Pranati kicked the scooter to life, the familiar sputter oddly comforting after the chaos of the night. Siya climbed on behind her, wrapping her arms around Pranati's waist.
"Hold tight," Pranati said lightly, though her voice still carried the leftover tremor of the storm.
The scooter rolled forward, its tail-light shrinking into the darkness.
Arnav stood where he was.
He didn't wave. He didn't move.
His gaze stayed fixed on the road long after the scooter disappeared, as if something had been left behind with it—something he hadn't yet learned to name.
Only when Ranav cleared his throat did Arnav turn.
Minutes later, the three brothers were in the car.
Arnav slid into the driver's seat, his movements automatic, controlled. The engine hummed to life. Streetlights streaked past the windshield as the car pulled away from the dock.
The silence lasted exactly thirty seconds.
Then Arav leaned back, folding his arms with a grin.
"You know," he said casually, "in all that chaos, I noticed something interesting."
Ranav glanced at him. "If this is another theory—"
"No, no," Arav cut in. "I'm just saying… there was some serious chemistry back there."
Arnav's grip on the steering wheel tightened a fraction.
"I mean," Arav continued innocently, "not between you and—" he gestured vaguely, "—but between you," he pointed at Ranav, "and Pranati's friend."
Ranav frowned. "What?"
"You forgot to ask her name," Arav added, smug.
"I was busy making sure people didn't die," Ranav shot back.
"Haan, haan. Duty calls," Arav laughed. "Still. Missed opportunity."
Arnav said nothing.
The road curved ahead, empty and dark.
Then—
THUD.
Something heavy slammed onto the car roof.
The vehicle jolted violently.
"What the—!" Ranav shouted.
Arnav reacted instantly, swerving the steering wheel, tyres screeching as the car skidded sideways before coming to an abrupt halt.
Silence.
The engine idled. All three brothers froze.
Then, slowly, something slid off the roof.
A shadow dropped down in front of the headlights.
Kapalika.
She landed lightly on her feet, unnaturally still—her long braid whipping in the air though there was no wind, her reversed feet pressing into the road like a mockery of nature itself.
Arnav's eyes narrowed.
He killed the engine.
The headlights stayed on, illuminating her face as she straightened… and smiled.
Not a welcoming smile.
A knowing one.
The night seemed to hold its breath.
---
The silence after the impact was thick enough to choke on.
Arav's eyes stayed fixed on the figure standing in front of the headlights. His throat worked, but no sound came out at first.
"Bhaiya…" he whispered hoarsely.
Then, louder—broken. "Da… daayan."
The word seemed to fracture the air.
Arnav didn't respond immediately.
His gaze remained locked on the woman ahead—on the way her braid moved on its own, on the unnatural stillness of her posture, on the wrongness that radiated from her like heat.
Slowly, deliberately, he opened the driver's door.
"Arnav," Ranav said sharply, already reaching out. "Stay in the car."
Arnav stepped out anyway.
The gravel crunched under his shoes as he shut the door behind him, never taking his eyes off Kapalika. His voice was calm—too calm. "Both of you. Stay inside."
Of course, they didn't listen.
Arav stumbled out first, panic written all over his face. Ranav followed, instincts overriding orders. His hand went straight to his holster.
The click of metal was loud in the quiet night.
Ranav raised his gun, stance firm, professional—even as disbelief flickered in his eyes. "Don't take another step," he commanded. "Who are you? What do you want?"
Kapalika laughed softly.
Not loud. Not mocking.
Almost… amused.
She tilted her head, studying them as if they were curiosities rather than threats. "Such bravery," she murmured. "One with a gun. One shaking with fear. And one…" her eyes slid back to Arnav, lingering, "…pretending he doesn't already know."
Arnav's jaw tightened.
"I asked you a question," Ranav said, finger steady on the trigger. "Answer it."
Kapalika smiled wider.
"I am Kapalika," she said slowly, savoring the name. "Daayan."
Arav's breath hitched audibly.
"And I'm not here for you," Kapalika continued, her gaze never leaving Arnav now. "Or you." A dismissive glance at the brothers. "I've come for him."
She lifted her hand and pointed.
Straight at Arnav.
The night seemed to close in.
Ranav shifted instinctively, placing himself half a step in front of Arnav. "You'll have to go through me."
Kapalika's eyes gleamed. "How touching," she said softly. "But useless."
Arnav finally spoke.
"What do you want with me?" His voice was steady, but something dark stirred beneath it—something that recognized her far too well.
Kapalika's smile deepened, reverent now. "What I want," she said, almost gently, "is for you to remember who you truly are."
The wind picked up.
Her braid whipped violently behind her.
And somewhere deep inside Arnav, something ancient stirred in answer.