Not every danger announces itself.
Some wait.
Silently.
Patiently.
From the moment Aarav entered the company, things had begun to change—but not everyone accepted that change.
Some observed.
Some questioned.
And some—
Resented.
He stood near the glass corridor, watching from a distance.
His expression calm.
But his eyes—
Far from it.
The same man Sasmita had once rejected.
The one who believed he deserved her.
Her company.
Her position.
And now—
Everything he thought was his—
Was being handed to someone else.
A man with no background.
No identity.
No place.
Aarav.
His jaw tightened slightly as he watched through the glass.
Inside the office, Sasmita stood beside Aarav, discussing something on the screen.
They were close.
Too close.
Not physically.
But in a way that mattered more.
Something about the way she spoke—
The way she listened—
It wasn't the same as before.
And he noticed.
That was enough.
Because jealousy—
Didn't need proof.
It needed perception.
Later that afternoon, a proposal was brought forward.
A new partnership.
A high-value deal.
Everything about it looked perfect.
Too perfect.
Sasmita reviewed it carefully, her eyes scanning every detail.
Numbers aligned.
Conditions favorable.
No visible risks.
And yet—
Something felt… off.
She leaned back slightly.
"What's the catch?" she asked.
The representative smiled politely.
"There isn't one."
Sasmita didn't respond immediately.
Because in her world—
There was always a catch.
Before she could speak further—
Aarav's voice cut in quietly.
"Delay it."
The room turned toward him.
The representative frowned.
"Excuse me?"
Aarav didn't raise his voice.
"Postpone the deal."
"On what basis?" the man asked, irritation creeping in.
A brief pause.
"Instinct," Aarav replied.
The answer sounded simple.
Too simple.
Sasmita's eyes moved toward him.
Sharp.
Questioning.
She didn't believe in instinct.
She believed in facts.
And right now—
There were none.
"This deal is clean," she said calmly.
Aarav looked at her.
"Too clean."
Silence.
Something about the way he said it—
Made the room uneasy.
But logic still stood on her side.
"We proceed," she said finally.
Aarav didn't argue.
Didn't push.
But his gaze lingered on the file for a second longer.
As if he already knew—
What would happen next.
The evening came faster than expected.
Sasmita stayed late again, finalizing documents for the deal.
Everything was ready.
All that remained—
Was the signature.
The office had emptied once more.
Silence returned.
She picked up the file.
Pen in hand.
Just one step left.
And then—
The lights flickered.
Once.
Twice.
Then—
Darkness.
The entire floor went silent.
Sasmita frowned slightly, placing the file down.
Power cuts were rare.
Almost nonexistent.
Something wasn't right.
She stood up.
Footsteps echoed faintly in the distance.
Slow.
Measured.
Not hers.
Her instincts sharpened instantly.
"Sasmita."
His voice.
Aarav.
Relief flickered for a brief second—
Before she realized something else.
"How did you—"
But the question stopped.
Because he was already there.
Standing in the dark.
As if he had been waiting.
"Stay behind me," he said quietly.
The tone—
Wasn't casual.
It was serious.
For a moment—
Sasmita didn't move.
Then—
She stepped back.
And for the first time—
She listened.
A sound broke through the silence.
A door opening.
Heavy footsteps approaching.
Not one.
More.
Sasmita's breath slowed.
Controlled.
But her mind—
Was racing.
"This wasn't an accident," she whispered.
Aarav didn't reply.
He already knew.
The footsteps grew louder.
Closer.
And in that moment—
The truth became clear.
This wasn't just a mistake.
It was a setup.
A trap.
And she had walked straight into it.
Aarav's posture shifted slightly.
Subtle.
But ready.
The calm man—
Was gone.
Something else had taken his place.
And Sasmita—
Was about to see it.