10:30 PM – In Anamika’s Cabin…
Ira was sitting comfortably on the sofa, munching on a burger, while Anamika kept staring at her phone with a strange restlessness in her eyes.
Watching this, Ira said, “If you ask me, just tell my brother to drop you home! Maybe your friend had some urgent work come up.”
Anamika shook her head, “No... If Saaniya really couldn’t come, she would’ve called me.”
Ira took another bite of her burger and replied casually, “Okay… but at least eat something.”
Anamika turned towards her. Ira had placed a burger on the table for her too, but Anamika hadn’t touched it.
With a soft smile, Anamika said, “If I eat now, I won’t be able to eat later. Saaniya and I always have dinner together. Except when she has a night shift…”
To that, Ira smirked, “Then just pretend she’s on a night shift tonight and eat.”
Anamika shook her head, “No, I’ll wait…”
Just then, her phone rang.
Seeing Saaniya’s name flash on the screen, Anamika’s face instantly lit up.
She picked up, and from the other end, Saaniya said, “Anu… where are you?”
“In the office,” Anamika replied. There was a pause before Saaniya said softly, “Anu… could you go home with Ruhi or Aaditya today? An emergency case has come up… I’ll be late. Maybe 12 or 1… or even later.”
Anamika replied in a gentle voice, “Alright. Then… please eat something when you get the time.”
“I’m sorry, Anu.”
Anamika gave a forced smile, “It’s okay… really.”
And with that, the call ended.
Ira, watching her quietly, got up and said, “I’ll go check on my brother. God knows when he’ll be done and we can finally go home!” (handing her the burger) “Till then, at least eat this.”
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After Ira left, Anamika stood up and walked to the attached balcony of her cabin.
The cold breeze brushed against her face, and the city below sparkled with lights—but Anamika’s heart was anxious.
Something was bothering her. Something she didn’t want to say aloud. Deep down, she felt Saaniya was lying… and the sad part was—she was right.
Because at that very moment, Saaniya was standing outside her hospital.
She, too, was restless after ending the call. But lying had been necessary. She had no choice.
Getting into her car, she whispered to herself, “I did the right thing. If I’d told her, she would’ve insisted on coming… and I wouldn’t have been able to stop her. That man—he may be weak and sick now, but when he sees Anamika… he loses control. I can never forget why he had to be sent to the asylum. But Anamika… she still considers him her father.”
Saaniya started the car. Her eyes were cold, but somewhere within them, a fire burned—an inferno of hatred.
She murmured, “No matter how much I hate him, keeping him alive is my responsibility. Protecting Anamika’s family and obeying their wishes… that’s the only purpose of my life. Because… that was the deal I made with that woman. In return for revenge against my father… I gave away my soul. It’s a deal I can never forget—not until my last breath.”
Saaniya could still never forget the night she sold her soul for the first—and last—time.
Her soul, her fate, everything she had—she bet it all to take revenge on the man who killed her mother. And she succeeded. But the price? Becoming a shield for Anamika’s family—one who isn’t allowed to speak, to express, or even to feel.
But Anamika, standing in that balcony, has always denied this truth.
For her, Saaniya is just a best friend—the one she could do anything for. Even become the version of herself she hates the most.
And Saaniya has seen this. Felt it.
Her mind drifted back…Six years ago. That horrific night.
Driving the car, flashes of that nightmare invaded her vision. She was injured—blood trickling from her head, her right arm barely moving—probably broken. As she struggled to regain consciousness, she saw Anamika trembling like a leaf.
Anamika wanted to scream… but couldn’t. She wanted to cry… but her tears froze. She wanted to drop the blood-stained knife from her hands… but couldn’t. She wanted to run away from the lifeless woman lying in front of her—the woman she had just killed—but her feet wouldn’t move.
The woman’s face was still hidden behind a smiley mask. The very sight of that lifeless body of woman filled Saaniya with burning rage. And yet… she couldn’t touch her. Because she had sold her soul to her.
That night passed… and Saaniya cleverly blamed the murder on a then-famous serial killer, convincing the police she was a victim too.
And to be honest, it wasn’t a lie.
Anamika and Saaniya were victims—of fate.
Time passed. People forgot. Memories faded like dust on an old photograph.
But for Anamika, that night… that memory never left.
To this day, Saaniya believes that the only reason Anamika picked up the knife… was because she dropped it.
Because Saaniya disobeyed her mistress… and someone had to pay the price. That’s why Anamika did what she hated the most—to save her.
The shadows of that night still haunt Anamika.
That’s why she runs from even her dreams.
But with time, she’s tried to become stronger. Even if it’s hard. Because no matter how much she fights, her mind always drags her back—to that masked woman who showed them hell.
The same woman Anamika had to kill to save Saaniya.
They both made a promise to never look back. To move forward.
And somehow… they reached here, keeping that promise alive.
Even if Anamika is broken inside, her heart still knows how to read Saaniya’s silence.
And right now, her heart was whispering—Saaniya lied.
Fear crawled through her veins. But she had no one to say it to.
She was lost in her thoughts when a cheerful voice called from behind, “There you are!”
Ira walked in and, noticing the untouched burger, pouted and looked around—only to find Anamika standing on the balcony.
Like a scolding mother, Ira nagged her for not eating.
While far away…
Aniket was playing detective—silently following Saaniya’s car.
His eyes were fixed on her vehicle, his voice low but sharp, “Where is she going…? And why did she lie to Anamika?”
He had overheard Saaniya’s call and ever since he heard her lie… the question wouldn’t leave his head.
To uncover the truth behind the lie… But what will Aniket find at the end of this chase?Will Anamika’s fear turn out to be real… or just a shadow of her painful past?The answers lie just a little further… in the darkness they’ve all been running from.
