𝐹𝐴𝑇𝐸𝐷 𝑆𝐸𝑅𝐸𝑁𝐴𝐷𝐸 ✅

Chapter 25 : Incident

As Arohi walked through the quiet streets of her neighborhood, her thoughts were consumed by Shivay. Lost in her daydreams, she was jolted back to reality by a familiar sound—a whistle, sharp and piercing. Her heart raced as memories of her childhood came flooding back, accompanied by a sense of dread.

Looking around, she felt an unsettling chill creeping up her spine. The streets were empty, shadows stretching as the sun dipped lower in the sky. Just as she turned to head back, she heard footsteps behind her—slow and deliberate.

Panic surged within her. Arohi's grip tightened around the stick of her tripod, a makeshift weapon she always carried for her photography. She turned sharply, ready to confront whatever threat was lurking.

To her surprise, a figure stepped out from behind a tree, a shadowy silhouette against the fading light. The whistle came again, echoing ominously. Arohi didn’t hesitate. With adrenaline coursing through her veins, she swung the tripod stick with all her might.

"Stay away from me!" she shouted, her voice steady despite the fear gripping her.

The stick connected with a solid thud, and the figure stumbled back. As the shadowy figure fell into the light, she realized it was Vihaan, his face contorted in shock and pain.

"Arohi! What the—?" he exclaimed, rubbing his arm where she had struck him.

"What are you doing here, Vihaan? You scared me!" Arohi replied, her heart still racing. She lowered her weapon slightly but kept it ready, her breathing heavy.

Vihaan straightened up, looking both amused and irritated. "I was just coming to see you. I didn’t mean to frighten you."

"Well, you succeeded," she shot back, her voice shaky. "Next time, don’t sneak up on people."

He raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Okay, I get it. I should have called. I just thought I’d surprise you."

Arohi narrowed her eyes, still on high alert. "Why were you following me?"

"I wasn’t following you! I just happened to be in the area," he replied defensively, though the tension was palpable.

Realizing the misunderstanding, Arohi took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. "Look, just... don’t scare me like that, okay?"

Vihaan nodded, his expression turning serious. "I promise I won’t. I just wanted to talk about the company’s opening."

Arohi, still wary, lowered her tripod stick completely but kept her distance. "Fine. But can we talk somewhere else? I don’t like being out here right now."

"Sure, let’s go to the café around the corner," he suggested, gesturing for her to lead the way.

As they walked, Arohi couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease. She’d have to keep her guard up, not just against the shadows of her past but also with those who crossed her path unexpectedly.

They settled into a cozy corner of the café, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee enveloping them. Vihaan leaned in, concern etched on his face. "You seem disturbed. Did something happen?"

Arohi took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I heard a whistle—a familiar one. It reminded me of something from my childhood. It scared me. And then, when I turned around, I thought someone was following me."

Vihaan’s expression shifted to one of worry. "That’s unsettling. Did you see who it was?"

"No," she admitted, her voice shaking slightly. "But it felt too real. I don’t know why, but it triggered something in me."