12:30 AM – At Anamika’s House…
Tonight, Ira insisted on staying over at Anamika’s place. Aditya could never win against Ira’s stubbornness, and Anamika? Well, she had never said "no" to Ira for anything, ever.
Ira was asleep in Anamika’s room, while Anamika stood alone on the balcony.
The sky was glowing — stars scattered like glitter, and the moon shone brighter than all, looking more beautiful than ever. It was almost as if the clouds were drawn to the moon’s glow, lingering near it before the wind pushed them away again.
Anyone would lose themselves in a view like that… but Anamika wasn’t looking at the sky.
Her eyes were on the road — waiting.
Waiting for someone.
To be more specific — waiting for Saaniya.
Something about Saaniya’s voice on the phone had struck Anamika… like an emptiness, a quiet loneliness.
Anamika knew it too well — no matter how much she tried to show Saaniya that she had grown stronger mentally and emotionally, Saaniya would never truly believe her. She would always try to handle everything on her own.
And Anamika… She was tired of that.
She constantly worried about Saaniya because no matter what anyone said, Saaniya was someone incredibly special to her — someone who cared deeply even after knowing every painful corner of Anamika’s past.
But one thing always haunted Anamika — while Saaniya constantly protected her, stood beside her like a shield, Anamika never felt she could do the same for Saaniya… not in the same way.
On the other hand, for Saaniya, Anamika was an angel — the one who had once saved her life.
They both cared for each other deeply… and both believed they hadn’t done enough for the other.
But in reality, they had done more than enough — more than anyone else ever had.
Still, they refused to believe it, thinking their friend deserved something better, someone better than them.
While Anamika stood there, waiting with worry, somewhere else — Aniket stared at his laptop.
He had already found out that Saaniya’s phone was switched off, which meant… he had no way to know where she was now.
Stolen novel; please report.
His legs shook from anxiety. Normally, he didn’t get this worried about Saaniya’s whereabouts — but this time was different.
He had seen her lie to Anamika… and the look on her face right after that lie… that image kept playing in his mind.
Her eyes — they held concern. Enough to make him worried too.
Looking at her number glowing on his screen, Aniket murmured, “Just be okay… I just hope there’s no major reason behind your lie. That’s all I ask.”
Meanwhile...Visitors weren’t allowed at such odd hours, so an elderly security guard stopped her car and said, “Excuse me, madam… Who are you? And what brings you to a place like this at this hour?”
Saaniya rolled down her window.
The moment the guard saw her, his face lit up in recognition — like he knew her well.
He smiled warmly. “Oh, it’s you, Young lady! How are you? You’ve come after many months!”
Saaniya returned a faint smile and replied, “I’m doing okay, uncle. Honestly, I didn’t want to come today either… but I had no choice.”
The guard said, “Yes, yes… I remember. Madam told me this morning your father’s condition has been getting worse.”
Hearing that, Saaniya’s voice turned cold.
“Uncle… you know very well… he’s not my father. He’s just—”
Before she could finish, the guard laughed gently and said, “Yes, yes… I know. He’s that little angel’s father. But still, even if you’re not his biological daughter, legally, you are.”
Saaniya fell silent for a few seconds, then restarted her car.
“Uncle … Please open the gate. I have to go in.”
“Of course, right away!”
He opened the large iron gates, and Saaniya drove inside.
At the same time...A sleek, dark blue luxury car pulled into the police station’s compound.
Rudra stepped out and told his driver, “Just wait — I’ll only be a couple of minutes.”
He walked straight in.
He had come to inquire about the husband of a patient — a man who had recently escaped jail and tried to attack her at the hospital.
Even if he was her husband and matters between them were personal, according to Rudra, while she was in his hospital, her protection and well-being were his responsibility.
Before going home, Rudra wanted to confirm with his own eyes that the man was back in custody.
But inside the station, Rudra spotted someone he didn’t expect — Ruhi.
Seeing her confused him. He had questions, but didn’t think it was right to ask directly.
The way she behaved around him made it clear she didn’t trust him much… or even like him.
Ruhi’s back was to him, so she hadn’t noticed him yet.
Rudra quietly headed into the officer’s room to take care of his own work first.
After about 10 minutes, he stepped out — only to see Ruhi still there, now sitting alone on a bench outside.
She looked worried, eyes focused far ahead, completely unaware Rudra was nearby.
Rudra leaned toward a constable and softly asked what she was doing there.
The constable told him everything — how Ruhi had been receiving messages from her brother’s phone, even though it had been reported stolen earlier that day.
A few officers had gone to check her house. Ruhi was waiting for them to return.
Rudra smiled faintly and said, “Bring me a chair too, please… I’ll wait here for a while.”
Surprised, the constable asked, “Sir, do you know her?”
Rudra nodded with a smile.
The constable continued, “You don’t usually need advice, but… don’t you think you should talk to her? She seems really shaken, and she doesn’t want her family to know. Right now, she’s truly alone.”
Rudra took a deep breath.
“I want to talk to her too… But she’s like a little girl — one who listens to her mom’s every word and keeps her distance from strangers.”
“But didn’t you say you know her?” the constable asked, puzzled.
Rudra replied, “Yes, of course I do. She’s a friend of my friend.
And for me, a friend’s friend is also a friend.
But for her, that’s not the case. She won’t talk to me properly.
And I don’t think I should call my friend right now either — not when she clearly doesn’t want him to know about this.
Let’s wait and see if the officers find anything.
If not… then I’ll have no choice but to speak to her.”
The constable nodded. “Fair enough.”
He brought Rudra a chair, and Rudra sat quietly in a corner — from where he could keep a watchful eye on Ruhi.
