The phone pressed against my ear felt heavier than it should.
Riyan's voice came again—calm, controlled, dangerous in its steadiness.
"Aarvi," he repeated, "did you receive anything strange tonight?"
My heart hammered so violently I was afraid he could hear it through the line.
Arjun's words echoed in my mind.
If Riyan confronts them now… they'll kill him.
I closed my eyes.
This wasn't just a lie.
It was a choice.
Between truth…
and survival.
"No," I said softly.
The word tasted like blood.
There was a pause on the other end.
Too long.
Riyan exhaled slowly.
"I thought so," he said. "Something felt off."
My fingers curled tightly around the phone.
"I was just tired," I added quickly. "This house… it messes with your head."
Another pause.
Then—
"You sound scared."
My chest tightened.
"I am," I admitted quietly. "But not because of anything new."
He didn't respond immediately.
I could almost picture him standing somewhere alone, phone in hand, eyes narrowed—not doubting me, but sensing something beneath the surface.
"Aarvi," he said finally, voice softer, "if anything happens… anything at all—you tell me. No matter how small."
My throat burned.
"I promise," I whispered.
The lie grew heavier.
"Lock your door tonight," he continued. "Don't open it for anyone. I'll be back late."
"Okay."
"And Aarvi…"
"Yes?"
"Thank you for trusting me."
The words shattered something inside my chest.
After the call ended, I dropped onto the bed, shaking.
"I'm sorry," I whispered into the empty room.
"I'm so sorry."
My phone buzzed again.
Not Riyan.
Arjun.
Arjun:
Did he call?
My breath caught.
Me:
Yes.
Three dots blinked.
Then—
Arjun:
What did you tell him?
I stared at the screen, tears blurring my vision.
Me:
I lied.
The reply came instantly.
Arjun:
Thank you.
That single word hurt more than any insult ever could.
Me:
He's hurting. He thinks he lost you forever.
The dots blinked slowly this time.
Then—
Arjun:
I know.
Every day.
My chest ached painfully.
Me:
Why are you hiding? Why not come back?
There was a long silence.
Long enough for fear to crawl back into my bones.
When his reply finally came, it was longer than before.
Heavier.
Arjun:
Because the night I "died," someone signed an order.
Not to save me… but to erase me.
If I return without proof, they won't hesitate to finish what they started.
My hands shook.
Me:
Who did this to you?
The dots appeared…
disappeared…
appeared again.
Arjun:
Someone who still sits at the dinner table.
A chill slid down my spine.
Before I could ask anything else—
The screen went dark.
Message failed to deliver.
My heart stopped.
I tried typing again.
Nothing.
Calling.
No response.
Panic flooded my veins.
"Arjun?" I whispered desperately.
No reply.
I hugged the phone to my chest, breathing unevenly.
He had gone silent.
On purpose.
Because someone might be watching.
I stood suddenly, every sense on edge.
And that's when I noticed it.
My bedroom door—
was no longer locked.
I was sure I had locked it.
Slowly, carefully, I walked toward it.
My fingers trembled as I reached for the handle.
A soft sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
Pausing.
Right outside my door.
I stepped back instinctively, heart racing.
Then—
A voice.
Low.
Controlled.
Too familiar.
"Aarvi," Riyan's mother said softly from the other side,
"open the door. We need to talk."
My blood ran cold.
Because I suddenly understood something terrifying:
The lie I told Riyan hadn't protected me.
It had only bought time.
And time…
was running out.