Sakshi's hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly her knuckles turned white.
The car sped through the quiet Delhi streets, headlights slicing through the darkness.
She didn't look back.
She didn't blink.
She just drove.
The girls sat in silence, too shocked to speak. The wind whipped against the windows, and the hum of the engine filled the tense air.
"Sakshi, slow down…" Anu said softly.
But Sakshi didn't respond. Her eyes were fixed on the road, wide and glassy. It was as if she was still there — in that parking lot — hearing those screams, seeing those eyes.
Ishu and Pihu exchanged worried glances, fear slowly creeping into their hearts too. They had never seen her like this — so pale, so… empty.
Minutes turned into an hour, and then another. The city lights blurred past as they left the hotel far behind.
Finally, after a long, silent drive, they reached their apartment.
Pihu and Ishu had already planned to stay the night, and Anu quickly helped park the car as Sakshi sat motionless, her hands still trembling slightly.
"Sakshi… we're home," Anu said gently, touching her shoulder.
No response.
It was like she couldn't hear them.
Anu, Ishu, and Pihu exchanged a worried look before helping her out of the car. They guided her upstairs slowly, each step feeling heavy, until they reached the apartment.
The moment Sakshi sat down on the couch, Anu hurried to bring her a glass of water.
"Here," she said softly, placing it in Sakshi's hands.
For a few seconds, Sakshi just stared at it blankly before taking a small sip. Her throat felt dry, her mind foggy — and then, suddenly, tears began to fall silently down her cheeks.
Her body trembled as the fear she had been holding in finally escaped.
"Sakshi…" Anu whispered, immediately pulling her into a tight hug.
Pihu and Ishu sat beside her, rubbing her back, whispering softly, trying to calm her down.
After a few long minutes, her breathing steadied. The tears slowed.
And then — in a shaky, broken voice — she began to speak.
Every detail spilled out — the men in black, the one kneeling, the tall man's cold voice, his smirk, and the way he looked straight into her eyes.
By the time she finished, the room was silent.
Pihu's face had turned pale. Ishu's eyes were wide with fear. Anu still held Sakshi's hand, her thumb brushing lightly against it to comfort her.
"That… that same man?" Pihu whispered. "The one from the hotel?"
Sakshi nodded weakly, her voice barely audible. "Yes… him."
Anu took a deep breath. "We'll handle this together, okay? You're safe now. He can't reach you here."
But Sakshi didn't answer.
Because deep down, she wasn't sure.
That feeling — the one that someone was watching her — hadn't left.
It had only grown stronger.
The apartment was quiet that night, but Sakshi's mind was anything but.
No matter how tightly she shut her eyes, she couldn't erase that image — the man's screams, the blood, and the way he stood there, calm, powerful… inhuman.
She sat upright on her bed, knees pulled close, her breathing uneven.
Every shadow in the room seemed to move. Every sound made her flinch.
Anu, Pihu, and Ishu had finally fallen asleep after hours of trying to calm her, but Sakshi couldn't. The scene kept replaying in her mind — over and over — until her stomach churned.
"He's not human," she whispered, her voice trembling. "He's a devil… a real devil. He broke that man's hand like it was nothing… just—" her voice cracked, "—just tore it off."
Tears stung her eyes again. She buried her face in her palms, trying not to cry, but the terror was suffocating.
Morning came too soon.
Her eyes were swollen, her body aching from exhaustion, but she forced herself to get up. When Anu woke, she was shocked to find Sakshi already dressed, bag packed, hair tied neatly — her expression blank but determined.
"You're… ready?" Anu asked softly.
Sakshi nodded. "Let's just go. I don't want to stay here."
The other two woke up soon, and within an hour, all four girls were heading toward their university.
But even among crowds, Sakshi's eyes kept darting around, scanning faces, corners, and passing cars. That fear — that suffocating feeling of being watched — hadn't left her.
It had only grown.
Classes passed in a blur. Her hands shook slightly during the practical, but she pushed through, forcing her focus onto the work in front of her.
She had to stay normal.
She had to pretend.
When the final bell rang, they gathered near the notice board — just as a new announcement went up.
> Notice: National Basketball Tournament (Rajasthan) – Next Week
Team practice from tomorrow onwards. Attendance mandatory.
Pihu's face lit up immediately. "Oh my God! Rajasthan! This is huge!"
Ishu grinned. "Finally something exciting after all this tension!"
Anu turned to Sakshi carefully. "Hey… maybe this will help. A change of place. Some practice. You love basketball, right?"
Sakshi looked at the notice again. For the first time in days, something other than fear flickered in her eyes — focus.
Basketball had always been her escape. Her strength.
She nodded slowly. "Yeah… maybe this will help."
The girls smiled in relief.
Sakshi was not just a player — she was the player. The captain of their university team — their strongest defender, a skilled attacker, and the most accurate shooter they had.
The others — Pihu, Ishu, and Anu — were all part of the same national-level team, their bond built not just on friendship but years of teamwork and trust.
And as they walked out of the university gates that evening, laughing lightly for the first time in days, the wind felt a little less heavy.