"ʜᴇʟʟᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀꜱ! ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛ".
"ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ'ʟʟ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴇɴɢᴀɢɪɴɢ!"
______________________________
....ᴀᴛ ɴʏᴀᴠɪᴋᴀ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛᴍᴇɴᴛ
*Author pov*
ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ—ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ 6 ᴏ’ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟᴀʀᴍ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴏꜰꜰ. ᴀ ꜰᴀɪɴᴛ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɴʏᴀᴠɪᴋᴀ’ꜱ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ. ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴡᴇᴇᴛ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʙɪʀᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ᴡᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍꜰᴏʀᴛᴀʙʟʏ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ. ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ "ᴏᴜʀ ᴀᴅᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇ."
“ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ꜱᴏ ᴅᴇᴇᴘʟʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ. ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡɪꜱᴇ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀꜱᴛ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀᴋʟᴏᴀᴅ ᴀᴛ ʟᴀᴡ ꜰɪʀᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴄᴀꜱᴇꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ꜰᴇᴡ ᴅᴀʏꜱ, ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀʀᴅʟʏ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀɴʏ ᴘʀᴏᴘᴇʀ ʀᴇꜱᴛ. ʙᴜᴛ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ, ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇꜰᴜʟʟʏ.”
ɴʏᴀᴠɪᴋᴀ ʜᴀᴅ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ, ᴅᴏᴢɪɴɢ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ. ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɪʀ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴘʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪꜰᴜʟ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴏᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ. ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴘꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ.ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴋɪɴ ɪꜱ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ꜱʜɪɴɪɴɢ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀʏ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴜɴ ɪꜱ ᴅɪʀᴇᴄᴛʟʏ ꜰᴀʟʟɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴀᴜᴛɪꜰᴜʟ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟᴀʀᴍ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ—ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ɪᴛ ʀᴀɴɢ 2–3 ᴛɪᴍᴇꜱ, ʜᴇʀ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ. ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ, ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇʟɪᴅꜱ ʟɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴇʏᴇꜱ. ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴇʀ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ 2 ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴅᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴜʀʀᴏᴜɴᴅɪɴɢꜱ.
*Nyavika pov*
“ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟᴀʀᴍ ᴡᴏᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴘ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇᴅ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴɢ.”
“ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ’ꜱ ꜱᴄᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ—ᴍʏ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴍᴘ ɪꜱ ꜱᴡɪᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴘᴇɴ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴏᴏʀ.”ɪ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴛʀᴀᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ᴛɪᴍᴇ—ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ꜰᴇʟʟ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ. ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏ, ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ɴᴏᴡ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴀʏᴇꜱʜᴀ, ᴏᴛʜᴇʀᴡɪꜱᴇ ꜱʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ,” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ—ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀꜱ ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ…” "Hayee daiya meri kamar gai"!! “ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ᴀ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ, ᴘᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ… ‘ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ꜱɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ ʜᴀʙɪᴛ.’”ɪ ᴍᴜʀᴍᴜʀᴇᴅ.
“ɴᴇxᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴘᴀʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ—ɪꜰ ɪ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛᴀʟʟʏ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ᴍʏ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴅᴇꜰɪɴɪᴛᴇʟʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ.”ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ.
“ɪ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ, ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴀ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴ, ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪʀʀᴏʀ—ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀᴡ ᴀ ɢʟᴏᴡ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ.”
"ᴀʀᴇᴇ ᴡᴀʜʜ ᴋʏᴀ ɢʟᴏᴡ ʜ ʟᴀɢᴛᴀ ʜ ʀᴀᴀᴛ ᴋᴏ ʀᴏɴᴇ ᴋɪ ᴠᴊʜᴀ ꜱᴇ ʜᴜᴇ ʜᴀɪ." ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɢɪɢɢʟɪɴɢ.
"ᴄʜᴀʟᴏ ʙᴏʜᴜᴛ ʙᴀᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏ ɢᴀᴇ ᴀᴀʙ ꜰʀᴇꜱʜ ʜᴏᴛᴇ ʜᴀɪ."ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ᴍʏ ɢʟᴀꜱꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴡᴇʀ.
[ᴡᴏᴡ, ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴀ ɢʟᴏᴡ! ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ʙᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ɴɪɢʜᴛ," ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ɢɪɢɢʟᴇ.
"ᴀɴʏᴡᴀʏ, ᴇɴᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ. ʟᴇᴛ’ꜱ ꜰʀᴇꜱʜᴇɴ ᴜᴘ ɴᴏᴡ," ɪ ᴀᴅᴅᴇᴅ, ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴍʏ ɢʟᴀꜱꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴡᴇʀ.]
“ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪ ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴛʜʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ ᴄᴜᴘʙᴏᴀʀᴅ.” "ᴡʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴡᴇᴀʀ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ." ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ.
"ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ, ɪ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ɢʀᴇᴇɴ ᴋᴜʀᴛɪ ꜱᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴊʜᴜᴍᴋᴀꜱ."
“ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴄʜᴀɴɢɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴏᴛʜᴇꜱ, ɪ ᴡᴇɴᴛ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇꜱꜱ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴜᴇ, ᴊᴏɪɴᴇᴅ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱ ɪɴ ᴘʀᴀʏᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴄᴇɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʙʟᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴘʀᴀʏᴇᴅ.”
"ᴍᴀᴛᴀ ʀᴀɴɪ ᴀᴀᴊ ᴋᴀ ᴅɪɴ ʙʜɪ ᴀᴄʜᴀ ᴊᴀᴇ ᴀɪꜱᴇ ᴋɪʀᴘᴀ ᴋᴀʀɴᴀ."“ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɢᴇꜱᴛᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄʟᴏꜱɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ꜱᴛᴀᴛᴜᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʟɪᴛ ᴏɪʟ ʟᴀᴍᴘ ʙᴇꜱɪᴅᴇ ɪᴛ.”
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʙʟᴇꜱꜱɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɢᴏᴅᴅᴇꜱꜱ’ꜱ , ɪ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴀᴀʏᴇꜱʜᴀ’ꜱ ʀᴏᴏᴍ. ʜᴇʀ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ɪꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴀʟʟᴡᴀʏ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ.
ᴀ ꜰᴇᴡ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅꜱ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ɪ ꜱᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛꜱɪᴅᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱᴇ, ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ꜱᴏᴏɴ.
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ’ꜱ ʜᴇꜱɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪ ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ᴏꜰꜰ. ᴀᴀʏᴇꜱʜᴀ ᴡᴀꜱ ʟʏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴅ, ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀꜱʟᴇᴇᴘ, ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ᴀᴛ ᴇᴀꜱᴇ—ɴᴏ ꜱɪɢɴꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ. ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴘꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʜᴇᴀʀ ʜᴇʀ ꜱᴏꜰᴛ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜɪɴɢ.
ɪ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ɪɴꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇɴᴛʟʏ ꜱʜᴀᴋᴇ ʜᴇʀ “ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ”ɴᴏ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱᴇ
“ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ ʙᴀᴄʜʜᴀ ɪᴛ'ꜱ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ 7 ᴘᴍ.”ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ɴᴏ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴꜱᴇ
“ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ”ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ɪ ꜱʜᴀᴋᴇ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙɪᴛ ʜᴀʀᴅᴇʀ.
“ʙᴀꜱ 2 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇꜱ ᴅɪᴅᴜ”ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ꜱʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ
"ɴʜɪ ʙɪʟᴋʜᴜʟ ɴʜɪ!" ᴀʙʜɪ ᴜᴛʜᴏ ᴛᴜᴍ ᴡᴀʀɴᴀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ᴋᴇ ʟɪʏᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ ʜᴏ ᴊᴀᴏɢɪ."
“ᴘᴀᴋᴋᴀ 2 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇꜱ ᴍᴇ ᴜᴛʜ ᴊᴀᴜɢɪ”ꜱʜᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ.
[ɴᴏ! ᴀʙꜱᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ɴᴏᴛ!"ɢᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ɴᴏᴡ ᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ʟᴀᴛᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ."]
["ɪ ꜱᴡᴇᴀʀ ɪ’ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ 2 ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇꜱ," ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ.]
"ᴀᴄʜʜᴀ ᴛʜɪᴋᴋ ʜ"ᴀꜱ ᴜ ꜱᴀʏ ʙᴜᴛ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʀᴇꜱʜᴇɴ ᴜᴘ—ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴏᴋᴀʏ? ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪꜱᴛᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ, ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ?”
ʜᴍᴍ.“ᴀꜱ ꜱᴏᴏɴ ᴀꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴘᴏɴᴅᴇᴅ, ɪ sɪɢɴ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxɪᴛᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴇᴅ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪᴛᴄʜᴇɴ.”
ᴀꜱ ɪ ᴇɴᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪᴛᴄʜᴇɴ, ɪ ɢᴀᴛʜᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ɪᴛᴇᴍꜱ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴇᴘᴀʀᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ. ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ, ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʟɪᴄᴋ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ʏᴇꜱᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ.
“ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ɪɴ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ’ꜱ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ.”ʟᴀꜱᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴀ ᴘʜᴀʀᴍᴀᴄᴇᴜᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ, ᴀᴄᴄᴜꜱɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇxᴘɪʀᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴅᴜᴄᴛꜱ.”
“ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɢᴀɪɴꜱᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀꜱ ꜱᴏᴏɴ ᴀꜱ ᴘᴏꜱꜱɪʙʟᴇ, ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ʀᴇɢᴀʀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴏᴠɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴɪɴɢ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.” ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀᴇ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ꜰᴏʀɢᴇᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ɪꜱ ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪꜱ ᴇ-ᴍᴀɪʟ ꜱʜɪᴛ.ᴀꜱ; ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ.
“ᴀᴅᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇ ɴʏᴀᴠɪᴋᴀ, ʜᴏᴡ ᴄᴀɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʙᴇ ꜱᴏ ꜱɪʟʟʏ?”ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ɪɴ ꜰᴀᴋᴇ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏɴᴇ.
“ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ɴᴏ ᴜꜱᴇ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɴᴏᴡ. ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ, ɪ'ʟʟ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴍʏ ᴇᴍᴀɪʟ.”
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ɪ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀ ꜱʜᴏʀᴛ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴀ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ.
ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ’ꜱ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ — ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɪʀꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ʙᴀɢ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀɴᴅ, ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ.
"ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ, Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ, ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ’ʟʟ ᴅʀᴏᴘ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ɪ’ʟʟ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ". ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴇᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ.
ᴊɪɪ ᴅɪᴅᴜᴜ!!.ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ, ꜱᴀᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ.
"ᴡᴀɪꜱᴇ ᴅɪᴅᴜᴜ ᴇᴋ ʙᴀᴀᴛ ᴘᴜᴄʜᴜ." ꜱʜᴇ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴘʟᴀᴛᴇ. "ʜᴀᴀ ᴘᴜᴄʜᴏ" ɪ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ ꜱɪᴍᴘʟʏ.
“ʜᴜᴍ 𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖 ꜱᴇ ᴍɪʟɴᴇ ᴋᴀʙ ᴄʜᴀʟᴇɴɢᴇ.”ꜱʜᴇ ᴀꜱᴋᴇᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ᴍᴇ. ʙᴏʜᴜᴛ ᴅɪɴ ʜᴏ ɢᴀᴇ ᴜɴꜱᴇ ᴍɪʟᴇ! ꜱʜᴇ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀꜱᴋ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ꜱʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴꜱ.
I ꜱᴍɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, "ʏᴇꜱ, ʏᴏᴜ'ʀᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ. ɪᴛ'ꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ᴡᴇ ᴍᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ."ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ.
ᴛᴏʜ ᴀᴀᴊ ᴄʜᴀʟᴇ ᴜɴꜱᴇ ᴍɪʟɴᴇ? ɪ ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜱ ꜱᴏᴏɴ ᴀꜱ ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴀ ᴊᴏʏꜰᴜʟ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ’ꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ.
"ꜱᴀᴄʜɪɪ ᴅɪᴅᴜᴜ?" ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ᴀʙꜱᴏʟᴜᴛᴇʟʏ ᴅᴇʟɪɢʜᴛᴇᴅ.
“ʜᴀᴀ ꜱᴀᴄʜɪ”!! ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪɴᴇꜱꜱ ɢʀᴇᴡ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴍᴏʀᴇ — ꜱᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴘᴇᴀᴄᴇ.
ɪ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ—ꜱᴏ, ɪ’ʟʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ 1 ᴏ’ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ, ᴏᴋᴀʏ?
ᴛʜᴇɴ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ɢᴏ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴘᴀᴘᴀ.
"ʙᴜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ? ᴛʜᴇɴ ʜᴏᴡ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴡᴇ ɢᴏ?" ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ.
"ʏᴇꜱ, ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ — ɪɴ ꜰᴀᴄᴛ, ɪ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ. ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ, ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪᴇɴᴛ ᴀᴛ 9 ᴀᴍ; ʜᴇ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ." ɪ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ
"ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ʙʏ 10 ᴏ’ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ɪꜱ ꜱᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ 11 ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ. ꜱᴏ, ɪ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ʙʏ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ 12 ᴏʀ 12:30."
"ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟꜱᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ʜᴀʟꜰ ᴅᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ɪᴛ’ꜱ ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ!"
ꜱᴏ, ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜰʀᴇᴇ ʙʏ ʟᴜɴᴄʜᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ. ɪ’ʟʟ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ʏᴏᴜ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴏᴋᴀʏ?
"ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ɢᴏ ᴛᴏɢᴇᴛʜᴇʀ."ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ꜱᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ ꜱᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ'ᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴜꜱᴇᴅ.
"ᴏᴋᴀʏ ᴅɪᴅᴜ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇꜱᴛ"! ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴍɪʟᴇ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ.
"ʜᴀ ʜᴀ ᴛʜɪᴋ ʜᴀɪ!! ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ, ɴᴏᴡ ꜰɪɴɪꜱʜ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋꜰᴀꜱᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɪ ɢᴏ ɢʀᴀʙ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ, ʙᴀɢ, ꜰɪʟᴇꜱ, ᴄᴀʀ ᴋᴇʏꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇꜱᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ."ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɪʀꜱ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡɪʟʟ ʟᴇᴀᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ.
....After sometimes
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴅʀᴏᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ ᴀᴛ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ, ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴅʀɪᴠɪɴɢ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ. 𝙥𝙖𝙥𝙖.
Meanwhile..
*Aryavir pov*
“ʙᴏꜱꜱ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴀꜱ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴀɪᴅ,” ᴅᴀᴋꜱʜ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ.
"ɢᴏᴏᴅ", ɪ ꜱᴍɪʀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ.
ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀʟᴄᴏɴʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, ᴡʜᴇʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ʙʀᴇᴇᴢᴇ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜᴇꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ꜱʜɪʀᴛʟᴇꜱꜱ ʙᴏᴅʏ—ᴍʏ ᴛʀɪᴄᴇᴘꜱ, ꜱɪx-ᴘᴀᴄᴋ, ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ, ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴍᴜꜱᴄʟᴇꜱ—ᴄᴏᴏʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴛᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴏᴏʟɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀᴇ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴄʜᴇꜱᴛ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴜɴᴛꜱ ᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʏ?
ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ʏᴇᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴀʟᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʙᴜʀɴꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜɪɴ ᴍᴇ?
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ɪ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ᴀ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ꜱᴡᴇᴘᴛ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜰʟᴀꜱʜʙᴀᴄᴋꜱ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ.
*Flashback*
ᴀ ʙᴏʏ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ɪɴ ꜰʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀ ꜰᴜɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴘʏʀᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʏʀᴇ ɪꜱ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ.
ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴀᴍᴇꜱ ʀɪꜱᴇ, ᴛᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ꜱᴛʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴇʏᴇꜱ. ʜᴇ’ꜱ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ʟᴏᴜᴅᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴜᴅᴇʀ, ꜱᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴘᴀɪɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ’ꜱ ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ʜɪᴍ—ɴᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴀᴛ ᴀʟʟ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ… ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀɴʏᴏɴᴇ’ꜱ. ɪᴛ’ꜱ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ’ꜱ, 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒂.
ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴀʀʏᴀᴠɪʀ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ 12 ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴏʟᴅ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴡ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ꜰᴜɴᴇʀᴀʟ ᴘʏʀᴇ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ.
ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ᴄᴏɴꜱᴜᴍᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰʟᴀᴍᴇꜱ, ᴀʀʏᴀᴠɪʀ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴘ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ.
"ᴍᴀᴀ... ᴍᴀᴀ, ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ! ᴡʜʏ ᴀʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ? ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ɢᴏ, ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ!" — ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴀʙʟʏ.
ᴀ ᴘʀɪᴇꜱᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴏʟᴅ ʜɪᴍ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ɪɴꜱɪꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴀʀ ʜɪꜱ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.
Flashback end–––
* Aryavir pov*
ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ, ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀʏ ᴘᴀꜱꜱᴇᴅ… ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ 15 ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ꜱʟɪᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ.....
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ, ɪ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀʟᴄᴏɴʏ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʀɴᴇʀ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ʀᴏᴏᴍ, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ. ɪ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʟɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴍɪɴᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ’ꜱ ᴅʀᴀᴡᴇʀ. ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ, ᴀ ᴡᴀᴠᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴ ᴡᴇʟʟᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴀꜱ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀɪᴇꜱ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ.
ɪ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰɪʟᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴡᴇʀ, ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴏᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ɪᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ʙᴀɴɢʟᴇꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ.
ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴏꜰ—"𝒎𝒓𝒔. 𝒀𝒖𝒗𝒊𝒌𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒋 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉" ᴍʏ ᴍᴏᴛʜᴇʀ — 𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒂 ,ᴍʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴍʏ ʟɪꜰᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʏ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ.
ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍʏ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ ᴛᴏᴏ. "ᴜɴᴋᴀ 𝘃𝗶𝗿 ᴛʜᴀ ᴍᴇ." ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴡᴇʟʟ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ɴɪɢʜᴛ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ. ꜱʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ, ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇᴅ — ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴍᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴀᴍᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ʏᴏᴜ, ᴍʀꜱ. ʏᴜᴠɪᴋᴀ ᴅᴇᴠᴀʀᴀᴊ ꜱɪɴɢʜ. ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ꜰᴏʀɢɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜ.
"𝑰𝒔𝒌𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒚𝒆 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒂𝒑𝒌𝒐 𝒌𝒂𝒃𝒉𝒊 𝒎𝒂𝒂𝒇 𝒏𝒉𝒊 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒈𝒂 𝑴𝒓𝒔 𝑹𝒖𝒅𝒓𝒂 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒓𝒂𝒋 𝑺𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒉."
𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒖, 𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒕 𝒌𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒂 𝒉𝒖 𝒎𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒂𝒑𝒔𝒆, 𝒔𝒓𝒊𝒇 𝒏𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒕. ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʟᴏᴏᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀ ᴘʜᴏᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀɴɢʟᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴡᴇʀ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ɪ ꜱʟᴀᴍᴍᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴡᴇʀ ꜱʜᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ.
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛɪᴍᴇ...
*Nyavika pov*
ɪ’ᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʀʏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ᴍʀ. ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ꜰᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ɴᴏᴡ, ʙᴜᴛ ʜɪꜱ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴇʀᴠɪᴄᴇ.
ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴘᴀꜱᴛ 11 ᴏ’ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ — ʜᴇ ɴᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏꜰꜰɪᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴍᴇ ɴᴏʀ ᴅɪᴅ ʜᴇ ɢᴏ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ’ꜱ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ.
ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ɢᴇᴛ ɪɴ ᴛᴏᴜᴄʜ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪᴍ, ɴᴏʀ ɪꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ ᴄᴏɴɴᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ.
ɪ ᴘᴜᴛ ɪɴ ꜱᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ᴇꜰꜰᴏʀᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ꜱᴄʜᴇᴅᴜʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʙɪɢ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴍᴀɴ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ᴜᴘ. ɴᴏᴡ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɴᴏ ɪᴅᴇᴀ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ɢᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴅᴀᴛᴇ.
ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴀᴄʜᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ɢʟᴀꜱꜱ ᴅᴏᴏʀ. ᴍʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴄᴋ.
"ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ɪɴ" ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ.
ᴍᴀ’ᴀᴍ, ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜ.” ᴀ ᴍᴀɴ ɪɴ ʙʟᴀᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛꜰɪᴛ ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ.
“ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴀʏ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɴ ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀʟᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ꜱᴛᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ɪᴛ.”
“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ? ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱᴇɴᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ?” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀꜱ ɪ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ɪᴛ.
“ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴏ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴜꜱᴇᴅ, ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴅᴏ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ, ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʜᴇꜱɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪ ᴏᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴀᴡ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ.”
ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ—
“What the hell!! What is this?? Mr. Sharma has withdrawn the case—and that too suddenly. Why?” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ꜱʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢʟʏ
"ʏᴇ ʜᴏ ᴋʏᴀ ʀᴀʜᴀ ʜ ᴘʜᴇʟᴇ ᴍʀ ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ᴋʜᴜᴅ ʜɪ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴋᴀʀᴛᴇ ʜ ᴀᴜʀ ᴋᴇʜᴛᴇ ʜ ᴊᴀʟᴅ ꜱᴇ ᴊᴀʟᴅ ʜᴜᴍᴇ ᴋᴜᴄʜ ᴋᴀʀɴᴀ ʜᴏɢᴀ ᴀᴜʀ ᴀᴀᴊ ᴋʜᴜᴅɪ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴋᴇ ʟɪʏᴇ ʟᴀᴡ ꜰɪʀᴍ ɴʜɪ ᴀᴀᴇ ɴᴀ ʜɪ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ɢᴀᴇ ᴀᴜʀ ᴀᴀʙ ʏᴇ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴠᴀᴘɪꜱ ʟᴇ ʀᴀʜᴀ ʜᴜ." ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ɪꜱ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ.
["ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ? ᴇᴀʀʟɪᴇʀ ᴍʀ. ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴡᴀꜱ ʜᴀɴᴅʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴꜱɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴇ ɴᴇᴇᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴄᴛ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ, ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ꜱʜᴏᴡ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴡ ꜰɪʀᴍ ᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ʜɪꜱ ᴏᴡɴ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ. ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇ ꜱᴀʏꜱ ʜᴇ'ꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜᴅʀᴀᴡɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ. ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴜᴄᴋ ɪꜱ ᴀᴄᴛᴜᴀʟʟʏ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ?"]
“ᴡʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴏɴ? ɪ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴡᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ɴɪɢʜᴛ, ꜱᴏ ᴡʜʏ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ ᴛᴏᴅᴀʏ ᴅɪᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡɪᴛʜᴅʀᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ? ɪ’ᴍ ᴄᴏɴꜰᴜꜱᴇᴅ—ᴅɪᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ɢᴏ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ?
ᴀɴᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇɴᴠᴇʟᴏᴘᴇ? ɪ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴘᴀʏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴀꜱᴋ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ʜᴏᴡ ꜰᴏᴏʟɪꜱʜ ᴀᴍ ɪ?”
ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ, ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ʀɪɴɢɪɴɢ.ɪ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴢᴇ ɪᴛ'ꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ ɪ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴏᴄᴋ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ɪꜱ ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴛᴀʙʟᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛꜱ ꜱᴀʏ'ꜱ— 1 ᴘᴍ ᴀʟʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴꜱ ɪ ᴀᴍ ʟᴀᴛᴇ.
ɪ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴀʏ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ "ᴍain ɴɪᴋᴀʟ ᴄʜᴜᴋɪ ʜᴜ 5 ᴍɪɴ ᴍᴇ ᴘᴀʜᴜᴄʜ ᴊᴀᴜɢɪ ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ, ʙᴀꜱ 5 ᴍɪɴ ʜᴀᴀ!"
ɪ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ. ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ
ɪꜰ ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ ꜰɪɴᴅꜱ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ’ᴛ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ʏᴇᴛ, ꜱʜᴇ’ʟʟ ᴋɪʟʟ ᴍᴇ!
ɪᴛ’ꜱ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ɪ ᴄᴏɴᴛᴀᴄᴛ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ — ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ, ɪ’ʟʟ ɢᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴜᴘ ᴄʜʜᴏᴛɪ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ.
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ɪ Qᴜɪᴄᴋʟʏ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ᴀʟʟ ᴍʏ ꜱᴛᴜꜰꜰ ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴡ ꜰɪʀᴍ.
*Author pov*
"ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴄʜᴏ ᴏꜰ ʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴛꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴅ, ᴄᴏɴᴄʀᴇᴛᴇ ꜱᴛᴇᴘꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴʟʏ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴜꜰꜰᴏᴄᴀᴛɪɴɢ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀꜱᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪʀ ɢʀᴇᴡ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ꜱᴛᴇᴘ ʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ. ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴄʟᴜɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴇɴᴛᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ɪᴛ ᴀʟʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛᴏʀ ᴡᴀɪᴛᴇᴅ—ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ, ʙʀᴏᴋᴇɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀʀɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴛʀᴜʟʏ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴛʀᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ ɪɴ ʟᴏᴠᴇ."
"ʜᴇ ᴅᴇꜱᴄᴇɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀꜱᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴡʀᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ꜱɪʟᴋ—ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴅᴇᴀᴅʟʏ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴍ ʟɪɢʜᴛꜱ ꜰʟɪᴄᴋᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ɪꜰ ʙᴏᴡɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ᴘʀᴇꜱᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʜɪꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ, ꜱʜᴀʀᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪɴɢ, ꜱᴄᴀɴɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴏᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʟᴇᴛʜᴀʟ ᴄᴀʟᴍ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏ ᴍᴇʀᴄʏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇᴍ—ᴏɴʟʏ ᴀ ᴅᴇᴇᴘ, ꜱᴏᴜʟʟᴇꜱꜱ ꜰɪʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ʀɪᴘ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜰʟᴇꜱʜ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ɢᴜɪʟᴛ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛᴏʀ ᴅᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴜᴘ… ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴꜱᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ᴡɪꜱʜᴇᴅ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅɴ’ᴛ."
"ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ɢʀᴏᴀɴᴇᴅ ᴏᴘᴇɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ ꜱɴᴀᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙᴏɴᴇ. ʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ—ꜱʟᴏᴡ, ᴅᴇʟɪʙᴇʀᴀᴛᴇ, ᴇᴀᴄʜ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʟᴇᴛʜᴀʟ ᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟ. ᴛʜᴇ ꜱɪɴɢʟᴇ ʙᴜʟʙ ᴀʙᴏᴠᴇ ꜰʟɪᴄᴋᴇʀᴇᴅ, ᴄᴀꜱᴛɪɴɢ ꜱʜᴀᴅᴏᴡꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀɴᴄᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɢʜᴏꜱᴛꜱ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀᴍᴘ ʙᴀꜱᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴡᴀʟʟꜱ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴘᴀʀᴛɴᴇʀꜱʜɪᴘ ɪɴ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴡ ꜱᴀᴛ ᴄʜᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ, ᴡʀɪꜱᴛꜱ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅɪᴇᴅ, ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ ꜱʜᴀᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ.
ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ’ᴛ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋ. ɴᴏᴛ ʏᴇᴛ.
ʜᴇ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴛᴏᴡᴇʀɪɴɢ, ᴜɴʙʟɪɴᴋɪɴɢ.
*Aryavir pov*
ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ ʙʀᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇꜱ—ʀᴜᴛʜʟᴇꜱꜱ, ᴀʟʟ-ᴄᴏɴꜱᴜᴍɪɴɢ—ʟᴏᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴀɪᴛᴏʀ’ꜱ ꜱᴏᴜʟ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴇᴅᴀᴛᴏʀ ꜱᴀᴠᴏʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇᴀʀ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪʟʟ.
'ʏᴏᴜ ꜰɪʟᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ,' ɪ ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ꜱᴘᴏᴋᴇ, ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ʟᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍ-ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ. 'ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴘᴏɪꜱᴏɴ.'
ɪ ᴛɪʟᴛᴇᴅ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ꜱʟɪɢʜᴛʟʏ, ꜱᴍɪʟɪɴɢ—ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ, ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴍɪꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴘᴀɪɴ.
'ꜰᴜɴɴʏ,' ɪ ᴡʜɪꜱᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ, ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇʀ, 'ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛᴏɴɪɢʜᴛ... ʏᴏᴜ’ʟʟ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʀᴇᴀʟ ᴘᴏɪꜱᴏɴ ꜰᴇᴇʟꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ.'"
"ɪ ᴍᴏᴠᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜱɪɴ ɪᴛꜱᴇʟꜰ—ꜱʟᴏᴡ, ᴇʟᴇɢᴀɴᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴇᴠɪᴛᴀʙʟᴇ.
ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏᴄᴋᴇᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍʏ ᴛᴀɪʟᴏʀᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴀᴛ, ɪ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ, ɢʟᴀꜱꜱ ᴠɪᴀʟ—ᴇᴍᴇʀᴀʟᴅ ʟɪQᴜɪᴅ ꜱᴡɪʀʟɪɴɢ ɪɴꜱɪᴅᴇ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴏʀᴍ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴜɴʟᴇᴀꜱʜᴇᴅ.
‘ᴛʜɪꜱ,’ ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ʜᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴛᴡᴏ ɢʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀꜱ, ‘ɪꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ’ꜱ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄɪɴᴇꜱ. ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴏɴ ʀᴇᴄᴏʀᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪᴄ.’
ᴍʀ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ'ꜱ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄᴀᴜɢʜᴛ. ʜɪꜱ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴡɪᴅᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴋɪɴᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴛᴇʀʀᴏʀ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ᴄᴀɴ ʙʀɪɴɢ.
‘ʙᴜᴛ ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱᴏ ᴄᴏɴᴄᴇʀɴᴇᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴏᴜʀ ʀᴇᴘᴜᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ,’ ᴀʀʏᴀᴠɪʀ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ, ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴀ ᴠᴇʟᴠᴇᴛ ʙʟᴀᴅᴇ, ‘ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴇꜱᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀꜱᴏɴᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴍᴏɴꜱᴛʀᴀᴛɪᴏɴ.’
ɪ ᴜɴᴄᴏʀᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴠɪᴀʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴄᴇɴᴛ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟʟɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴀʀᴘ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʟᴇ ᴀɪʀ. ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇꜱɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ɪ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ᴍʀ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ᴊᴀᴡ—ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀꜱ ʙʀᴜɪꜱɪɴɢ ꜱᴋɪɴ—ᴀɴᴅ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪQᴜɪᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴛʜʀᴏᴀᴛ.
ᴍʀ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ᴄʜᴏᴋᴇᴅ, ɢᴀɢɢᴇᴅ, ᴛʜʀᴀꜱʜᴇᴅ.
ɪ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ. ᴄᴏʟᴅ. ᴜɴꜰʟɪɴᴄʜɪɴɢ.
‘ʟᴏʏᴀʟᴛʏ ɪꜱ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ,’ ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ꜱᴏꜰᴛʟʏ,
"ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴀɪꜱᴇ ᴍʀ ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴋᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ ꜱᴀʜɪ ᴛᴏʜ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀ?"ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ꜱᴍɪʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ.
["ᴀɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴀʏ, ᴍʀ. ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʟᴇɢɪᴛ, ʀɪɢʜᴛ?" ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ꜱᴍɪʀᴋɪɴɢ ᴀᴛ ʜɪᴍ.]
ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ'ꜱ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴡɪᴅᴇ ᴏᴘᴇɴ ɪɴ ꜱʜᴏᴄᴋ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ."
"ᴛᴜᴍʜᴇ ᴋʏᴀ ʟᴀɢᴀ ᴍʜᴜᴊᴇ ᴘᴛᴀᴀ ɴʜɪ ᴄʜᴀʟᴇɢᴀ ᴋɪ ᴠᴏ ᴛᴜᴍ ʜɪ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊɪꜱɴᴇ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴋᴇ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴄʜᴏʀɪ ᴋᴀʀᴡᴀʏᴇ? ᴀᴜʀ ᴠᴏ ʙʜɪ ᴍᴇʀᴇ ᴀᴀᴅᴍɪ ꜱᴇ ʜɪ! ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴍʀ ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ."
"ᴀᴜʀ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ᴍᴇʀᴇ ʜɪ ʟᴀᴡʏᴇʀꜱ ᴀᴜʀ ᴀᴅᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇ ᴋᴏ ᴘᴀɪꜱᴇ ꜱᴇ ᴋʜᴀʀɪᴅ ʟɪʏᴀ ᴡᴀʜʜ ʏᴇ ᴊᴀᴅᴀ ᴀᴄʜʜᴀ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴀ ᴛᴜᴍʜᴀʀᴀ." ɪ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴡᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ, ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴛᴏʀᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ, ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ—ᴡʜʏ ʜᴀᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴏᴏɴᴇʀ?"
[ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴛʜɪɴᴋ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ꜰɪɴᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡʜᴏ ᴀʀʀᴀɴɢᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴇᴀʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴘᴀᴘᴇʀꜱ? ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴜꜱɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ᴍᴀɴ? ɴᴏᴛ ᴀ ʙᴀᴅ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ, ᴍʀ. ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ... ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ."
"ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴄᴏɴᴅʟʏ, ʙᴜʏɪɴɢ ᴏꜰꜰ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ʟᴀᴡʏᴇʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴅᴠᴏᴄᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴏɴᴇʏ—ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀɴ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ." ɪ ᴄᴏɴᴛɪɴᴜᴇᴅ, ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴄɪʀᴄʟɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ, ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ, ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛʟʏ ᴛᴏʀᴍᴇɴᴛᴇᴅ, ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀ—ᴡʜʏ ʜᴀᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄʟᴀɪᴍᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴏᴏɴᴇʀ?]
"ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴏʀʀʏ ᴜ ᴡᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴅɪᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ." ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴀʀᴋʟʏ ꜱᴍɪʀᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ.
ᴀʀᴇᴇ, ɪɴ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛᴀʟᴋɪɴɢ, ɪ ꜰᴏʀɢᴏᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ... ɪ ᴍᴇᴀɴ, ꜱʜᴏᴡ ʏᴏᴜ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ɪᴛ?
"ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ꜰʟɪᴄᴋ ᴏꜰ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ, ᴍʏ ᴍᴀɴ ʙʀᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴀ ʟᴀᴘᴛᴏᴘ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ."
ʟᴏᴏᴋ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ, ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ—ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ’ꜱ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ."
ɪ ꜱʜᴏᴡᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ʜɪꜱ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ʟᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ʟᴀᴘᴛᴏᴘ ꜱᴄʀᴇᴇɴ, ʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ᴜɴᴄᴏɴᴛʀᴏʟʟᴀʙʟʏ—
ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴡᴀꜱɴ’ᴛ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ…
ɪᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀɴ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ’ꜱ ɪɴꜱᴛɪᴛᴜᴛᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ᴏꜰ ᴍʀ. ᴠɪᴊᴀʏ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ.
"ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴅʀᴀɢ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴜʀᴛ… ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀꜱʜ."ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ᴅᴀʀᴋʟʏ.
"ᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴄᴏᴍᴘᴀɴʏ… ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ɪᴛ ᴇʀᴀꜱᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ɪᴛ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴇxɪꜱᴛᴇᴅ. ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴇ ʟᴇꜱꜱ ᴛʜᴀɴ ᴀ ᴍɪɴᴜᴛᴇ."
"ᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟᴀᴡʏᴇʀ—ꜱʜᴇ ᴡᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ʜᴏᴡ ᴀʟʟ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ."
ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ꜱᴍɪʀᴋ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ.
ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ɴᴏᴡ, ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟᴇꜰᴛ.
ᴇxᴀᴄᴛʟʏ ʜᴏᴡ ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛ.
ɪꜰ ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪᴇ...
ɪ’ᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ꜱᴜʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ɴᴏᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴘʀɪᴅᴇ.
"ᴡʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴍʏ ꜰᴀᴜʟᴛ?"
ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ, ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ, ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ—ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴄʀʏɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴄʀᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʜᴇ ʟᴏꜱᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴛʜɪɴɢ.
ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴏɴᴇꜱᴛʟʏ, ʜᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴘᴇᴀᴋ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴛᴇʀ…ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʏᴇ ᴜꜱᴋᴇ ᴀᴀᴋʜʀɪ ᴘᴀʟ ʜᴀɪ.
“ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇ?”
“ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴍɪꜱᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀʀʏᴀᴠɪʀ ᴅᴇᴠʀᴀᴊ ꜱɪɴɢʜ.”
“ᴛʜᴀᴛ’ꜱ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅɪᴅ ᴡʀᴏɴɢ,” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ᴍʏ ᴠᴏɪᴄᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱʜᴀʀᴘ—ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ʙʟᴀᴅᴇ ʟᴀᴄᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴠᴇɴᴏᴍ.
ᴀꜱ ɪ ꜱᴛᴇᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇʀ, ɪ ʟᴇᴛ ʜɪᴍ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ—ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴ ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴀᴍ.
ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴇᴀꜱᴛ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ.
ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏɴꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴜʀɴ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇɴᴛɪʀᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ…
ɪ ꜱᴀᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴏɴ ᴄʜᴀɪʀ, ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴍʀ. ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇʟʏ—
ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ʜᴏᴡ ʜɪꜱ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜꜱ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴜᴘ ᴏɴ ʜɪᴍ.
ʜᴇ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱᴛʀᴜɢɢʟɪɴɢ, ɢᴀꜱᴘɪɴɢ… ᴜɴᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜᴇ.
ʜɪꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇʟʏ ʙʟᴜᴇ, ᴅʀᴀɪɴᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ʟɪꜰᴇ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ—
—ᴄʀᴏᴜᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴇʏᴇ ʟᴇᴠᴇʟ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏɪꜱᴏɴ ʙᴇɢᴀɴ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ɪᴛꜱ ꜱʟᴏᴡ, ᴍᴇʀᴄɪʟᴇꜱꜱ ʜᴏʟᴅ.
ᴠᴇɪɴꜱ ᴅᴀʀᴋᴇɴᴇᴅ. ꜱᴋɪɴ ᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ. ᴘᴀɴɪᴄ ʙʟᴏᴏᴍᴇᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀɢᴏɴʏ.
‘ʏᴏᴜ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇ ʀᴜʟᴇ,’ ɪ ᴡʜɪꜱᴘᴇʀᴇᴅ, ʙʀᴜꜱʜɪɴɢ ᴀ ʜᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅʏɪɴɢ ᴍʀ ꜱʜᴀʀᴍᴀ'ꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴇ. ‘ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ, ʏᴏᴜ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ ᴀᴘᴀʀᴛ.’
*Author pov*
ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛꜱ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ ꜱʟᴜᴍᴘᴇᴅ—ꜱɪʟᴇɴᴛ, ʟɪꜰᴇʟᴇꜱꜱ.
ʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏᴏᴅ, ᴅᴜꜱᴛᴇᴅ ᴏꜰꜰ ʜɪꜱ ᴄᴏᴀᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴀɪʀꜱ, ᴇʏᴇꜱ ɢʟᴇᴀᴍɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴜʀɴɪɴɢ ᴇᴍʙᴇʀꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪᴍ ʟɪɢʜᴛ.
ᴊᴜꜱᴛɪᴄᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ꜱᴇʀᴠᴇᴅ.
"ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀʏ."
*Nyavika pov*
ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ɪ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ ᴜᴘ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇɢᴇ, ᴡᴇ ʙᴏᴛʜ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ʙᴀɴᴀʀᴀꜱ.
ʏᴇꜱ—ʙᴀɴᴀʀᴀꜱ.
ɪᴛ’ꜱ ɴᴏᴛ ᴛᴏᴏ ꜰᴀʀ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʟᴜᴄᴋɴᴏᴡ, ʙᴜᴛ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ, ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ.
ʙᴜᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxᴄɪᴛᴇᴍᴇɴᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴘᴀᴘᴀ, ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ꜰᴇᴇʟꜱ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ.
ᴡᴇ’ʟʟ ᴍᴇᴇᴛ ᴘᴀᴘᴀ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴇᴇɪɴɢ ᴜꜱ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʜɪᴍ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴀᴘᴘɪᴇʀ—
ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʜɪᴍ ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ,
ᴡᴇ’ʀᴇ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʜɪᴍ ᴀ ꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱᴇ.
ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜɪɴᴋɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴅʀɪᴠɪɴɢ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱᴜᴅᴅᴇɴʟʏ, ɪ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟɪᴄᴋ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ.
ɪᴛ ꜱᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ.
ɪ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ, ɪ’ʟʟ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ɪᴛ ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ.
ɪ ᴍᴜʀᴍᴜʀᴇᴅ ꜱᴏꜰᴛʟʏ, ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴀᴀʏꜱʜᴀ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀꜱꜱᴇɴɢᴇʀ ꜱᴇᴀᴛ,
ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜰ ɪ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ɴᴏɪꜱᴇ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴡᴀᴋᴇ ᴜᴘ.
“ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴇꜱꜱᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴜʀɢᴇɴᴛ… ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʀᴇʟᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀꜱᴇ?” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ ꜱᴏꜰᴛʟʏ,
ᴀꜱ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ, ᴍʏ ɢᴀᴢᴇ ꜱʜɪꜰᴛᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ.
“ᴀʟʀɪɢʜᴛ, ʟᴇᴛ’ꜱ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ɪᴛ,” ɪ ꜱᴀɪᴅ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴍʏ ᴘʜᴏɴᴇ.
“𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩!! 𝙈𝙧. 𝙑𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙮 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙢𝙖’𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮𝙚𝙙?”
“𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙧. 𝙑𝙞𝙟𝙖𝙮 𝙝𝙞𝙢𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜… 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚?”
ɪ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴇᴡꜱ ɪɴ ᴜᴛᴛᴇʀ ꜱʜᴏᴄᴋ, ᴍʏ ʙʀᴇᴀᴛʜ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ꜱᴀɴᴋ ɪɴ.
______________________________
ᴅɪᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ, ɢᴜʏꜱ?
"ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ"!
"ɪ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴠᴇʀʏ ꜱʟᴏᴡ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟ ꜰᴜɴ ʟɪᴇꜱ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ᴅᴇᴛᴀɪʟꜱ. ɪ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟʟ ᴜɴᴅᴇʀꜱᴛᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ."
ᴘʟᴇᴀꜱᴇ ᴅᴏ ᴠᴏᴛᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴛ.
"ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ꜱᴏᴏɴ. ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇɴ, ꜱᴛᴀʏ
ᴛᴜɴᴇᴅ!" Thank you!
~Author_moon
Write a comment ...