Whisper in the Night|18+(hold)

Chapter 14 : Hacking

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Author's POV:-

The message glowed on her phone screen, tiny letters that felt far too sharp.

"Did you like the locket, Noor?"

Kaira blinked at it once. Twice. Thrice. Her thumb hovered over the screen, but her brain refused to process.

"Locket?" she whispered to herself, lips parting as if the word might explain itself aloud. How does this person know about the locket?

Her heart skipped so violently, she smacked her palm against her chest. "Oye, ruk ja! Abhi koi horror movie ka background music bajane ki zarurat nahi."

For a long second, she just stared. Then, with a sharp shake of her head, she tossed her phone onto the desk. "Aarav. Pakka Aarav ka kaam hai. Ya Vivaan. Dono ke alawa aur kisiko pata bhi nahi. Idiots." She puffed her cheeks in irritation, then muttered, "Bas... joke karte rehte hain. One day I'll actually faint, phir dekho maza."

But every time her phone buzzed after that, her stomach tightened like a fist.

The day blurred by in a storm of ringing phones, unanswered mails, and files stacked high like mini-towers on her desk. Her pen tapped nervously against the table, her eyes flicking to her phone more often than to the screen.

By evening, her shoulders drooped and her voice was hoarse from endless calls. She leaned back in her chair, groaning dramatically. "Kya crime kiya tha maine... ki mujhe itna kaam mila?"

Riddhi peeked in with yet another file. "Mam, aap thoda rest le lo na..."

Kaira grabbed the file with a mock glare. "Rest? Yeh word suna hai kahin... dictionary mein hoga shayad. Kab kiya tha, mujhe yaad nahi." She plopped the file on top of the already leaning pile, then whispered theatrically, "Inki planning hai mujhe files ke neeche daba ke maarne ki."

Riddhi giggled, shaking her head. "Aap bhi na..."

When the office finally emptied, silence wrapped around her like a too-tight scarf. She packed her laptop slowly, stretching her aching arms before slinging her bag across her shoulder.

The cab ride home began as usual — the city washed golden under streetlights, traffic horns singing their nightly chorus. Kaira leaned her head against the cool glass, eyelids fluttering shut.

Then she saw it.

A dark sedan. Reflected in the rearview mirror.

Her brows pinched. At first, she laughed under her breath. "Haan, haan... bas movie ki heroine wali soch aa rahi hai. Kya main itni special hoon ki koi stalk karega? Pffft."

But ten minutes later, her smile was gone. The car was still there. Not too close. Not too far. Just there.

Her grip tightened on her bag until her knuckles whitened. Her throat went dry.

"Madam?" The driver glanced at her in the mirror. "Sab theek hai?"

"Haan..." Her voice cracked, so she coughed and tried again. "Haan, sab theek hai. Bas... thoda jaldi le jaiye na." She forced a little laugh, the kind that tried too hard.

Her eyes kept darting to the side mirror. Every time she looked, the sedan was right where it had been before.

By the time the cab turned into her lane, her heart thudded so loud it drowned out the honks outside. Relief flooded her chest at the sight of her apartment complex. She shoved the money at the driver, muttering a quick "Thank you" before practically jumping out.