The house felt wrong that evening.
Too quiet.
Too polite.
Like everyone was waiting for something to happen.
I sat on the edge of my bed, rereading the note again and again.
HE KNOWS YOU KNOW.
My phone lay beside me, silent.
Riyan hadn't messaged again after his last warning.
Fear makes people careless.
I took a slow breath, trying to calm my nerves.
That's when my phone buzzed.
Not a call.
Not a notification.
A message.
From an unknown number.
My stomach dropped.
I stared at the screen for a long second before opening it.
Unknown:
Don't be afraid.
My hands went cold.
I typed slowly.
Me:
Who is this?
Three dots appeared.
Disappeared.
Then—
Unknown:
I never wanted you dragged into this.
My heart began to pound so loudly I could hear it in my ears.
Me:
How did you get this number?
The reply came almost immediately.
Unknown:
You still bite your nails when you're scared.
My breath caught painfully.
No one knew that.
No one except—
My fingers trembled so badly I nearly dropped the phone.
Me:
Stop playing games. Who are you?
There was a pause.
Longer this time.
Then one final message appeared.
A message that made the world tilt.
Unknown:
Aarvi… it's Arjun.
I stopped breathing.
The room blurred.
My vision darkened at the edges.
This wasn't possible.
It couldn't be.
Arjun was dead.
Declared dead.
Buried.
Mourned.
My hands shook violently as I typed.
Me:
This isn't funny. Don't use his name.
The reply came slower.
Careful.
Heavy.
Arjun:
I never told you who I really was.
I'm sorry.
Tears flooded my eyes.
This wasn't just a message.
It was his way of speaking.
Short.
Soft.
Apologetic.
Just like Riyan described.
Me:
If this is really you… prove it.
Seconds passed.
Then—
Arjun:
You dropped your coffee the first time we spoke.
You were embarrassed. You laughed instead of apologizing.
I told you it was cute. You told me not to flirt.
A sob tore out of my chest.
I remembered.
Not clearly.
Not fully.
But flashes—
A paper cup tipping.
Warm coffee on my fingers.
A boy smiling gently instead of laughing.
"Oh god…" I whispered.
Me:
Why didn't you tell me who you were?
The dots blinked again.
Then stopped.
Then came the answer I wasn't ready for.
Arjun:
Because someone was already watching me.
And if they knew I trusted you… they would've destroyed you.
My blood ran cold.
Me:
Who?
This time, the pause was long.
Too long.
When the reply finally came, it was only one sentence.
Arjun:
The person Riyan trusts the most.
My heart shattered.
Riyan's mother.
His uncle.
Someone else?
Before I could type another word, the screen flashed again.
Arjun:
You're not safe in that house.
And neither is my brother.
My breath hitched.
Me:
Where are you? Are you alive?
The typing dots appeared…
then vanished.
Another message came through.
Short.
Urgent.
Arjun:
If Riyan knows I contacted you, they'll move faster.
You can't tell him yet.
I shook my head, tears spilling freely.
Me:
I can't keep this from him. He's hurting. He deserves—
The next message cut me off.
Arjun:
I know.
But if he confronts them now… they'll kill him.
My hands flew to my mouth.
My phone buzzed again.
This time—
A call.
From Riyan.
My heart slammed violently.
The screen glowed with his name while Arjun's last message burned into my mind.
They'll kill him.
I stared at the phone, torn between truth and fear.
If I answered—
I would have to lie.
If I didn't—
He would know something was wrong.
The call kept ringing.
And somewhere in the house…
Someone was watching.
Waiting.
I finally answered.
"Riyan?" I whispered, forcing my voice steady.
His voice came through calm. Too calm.
"Aarvi," he said, "did you receive anything strange tonight?"
My heart broke.
Because I was already standing on a lie that could destroy us both.