The man held out the notebook.

Siya hesitated before taking it. The moment she opened it, her breath caught.

Written neatly across the page was a single sentence.

Some stories are dangerous to finish.

The noise of the café seemed to fade away.

Aaru immediately leaned over her shoulder.

Aaru: "Ooooh. Mysterious handwriting. I already don't trust him."

Kabir: "For once, neither do I."

The stranger's eyes never left the man standing in front of them.

Neither did Kabir's.

The man smiled calmly.

Man: "You tell stories, don't you?"

Siya: "Yes."

Man: "Then think of it as reader feedback."

Aaru: "That is the creepiest review I've ever heard."

The man chuckled.

Nobody else did.

A strange irritation suddenly replaced Siya's nervousness.

She closed the notebook and stood up.

Immediately, everyone looked at her.

Aaru: "Oh no."

Kabir: "She's about to do something."

Siya: "Okay. Let's do this."

The man blinked.

Man: "Do what?"

Siya: "Whatever mysterious villain act you're trying."

Aaru: "Main character mode activated."

Kabir: "God help us."

Siya pointed at the notebook.

Siya: "You came all the way here for this?"

Man: "Maybe."

Siya: "You wrote one dramatic sentence."

Man: "Yes."

Siya: "That's it?"

Man: "Yes."

Siya: "Brother, Wattpad comments are scarier than this."

Aaru burst into laughter.

Several college girls nearby started laughing too.

Even the waiter had to look away to hide his smile.

The man's expression twitched.

Just slightly.

Siya noticed.

And immediately attacked again.

Siya: "Wait."

Man: "What?"

Siya: "You practiced this speech, didn't you?"

The man stared.

Siya: "You absolutely practiced this in front of a mirror."

Aaru: "SHE'S COOKING HIM."

The stranger lowered his head briefly.

Siya could swear he was trying not to laugh.

The man straightened.

Man: "You should be careful."

Siya: "True."

The man seemed satisfied.

Then Siya continued.

Siya: "You should be careful too."

His smile faded.

Man: "Why?"

Siya: "Because if this is your best intimidation attempt, the internet will bully you."

The entire café exploded.

One random uncle from the corner raised his hand.

Uncle: "She's right!"

Kabir immediately turned away.

His shoulders were shaking suspiciously.

Aaru: "Even uncle agrees."

The man finally stopped smiling.

The stranger stepped forward.

His voice remained calm.

Too calm.

Stranger: "I think you've had enough attention for one evening."

The man looked at him.

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

Man: "Maybe this doesn't concern you."

The stranger took one step closer.

Stranger: "No."

A pause.

Stranger: "It does."

Before the tension could build further, Aaru grabbed Siya's arm.

Aaru: "Okay. We're leaving."

Siya: "What about the dessert?"

Aaru: "SIYA."

Siya: "The pastry cost ₹240."

Aaru: "WE ARE IN A THRILLER."

Siya: "THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE WASTE MONEY."

Kabir covered his face.

The stranger actually laughed.

Again.

At the worst possible time.

The three men exchanged glances.

Clearly, this was not how they expected things to go.

The leader looked at Siya one last time.

Then at the stranger.

A silent challenge passed between them.

Something Siya didn't understand.

Something Kabir definitely did.

And judging by his expression, he didn't like it.

The man turned toward the exit.

His companions followed.

Just before leaving, he glanced back.

Man: "Enjoy your story, Siya."

Then he disappeared into the night.

Silence lingered around the table.

Finally-

Aaru: "Well."

Nobody answered.

Aaru: "So."

Still silence.

Aaru: "Anyone else want to acknowledge that we got threatened between garlic bread and dessert?"

Kabir: "Can we leave now?"

Aaru: "Fair."