The next morning, a phone call woke me up.
It was an unknown number.
I picked it up.
"Hello… who is it?"
A man's voice came from the other side.
"Hello, Miss Samira. I'm the person who called you that day and told you Mr. Pratap is not your brother's killer. I'm just helping you."
My heart sank.
"You tracked me last time. I told you not to… but you never listen. You're in big trouble. You are researching about me now, and I won't spare you."
I looked at the watch.
It was four o'clock.
"I heard someone shot your family members earlier… and they survived," he continued.
I stood up and walked to the balcony, my hands trembling.
"But next time they won't. You'll have their dead bodies… just like your brother. Only this time, you won't just hear the news.
Goodbye, Miss."
The call disconnected.
And at that exact moment—
a loud scream echoed through the house.
"Samira…! Someone shot me!"
It was Manya.
Sarthak woke up, and I ran the moment I heard her voice.
Myra started crying, and he picked her up, trying to make her sleep again.
When I reached Manya's room, she was lying on the floor, bleeding heavily.
Everyone gathered there.
I quickly called the hospital and pressed a cloth against the wound to stop the blood.
Maa started crying, and Arya tried to console her.
We rushed Manya to the hospital.
"Emergency! My sister got shot!" Sarthak shouted as we entered.
Doctors and nurses came running and took her inside.
My hands were covered in her blood.
Sarthak was trying not to cry… because I already was.
Anvi arrived in a hurry and hugged me.
"Manya will be okay," she whispered, making me sit beside her.
Doctors took Sarthak to fill out forms.
For a moment, it felt like I was alone.
"Someone called me… before she got shot," I said.
They looked shocked.
"What did he say?" Anvi asked.
"He said earlier he only shot family members in their hands or legs… but now that we are researching about him, he won't spare us."
"But we haven't met for days," she said slowly.
"Then who is researching about him?"
"I don't know," I whispered.
Anvi suddenly stood up.
"Is it Manya? She's the only one who can research without anyone knowing."
I stood too.
"You're right. Call Tina and Krati. We're going to the base."
We ran.
On the way, we saw Advait, Aarav, and Sarthak.
"Where are you both going?" Sarthak asked.
"We need to check something. Give us the car key."
He handed it over, and we left immediately.
I drove while Anvi kept calling Tina and Krati.
"Their phones are switched off… what do we do?"
"Let's go home and take Manya's laptop."
I took a U-turn and sped toward the house.
Anvi ran inside, grabbed the laptop, phone… and her gun.
Then we headed to the base.
I quickly entered the password, but just then a call came—
Tina's mother.
"Hello, aunty—"
She was crying.
"Beta… Tina got shot. We were out for dinner… someone shot her. She's in emergency."
My breath stopped.
"Which hospital?"
"City Marigold Hospital."
The call ended.
We ran back to the car.
Another call came—Krati's boyfriend.
"Come quickly to Bay Leaf Hospital," he said.
"What happened?"
"She got shot at home… please come fast."
"I'm coming."
I hung up.
"What do we do now, Samira?" Anvi asked, panicking.
"You go to Tina. I'll go to Krati. Take my car key."
She ran.
I sped toward the hospital.
Inside, I rushed to the receptionist.
"Where is Krati Trivedi?"
"Emergency quarter," she replied.
I ran and saw Adhirat.
I hugged him.
"She'll be okay," I said softly.
He broke down.
"We were just eating… and suddenly she screamed… there was blood… she fainted in my hands."
Then Anvi called.
"Tina needs blood. The hospital doesn't have it."
"What's her blood group? And yours?"
"B positive… mine is O positive."
"Then give her blood now," I said and ended the call.
At the same moment, a doctor came out.
"She needs blood immediately. Her group is A positive, and we don't have it."
"I'll give mine. I'm O negative," Adhirat said and rushed inside.
My phone rang again.
Unknown number.
"Who is this?" I asked coldly.
"Forgot me already?" the man laughed.
"You must be very upset. Your step-sister and both friends are lying in hospital beds… and there's no blood in the bank."
My eyes widened.
"Very sad… but it's your fault. I don't know if they'll survive. I'll pray they don't.
Next time, be cautious."
"You should be cautious," I replied, my voice shaking with rage.
"I will finish you soon… and that time, I'll be the one laughing."
I ended the call.
Twenty-nine missed calls from Sarthak.
I called back.
"Where are you?" he shouted.
"Manya is in emergency and you're wandering outside! Come here now!"
"What? She's not okay? I'm coming."
I rushed out, drove at full speed, and reached the hospital.
Sarthak was standing there.
"I'm here… how is Manya?"
"Where were you?" he yelled.
"She's dying here and you're wandering outside!"
"I was just—"
"Just what? She's my sister. I only have her.
All this is happening because of your investigation, Samira!"
His words shattered something inside me.
Tears fell silently as I stood there, unable to say a single word…
just watching the person who once promised to stand beside me
now blaming me for everything.
And I couldn't even defend myself.