more like magical."

Jiya: "Performance? What kind of performance would you even record?"

Fa: Smirking, "Yours, of course."

Jiya: grins "You stole my thought."

They both laugh softly.

Fa gently takes Jiya’s hand and leads her toward the stage. Setting up the camera with precision, Fa gives Jiya a nod.

Jiya steps forward gracefully, the stage embracing her presence.

The auditorium fades into darkness as a soft spotlight illuminates Jiya. She begins her Kathak performance with elegance—her movements flowing like verses of an unwritten poem. Each spin, each footstep, echoes with soul. Her hands weave stories in the air; her eyes hold the audience captive.

She concludes, one foot grounded, the other slightly raised with pointed toes. Her arms open in a poised mudra, eyes locked ahead with a peaceful yet powerful gaze, a gentle smile resting on her lips.

The music fades. Fa leaps to her feet, clapping with admiration.

Fa: "Wah!! You nailed it, girl!"

Jiya: smiling "Thank you for the applause, Miss."

Fa: "You're most welcome. Now allow me to escort this star performer."

She gently links arms with Jiya, guiding her down from the stage before stopping the recording.

Jiya: "Shall we head to our classrooms next?"

Fa: "Lead the way."

They skate through the corridors until they reach one of the classrooms.

The classroom is cloaked in quiet mystery. A flickering bulb casts eerie shadows on the walls. Empty desks sit like quiet witnesses, and the air is thick with the ghosts of old lessons and faded chalk dust. Papers rustle faintly in the draft, as though the room itself remembers.

Fa: glancing at Jiya with puppy eyes "Jiya, will you grant me one wish?"

Jiya: teasing "What's with the dramatic eyes? What is it?"

Fa: "Let’s record a skit—a student and professor scene."

Jiya: chuckles "That’s it? All that pleading for this?"

Fa: "Pfft. Come on, let’s do it already!"

They adjust the camera and secure it in place.

Slipping into their playful roles, Fa steps into the shoes of a professor while Jiya takes her place as the student.

With a mock-serious face, Fa grabs a stick, clears her throat dramatically, and strides to the front like she owns the classroom.

Fa (Professor): “Class, today we’ll be discussing something very important. Let’s begin with the fundamentals…”

She launches into the lecture with exaggerated enthusiasm, pacing like a true scholar. But just moments in, she pauses—Jiya is already slumped at her desk, head tilted, eyes shut.