Risha's POV
The day felt heavier than it should have.
I didn't wait for Rishabh.
For the first time, I left without telling him.
Not because I wanted to--but because I couldn't.
If he saw me like this, he would know.
He always did.
And I wasn't ready to answer questions I didn't even understand myself.
The walk back home felt longer than usual.
Every step, every thought--
kept pulling me back to the same moment.
"Don't trust them."
"R— knows."
"Check the files."
I tightened my grip around the paper in my hand.
It felt small.
But somehow…
heavier than everything else.
And then there was Ira.
Her words.
Her tone.
That look in her eyes--
like she knew something I didn't.
My mind tried to make sense of it.
To connect the pieces.
R--knows.
My steps slowed.
For a second--
just a second--
a thought crossed my mind.
Rishabh.
I stopped.
The idea felt wrong the moment it appeared.
No.
That didn't make sense.
Rishabh wouldn't--
I shook my head, pushing the thought away almost instantly.
I trusted him.
And that wasn't something that could be questioned so easily.
Still…
the words refused to leave my mind.
Don't trust them.
I exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm building inside me.
Maybe I was overthinking.
Maybe this was nothing.
Or maybe--
this was just the beginning.
By the time I reached home, I didn't have the energy to think anymore.
Everything felt… heavy.
My head, my thoughts--
even the silence around me.
I dropped my bag on the chair and sat down on the edge of the bed.
For a moment, I just stayed there.
Staring at nothing.
The paper was still in my hand.
I looked at it once more--
then folded it carefully and slipped it into my drawer.
I didn't want to think about it anymore.
Not right now.
I lay down without even changing.
And before I realised it--sleep took over.
When I opened my eyes, the room was darker.
The sunlight had faded into a dull orange glow.
For a second, I didn't remember anything.
Then it all came back.
Ira.
The note.
Lavanya.
I exhaled slowly and reached for my phone.
The screen lit up.
5 missed calls.
All from an unknown number.
I frowned slightly.
That was… strange.
Who would call me this many times?
And why?
My thumb hovered over the screen.
For a moment, I hesitated.
Then--
the phone buzzed again.
The same number.
I stared at the screen as it kept ringing.
This time--
I picked it up.
I stared at the screen for a second--
then picked it up.
"Hello?"
"So you do pick up calls.
I froze.
That voice--
"Vidyantsh?"
"Who else were you expecting?"
There was a pause.
Not angry--
but definitely not pleased either.
"You left."
I sat up straight.
"I… wasn't feeling well."
"Hmm."
That single sound carried way too much doubt.
"Interesting,"
he added, almost under his breath.
I frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means,"
he said, a little sharper now,
"I specifically told you to wait."
My grip on the phone tightened.
"And yet--"
He paused.
"--you disappeared."
There was something oddly… controlled about his irritation.
Like he was annoyed--
but not enough to actually be angry.
"Sorry," I muttered, a little quieter this time.
Another pause.
Then--
"Your punishment isn't over."
The tone was back to normal.
Calm.
Almost too calm.
"Come tomorrow."
"You'll finish it then."
I nodded instinctively, even though he couldn't see me.
"Okay."
"And Risha…"
I stilled.
"Next time--"
A slight pause.
"at least inform me before you decide to leave."
The words weren't harsh.
But the way he said them--
felt… different.
Not just authority.
Something else.
Like care .
Before I could respond--
the call disconnected.