The parking lot was quiet, the evening sun casting long shadows over the cars. Kiara stood beside Angad as Varun and Mishka approached, their expressions a mix of concern and determination.
"Thanks for coming," Kiara said sincerely, offering a small smile.
Varun shrugged, trying to look casual. "You know I don't like him," he said, glancing toward the city skyline, "but anything for my little sister's happiness."
Kiara's smile softened. "I know, Varun. I appreciate it."
Angad crossed his arms, glancing at the group. "So… what's the plan? How do we bring the truth to light?"
Kiara's brows furrowed as she thought. "The source of all this chaos—Aishwarya. First, we need to confirm she's actually gone. But her body… it's completely burnt. I don't think Aishwarya would kill herself. So how can we be certain?"
Varun's eyes lit up with realization. "There's a way. The Reeva Special Identification device."
Kiara tilted her head. "The… what?"
"It's a magical tool," Varun explained, lowering his voice. "The Reevavanshi use it to identify victims who have been killed by daayans. Once identified, the bodies can be sent to their families anonymously."
Angad frowned. "But her body is in the hospital. How do we get access?"
Kiara's eyes glimmered with determination, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "Then it's time… to play dress-up."
Mishka raised an eyebrow. "Dress-up?"
Kiara nodded, her voice steady. "Yes. We're going to get in, check the body, and use the device. We'll find the truth ourselves."
Varun exhaled, realizing her resolve. "Kiara… I hope you know what you're doing."
Kiara looked at him, unwavering. "I do. This is the only way to prove Yuvaan's innocence."
The four of them shared a brief glance, their silent determination uniting them as the evening air grew heavier with anticipation.
The city hospital loomed ahead, its sterile lights casting long shadows on the empty parking lot. Kiara adjusted her lab coat, Mishka walking beside her with a calm, assured stride. Varun and Angad followed closely, both in plain professional attire with badges clipped visibly, giving them the official authority they needed.
Angad muttered, still uneasy, "I hope this goes smoothly. If anyone checks our IDs too closely…"
Mishka interrupted, her voice steady, "Relax. I've created a small illusion over our IDs and paperwork with my daayan powers. No one will suspect a thing. Just stick to the plan."
Kiara nodded. "We have one job tonight. Focus on that."
Inside the hospital, a senior doctor looked up from his desk, curious.
Doctor: "Can I help you?"
Kiara stepped forward confidently, slipping into her cover identity. "Good evening, sir. We're from the forensic verification unit assigned to the Sharma case. I'm Dr. Ananya Rao, and this is my assistant, Ms. Meera Sen. These gentlemen are Inspector Rohan and Special Investigator Kunal. We've been asked to verify a body that's under question."
The doctor, noting the official-looking badges, nodded. "Ah, yes. Follow me. The body is prepped in the morgue for examination."
Angad whispered under his breath to Kiara, "You're calm… I don't know how you manage it."
Kiara allowed herself a small, determined smile. "We have to be. No mistakes tonight."
They followed the doctor through the long corridors, the hum of the fluorescent lights and the faint scent of antiseptic amplifying the tension. The morgue doors loomed ahead, cold metal promising answers, and each step brought them closer to uncovering the truth behind Aishwarya Sharma's death.
Inside the morgue, the fluorescent lights cast stark shadows over the metallic tables. Kiara, Mishka, Varun, and Angad followed the doctor to the preparation area, tension taut in the air.
Varun held up a hand, addressing the doctor firmly: "We'll need complete privacy to conduct our verification."
The doctor hesitated, then nodded. "Of course. I'll step out."
As soon as the doctor left, Varun carefully lifted the covered body onto the table.
Angad grimaced, stepping back slightly. "Ugh… seeing it like this… it's… eew."
Kiara, tightening her jaw, muttered irritably, "We don't have time for squeamishness, Angad. Focus."
Varun, calm and methodical, produced a compact, ornate device — the Reeva identification tool. "Time to see the truth," he said, his voice steady from years of experience. He ran the scanner over the body, the device humming softly as intricate symbols glowed faintly.
Slowly, a magical holographic image floated above the table, shimmering in the morgue's cold light. A name appeared in bold letters: Divya Bhatra.
The four froze, disbelief flashing across their faces.
Kiara's voice trembled slightly as she asked, "Divya Bhatra? That's not… Aishwarya."
Varun's eyes narrowed. "This changes everything. Whoever tried to frame Yuvaan must have switched the bodies. Aishwarya… she's still out there."
Angad's jaw tightened. "Then the fire… all of it was a setup."
Mishka placed a steady hand on Kiara's shoulder. "We need to find Aishwarya before anyone else uses her to trap Yuvaan."
Kiara nodded, determination hardening in her gaze. "Then we start now. No mistakes."
The morgue's chill did nothing to cool the fire of resolve in the four — the hunt for the truth had just begun.