The message on my phone still glowed on the screen.
"You shouldn't have stayed with him."
Below it.
The same symbol.
My hands felt cold.
"Ruhan I whispered.
He looked at the message.
For the first time, real concern appeared in his eyes.
"They contacted you directly."
"That's bad?"
"Yes."
Before I could ask why, the school gate behind us suddenly opened.
A familiar voice called out.
"Pragati?"
We both turned.
It was Ms. Mehra, our literature teacher.
She was walking toward us quickly.
Her expression looked serious.
Too serious for a normal conversation.
"Both of you," she said quietly.
"Come with me."
I frowned slightly.
"Is something wrong, ma'am?"
She looked around before answering.
"Yes."
Then she added something strange.
"And it's not safe to talk about it here."
Ruhan's eyes narrowed slightly.
We followed her toward the side corridor near the staff room.
The hallway was empty.
Completely silent.
Ms. Mehra stopped walking.
Then she turned toward Ruhan.
And said something that made my brain freeze.
"I was wondering how long it would take for them to find you."
Ruhan stiffened.
"You know about them?"
Her expression darkened.
"Of course I do."
Then she looked directly at me.
"And Pragati… I think you deserve to know the truth too."
My heart started racing.
"What truth?"
For a moment she hesitated.
Then she said the thing everyone had been whispering about.
"The rumor students are spreading …"
"...about Ruhan's father and me."
I blinked.
"You heard about that?"
She gave a small, tired smile.
"Rumors spread fast in schools."
Ruhan crossed his arms.
"Then say it clearly."
"Is it true or not?"
The corridor felt colder.
Ms. Mehra looked at both of us.
Then she said quietly,
"Yes."
My eyes widened.
"But not in the way people think."
I didn't understand.
"What do you mean?"
She took a slow breath.
"Your father didn't have a relationship with me, Ruhan."
Ruhan's expression tightened.
"Then what?"
Her voice dropped almost to a whisper.
"He trusted me."
The silence that followed felt heavy.
"Trusted you with what?" Ruhan asked.
She looked at me.
Then at the symbol on my phone screen.
Finally she said something that changed everything.
"With protecting someone."
My heart pounded.
"Who?"
Her eyes met mine.
"Pragati."
For a moment the world stopped.
"That… doesn't make sense," I said slowly.
"I've never met Ruhan before this year."
Ms. Mehra shook her head gently.
"No."
"But your father did."
My mind went blank.
"My father?"
"Yes."
She stepped closer.
"And before he disappeared… he asked us to keep you safe."
The corridor felt like it was spinning.
"My father didn't disappear," I said quickly.
"He died."
Ms. Mehra's expression softened.
"That's what they wanted you to believe."
My phone buzzed again.
Another message from the unknown number appeared.
"Too late."
Ruhan grabbed my arm suddenly.
"Pragati."
"What?"
His voice was urgent now.
"We need to leave."
"Why?"
He pointed behind me.
I turned slowly.
At the end of the corridor—
Three men were standing there.
Watching us.
And one of them had the same symbol tattooed on his wrist.
✨ To be continued…
Written by Pragati Priya (pen name Zoey)