Khushi Sharma’s life was simple.
Predictable, even.
Every morning looked the same — the rush to college, the half-finished assignments, the laughter with friends over the most random things. There was nothing extraordinary about her world, and honestly, she liked it that way.
No chaos.
No complications.
Just… peace.
“Khushi! Hurry up, attendance is about to start!”
Her friend’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts as she stepped through the college gates, sunlight falling softly across the campus. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, pulling out one earbud with a small smile.
“Coming!” she called back, jogging lightly toward them.
Everything felt normal.
Exactly how it should be.
And for a moment… it really was.
The classroom buzzed with low chatter as students settled into their seats. Khushi dropped into her chair, exhaling softly as she pulled her bag onto her lap.
Routine.
She unzipped it, reaching inside for her notebook—
—and that’s when it happened.
A few folded papers slipped out and fell to the floor.
Her breath hitched.
For a split second, everything around her seemed to fade.
She quickly bent down, grabbing them before anyone could notice. Her fingers moved faster than usual, slightly tense, slightly… careful.
Too careful.
She glanced around.
No one was paying attention.
Good.
But as she straightened up, her eyes dropped to the top page—
—and froze.
A name.
Highlighted. Repeated.
Ayaan Verity.
Her grip tightened.
That name again.
It wasn’t the first time she had seen it.
And that was exactly the problem.
“Khushi… are you paying attention?”
The teacher’s voice cut through, distant and slightly blurred.
Khushi blinked, snapping her notebook shut.
“Yes, ma’am.”
But she wasn’t.
Not anymore.
The rest of the day passed in fragments.
Voices. Notes. Laughter.
None of it stayed.
Her mind kept going back to those papers. To that name. To the strange feeling that came with it — something between curiosity… and unease.
By the time she reached home, she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
Her room was quiet.
Dimly lit by the soft glow of a table lamp, shadows stretching across the walls as night settled in.
Khushi sat cross-legged on her bed, the papers spread out in front of her.
This time… she didn’t rush.
She read.
Carefully. Slowly.
Line by line.
Her brows furrowed as unfamiliar terms, vague references, and incomplete information stared back at her. It didn’t look like anything ordinary.
If anything… it looked like something she was never supposed to see.
And yet—
There it was.
Right in front of her.
Her eyes drifted back to the name.
Ayaan Verity.
“Who are you…?” she whispered under her breath.
Silence answered.
A few minutes later, her phone was in her hand.
If the papers wouldn’t give her answers…
maybe the internet would.
She typed the name.
Searched.
Waited.
Results appeared.
But something felt… off.
There were articles — but incomplete.
Mentions — but no details.
Headlines — but no real information.
It was like trying to see a picture through fog.
The more she scrolled…
the less she understood.
Khushi leaned back slightly, frowning.
“That’s weird…”
Most people left traces online.
But this?
This felt like someone had erased them.
A sudden chill ran through her.
Without realizing it, she glanced toward her door.
Closed.
Then the window.
Still.
Nothing unusual.
And yet…
it didn’t feel normal anymore.
Miles away—
the night told a very different story.
A black car came to a smooth stop under the dim glow of streetlights.
The door opened.
A man stepped out.
Sharp suit. Calm movements. No rush.
No hesitation.
People nearby went quiet.
Not because they were told to.
But because they knew.
Some names weren’t meant to be spoken loudly.
And some men…
didn’t need introductions.
Ayaan Verity.
Back in her room, Khushi’s fingers traced the edge of the paper.
Her fear hadn’t grown.
If anything…
her curiosity had.
It didn’t feel random anymore.
It didn’t feel accidental.
It felt like something… was connecting.
Something she didn’t understand yet.
But would.
Soon.
She looked down at the name again, her voice softer this time—
almost thoughtful.
“Who are you… Ayaan Verity?”
And somewhere in the same city…
without even knowing it—
she had just taken the first step into his world.
What do you think about Khushi so far?
Should she stay away… or dig deeper? COMMENT YOU THOUGHTS🫶
Thank you for reading 🤍
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