Meanwhile, at the Villa
Vedshree stood near the living room window, her phone clenched tightly in her hand.
She dialed again.
Unavailable.
Her breath hitched. She tried once more—slow, deliberate, as if willing the call to connect this time.
Nothing.
Her fingers trembled as she lowered the phone.
"Why isn't he answering…" she whispered, fear seeping into her voice.
Just then, the front door opened.
Ranav walked in, removing his police cap, followed closely by Arav, his tie loosened, files still tucked under his arm from the law firm.
They stopped the moment they noticed the atmosphere.
Ranav frowned. "What's going on here?"
Arav looked around at the tense faces. "Why does everyone look like someone just died?"
Suman exchanged a glance with Vedshree before stepping forward. Her voice was calm—but heavy.
"We have never hidden anything from you," she said. "So you both deserve to know this too."
Ranav straightened instinctively.
Suman continued, choosing her words carefully.
"Arnav's life is in danger."
Both men froze.
"The Evil Eye has returned," Suman added. "And it has fallen on Arnav."
Silence spread through the room like poison.
Ranav's jaw tightened. "That's why everyone's panicking?"
Vedshree nodded, tears brimming now. "I've been trying to reach him. His phone is unreachable."
Arav set his files aside, concern overtaking his confusion. "Where was he last seen?"
"At the temple," Vedshree replied. "He left with a girl… to drop her home."
Ranav didn't hesitate for even a second.
"I'll find him," he said firmly. "I'll bring him back safely."
Arav stepped forward immediately. "I'm coming too."
Vedshree looked at them, startled. "No—both of you don't need to—"
"Yes," Ranav cut in gently but decisively. "We do."
Arav nodded. "He's our brother."
For the first time since the signs had begun, a fragile sense of resolve entered the room.
They were no longer waiting.
They were moving.
Meanwhile
Arnav walked along the dimly lit road, his phone pressed to his ear.
"No signal…" he muttered, stopping to check the screen again.
He tried calling the driver. Once. Twice.
Call failed.
The street was quieter than it should have been—no horns, no vendors, no familiar chaos. Just the low hum of distant traffic that felt far too removed.
He opened a cab app. The loading wheel spun endlessly before the screen froze.
"No reception," he exhaled, frustration creeping in.
Arnav slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped closer to the roadside, raising his hand as a cab passed by.
It didn't slow.
Another followed.
Then another.
Not one stopped.
A faint chill brushed the back of his neck.
He shook it off, telling himself it was nothing—just a bad patch of network, a long day, exhaustion finally catching up.
Behind him, the streetlight flickered.
For a brief second, a shadow stretched unnaturally long along the wall—its edges wavering, hair-like tendrils swaying as if moved by an unseen wind.
It moved when he moved.
Stopped when he stopped.
Unseen.
Unfelt.
Uninvited.
Arnav adjusted his coat and continued walking, unaware that something ancient had begun to follow his footsteps—patient, silent, waiting for the moment he would be truly alone.
Meanwhile
Arnav walked along the dimly lit road, his phone pressed to his ear.
"No signal…" he muttered, stopping to check the screen again.
He tried calling the driver. Once. Twice.
Call failed.
The street was quieter than it should have been—no horns, no vendors, no familiar chaos. Just the low hum of distant traffic that felt far too removed.
He opened a cab app. The loading wheel spun endlessly before the screen froze.
"No reception," he exhaled, frustration creeping in.
Arnav slipped the phone into his pocket and stepped closer to the roadside, raising his hand as a cab passed by.
It didn't slow.
Another followed.
Then another.
Not one stopped.
To be continued