I am in the lobby.

The taxi dropped me at the college gate at 5:20 in the morning. I was back to the college after 2 month long vacation, now going to be in the final year of my engineering. The guard was not at the gate, which was a bit unusual, but as it was still early morning, it seemed okay.

I started to walk towards my hostel which was around half kilometres from the gate. The vast campus of the college was covered in lush greenery and the cold breeze gave a very soothing feel.

Usually at this time some students as well as faculty can be seen jogging or walking their pets on the college road and the sweeper sweeping the streets, players practicing in the playground but none of them were there, not even a sound. All I could hear was the sound of leaves rustling, and birds tweeting.

It then occurred to me, what if the vacations got extended due to any damn reason and I am totally alone in this 250 acres campus. The mere possibility of this to happen gave me a chill as little droplets of sweat started to drip on my forehead.

I took out my cellphone and called one of my friends to ask if he was coming. He picked up almost immediately and said that he's already here in the hostel but totally alone and was starting to get scared and that there is no such news of holiday extension or anything like that. This was a relief to both of us.

I reached the hostel, went to my room and kept my bag there and then went to my friend's room. He was not there. I thought he might have been at someone else's room so I started looking for him but couldn't find. I finally came to the lobby of the hostel when my cellphone vibrated in my pocket.

It was him.

Before I could ask him anything he started to ask in a terrified voice where I was. I told him that I am already here in the hostel and that I went to his room and am currently in the lobby. He then shouted at me-

"Is this a sick joke?! please stop messing with me! I am here in the lobby for last four hours and everyone I am calling says that he's in the lobby! Please stop it! It's enough!"

This seemed to me again as a joke as if he was trying to fool me as I was totally alone in there. I disconnected the phone.

I went to the washroom to wash myself. I then grabbed a towel to dry myself and lifted my face up looking in the mirror. There was a deep thrill along my spine as a drop of sweat dripped from the back of my neck.

There was no one in the mirror. No me. Nothing. I kept staring at the reflection of the wall behind me, before I fainted.