ENIGMA

PANIC

"Hello, Bhaiyya," Inaya said, her voice deliberately cheerful but trembling just enough to betray her nerves.

"Where are you?" Advik's voice was sharp, no room for pleasantries.

"I'm... I'm out with friends," she stammered, gripping the edge of the bed as if it could ground her.

"Which friend?" Advik demanded. "Give me her name and her parents' contact information. Now."

"Bhaiyya, I was just about to-"

"Don't test me, Inaya," he interrupted, his tone icy and commanding. "Do as I say."

Inaya's face paled, and she stole a glance at Arnab, who was mouthing for her to hang up. She shook her head subtly and said, "I'm heading home now."

"I didn't ask for that," Advik snapped. "I want the phone number, Inaya."

"It's Richa," she lied hastily, the words tumbling out of her mouth. "She just left for home, and I'm leaving too."

"Why didn't you take Vikram with you? And why didn't you take a car?"

Inaya faltered, her voice barely a whisper. "I... I didn't think I'd be out long."

The silence on the other end was suffocating.

"I'm sorry," she added quickly, her voice breaking under the weight of his silence.

"Are you already in a cab?" he interrupted, cutting her off sternly.

"N-No..." she stammered, panic creeping into her voice.

"Good. Send me your location," Advik demanded. "You will be picked up. Am I clear?"

Her chest tightened. She couldn't send her real location. "Oh... okay," she said, her voice shaking as tears pricked her eyes.

Arnab, noticing her hesitation, frowned and reached for her phone. He mouthed, Put it on speaker. Inaya obeyed, her fingers trembling as she tapped the button.

"Bhaiyya, I can manage. I'll make it home on my own-"

"Inaya!" Advik's voice was like thunder, silencing her immediately. "Don't argue with me. Send me the location now!"

Her breath hitched, and she glanced helplessly at Arnab. He gave her a reassuring look, signaling her to keep talking. As she stalled for time, he swiftly opened the phone's advanced settings, toggling through menus with practiced ease.

"Bhaiyya, I'm already booking a cab," she said weakly, her voice cracking.

"Where are you? I need the exact location!"

Arnab quickly input a fake location-the ice cream parlor they had visited earlier-and sent it to Advik's phone. He then checked to ensure the signal appeared legitimate, nodding at Inaya once he was satisfied.

Inaya's panic spiked as she watched him, but Arnab gestured everything's fine. Gathering herself, she said, "Bhaiyya, I've sent you the location. Please trust me-I've already booked a cab and am heading home."

There was a long silence on the other end before Advik's voice returned, sharp and commanding. "Fine. I'll be watching your location. Don't take any detours. You have 30 minutes."

"Yes, Bhaiyya," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The line went dead, and Inaya let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping in relief.

Arnab handed her the phone, a faint smirk on his face. "See? Problem solved. You're safe."

"No, I'm not," she muttered, burying her face in her hands. "If he finds out..."