The flash drive felt heavier than it should.
Ishani sat at her desk, staring at her laptop like it might explode the second she plugged it in. The letter from Rhea lay beside her, unfolded, the handwriting familiar and fragile — like Rhea had written it with shaking hands.
She hesitated.
What if it was nothing?
What if it was everything?
Finally, she slid the drive into the port.
A single file blinked on the screen.
R2_FINAL.mov
She clicked it.
The video was shaky. It had clearly been recorded in secret — from under a table, or behind a bag. The audio was muffled, but voices could still be heard.
A man’s voice: cold, authoritative. “If the girl leaks anything, she disappears. Understand?”
Another voice: lower, rougher. “Already being watched. No loose ends.”
Then, a pause.
“She doesn’t even know what she’s holding. But her cousin… she’s the one I’m worried about.”
Ishani’s blood ran cold.
That voice. That sentence.
Her.
The video ended abruptly — just static.
She leaned back in her chair, her heart hammering against her ribs. Her fingers clenched into fists. Rhea had seen this. Recorded it. Probably right before she…
The screen suddenly went black.
Her heart jumped. “No, no—”
The laptop restarted by itself.
Then a pop-up appeared:
“File corrupted. Drive unreadable.”
Gone.
Just like that.
Someone had wiped it remotely — and fast.
Ishani stared at the screen in shock.
Someone had been waiting. Watching.
They knew the drive existed.
They knew she had seen it.
A shiver slid down her spine.
Before she could react, her phone buzzed.
Unknown Number.
One message.
“We warned you. Now stay quiet, Ishani.”
Her breath hitched.
How did they know her name?
She stood up in panic. Her windows were shut. Curtains drawn. The apartment felt suddenly too open. Too exposed.
She ran to the door and locked it. Then again. Chain lock. Deadbolt. Everything.
Her phone buzzed again.
This time, just three words.
“He can’t save you.”
She didn’t know whether they meant Advit — or someone else entirely.
Either way… they were wrong.
Because if Rhea had trusted him, Ishani would find him again. Whether she believed in him or not, he was all she had.
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