Now there was just me and Rudra in the room. But everything felt different.
"You lied to me," I said.
He didn't deny it. Didn't explain.
He just stood there.
Stay here, I will bring Arin, he finally said.
His voice was calm... but something felt different.
My heart skipped at Arin's name.
Arin ? Is he okay ? I asked softly.
He is hurt, Rudra said.
That was it. Just two words. But the words hit hard. My breath caught.
How bad ? I whispered.
Rudra's jaw tightened slightly.
He will survive, he said.
That should have made me feel better but it didn't. Where is he ? I asked.
In a safe place, he replied.
I didn't know what that meant anymore.
I took a small step closer.
So you left him there… ? I asked.
Rudra looked at me. This time his eyes were darker. I didn't have a choice, he said.
Choice ? His words stayed in my head.
I felt bad for Arin because he got hurt because of me.
"I will be back with him... so you just stay here and wait for me, okay ?"
I looked at him then nodded slowly.
"Okay."
Then he turned and walked out. The door closed behind him.
And once again I was alone. The room felt too quiet. My eyes slowly dropped to the file still in my hands.
For a moment… I didn't move.
I just stood there… staring at it.
Then slowly I walked to the table and placed it down. My fingers were still shaking. I took a deep breath and opened it again.
This time I didn't stop.
Page after page.
Everything written so clearly. Then I turned to the same page. That picture.
Me and Rudra. I stared at it for a long time. Something inside me felt strange.
My fingers slowly touched the photo.
This wasn't imagination this was real, I whispered. Then I found another section.
Clipped papers. Old. Folded.
I pulled them out carefully. A picture.
Not the same one. This one was different.
It was me. Smiling. Standing next to someone and it was again Rudra…
My heart started beating faster.
This wasn't coincidence. This wasn't random. We knew each other.
Then why didn't he tell me ?
My chest felt tight. My mind started racing.
Questions. Doubts. Fear.
Everything at once. Then—
something slipped out from the file.
I picked it up slowly. Opened it.
My eyes moved across the word slowly.
"Subject connected to Rudra."
"Memory loss."
"Don't reveal past directly."
My breath got uneven.
"So he knew everything..." I whispered.
The room suddenly felt smaller.
Like the walls were closing in again.
Then—
The handle moved slightly. My eyes went straight to it. The door opened.
And it was Rudra. Relief hit me instantly. But then I saw Arin. Rudra was holding him.
His arm around Arin's shoulder, supporting him. Arin looked weak. His shirt stained with blood near his arm.
Arin… I rushed forward.
I'm fine, Arin said quickly. But his voice wasn't steady. You aren't fine, I said.
We need to sit him down, Rudra said.
His voice was calm… but serious. We helped Arin to sit in the chair, holding his arm.
"Does it hurt," I asked softly.
He gave a smile and said.. "just a little."
I knew he was lying. Rudra stepped closer.
His eyes moved to the file on the table then to me.
You opened it again, Rudra asked.
I looked at him and said quietly. "Yes."
His jaw tightened slightly but he didn't get angry. "Good," he said quietly.
That surprised me.
"You were going to find it yourself anyway," he added.
Then why didn't you tell me? I said.
Because you weren't ready, he said calmly.
I shook my head slightly.
It's my life, my choice so who gave you the right to decide for me?
Rudra stayed silent for a moment.
It's not about deciding for you, he said finally.
Then what is it about? I asked.
It's about timing," he said.
I frowned. Timing ? There's a gun being pointed at my life and you're talking about timing ? I said.
His jaw tightened. So you think I don't know that ? he said quietly.
I looked at him, confused and frustrated at the same time.
Then stop hiding things from me, just tell me the truth, I said.
For a second… he didn't respond. He looked like he was fighting with himself.
If I tell you everything it will put you in more danger, he finally said.
My voice dropped a little.
I'm already in danger Rudra, I said.
Rudra didn't deny it.
And that was worse than any answer.
Arin looked between us like he understood something I didn't.
Outside the room, another distant sound echoed through the villa. Both of us went quiet because the danger wasn't over.