Mumbai, 9:23 AM
Devian didn't like daylight.
Too honest. Too loud. He sat alone in the back of a black Jaguar, hands clasped, the girl's last words still echoing in his head. "Agar ek aur zindagi milti…" If I had one more life…
It wasn't just what she said. It was how she said it. As if she knew death. As if she'd been waiting for it. "Sir," his man said, tapping the tablet, "we've tracked Rhea Sharma. She's still asleep in her flat in Andheri. She left the club with Aarav at 1:14 AM. CCTV shows they were laughing.", Devian didn't blink. "Take me to her."
Andheri West—9:57 AM
Rhea's apartment was glass and steel, all light and fake luxury. Her mother's money, mostly. Devian didn't knock. He walked in. His men moved through the space like ghosts, silencing cameras and unplugging phones. The maid screamed; one glare from Devian shut her up. Rhea stepped out of her bedroom wearing an oversized shirt, brushing her hair, still half-asleep. She froze when she saw him.
"Who the hell—"
She didn't finish.
Devian crossed the room in three long steps and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her eyes to meet his. Cold. Calm.
"What did you do to Meher Sharma?"
Rhea blinked. Confused, or pretending. "W-What? Who?" He gripped harder. Her smile cracked. "Don't lie." "I didn't do anything! I swear! She—she left early—maybe with someone—"You watched her die." Rhea's knees buckled, eyes wide. "I didn't—she wanted attention—she always does—she was drunk!" Devian released her with a push.
"Your lies are cheap. Clean yourself up. We're not done." He turned, already walking out, voice cold: "And tell Aarav—I'm coming."
Meanwhile—Meher, Juhu Beach
She sat on the sand for hours, staring at her hands. Touching her arms. Testing her breath. This is real. I'm back. But why now?, Everything felt like a fever dream. But the salt in the air, the heat on her skin—it was too sharp to be fake. She pulled herself up.
Her phone was missing. She had nothing but her memories. But those were enough. Aarav will find me again. Rhea will betray me again. They'll take me to that club again. Unless she stopped it. This time… she would not die in an alley. She stumbled down the beach, mind racing. "I need money. A job. Somewhere safe to stay. I can't go home. Not now." She didn't know where she'd go yet. But she knew one thing for certain: she would never let herself trust anyone again. Not her family. Not love. Not fate.