11:30 PM…
The girls had left, but the boys were still there—lost in endless conversation, as if time itself had paused for them.
They lingered in the garden, while inside, the hotel staff was busy cleaning up the remnants of the party.
Suddenly, a waiter approached Aditya with a phone in his hand.“Sir, someone from your group left their phone inside!”
Aditya casually took it and powered it on—then paused, eyes narrowing.
The rest of the boys immediately leaned in—like curious kids peeking at a new toy.
The wallpaper was pitch black.
Only the faint glow of the notification bar hinted that the phone was even on.
20 missed calls.
All from the same name—Anu
Ayush squinted at the screen and laughed, “Did they choose this wallpaper to confuse people between a phone being on or off? If it weren’t for the notifications, we wouldn’t even know the phone was on! The brightness is so low… Wonder whose phone this is and who has such weird taste!”
To this, Aniket smirked. “Witches like black… so it’s only natural that it’s her phone!”
Hearing that, Adhvik raised an eyebrow. “Wait… you actually know whose phone this is?”
Aditya quickly replied, “It’s Saaniya’s. This is Saaniya’s phone because all the notifications are from Anamika.”
That silenced everyone.
Even Ayush’s grin faded.
None of them—not one—had imagined that Anamika was still in contact with anyone.
And especially not with someone like Saaniya
Ayush laughed nervously and said, “This can’t be the same Anamika we’re thinking about… right?!”
Aniket, deadpan, replied, “She is. Same Anamika. She lives with Saaniya now.”
He paused, then added, “Wanna hear a fun fact? Anamika’s working on a manga. And guess who’s investing in it? Our very own Aditya.”
The boys exchanged stunned glances.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Aditya stood up, brushing his palms together. “I’ll go check—maybe Saaniya’s still around somewhere.”
As he walked off, Aniket turned to the others. “What’s with those faces? Still shocked by the name Anamika?”
Adhvik said quietly, “It’s not like we still believe she’s cursed or anything…”
Ayaan added, “But that she came to Aditya for help… yeah, that’s a surprise.”
Ayush muttered, “Unless… she’s not the same Anamika anymore.”
Aniket cut in—his tone different this time. Firmer. Gentle. “She’s trying. She’s trying really hard to change herself.”
Dhruv said, “Stop beating around the bush! Just get to the point. Tell us—when, what, how, and why this all happened!!”
And so, Aniket began to tell them everything that had happened—how Saaniya brought Anamika into Aditya’s life, what kind of change they saw in her, and most importantly… how Anamika’s mental illness had caused her to distance herself from everyone all these years.
After hearing it all, the four boys fell silent.
Just then, Aditya returned, looking grim. “The watchman told me Saaniya left a while ago, but I saw her car in the parking lot!”
And right on cue, Saaniya’s phone rang again.
Aditya answered it instinctively, but Aniket snatched it from him and put it on speaker.
A frightened voice came from the other end — Anamika’s: “Saaniya! Thank God you picked up! I was so scared! I thought I lost you! Anyway… where are you? When are you coming back?!”
Aditya gently took the phone back. “Anamika… this is Aditya. Actually… we have Saaniya’s phone.”
There was silence. Then Anamika’s confused voice came through, “You have it? How…? Saaniya went to a school reunion party. Then… what are you doing there?!”
Aditya made up an excuse, "Coincidence, actually. The reunion was at the same hotel where I had a meeting with a client. On my way out, I found her phone outside the hall. She must’ve dropped it.”
A pause. Then her voice again—this time softer, but filled with fear. “Then where is she now?”
Aditya replied in a soft, comforting tone, “Why are you so scared? I’m sure she’s okay.”
But her voice broke slightly, “No… something’s wrong. I know it. I feel it. Last time… she got into a fight with some girls. Because of me. I’m scared… what if she—what if it happened again… because of me? Please, Aditya… please check if she’s still at the hotel. I’ll come right now!”
Aditya quickly stopped her. “No! I don’t think you should come. What if she comes home while you’re gone and doesn’t find you there? She doesn’t have her phone either.”
“Fine! But if she doesn’t come back home or you don’t find her within an hour, then I will come find her myself!”
The call ended.
Her voice, though soft, had held a fierce resolve.
The boys exchanged looks. This wasn’t the girl they remembered. This was someone strong, real, alive.
Aditya turned to Aniket and said, “There are two ways to reach Anamika’s house from here. You take Saaniya’s car—she even forgot to lock it or take the key out. You go one way, and I’ll go the other. We’ll park near her house but wait until we’ve both arrived. Then we’ll go in together—with Saaniya.”
Just as they were about to leave, a voice called out, “And what are we supposed to do?”
Aditya and Aniket turned around.
Adhvik stepped forward and said, “It’s our responsibility too—to help find Saaniya, so we can ease Anamika’s fear.”
Dhruv smiled and added, “In my memories, Anamika was quiet, but she had a heart of gold. I want to help find her friend.”
Ayaan chimed in, “Yeah… I agree with them! I want to help too. And honestly… I’d like to meet Anamika, even just once.”
Ayush, as always, hid his feelings behind a joke, “Now that everyone’s thinking like heroes, how can the world’s greatest warrior back down?! By the way… that was the first time I heard Anamika’s voice. It was so sweet. I never want to hear that voice turn angry—so let’s find Saaniya quickly and bring her back, so she can say thank you in that same sweet voice!”
Aditya and Aniket both smiled. They were happy—not only because the others were now willing to help Anamika, but because their old judgments of her were finally starting to change.
As they began to walk, Aniket turned to Ayush with a grin, “But let Aditya hear that thank-you first. Otherwise, his jealousy might set the whole place on fire.”
Ayaan laughed, “Or worse—you might become the villain of the story!”
Aditya shouted, “Enough, you idiots!”
Adhvik chuckled, then got serious. “Yeah, we need to get serious now! Ayaan and I will go with Aditya. Ayush and Dhruv will go with Aniket.
If anyone spots Saaniya on the way, call immediately! And if we don’t find her, we still need to reach Anamika’s house within the hour. She sounded really worried on the phone.”
Aditya added, “Don’t worry about her. I’ll send Ira to her house to distract her.”
Adhvik replied, “Your sister can’t handle that. She’s a bit…”
“Childish!? Yeah, she is… then… Ruhi! I can ask her!”
Saying that, Aditya dialed Ruhi’s number.
**Now the real question begins...Will they find Saaniya before it's too late?**
