Bhairava and Aarya left the rooftop together, returning to their respective classes. Bhairava slipped quietly into his seat, alone for a while as the others trickled back in. Mano was still missing, and so were Kiran and Devi.
After a few minutes, Mano finally entered, dropping into the chair beside Bhairava. He leaned closer, his tone casual but excited. "Tomorrow we're going to the forest area to clean."
Bhairava raised his brows. "How do you know?"
Mano grinned. "I saw the circular. It'll reach our class soon."
True to his words, the circular arrived not long after. The announcement sent a ripple of excitement through the room. Students shouted and laughed, thrilled at the thought of a day away from lectures. Tomorrow meant freedom—a full day to enjoy themselves.
The hours passed quickly, and when the evening bell rang, the classroom emptied in a rush of cheerful voices. Bhairava and Mano wheeled out their cycles, Aarya joining them as usual. The three rode side by side down the familiar road, the fading sun painting the sky in warm streaks of orange.
As they pedaled, Aarya turned to Mano, her tone teasing but sharp. "So, what happened? Looks like your crush's love is about to break up soon."
Mano turned sharply, frowning. "Who are you talking about?"
Aarya laughed lightly. "Good question. If you only have one crush, you should already know."
Mano scowled, irritation flickering across his face. "No one asked you that now."
Aarya leaned forward, her tone playful but pointed. "Devi. I saw her sitting with Kiran during class. They were on the ground, arguing about something. Looked serious—maybe some problem between lovers."
Bhairava finally spoke, his voice calm but thoughtful. "I don't think it's about love. There's something else going on between them."
Mano's curiosity sharpened. "What was it?"
Bhairava shrugged, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "I don't know."
They soon reached Shivani's school. Shivani came running out, her face bright with energy, and gave Mano a cheerful high‑five before hopping onto Aarya's cycle. Just as they were about to leave, Bhairava's eyes caught sight of the boy who had caused trouble with Shivani not long ago—the same boy he had beaten in school. A bandage was now wrapped around the boy's head.
Bhairava turned to Shivani, his voice steady but protective. "He's not troubling you anymore, right?"
Shivani glanced at the boy, then back at Bhairava, and raised her thumb with a confident smile.
As usual, Mano parted ways at his street, calling out as he pedaled off. "Get ready early in the morning. Don't be late."
After Mano left, Bhairava, Aarya, and Shivani continued riding together toward their homes. The evening air was calm, the road lined with fading shadows.
Aarya looked at Bhairava curiously. "Where are you going tomorrow?"
Bhairava replied, "We're going to clean waste in the forest area. So tomorrow, could you pick up and drop Shivani at her school?"
Aarya smiled warmly. "Sure, no problem."
Then Bhairava's thoughts kept circling back to the rooftop conversation. The question Aarya had asked still echoed in his mind, and he wanted to know why she had said it. He opened his mouth, hesitant but determined. "Aarya… this is about this afternoon—"
Before he could continue, they reached his home. A figure stood waiting near the gate, unnoticed by Bhairava and Aarya, but Shivani's sharp eyes caught it. She tugged at Aarya's sleeve and gestured silently.
Aarya turned, her breath catching. A woman with dusky skin and light‑black curls stood there, her posture tense, her expression heavy. Recognition struck instantly. "Ananya? What is she doing here?" she thought.
Yes—it was Ananya. She had been waiting, her presence quiet but unmistakable.
As they approached, Bhairava finally noticed her. His voice carried a mix of surprise and caution. "Ananya?"
Ananya turned, her eyes meeting his. Sadness lingered in her gaze, but she managed a faint greeting. "Hi, Bhairava."
Her eyes dropped to the bandage on his head, and concern replaced the sadness. "What happened to your head?" she asked softly.
Bhairava touched the bandage on his head lightly and replied, "Nothing… I just fell down."
He hesitated, then began to ask, his voice carrying the weight of his confusion. "When did you come back? What happened?"
Questions crowded his mind. He hadn't expected to see Ananya standing in front of his house. She was always the silent one in college—someone who came, studied, and left without lingering. She did her work quietly, never seeking attention, never forming close bonds. Even with Bhairava, their conversations had been limited to academics. Beyond that, there was nothing.
Not just with him—Ananya rarely spoke to anyone outside of study matters. And now, suddenly, the same Ananya was here, waiting at his doorstep. Bhairava felt both shocked and unsettled.
Ananya's voice was soft, almost hesitant. "Nothing… I was trying to reach you, but you didn't pick up. So I thought of coming to your home."
Bhairava glanced at his phone and noticed the missed call from Ananya. He touched his forehead lightly, embarrassed, and said, "Sorry, Ananya. I didn't see, my mobile was on silent. How long have you been waiting?"
Ananya gave a faint smile, her voice soft. "It's okay. I just came now."
Still surprised by her presence, Bhairava gestured toward the door. "Come inside…" Shivani hurried ahead to open it.
Standing beside him, Aarya stepped forward and asked gently, "How are you, Ananya?"
Ananya smiled again. "Yeah, I'm good." But even as she spoke, the sadness in her eyes lingered, betraying the weight she carried.
The door swung open, and Bell, the family's energetic dog, bounded out with his tail wagging furiously. He leapt toward Shivani, who laughed and guided him back inside with ease.
Bhairava welcomed Ananya in and motioned toward the sofa. "Please, sit." He then asked Shivani to bring a glass of water. Shivani returned quickly, handing it to Ananya.
Ananya accepted it with a small smile, took a sip, and then passed the glass back. "Thank you," she said warmly, her voice polite but tinged with quiet sorrow.
Shivani smiled, took the glass back, and disappeared into her room after Bhairava reminded her to freshen up for music class. The living room grew quieter. Bhairava and Aarya sat side by side on the sofa, while Ananya settled on the perpendicular seat, her posture composed but her eyes heavy.
Ananya seemed ready to speak, but Bhairava leaned forward first, his voice steady yet concerned. "How are you doing, Ananya? I heard what happened… I'm sorry for your loss."
Her lips curved into a faint smile, though her expression betrayed the sadness beneath. "I'm… recovering from that tragedy," she said softly, as if forcing the words to sound lighter than they felt.
Bhairava studied her carefully. He knew Ananya wasn't the type to visit anyone's home casually. In college, she was quiet, reserved, and kept to herself—her interactions limited to study discussions or clarifying doubts. She never lingered, never sought company. For her to be here now, sitting in his living room, meant something serious.
He didn't waste time. "What brings you here? Is there any problem?"
Ananya hesitated, her voice trembling slightly. "I want to see your mom. I heard she is one of the best lawyers in town."
Bhairava's face tightened with worry. "What happened? Is everything okay?"
Ananya's eyes shifted between Bhairava and Aarya, her silence heavy before she finally spoke."No… it's about my sister's death. The accident was caused by Sagar, the minister's son‑in‑law. He was arrested at first, but then his driver suddenly came forward and confessed, claiming he was the one behind the wheel. But I know, it was Sagar who drove that car."
She paused, her gaze falling to the ground. "And I have doubts about that accident. I think it was a planned murder."
Bhairava and Aarya exchanged a confused glance. Bhairava leaned forward, his voice uncertain. "Murder? Why do you think that?"
Ananya's hands tightened into fists. She spoke slowly, each word heavy. "My sister was a reporter at News Hunt. She exposed the minister's scams and fraud in this town. I believe the minister discovered that she was the one who wrote that article. So they planned it… and killed her."
Her voice trembled, but her eyes held firm. There was no strong evidence, only her theory. Bhairava opened his mouth to question her, "But…"
Before he could finish, Ananya continued, answering the doubt he hadn't spoken aloud. "I know it's just a theory. But I didn't come to that conclusion only because of the article. Before she died, she was acting strange. She kept getting calls, and it looked like someone was threatening her. That night, when she died, I called her. She sounded tense, frightened. I know she was in trouble."
Her voice broke slightly, but she pressed on. "And the next morning, I got the news, she was dead in an accident. I filed a complaint immediately. But then the minister himself called me. He threatened me, told me to withdraw the complaint. With all this, I am sure it wasn't just an accident."
Bhairava's mind reeled. Suddenly, a memory surfaced, something he had almost forgotten. Last month, when he was going to watch a movie, a girl had bumped into him on the way in. He hadn't seen her clearly at the time, but now, thinking back, he realized… it looked like Ananya. And he remembered, the minister had been there too.
His chest tightened, his thoughts racing. "So… it was her back then."
Ananya voice grew sharper, though sadness lingered beneath it. "I decided to fight for justice in court. But the public prosecutor on my side betrayed us. Only then I realized he had been bought off by the minister. That's why I came here. I want to ask your mom if she will take this case and stand with me. I'll pay whatever she asks… I just want the real culprit to go to jail. Please."
The room fell into silence. Aarya's eyes widened, sensing the gravity of Ananya's words. Bhairava leaned back slightly, his mind racing. He had never seen Ananya speak with such intensity.
Aarya's eyes lingered on Bhairava, waiting for his response. He finally spoke, his tone steady but conflicted. "This isn't about money, Ananya. My mom is already working on another case… I don't know if she can take this one."
Ananya's face fell, her voice trembling with desperation. "Please, Bhairava. I don't know what else to do. Everyone says your mom is the best lawyer, that she always stands for justice."
Ananya's pleading words weighed heavily on Bhairava's heart. He wanted to help her, yet the thought of his mother taking on another case filled him with unease. His mother was already consumed by her current case, leaving home before dawn, returning late at night. Even with just one case, Bhairava and Shivani barely saw her. Their father too was buried in his own work, leaving the siblings to manage on their own. The house often felt hollow, filled only with silence and the siblings' quiet resilience.
Bhairava knew what that absence felt like. He had carried it since childhood, and he didn't want Shivani to suffer the same loneliness. That was why he hesitated—why he wanted to shield her from the cost of justice.
But Ananya wasn't just anyone. She had studied alongside him for nearly four years, always kind, always fair, never speaking ill of others. She was the sort of person who endured quietly, who never asked for more than what was right. Seeing her now, desperate yet dignified, Bhairava realized this wasn't the time to act cold.
There is a saying: until it happens to you, you will not know the pain. Bhairava understood that truth now. If it had been a stranger, he might have refused outright. But this was Ananya—someone he respected, someone who deserved justice.
Bhairava decided to help her. He dialed his mother's number, but the call rang unanswered. He lowered the phone and said gently, "My mom isn't picking up. I'll ask her when she comes back home."
Ananya's eyes dropped with disappointment. "Is that so?" she murmured.
Seeing the sadness in her gaze, Bhairava reassured her firmly. "Don't worry, Ananya. I'll speak with my mom. She will surely support you."
A faint spark of hope lit her eyes as she stood. "Thank you, Bhairava. The next hearing is on Monday after next. Please… I'll be waiting for positive news from you."
Aarya, silent until now, watched the exchange closely. Bhairava turned to Ananya. "Are you leaving already? Eat something before you go."
Ananya smiled politely. "No, thank you, Bhairava. I have some work to handle. I'll come another day."
Bhairava rose with her, his voice steady, offering comfort. "Take care, Ananya. Don't worry about anything—I'll tell my mom everything."
Ananya bowed lightly, her respect evident. "Thank you, Bhairava."
As she moved toward the door, Bhairava asked, "So, when will you be back to college?"
Ananya paused, her tone soft but certain. "Maybe this coming Monday. I'll return then."
Ananya left with a faint wave, her face still shadowed by worry. Bhairava stood at the gate, watching until she disappeared into the distance. Beside him, Aarya stepped forward, her voice breaking the silence. "What are you thinking?"
Without turning, Bhairava answered quietly, "Nothing… I've never seen her like this before. She looks very sad. I just want to do whatever I can to help her recover."
Aarya studied him with surprise, her brows lifting. "Woah… you've changed a lot. You don't seem bothered anymore about your mom taking another case."
Bhairava's gaze remained fixed ahead, his tone steady. "Some things don't change. That's how it is. I was only worried about Shivani."
Aarya softened, her voice reassuring. "Don't worry. She's a smart kid—she'll understand."
The moment lingered, quiet but heavy with unspoken thoughts. Then Aarya gave a small smile. "Okay, Bhairava. See you tomorrow. Bye."
The evening unfolded in its usual rhythm. He dropped Shivani at her music class, headed to his part‑time job, and returned later to share dinner with her. The quiet companionship of the meal eased the day's weight. Knowing he had to wake early for the forest‑cleaning trip, he decided to rest sooner than usual.
The house settled into silence and Bhairava drifted into sleep.