In the quiet corridors of St. Xavier's College, Professor Arjun Sharma was known for his strict demeanor and sharp intellect. At 42, he carried himself with an air of authority—tall, broad-shouldered, with salt-and-pepper hair and piercing dark eyes behind rimless glasses. Monika, a 21-year-old final-year literature student, was one of his brightest pupils. With her long black hair, innocent doe-like eyes, fair skin, and a figure that curved gracefully beneath her modest salwar kameez, she often stayed back for extra help. Her parents trusted the professor completely.

It was a humid Thursday evening. The college was almost empty. Monika had come for her usual doubt-clearing session in the professor's private cabin.