END OF THE WORLD-yeh meri story ka naam hai The evening sky over New Zealand was painted in shades of orange and pink as the sun slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.Inside a comfortable suburban house, Sarah Collins, a 19-year-old military trainee, sat on the couch watching television.Sarah was intelligent, disciplined, and independent. Her parents, Vicky Collins and Lina Collins, both served in the military. Because of their constant deployments, they had rarely been home since Sarah was six years old.The person who had truly raised her was Maria Thomas, a 68-year-old caretaker who had looked after Sarah for more than a decade. To Sarah, Maria was much more than a caretaker.She was family. "Grandma," Sarah always called her. Maria walked into the living room carrying a cup of coffee. "Here's your coffee, dear," she said, placing it on the table. "Thanks, Grandma." Maria sat beside her and sighed. "We've almost run out of food. There's barely anything left to cook tonight." Sarah immediately stood up. "Then I'll go get something." "No, no," Maria replied. "We need groceries too." She handed Sarah a shopping list. Sarah glanced over it. Milk, eggs, cheese, bread, apples, potatoes, lettuce, bell peppers, rice, pasta, peanut butter, juice, and toilet paper. "That's a lot of stuff," Sarah laughed. "Exactly why I need you to go." "Alright. I'll be back soon." A few minutes later, Sarah was riding her scooter through the city streets. Her first stop was her favorite fast-food restaurant. "I'd like a cheeseburger and fries," Sarah told the cashier. "And?" "A pepperoni pizza and some tacos to go." The cashier smiled. "Big dinner tonight?" Sarah grinned. "My grandma deserves it." After collecting the food, she headed to a nearby supermarket. The store was unusually crowded. As Sarah pushed her cart through the aisles, her attention was drawn to a television mounted on a wall. A news broadcast was playing. "...an unidentified viral outbreak has been reported across several countries in Africa..." Sarah paused. "...health officials are investigating the situation as the number of infected individuals continues to rise..." Before she could hear more, her phone rang. Grandma Calling Sarah answered immediately. "Hey, Grandma." "Sarah, where are you?" Maria asked worriedly. "I'm still shopping." "It's been over an hour." Sarah looked at the time. 7:30 PM. She had left around six. The crowds, shopping, and food pickup had taken longer than expected. "I'm fine," Sarah reassured her. "Just finishing up." "Are you sure you don't need help?" Sarah smiled. "Grandma, I'm carrying groceries, not fighting a war." Maria laughed. "Just come home safely." "I will." A light drizzle had started by the time Sarah left the supermarket. She carefully loaded the groceries onto her scooter. The cool rain felt refreshing. For a few moments, she simply enjoyed the peaceful evening. Then she headed home. That night, Sarah and Maria enjoyed their dinner together. They laughed, talked, and shared stories as if it were any other normal day. Neither of them knew that the world was about to change forever. The next morning, Sarah followed her usual routine. She made her bed, brushed her teeth, and sat down for breakfast. Maria had prepared bread and pasta. As Sarah was eating, her phone suddenly lit up. Norah James – Video Call Sarah immediately answered. "Hey, Norah!" The screen revealed Sarah's best friend standing near a beautiful beach in Seychelles. Bright sunlight reflected off the ocean behind her. The view looked perfect. "You have no idea how amazing it is here!" Norah said excitedly. Sarah laughed. "You're making me jealous." "You should be." The two friends chatted and joked while Norah showed off the scenery. Behind her, a picnic area and several small vacation cottages could be seen. Everything looked peaceful. Normal. Then suddenly— A scream echoed through the phone. Norah froze. "What was that?" Sarah asked. Another scream. This time louder. "Mom?! Dad?!" Norah quickly turned around and pointed the camera toward the source of the noise. The image shook violently. The phone slipped from her hands and hit the ground. For a few seconds, only screams could be heard. "Norah!" Sarah's heart started racing. The camera shifted upward slightly. What Sarah saw made her blood run cold. Two figures were attacking people. Tearing into them. Biting them. Feeding on them. They looked human... but something was terribly wrong. Their eyes were completely black. Their movements were unnatural. Their faces looked damaged and partially decayed. Then Sarah realized who they were. Norah's parents. "Oh my God..." Sarah whispered. Norah tried to run. But it was too late. The creatures grabbed her. She screamed. Then the call became a chaotic blur of movement and noise. A few horrifying moments later, Norah slowly stood up again. But she wasn't Norah anymore. Her pupils had turned black. Part of her face appeared damaged. She stared directly into the camera. The screen suddenly went black. Call Ended. "Sarah?" Sarah couldn't move. "Sarah!" Maria rushed into the room after hearing her scream. "What happened?" Sarah looked at her with tears in her eyes. "Grandma..." Her voice trembled. "I think Norah is dead." Sarah explained everything. Every horrifying detail. Maria listened silently before turning on the television. The news was no longer calling it an unidentified outbreak. Emergency broadcasts filled every channel. A red warning banner stretched across the screen. GLOBAL HEALTH EMERGENCY The reporter's voice shook with fear. "The virus, now identified as Z-POX, continues to spread worldwide." Images of riots, attacks, and military blockades flashed across the screen. "Infected individuals display extreme aggression and attack uninfected humans." Sarah stared at the television. "The infection currently has no known cure." Maria slowly sat down. Neither of them spoke. The reporter continued. "Citizens are advised to remain indoors and avoid contact with infected individuals." Sarah's thoughts immediately turned to one thing. Her parents. They were somewhere out there. In the middle of a world that was falling apart. And for the first time in her life... Sarah Collins was truly afraid.Sarah barely slept that night. The horrifying image of Norah's video call kept replaying in her mind. Every time she closed her eyes, she could hear the screams. She could see Norah's terrified face. She could see those black eyes. And most importantly, she couldn't stop thinking about her parents. Were they safe? Were they trapped somewhere in the middle of the outbreak? Thousands of questions filled her mind. Eventually, exhaustion took over, and she drifted into an uneasy sleep. Maria wasn't doing much better. The old woman spent most of the night watching emergency broadcasts and worrying about both Sarah and the rapidly spreading virus. ________________________________________ The next morning began differently. Very differently. Maria woke up early as usual. After making herself a cup of tea, she stepped onto the balcony. The moment she looked outside, her heart nearly stopped. Police cars. An ambulance. Several officers. A small crowd of frightened neighbors. Everything was gathered in front of a nearby house. Maria immediately recognized it. It was the home of her close friend, Leonarda Selvis. "What on earth...?" Maria whispered. Suddenly, a loud cry echoed through the street. Maria looked again. Leonarda was standing outside her house, crying uncontrollably. Beside her, paramedics were carefully loading a young man into an ambulance. Ryan Selvis. Her son. On the other side, several police officers were struggling to restrain a middle-aged man. The man was growling and thrashing violently. His movements looked unnatural. Almost animal-like. Maria's eyes widened. Daniel Selvis. Leonarda's husband. A chill ran down her spine. Yesterday's news reports immediately came rushing back into her mind. The virus. The attacks. The infected. For a moment, Maria couldn't move. Then she quickly rushed downstairs. ________________________________________ A few minutes later, Maria reached Leonarda. The poor woman looked completely broken. "Leonarda!" Maria called. Leonarda turned around. The moment she saw Maria, she burst into tears. Maria wrapped her arms around her friend. "What happened?" she asked softly. Leonarda struggled to speak. "I... I don't know what happened to him." "Daniel?" Leonarda nodded. Maria guided her to a nearby bench. "Tell me everything." Leonarda took a deep breath. Then she began. ________________________________________ Flashback "Daniel came home two days ago," Leonarda said. "You know he was working in Mozambique." Maria nodded. "Yes." "He arrived in the evening." At first, everything seemed normal. Daniel looked tired from traveling, but that wasn't unusual. However, as the evening went on, Leonarda noticed something strange. "He wasn't acting like himself." "What do you mean?" Maria asked. "He seemed irritated. Angry." Leonarda wiped her tears. "I asked him if something was wrong." ________________________________________ "Daniel, are you okay?" Leonarda had asked that evening. "I'm fine," he replied coldly. "You don't look fine." "I'm just tired." Ryan had also noticed it. "Dad, you sure you're okay?" Daniel simply stared at him. For a few uncomfortable seconds, he didn't answer. Then he walked away. Later, when dinner was ready, Leonarda called everyone to the table. "Daniel! Dinner's ready!" But Daniel never came. Instead, he remained inside the bedroom. "I don't want anything," he shouted. The response shocked Leonarda. Daniel had never behaved that way before. Eventually, everyone went to bed. ________________________________________ The next morning, Leonarda was awakened by a scream. A terrible scream. Ryan's scream. She immediately ran toward his room. The moment she opened the door, she froze. Daniel was on top of Ryan. Biting him. Attacking him. Blood covered the floor. "RYAN!" Leonarda screamed. Daniel suddenly stopped. Slowly, he turned his head toward her. His eyes were completely black. A strange growl escaped his throat. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then Daniel charged toward her. "Mom! RUN!" Ryan used the last of his strength to grab his father. The two crashed into a nearby storage room. Ryan slammed the door shut. Then he locked it. Immediately, violent banging erupted from inside. Daniel was throwing himself against the door. Not speaking. Not thinking. Just making horrible animal-like noises. "I called the police immediately," Leonarda said. Her voice shook. "But Ryan..." Tears rolled down her face. "He started feeling sick." At first, Ryan complained about dizziness. Then he collapsed. By the time the police arrived, he could barely stay conscious. ________________________________________ Present Maria sat in silence. Everything she had heard matched the reports from the news. The virus had arrived. Not in another country. Not on television. Not somewhere far away. It was here. In their neighbourhood. Across the street. And for the first time, Maria truly understood how dangerous the situation had become. As another police vehicle drove away carrying Daniel, she couldn't stop thinking about one thing. If this could happen to Daniel Selvis... Who would be next? Leonarda wiped the tears from her eyes and stared at the empty street. The police vehicles and ambulance were gone now. Only a few frightened neighbors remained outside, quietly discussing what had happened. Maria sat beside her. For a moment, neither of them spoke. Then Leonarda broke the silence. "Maria... something doesn't make sense." Maria looked at her. "What do you mean?" Leonarda took a deep breath. "Daniel came home two days ago." Maria nodded. "I know." "He was acting strange. He was irritated all the time. He barely talked to us. He refused dinner and locked himself in the bedroom." Maria listened carefully. "But he wasn't like Ryan." "What do you mean?" "Ryan collapsed almost immediately after Daniel attacked him." Leonarda's voice trembled. "Daniel was acting strangely for two whole days. Ryan became sick within minutes." Maria frowned. Now that Leonarda mentioned it, she realized the difference too. "Maybe..." Maria began before stopping herself. The truth was that she had no answer. Neither of them understood what was happening. Leonarda continued. "There was something else." Maria looked at her. "The night before the attack, Daniel looked terrible." "Terrible how?" "He looked pale." Leonarda swallowed nervously. "And his eyes..." His eyes?" "They looked different." Maria felt a chill run down her spine. "Different?" Leonarda nodded. "The white part of his eyes looked red. Like the blood vessels had burst." Maria remained silent. Leonarda continued speaking. "He kept rubbing his head." "Headache?" "I think so." "He barely slept that night." "What else?" "He wasn't hungry." Maria immediately remembered the news reports. Loss of appetite. Aggressive behavior. Mood changes. Unusual fatigue. The symptoms were beginning to form a pattern. Leonarda lowered her voice. "And when I saw him attacking Ryan..." Tears rolled down her cheeks again. "His pupils were completely black." Maria felt her heart sink. That was exactly what Sarah had described after Norah's video call. The same symptom. The same terrifying change. Whatever this virus was... It was real. And it was here. A few moments later, Leonarda looked down at the ground. "What if Ryan becomes like him?" Maria didn't know what to say. She wanted to comfort her friend. She wanted to tell her that everything would be okay. But she couldn't. Not anymore. Because for the first time in her life... Maria wasn't sure if everything would be okay. ________________________________________ A nearby church bell rang. Maria glanced toward the town clock. 9:00 AM. Her eyes widened. "Sarah." Leonarda looked at her. "Sarah?" "I left her alone at home." Leonarda managed a weak smile. "Go." Maria gently squeezed her friend's hand. "I'll come see you later." Then she stood up and slowly walked back home. ________________________________________ Meanwhile, Sarah had already woken up. She looked around her room. The house felt unusually quiet. "Grandma?" No answer. Sarah walked downstairs. The kitchen was empty. The living room was empty too. Confused, she stepped onto the balcony. A few neighbours were still gathered outside near the Selvis house. Among them, she spotted Maria. Sarah frowned. Something serious had clearly happened. But she decided not to interrupt. Instead, she returned to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she prepared herself a cup of coffee. The warm aroma filled the room. Normally, it would have relaxed her. Not today. As she sat at the dining table, her thoughts immediately drifted back to Norah. The screams. The chaos. The black eyes. Sarah tightened her grip around the cup. She still couldn't believe it had happened. And then there were her parents. No calls. No messages. No updates. Every passing hour made her more worried. ________________________________________ The front door opened. Maria had returned. Sarah immediately stood up. "Grandma?" Maria looked exhausted. "What happened outside?" Maria slowly sat down. Then she told Sarah everything. About Daniel. About Ryan. About Leonarda. About the symptoms. About the attack. Sarah listened without saying a word. As Maria finished, silence filled the room. Sarah stared at the table. Another infected person. Another family destroyed. And this time it hadn't happened in another country. It had happened right here. In New Zealand. In her own neighborhood. The virus was getting closer. Closer every day. Closer every hour. Sarah slowly looked toward the window. The bright summer morning suddenly didn't feel peaceful anymore. For the first time, New Zealand no longer felt safe. And somewhere deep inside, a terrifying thought began to grow. If the virus had already reached her neighborhood... How long would it take before it reached everyone else?Chapter-3 The house was unusually quiet that morning. Normally, Sarah and Maria would chat while having breakfast, but today neither of them felt like talking. The events of the previous day were still fresh in their minds. Norah. Daniel. Ryan. The virus. Everything felt wrong. Sarah sat at the dining table, slowly eating her breakfast. Maria had prepared spaghetti, eggs, and a glass of juice for both of them. For several minutes, neither of them spoke. The only sounds in the room were the ticking clock and the occasional clink of cutlery against the plates. Sarah stared at her food absentmindedly. Maria noticed it. "You should eat before it gets cold, dear," Maria said softly. Sarah nodded. "I know, Grandma." A few more moments of silence passed. Then Sarah finally spoke. "Grandma..." "Yes?" "Could you turn on the TV?" Maria looked at her for a moment before reaching for the remote. The television came to life. Almost every channel was covering the same story. The outbreak. A serious-looking news reporter appeared on the screen. "We interrupt our regular broadcast to provide an important update regarding the rapidly spreading Z-Pox virus." Sarah immediately put down her fork. Maria's attention shifted completely to the television. The reporter continued. "The virus has now spread across multiple countries and continues to infect new victims at an alarming rate." Images from different parts of the world appeared on the screen. Crowded hospitals. Military checkpoints. Emergency vehicles. People running through streets. Fear. Everywhere. Then a familiar face appeared on the television. Daniel Selvis. Sarah's eyes widened. Maria slowly sat down beside her. The reporter continued. "Daniel Selvis has become New Zealand's first confirmed case." A video recording appeared. Daniel was restrained inside a reinforced medical containment room. Heavy chains had been attached to his wrists and ankles. Several security officers stood nearby. Daniel no longer behaved like a normal human being. He growled. Pulled against the chains. Thrashed violently. His movements were aggressive and animalistic. Medical experts and scientists were currently studying his condition. The footage ended. "The victim's son, Ryan Selvis, was reportedly injured during the incident and is currently receiving treatment at a secure medical facility. Authorities have not released further information regarding his condition." Sarah and Maria exchanged worried glances. Just then, Maria's phone began ringing. The caller ID displayed a familiar name. Leonarda Selvis. Maria immediately answered. "Leonarda?" On the other side of the phone, she could hear sobbing. Maria's expression instantly changed. "Leonarda, please calm down. Take a deep breath." Sarah watched quietly. After a few moments, Maria stood up. "I'll be back in a minute, dear." She walked toward her bedroom and closed the door behind her. Sarah remained in the dining room. The television continued broadcasting updates about the outbreak, but Sarah barely listened anymore. Her thoughts had already drifted elsewhere. Ryan. Norah. Daniel. Her parents. Everything felt connected somehow. Almost forty minutes passed before Maria finally returned. Sarah immediately stood up. "Grandma, what happened? You've been talking for so long." Maria sighed and sat down. "Leonarda told me about Ryan." Sarah's face immediately became serious. "How is he?" Maria remained silent for a moment. Then she answered. "Not good." Sarah felt her stomach tighten. Maria continued. "They've restrained him." "What do you mean?" "His hands and legs are secured with restraints. The doctors had to place a protective mask over his mouth so he couldn't bite anyone." Sarah froze. "He keeps screaming. Thrashing around. Nobody understands what's happening to him." Sarah slowly lowered her gaze. The image of Norah suddenly returned to her mind. Norah screaming on the video call. Norah's parents attacking her. The phone falling. The screams. The silence afterward. If Ryan's condition was already this bad... What had happened to Norah? Sarah didn't even want to imagine it. Maria gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "We can't lose hope yet." Sarah nodded, although she wasn't sure she believed those words herself. The television continued running in the background as Sarah and Maria sat quietly in the dining room. A few moments later, the regular news broadcast was interrupted by an official government announcement. The screen switched to a government spokesperson standing behind a podium. His expression was serious. "Attention citizens of New Zealand." "Due to the rapidly evolving situation surrounding the Z-Pox outbreak, we urge all citizens to remain calm and follow official instructions." Sarah and Maria immediately turned their attention toward the television. The spokesperson continued. "At this time, the government's highest priority is the safety and survival of every citizen. As a precautionary measure, we advise all households to prepare essential supplies, including food, drinking water, medicines, and other necessities." Images of supermarkets and emergency distribution centers appeared on the screen. "To ensure that no family is left without support, emergency food supplies and basic necessities will be provided free of charge at participating supermarkets and government-approved distribution centers until further notice." Maria frowned slightly. Free supplies. That alone was enough to show how serious the situation had become. The spokesperson continued. "We ask all citizens to remain responsible. Please take only what you reasonably need. Hoarding supplies may prevent other families from receiving the assistance they require." "We also advise citizens to stay informed through official channels and avoid unnecessary travel." The announcement ended. For a few seconds, neither Sarah nor Maria said anything. The room felt strangely quiet. Finally, Sarah looked toward Maria. "Maybe we should get some supplies while we still can." Maria nodded slowly. "I was thinking the same thing." Both of them understood what the announcement truly meant. Later that afternoon, Sarah and Maria decided to visit a nearby supermarket to buy additional supplies. The atmosphere felt completely different from only a few days ago. People looked nervous. Scared. Uncertain. A young mother carrying a newborn baby rushed through the aisles, filling her cart with supplies. An elderly man struggled to grab the last few packets of rice from a shelf. Nearby, two customers argued over bottled water. Sarah even noticed a man secretly taking items from another person's shopping cart when they weren't looking. Fear was changing people. As Sarah watched the scene unfold around her, one thought crossed her mind. People were becoming as scary as the outbreak itself. Maria noticed the same thing. Neither of them said anything. Instead of filling their cart with unnecessary items, they only purchased enough supplies to last for a couple of weeks. Rice. Pasta. Milk. Canned food. Basic necessities. Nothing more. There were other people who needed food too. Once they returned home, the two of them spent the rest of the day organizing supplies and preparing for whatever might happen next. As evening arrived, Sarah finally did something she had wanted to do all day. She picked up her phone. And called her parents. No answer. She tried again. Nothing. Again. Still nothing. Several messages remained undelivered. The silence felt heavier than ever. Slowly, Sarah lowered the phone. Her eyes drifted toward the wallpaper on the screen. It was an old family photograph. Sarah. Vicky. Lina. All smiling together. For a few moments, Sarah simply stared at it. The smiles in the picture felt so warm, yet so far away. The news kept talking about infections, fear, and chaos spreading across the world. But none of that mattered to her as much as one question. She held the phone tightly and whispered: "Mom... Dad... where are you? The whole world is falling apart around me, and I don't even know if you're safe. If the world is really ending... please tell me you're still out there. Please tell me that one day I'll see those smiles again." A tear slowly rolled down her cheek. Outside, the world was changing. Inside, Sarah waited for an answer that never came. ________________________________________