The night didn't feel normal.
Next day they went for shopping buttt.....
Aarohi noticed it the moment they stepped out.
The air was quieter than usual.
Too quiet.
---
"Stay in the car," Veer said, handing her the keys. "I'll be back in five minutes."
Aarohi nodded, slipping into the passenger seat.
"Don't take too long," she added.
Veer gave her a brief look—something unreadable—then walked toward the store.
---
The moment he disappeared inside—
the silence returned.
---
Aarohi leaned back, her hand resting lightly over her stomach.
A habit now.
A quiet reminder.
---
Across the street—
a car engine turned on.
Soft.
Almost unnoticeable.
---
Inside it, someone watched.
Not moving.
Not speaking.
Just waiting.
---
Aarohi frowned slightly, her gaze shifting toward the side mirror.
For a second—
she felt it.
That strange feeling of being watched.
---
She shook it off.
"Just my mind," she murmured.
---
But then—
her phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
---
Her heartbeat slowed slightly as she opened the message.
No text.
Just one image.
---
It was her.
Sitting in the car.
Taken seconds ago.
---
Aarohi froze.
---
Her eyes snapped toward the street.
The car across from her—
still there.
Still watching.
---
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
---
Her hand moved instantly to the door handle.
She stepped out of the car—
slow at first—
then faster.
---
"Aarohi?"
Veer's voice came from behind as he stepped out of the store.
"What happened—"
---
The explosion cut him off.
---
The car behind her erupted into flames—
a violent burst of heat and sound that tore through the silence.
---
Aarohi stumbled forward, the shock hitting her before the fear did.
The blast echoed through her ears.
Her body froze for a second—
too close.
Way too close.
---
Veer reached her in seconds, pulling her back instinctively.
"Are you hurt?" he demanded.
Aarohi shook her head, breath uneven.
"I… I got out…"
Her voice barely held.
---
Veer turned toward the burning car, his expression changing instantly.
Not fear.
Not shock.
Something darker.
---
Controlled anger.
---
"This wasn't random," he said.
Aarohi swallowed hard. "Someone sent me a picture… just before it happened."
That confirmed it.
---
Veer's jaw tightened.
"They were watching you."
Not a guess.
A fact.
---
Aarohi looked back at the flames.
The realization hit slowly—
if she had stayed inside—
---
Her hand trembled slightly as it moved to her stomach.
---
Veer noticed.
And that was it.
That was the moment something in him snapped.
---
"They crossed a line," he said quietly.
Too quietly.
---
Aarohi looked at him.
"Veer…"
But he wasn't looking at her anymore.
He was looking at the fire.
At the message behind it.
At the war that had just begun.
---
"Whoever did this," he said,
"They don't get a second chance."
---
Across the street—
the watching car was gone.
---
But the message was clear.
---
They weren't safe anymore.
And this time—
it wasn't a warning.
It was a promise.