---
"Who could it be at this hour…?"
I glance at the clock — it's 9:30 p.m.
Slightly annoyed, I walk to the door and open it.
At first, I see a woman standing with her back turned.
But the moment she turns around —
I freeze in shock.
I know this woman…
Mrs. Chauhan.
Khushi's mother.
But… at this hour?
Why would she come to me so late at night?
"You?"
Her eyes looked… deeply broken.
And then —
She suddenly starts crying.
"Why are you crying?"
Through sobs, she manages to speak —
"Child… please forgive me.
I made a terrible mistake.
I assumed you were my daughter's boyfriend without any proof…
And I said some very awful things.
I can't sleep at night from the guilt…
So… I came to apologize to you."
"Oh, please don't say that! It wasn't your fault.
You're a mother —
And she was your daughter…
I can't even imagine what you're going through.
You were angry — and that was completely natural.
I wasn't hurt by your words. Please don't worry."
"But please, stop crying…
Why are you so disturbed?
Please come in, at least."
"No, no. It's already quite late.
I don't want to trouble you any further… I should be getting home."
"I truly feel for you…
How's your son holding up?"
"He's okay…
He has no choice but to be strong.
Of course, I miss my daughter terribly…
But there's nothing we can do now.
At least justice was served — that brings some peace."
Justice?
Her words echo in my mind.
A part of me feels sorry for her.
Because the justice she believes in…
It isn't the real truth.
There's more to the story —
Something I don't even fully know yet.
And even if I did…
How would I tell her?
"Alright, child. I'll take your leave now."
"Wait… Aunty — I mean, if you don't mind —
Could you tell me a little more about Khushi?
I mean… did you talk to her before it all happened?"
"No, nothing unusual.
She was just like she always was — normal."
"Why?
Did something happen?"
"No, no… just asking."
She turns to leave… takes a few steps…
Then suddenly stops and turns back.
"Oh, yes — I just remembered.
We found a card in her pocket."
"What kind of card?"
"A business card —
Of a stationary shop called The Old Town Stationery.
But it was from another state entirely.
Khushi had never been there, and I've never heard her mention that place either.
I think I still have it in my wallet — it was the only thing found in her pocket,
So I kept it safe.
Would you like to see it?"
"Yes, of course. Definitely."
"Here it is.
Maybe she picked it up for some reason…
Since it's just a stationery card, maybe you'll find use for it.
Anyway, I'll be going now."
She hands me the card and walks away.
I stare at the card for a long moment.
On the back of it, there's a chemical name written —
C55H70N4O7
What could this possibly mean?
Something about this card feels… connected.
Like a clue.
Maybe a key to something much bigger.
---
Next Day
"What's going on, Riya? Why'd you call me in such a hurry?"
"Wait… I called Roni too.
Where is he?"
"Who knows? That guy's always disappearing.
Forget him.
You tell me — where are we going?"
"Just follow me. I'll show you."
We stand in front of a small shop.
Its name matches the one on the card — The Old Town Stationery.
Akshat looks at me, clearly confused.
"What exactly are we doing here?"
"Last night, I met Khushi's mom.
She gave me this card —
The last thing found in Khushi's pocket.
For some reason, I feel like…
This place is connected to everything."
"Hmm. Okay, but even if it is…
What are we going to do inside?"
"I don't know.
But we have to start somewhere."
Akshat takes the card from my hand and flips it.
He notices the chemical name written on the back.
We step into the shop.
It's not too big… not too small.
We begin looking around — trying to seem casual.
The shopkeeper notices us snooping and starts eyeing us curiously.
The shop looks normal.
The shopkeeper looks normal.
Maybe I was wrong after all…
Maybe this isn't connected at all.
"Can I help you?"
The shopkeeper finally asks.
I panic.
What do I say?
I wasn't here to buy anything…
---
"What do I say… what do I say…"
I stand awkwardly at the counter, my mind spinning.
Suddenly, Akshat leans forward and casually says,
"C55H70N4O7."
The shopkeeper gives a slight smile.
Nods subtly.
Akshat smiles too.
I look at Akshat, utterly confused.
"What… what was that?
What are you asking him?"
Akshat reads my expression and leans toward me.
"That chemical? It's not just a formula.
It's the password."
I don't even get a chance to react before he adds—
"Its chemistry is… quite interesting."
His eyes glint — like we've just uncovered something huge.
---
"Want light first?"
The shopkeeper asks in a low voice.
Why so quiet?
It felt like they were hiding something.
Akshat coolly replies—
"Random G. Strong one."
The man calls out—
"Chhotu!"
A thin, young boy appears from the back and silently guides us into a small, hidden room.
He shuts the door behind us.
Then, from a black pouch, he pulls something out.
The atmosphere suddenly turns serious.
My heart pounds.
Akshat looks like he knows exactly what's about to happen.
And then —
He quietly shows me a small packet.
"Drugs."
"What?!"
I nearly gasp.
"Yes. Look for yourself."
He hands it to me.
"Are you serious?
How did you know that chemical was a drug?"
"I thought you would know."
He smirks.
I realize — my chemistry isn't just weak…
It's non-existent.
But this wasn't the time to worry about formulas.
A child was showing us drugs.
That card…
It had led us somewhere big.
Just then, an older woman walks in.
The kid says—
"It'll cost you 65,000."
Akshat and I exchange glances.
Clearly, we didn't have that kind of money.
The old woman reads our expressions.
"What happened? Don't have money?"
We quickly nod, pretending to be casual.
"Oh, we didn't come to buy anything.
We didn't realize it would be this expensive…"
I whisper to Akshat —
"Let's get out of here. Now."
He understands.
But the woman offers again—
"We have a 'less strong' version, cheaper."
"Oh great, she's not letting go," I mutter.
We quickly say—
"No no, we want the strong one only.
We'll come back… with money."
And we rush out.
Outside, I turn to Akshat and say—
"You were right — something's definitely shady."
He smiles—
"You're not too bad yourself…"
"Stop the compliments.
Tell me — whose card do you think it was?"
"That's the big question now."
He grows serious.
"But one thing's clear—"
I say softly.
"Khushi's murder is linked to this drug racket.
Whether it's a boy or girl…
The killer is tied to this."
"But who?"
"Chhavi?"
"No… it couldn't be.
If it were her, she would've said the name before she died.
She tried… she said 'it's… it's…'
But she never lied."
"Then who else in school could be into drugs?"
I ask—
"Why don't we go to school tomorrow?
Try to find out?"
"And maybe tell Roni too.
He might help."
Akshat nods—
"Yeah. Good idea."
---
The Next Morning…
"Why has Anshu thrown all my stuff around?"
I mutter to myself.
She probably took my bag to school.
She could've at least put things back properly.
Now I'll have to clean up.
As I start organizing the mess,
I spot a torn piece of paper.
I almost throw it away —
Until I see what's written on it.
"Wait — this came from my bag…
But this isn't mine."
I glance at a word scribbled on it—
"Idiot."
Suddenly —
I remember.
"Oh right!
This is the page I wrote on by mistake
When I was helping Kirti with her duties.
I got scared and tore it out, shoved it in my bag."
Now that page was in my hand.
I look closely.
A number is written on it.
Along with a few deep, crude jokes.
"I don't care about the jokes… but this number—"
Suddenly something clicks.
I rush to grab that old business card.
I compare the number at the bottom of the card
To the number on the torn page.
They match.
The same exact number.
Which means…
---