7:12 PM - Café, Mood Ruined Successfully

Siya knew absolutely nothing about criminal networks.

Or dangerous people.

Or whatever weird secret life these two apparently had.

But she did know one thing.

The atmosphere had changed.

Fast.

One second Aaru was laughing at Instagram edits.

The next-

Kabir looked like someone had unplugged his sense of humor.

Which was impressive because he barely had one to begin with.

The three men who entered the café didn't look threatening.

They looked normal.

Office-worker normal.

"Why are we staring at them?" Siya whispered.

Aaru squinted.

"Maybe they're food bloggers."

Kabir looked at her.

"No one is that happy."

The stranger stood up calmly.

"Time to go."

"Excuse me?" Siya blinked.

"We just got our dessert."

"You can take it."

Aaru immediately grabbed the pastry.

"See? Problem solved."

Unfortunately...

The universe wasn't done embarrassing Siya.

As everyone started getting up, the waiter appeared.

Again.

This man had the timing of a horror movie ghost.

"Ma'am," he said to Siya.

"Yes?"

"Your fan wants a picture."

"My WHAT?"

The waiter pointed.

A girl from another table waved excitedly.

"Oh my God! You're Siya, right? The Wattpad author?"

Aaru lost control immediately.

"YOU HAVE FANS IN PUBLIC NOW."

"Please stop talking."

The girl approached nervously.

"Can I get a photo?"

Siya looked around like someone else named Siya might appear.

"With... me?"

"Yes!"

Before she could process it, Aaru had already grabbed her phone.

"C'mere."

[ "C'mere" is an informal contraction of "Come here." ]

Five seconds later-

Photo taken.

Problem solved.

Or so they thought.

Because the fan suddenly looked at the stranger.

Then at Siya.

Then back at the stranger.

"...can he be in the picture too?"

Silence.

Dead silence.

Aaru folded in half laughing.

Kabir walked away.

The stranger looked mildly confused.

Siya wanted the Earth to restart.

Meanwhile...

The three men at the entrance exchanged a glance.

One of them discreetly lifted his phone.

The stranger noticed immediately.

Kabir noticed too.

Neither said anything.

Yet.

Back at the table-

The fan was still waiting.

"Please?" she asked.

The stranger looked at Siya.

Siya looked at the stranger.

Aaru looked like she'd just won the lottery.

"THIS IS MY SUPER BOWL."

"No."

"YES."

"No."

"YES."

The fan looked hopeful.

The stranger finally sighed.

"One photo."

The café collectively lost its mind.

Even the uncle from earlier pulled out his phone.

"Young people are fascinating," he declared.

The picture was taken.

And somehow-

It got worse.

Because the fan immediately checked the image and gasped.

"Oh my God."

"What?" Siya asked nervously.

"You guys look married."

Aaru SCREAMED.

Kabir hit his forehead against a wall.

The stranger actually laughed.

And Siya nearly passed out for the second time today.

Then-

One of the three men started walking toward their side of the café.

Slowly.

Deliberately.

Kabir's smile disappeared.

The stranger's eyes followed the movement.

The man stopped a few feet away.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

Then the man smiled politely.

Too politely.

"Sorry to interrupt."

Kabir looked unimpressed.

"You are interrupting."

The man ignored him.

Instead, he looked directly at Siya.

"You're the author, right?"

Siya blinked.

"...yes?"

The man smiled wider.

"I think my younger sister reads your stories."

The tension eased slightly.

Aaru immediately relaxed.

"Aww."

Kabir didn't.

Neither did the stranger.

The man continued.

"She'd never forgive me if I didn't ask."

He held out a notebook.

"Can I get an autograph?"

Siya looked relieved.

"Oh."

Normal.

Finally.

Something normal.

She took the notebook.

Opened it.

And froze.

Because written inside-

In neat handwriting-

Was a single sentence.

> Some stories are dangerous to finish.

The smile vanished from her face.

Slowly.

Very slowly.

She looked up.

The man was still smiling.

But his eyes weren't.

And for the first time all evening-

The stranger took a step forward.

Not dramatic.

Not threatening.

Just enough to place himself between Siya and the man.

The café suddenly felt very quiet.

Aaru looked confused.

Kabir looked ready to leave immediately.

And Siya stared at the notebook in her hands.

Wondering why her heartbeat had suddenly become so loud.

To be continued...