Trust didn't break loudly.
It cracked in silence.
---
Aarohi sat across from Veer, the weight of everything between them heavier than before.
---
"Someone is feeding them information," she said.
---
Veer didn't argue.
Didn't deny it.
---
"I know," he replied.
---
That meant one thing—
This wasn't new.
---
"Then why haven't you stopped it?" Aarohi asked.
---
Veer's jaw tightened slightly.
"Because I don't know who it is yet."
---
Silence.
---
Aarohi leaned back slightly, thinking.
"Then we stop looking blindly," she said.
"We make them react."
---
Veer's eyes narrowed.
"How?"
---
Aarohi looked at him.
Steady.
Focused.
---
"Raghav."
---
That name changed the air instantly.
---
"He's connected," she continued. "Maybe not the source—but close enough to it."
---
Veer watched her carefully.
"You're suggesting we use him."
---
"I'm suggesting we pressure him," Aarohi corrected.
---
A pause.
---
"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" Veer asked.
---
Aarohi's lips curved slightly.
Not a smile.
Something sharper.
---
"We don't attack him," she said.
"We make him uncomfortable."
---
---
That evening—
Raghav received the message.
---
"We need to talk."
---
No threat.
No explanation.
---
Just enough to make him curious.
---
---
The meeting place was neutral.
A private lounge.
Quiet.
Controlled.
---
Raghav arrived exactly on time.
Of course he did.
---
Aarohi was already there.
Sitting calmly.
Waiting.
---
"You asked for this," he said as he took a seat across from her.
---
"I did."
---
No hesitation.
No fear.
---
That alone—
interested him.
---
"This is new," he observed.
---
"So is clarity," Aarohi replied.
---
Silence settled between them.
But it wasn't empty.
It was strategic.
---
"What do you want?" Raghav asked.
---
Aarohi leaned slightly forward.
"Answers."
---
"To what?"
---
"To why I'm being hunted," she said.
---
Raghav didn't react.
Didn't flinch.
---
"You already know the kind of world you're in," he replied.
---
"Yes," Aarohi said.
"And I also know you're not the only one involved."
---
That—
that was deliberate.
---
For the first time—
his gaze sharpened.
---
"Careful," he said quietly.
"You're making assumptions."
---
Aarohi held his gaze.
"I don't make assumptions anymore."
---
Silence.
---
And that was the moment—
she shifted.
---
Her tone softened slightly.
Not weak.
Just different.
---
"You said you understand people," she said.
---
"I do."
---
"Then understand this," she continued.
"I'm not scared anymore."
---
That line—
wasn't for emotion.
---
It was for distraction.
---
Because while his attention stayed on her—
Aarohi's eyes had already moved once.
Briefly.
Precisely.
---
His phone.
Placed casually beside him.
Unlocked.
---
Not carelessness.
Confidence.
---
Aarohi leaned back slightly, continuing the conversation.
"You wanted control," she said.
"But control only works when the other person doesn't see it."
---
Raghav's focus remained on her.
Exactly where she needed it.
---
"You think you've figured me out?" he asked.
---
"No," Aarohi replied calmly.
"I think I've figured out your limits."
---
That—
that pulled him in.
---
Because no one spoke to him like that.
---
And in that exact moment—
---
Aarohi's hand moved.
Subtle.
Controlled.
---
Her fingers brushed the table—
sliding just enough—
just once—
---
The phone shifted slightly.
Screen still lit.
---
One glance.
That's all she needed.
---
Names.
Messages.
One contact—
highlighted.
---
Her heartbeat didn't change.
Her expression didn't shift.
---
Because she had trained herself for this.
---
"You're not as untouchable as you think," she continued, her voice steady.
---
Raghav leaned forward slightly.
"And you're not as careful as you think."
---
That line—
almost caught her.
---
Almost.
---
But Aarohi didn't react.
Didn't break.
---
Instead, she stood.
---
"This conversation is over," she said.
---
Raghav didn't stop her.
Didn't need to.
---
Because in his mind—
he was still in control.
---
But as Aarohi walked away—
her fingers tightened slightly.
---
Because now—
she knew.
---
---
Back in the car—
Veer looked at her the moment she entered.
---
"Well?" he asked.
---
Aarohi handed him the name.
---
One name.
---
And the moment Veer saw it—
his expression changed completely.
---
Not anger.
---
Something worse.
---
Betrayal.
---
"Are you sure?" he asked quietly.
---
Aarohi nodded.
---
Because that name—
wasn't just an enemy.
---
It was someone inside.
---
Someone close.
---
Someone they trusted.
---
And that was the real danger.
---
Because enemies attack from outside.
---
But betrayal—
comes from within.