10:00 PM
Ruhi entered Aditya’s cabin. On the sofa, little Ira was fast asleep, while Aditya was still immersed in his work.
The door to his cabin was already open, but Ruhi still knocked softly, not wanting to disturb him. Aditya lifted his head at the sound, and when he saw her, he immediately came out, quietly closing the door so that his “little mischievous devil” wouldn’t wake up.
Handing him a file, Ruhi said, “Sir… the internal audit reports have come from the auditors. Please have a look when you can.”
Taking the file, Aditya nodded, “Ohh… okay.”
Just as he was about to go back inside, Ruhi hesitated and said, “Sir… I’ll be leaving for home now.”
Aditya looked at her, “Alright… that’s fine. But you don’t need to stay this late with me anyway. You were here pretty late yesterday too.”
Ruhi lowered her eyes, replying shyly, “Well… this is my job after all.”
Aditya smiled knowingly, “If my secretary is clever, then I’m not entirely simple either. I know you stay back longer just in case I need help. But trust me, it’s not necessary. You should look after yourself—you’ve been looking weaker these days.”
Ruhi met his gaze, stubborn but respectful, “No sir… honestly, as a secretary, it’s my duty.”
Aditya’s smile softened into seriousness, “And as your boss, it’s my duty to make sure my employees don’t overwork. Got it? You’ve been stretching yourself too much lately, and I won’t allow it. I love my work, yes, but my employees’ health matters more. So, as your boss, this is an order—finish your work and go home on time. No excuses.”
Ruhi gave a small smile, “Okay, sir.”
With that, she left. Aditya watched her go and sighed deeply to himself, “I know you’ve been stressed because of your dad… that’s why I don’t want to put too much burden on you right now. Rahul worries for you too… but he doesn’t have the courage to talk to you directly.”
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Earlier that morning, Rahul had messaged Aditya, asking about his sister. Rahul wasn’t the kind of brother who openly expressed his care, but deep inside, he truly did. Ruhi, caught up in her problems and endless work, hadn’t spoken much with him lately—so Rahul reached out to Aditya instead.
Back in his cabin, Aditya sat down and began skimming through the file Ruhi had handed over. Meanwhile, Ruhi collected her bag and phone from her desk and walked out.
Downstairs, she spotted a familiar car pulling up. It was Saaniya.
Ruhi walked over, and Saaniya rolled down her window with a faint smile.
“Heading home early today?”
Ruhi returned the smile, “Yeah… finished my work, so I left.”
Saaniya’s eyes shifted away as she asked quietly, “Why don’t you come home with me?”
Ruhi gave her a playful look, teasing, “Were you… missing me?”
Saaniya snapped her gaze back at her, her voice sharp but her eyes betraying her, “Don’t overthink! I don’t care whether you come or not.”
Ruhi pouted dramatically, “Ouch, that was harsh! Honestly, it feels like you’re just too scared to say what’s in your heart. You need a mentor—someone who can drag out all those hidden feelings of love and attachment you keep locked away.”
The word mentor instantly brought Aniket’s words back to Saaniya’s mind—how he had teased her earlier about becoming her “mentor” and pulling her real emotions out.
Annoyed, she turned away, “I’m fine as I am! I don’t have feelings, so what exactly will anyone drag out of me?!”
Ruhi was about to fire back when another figure appeared—Anamika.
At once, Saaniya’s hardened expression softened. Her eyes gentled, her lips relaxed into a faint smile—the kind of expression she reserved only for Anamika.
Anamika looked at Ruhi with a touch of hope in her voice, “Will you come with us tonight?”
There was genuine joy in her face, as if she truly wished Ruhi would join them. But Ruhi pressed down her own heart and replied, “No… I’ve got some things to take care of at home.”
Saaniya immediately sensed the hesitation in Ruhi’s voice but chose not to push. Anamika, noticing Saaniya’s silence, also didn’t insist.
The two left together, and after a pause, Ruhi walked on alone.
Tonight wasn’t too late, so the streets still had some movement. Yet, despite the small crowd, Ruhi felt a hollow emptiness around her.
She walked briskly, glancing up and down the road for a cab. But it was late enough that most didn’t stop.
Her eyes were so focused on searching that she didn’t notice the figure trailing behind her.
A man, face hidden under a mask and cap, followed silently. One hand rested inside his pocket, fingers curling tightly around something—waiting, watching, biding his time. But when he spotted a car approaching from a distance, he quietly changed direction.
The car pulled up beside Ruhi.
The window rolled down, and a familiar voice called out, “Put your weapons down first… please.”
Ruhi turned, narrowing her eyes, “Will your drama ever stop, Mr. Rudra?”
Rudra stepped out with a sly smile, “What drama? This is just a safety precaution! I can’t risk you spraying me with pepper spray again.”
Ruhi squinted at him in irritation. Rudra ignored it, opening the passenger door for her, “You can glare at me all you want along the way. For now—get in.”
Without a word, Ruhi slid into the car. Rudra followed, started the engine, and the two drove off into the night.
But in the shadows of the corner, the masked man clenched his fists, veins bulging with rage.
His eyes burned with hatred. In his grip gleamed a sharp knife.
As Rudra’s car disappeared into the distance, fury roared inside him like a wildfire.
