The clock on the wall showed 8:20 PM.
Kavya was lying on her bed scrolling through her phone when suddenly a loud breaking news alert came from the television.
The news anchor spoke urgently.
"Nationwide lockdown will begin at 12:00 AM tonight. Citizens are requested to stay wherever they are."
Kavya slowly sat up.
"Lockdown… tonight?"
Just then someone knocked on her door.
When she opened it, her room owner stood there with a worried face.
"Kavya, I'm leaving the city tonight before lockdown starts," he said.
"You should also go back home. I can't keep the flat open."
Kavya's heart sank.
"My home is too far from here… I can't reach there tonight."
"I'm sorry," he replied. "You'll have to arrange something."
After he left, Kavya immediately picked up her phone and called her best friend.
Nisha.
The call connected.
"Nisha! My landlord asked me to leave before lockdown. I have nowhere to stay."
Nisha thought for a moment.
"Relax. I still have my old flat in the city. Nobody lives there now."
"Really?"
"Yes. I'll send you the address. And listen… the keys are hidden in the plant near the door."
A message popped up on Kavya's phone.
The address.
"Thank you so much, Nisha."
The Ride
Kavya packed her luggage quickly and stepped outside the building.
The streets were already chaotic.
People were rushing home.
Police vehicles were patrolling the roads.
She booked a cab.
Within minutes the cab arrived.
Kavya showed the driver the address Nisha had sent.
"Okay madam," he said and started driving.
The driver followed the address exactly and soon stopped in front of a quiet residential society.
"We have arrived."
Kavya thanked him and walked toward the building.
The Flat
The corridor was silent.
She stood in front of the flat door and remembered what Nisha said.
The keys are in the plant.
Kavya looked at the small plant pot near the door.
She searched inside it.
And found the keys.
"Perfect."
She unlocked the door and stepped inside.
The flat was completely dark.
Kavya switched on the lights.
The flat was large.
A 3BHK apartment.
But something immediately felt strange.
There were shoes near the door.
Bags on the sofa.
Books on the table.
Kavya frowned.
Nisha said nobody lives here…
Maybe it was just Nisha's old stuff.
She walked into one of the rooms and placed her luggage there.
Then suddenly—
CLICK
The sound of the main door opening echoed through the flat.
Kavya's heart started pounding.
Someone entered.
A man walked inside the apartment.
Kavya immediately stepped forward.
"HEY! Who are you?" she said angrily.
"What are you doing in this flat?!"
The man looked at her with equal shock.
"Excuse me… what are you doing in my house?"
Kavya frowned.
"This flat belongs to my friend!"
The man crossed his arms.
"No, it doesn't."
Kavya quickly called Nisha.
"Nisha! Someone is in the flat!"
"What?! Wait…"
After a few seconds Nisha suddenly shouted on the phone.
"Oh no! Kavya I'm so sorry!"
"What happened?!"
"I just checked… I sent you the wrong address by mistake!"
Kavya's eyes widened.
"What?!"
"I'm sending the correct address now."
A new address appeared on Kavya's phone.
Kavya checked the cab app.
No cars available.
The clock showed 12:00 AM.
The lockdown had started.
Kavya slowly looked at the man standing in front of her.
Before she could speak, the man suddenly smiled slightly.
"What a coincidence…"
Kavya frowned.
"What?"
He looked directly into her eyes.
"Didn't you recognize me?"
Kavya stared at him in confusion.