The name didn’t leave her.
It followed her.
In her thoughts.
In her silence.
In every moment where her mind wasn’t distracted enough to ignore it.
Ayaan Verity.
Khushi tried to act normal the next morning.
Same college.
Same friends.
Same routine.
But something had changed.
Or maybe… someone had.
“Khushi? Are you even listening?”
Her friend nudged her lightly as they walked through the campus corridor.
Khushi blinked, forcing a small smile.
“Yeah… I am.”
But she wasn’t.
Not really.
Because every now and then…
that name echoed again.
Later that day, during a break—
She sat alone.
Her phone in her hand.
The same search screen open.
Again.
She knew it didn’t make sense.
But something about it didn’t feel like coincidence anymore.
Her fingers hovered… then typed again:
Ayaan Verity
Search.
Nothing new.
Same incomplete information.
Same vague mentions.
Same… silence.
Khushi frowned.
“That’s not possible…”
Everyone leaves something behind.
A trace.
A footprint.
But this?
This felt like someone had erased everything on purpose.
Her heartbeat slowed… then slightly picked up again.
A strange thought crossed her mind.
“What if… someone doesn’t want him to be found?”
The moment the thought settled—
She locked her phone.
As if even thinking about it felt dangerous.
Across the city—
A completely different world existed.
One that didn’t run on normal rules.
A long table.
Dim lights.
Men seated in silence.
Tension thick enough to feel.
No one spoke.
Because they were waiting.
The door opened.
And everything changed.
He walked in.
Calm.
Composed.
Controlled.
Every step measured.
Every movement effortless.
No introduction.
No announcement.
He didn’t need one.
Ayaan Verity.
No one greeted him.
No one dared to.
They simply lowered their eyes.
Respect?
Maybe.
Fear?
Definitely.
He took his seat at the head of the table.
Leaning back slightly.
His gaze moved across the room once—
And that was enough.
The silence deepened.
“Start.”
His voice was low.
Calm.
But it carried weight.
The kind that didn’t need volume to be heard.
A man across the table hesitated before speaking.
“Sir… there’s been a minor issue with—”
Ayaan didn’t interrupt.
He didn’t react.
He just listened.
And somehow… that made it worse.
Because when he finally spoke—
It was colder.
“Fix it.”
That’s all he said.
No anger.
No raised voice.
Just two words.
But they were enough.
The man nodded quickly.
“Y-yes, sir.”
Ayaan leaned back again, his expression unreadable.
Untouchable.
Like nothing could reach him.
Like no one could.
Until—
A file was placed in front of him.
“Background reports,” someone said carefully.
Ayaan glanced at it briefly.
Disinterested.
Routine.
But as he flipped it open—
Something… paused.
Just for a second.
His eyes stopped on a page.
Not long.
Not obvious.
But enough.
His gaze sharpened slightly.
Then just as quickly—
He closed the file.
“Continue.”
Nothing else.
No questions.
No reaction.
But something had shifted.
Even if no one noticed.
Back in her room that night—
Khushi sat the same way as before.
Papers spread around her.
But this time—
She wasn’t confused.
She was thinking.
Connecting.
Observing.
“It can’t be random…”
she whispered.
Her fingers moved across the paper slowly.
Tracing the name again.
Ayaan Verity.
This time—
It didn’t feel distant.
It felt… closer.
Too close.
Her eyes lifted slightly.
Lost in thought.
“What if…”
(pause)
“…this is connected to me?”
And somewhere in the same city—
A man who didn’t believe in coincidences…
had just noticed something he wasn’t supposed to.
What do you think?
Is this really just a coincidence… or something more?
Thank you for reading ♥️
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