2:07 AM — Siya’s Bedroom

Siya was losing a war against economics.

Again.

Her room looked like a disaster zone of sticky notes, half-open textbooks, tangled charger wires, and emotional instability.

Rain tapped softly against her windows while fairy lights glowed dimly above her bed.

Aaru lay upside down across the mattress eating chips she absolutely did not ask permission for.

“Explain inflation,” Siya groaned dramatically, face buried in her notebook.

Aaru shoved another chip into her mouth. “Easy. Your shampoo was ₹120 last year and now capitalism wants your kidney too.”

“That’s not in NCERT.”

“It should be.”

Siya laughed weakly for the first time all evening.

Which was exactly why Aaru had forced herself over tonight.

Because ever since the mysterious videos appeared, Siya had been quieter.

More alert.

Every passing bike outside made her glance toward the window.

Every unknown notification made her tense.

And Aaru hated seeing her like that.

“Okay,” Aaru declared suddenly, sitting upright. “Enough studying. We’re updating your Wattpad.”

“No.”

“Yes.”

“I have exams.”

“And unresolved sexual tension with a criminal mastermind. Your readers are starving.”

Siya threw a pillow at her.

Aaru dodged dramatically. “Violence! See? You and Batman are becoming alike.”

Before Siya could argue—

Her phone buzzed

Unknown Number.

Both girls froze instantly.

Aaru whispered, “Speak of the devil.”

Siya stared at the screen for a long moment before opening the message.

> Your balcony light is flickering.

Her heartbeat stopped.

Slowly…

Terrified…

She turned toward the balcony.

The tiny bulb outside flickered once.

Twice.

Then went dark.

Aaru sat upright immediately. “Nope. Absolutely not. I rebuke this energy.”

Another message appeared.

> Electrician comes tomorrow morning.

Don’t stand near the railing tonight.

Aaru grabbed Siya’s arm. “Okay I officially hate how useful he is.”

Siya typed shakily.

> Are you outside my house right now?

Seen instantly.

No reply.

That was somehow worse.

Meanwhile — Somewhere in Delhi

Kabir drove through rain-soaked streets with one hand on the wheel and exhaustion written across his face.

The passenger seat beside him looked like evidence from a crime documentary.

Blood-stained cloth.

Broken watch.

Raghav Malhotra’s phone.

Kabir sighed deeply. “You killed a politician’s son over a sentence.”

Shashwat sat in silence beside him, staring out the rain-covered window.

Streetlights reflected briefly across the dried blood still visible on his knuckles.

“He was warned,” Shashwat replied calmly.

Kabir nearly laughed from disbelief. “Sir, you punched him hard enough to reset his ancestors.”

Silence.

Then—

“Did she eat dinner?”

Kabir closed his eyes briefly.

“Unbelievable,” he muttered.

“You didn’t answer.”

“Yes,” Kabir sighed dramatically. “She ate half a paneer roll while arguing about inflation.”

A faint flicker crossed Shashwat’s face.

Not quite a smile.

But close enough to terrify governments probably.

Kabir glanced sideways at him carefully.

“You’re bleeding through the bandage.”

Shashwat looked down absently at his injured hand.

For the first time tonight…

He remembered the blood.

And suddenly—

A horrifying thought hit him.

What if Siya ever touched these hands without knowing what they had done tonight?

The idea made something twist painfully in his chest.

Kabir noticed his expression change.

“What now?”

Shashwat spoke quietly.

“She thinks I can still become good.”

Rain hammered harder against the windshield.

Kabir’s grip tightened slightly on the steering wheel.

“Can you?”

That question lingered heavily inside the car.

Shashwat looked out at the sleeping city for a long time before answering.

“I don’t know.”

2:51 AM — Siya’s Wattpad Update

Despite everything…

Siya updated the chapter anyway.

Because writing was the only thing keeping her sane now.

Her fingers moved quickly across the keyboard.

> “The monster never raised his voice.

That was the frightening part.

Violence wrapped in silence always looked more terrifying than rage.”

Comments flooded instantly.

> AUTHOR ARE YOU OKAY??

> THIS CHAPTER FEELS TOO REAL.

> I JUST KNOW SHASHWAT KILLED SOMEONE.

> MEERA BABE RUN PLEASE.

Siya smiled faintly while reading them.

Then her screen refreshed.

A new comment appeared.

From @H_Y_A_L_E_T.

> Would your readers still love the monster if they saw blood on his hands?

Her smile vanished.

The room suddenly felt colder.

Aaru leaned over her shoulder and read the comment.

“…okay,” she whispered slowly. “That sounded deeply concerning.”

Siya stared at the screen.

Then typed carefully.

> Depends whose blood it is.

Seen instantly.

This time…

The reply took longer.

Much longer.

Until finally—

A new message appeared.

> The kind monsters spill to protect what they cannot deserve.