1:17 AM – Inside the Car
Car ke andar ekdum silence.
AC on hai, par fir bhi mujhe garmi lag rahi hai. Not weather wali… situation wali.
He's driving. One hand on the wheel, dusra casually window ke paas. Suit perfect, expression unreadable. Jaise duniya ka load kandhon pe ho, par face pe zero stress.
Main chup hoon.
Par mere dimag me 100 sawal chal rahe hain.
Finally, woh bolta hai—
"Tumne follow kyun kiya?"
No anger.
No shouting.
Bas ek seedha sawal.
Main swallow karti hoon.
"Because… aap jo dikhate ho, woh aap ho hi nahi."
Car thoda slow hota hai.
He looks at me—first proper look.
Aankhen sharp. Cold. Deep.
"Log jo dikhate hain, wahi survive karte hain," he says.
"Baaki… disappear."
Yeh warning thi. Clear wali.
Main lightly smile karti hoon.
"Toh aap survive nahi kar rahe… aap rule kar rahe ho."
Pause.
Car rukti hai.
He turns fully towards me now.
"For the first time, tumne sahi bola."
Silence again. Heavy wali.
Phir woh ek line bolta hai—jo mujhe samajh aa jaati hai, aur saath hi dara bhi deti hai:
"Is world me do tarah ke log hote hain—
jo lines cross karte hain…
aur jo unki wajah se marte hain."
He leans back.
"Tum kaunsi ho?"
Main answer nahi deti.
Kyuki sach ye hai—
mujhe khud nahi pata.
Par ek cheez clear hai:
Main peeche hatne wali nahi hoon.
Car dobara start hoti hai.
City lights wapas blur hone lagti hain.
Aur mujhe feel hota hai—
yeh sirf attraction nahi hai.
Yeh dangerous alignment hai.
Silent Apex ke saath rehna matlab protection nahi…
par permission hai—dark side dekhne ki