Embrace of the Storm

A Deluge of Uncertainty

Mumbai's monsoon arrived with a sudden ferocity that caught everyone off guard. What began as a light drizzle transformed by noon into a torrential downpour, flooding the campus and turning laughter into shouts as students scrambled for shelter.

Amal had been in the library, her favorite sanctuary, deeply engrossed in her studies. The comforting aroma of old books usually soothed her, but today, anxiety fluttered in her chest as she watched the rain hammer against the windows. Water pooled outside, rising steadily like a tide determined to breach the library's doors.

Suddenly, the power flickered, and a loud crack echoed as a nearby transformer exploded. Panic surged through her. Students dashed for the exit, but in her haste, she tripped over a chair and scrambled onto a wooden bookcase, instinctively seeking higher ground as the water crept in.

"Amal! Get down!" Maha shouted from the doorway, her voice laced with worry. But the library was rapidly flooding, and water lapped dangerously close to the shelves. Broken wires from the ceiling swayed ominously, adding to Amal's fear. The thought of the water becoming electrified sent a chill down her spine.

"Stay back!" Amal yelled, trying to sound brave. She was stuck, perched precariously atop the shelf, her heart racing as the water rose around her. The chaos outside was muffled, drowned by the relentless rain.

"Can you climb down?" Maha asked, scanning the room.

"No, the wires! I can't risk it!" Amal shook her head, anxiety rising.

Maha searched for a solution. "We need to get help! Just hold on!"

Taking a deep breath, Amal tried to calm the panic swelling within her. With each passing moment, the situation grew more dire. Suddenly, determination surged through her. "I can't stay here!" she shouted.

As she attempted to climb down, her foot slipped on the slick surface, and before she could react, she fell into the water below. Time seemed to slow as the cold water enveloped her.

"Ya Allah!" she screamed, panic rising as she struggled to surface. Just then, the lights went out completely, plunging the library into darkness.

"Amal!" Maha called, breaking through the dark. "Are you okay?"

"I think so!" Amal replied, her voice shaky.

Gripping each other's hands, they made their way toward the exit. Stumbling into the electric room, they were met with a troubling sight: the room was flooded, wires dangled precariously, and the switch lever was in the "off" position.

"Someone turned it off," Amal whispered, concern creeping in. "But who?"

Maha looked around, anxiety etched on her face. "We need to find out what happened. Let's get help before it's too late."

As they hurried through the dark, the weight of uncertainty loomed over them, but their main focus was on escaping safely and finding answers together.