Only For Her

AUTHOR'S POV: Chapter 41

AUTHOR'S POV

Two weeks had passed since Jivika last tried to broach the topic of Janhvi with Yash. Since then, they had both settled into their routine lives—Yash at his office, and Jivika back at her school. Despite her best efforts to dig into Janhvi's death, every attempt led to a dead end. Frustration was building inside her as the answers she sought seemed more elusive with each passing day. But more than anything, her mind kept circling back to the mysterious stranger from the reception.

After coming home one evening, Jivika decided to go through the reception video again, hoping to find some trace of the man who had confronted her that night and to know more about him. She carefully combed through every minute, scanning the video for any sign of him. She rewound the video multiple times, pausing, squinting at the screen, trying to spot even the slightest clue. But to her growing confusion, there wasn't a single frame that showed the man. It was as if he had vanished without a trace.

Her confusion deepened as she furrowed her brows. How was it possible? She clearly remembered their conversation, the man's unsettling words, his smirk, and the cryptic warning. But there he was—nowhere to be found in the footage. No passing shot, no moment of him blending into the crowd. It was as if he had never been there at all.

Jivika felt a shiver crawl up her spine. How could someone disappear completely from a public event like that? Her mind raced, trying to make sense of it all. The more she thought about it, the more unsettling it became. She knew she hadn't imagined the encounter, but the lack of any physical proof left her at a standstill.

She sat back in her chair, staring blankly at the paused video. Who was that man? And more importantly, why did he want to remain unseen? The whole situation was beginning to feel more complex and dangerous than she had initially thought.

Jivika knew she needed help, but Yash couldn't be the one to provide it. After much thought, she considered her options. Vicky and Akash crossed her mind, but she wasn't sure they would keep her inquiries from Yash. She didn't want to take any risks by involving them. That's when she thought of Abhinav. He knew the family well, had connections, and seemed like the right person who could guide her discreetly.

Without hesitation, Jivika picked up her phone and called Abhinav. He was at the hospital, busy with appointments, when he saw her name flash on the screen. Frowning slightly, he answered the call.

"Hi, Jivika," Abhinav greeted warmly.

"Hello, Abhinav Jiju, how are you?" she asked, trying to keep her voice calm.

"Everything is fine. How about you?" he replied.

"I'm good," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. After a brief pause, she added, "Jiju, I need your help."

Abhinav's frown deepened. "What is it, Jivika?" he asked.

"I can't explain over the phone, Jiju. I need to meet you in person," Jivika responded, her urgency clear.

"Sure," Abhinav agreed, "I'm at the hospital. If you don't mind, can you come here? I have a few appointments lined up."

"No problem, Jiju. I'll start right away," Jivika replied, her determination firm as she disconnected the call.

Stepping out of her bedroom, Jivika called for Malathi the cook. Over the last two weeks, she had grown closer to Malathi, who had become someone she could trust in the house. The middle-aged woman came out of the kitchen.