The breakfast table was a landscape of heavy silence.
Broken only by the rhythmic clinking of silverware against porcelain.
Asha lifted a spoonful of porridge, but her gaze remained fixed on the rim of her bowl.
Across from her, 'Shadow' sat—motionless, observant, and lethal.
Asha took a slow, stabilizing breath and lifted her head.
The terror that had clouded her eyes earlier was gone.
Replaced by a mask of fragile innocence she had meticulously crafted.
"Papa..." she said softly, injecting a slight tremor of longing into her voice.
"Can I... can I take Shadow with me to school today?"
Ravi froze, his coffee mug hovering mid-air.
His brows knit together in a stern line.
"No, Asha. Absolutely not. You need to focus on your studies, not on pets."
Asha immediately lowered her lashes.
She bit her lower lip—a calculated display of sorrow designed to crumble any defense.
"But Papa, I miss him so much. When I'm at school, I can't think of anything else."
"I'll take perfect care of him. You remember, don't you? I used to take him with me before."
Ravi's tone sharpened, becoming more authoritative.
"That was different, Asha. School rules have changed; pets are strictly forbidden."
"If you're caught, the consequences will be severe. You could be suspended."
"Do you really want to risk that?"
Asha didn't argue.
She simply let her head hang low, allowing a single, shimmering tear to well up in the corner of her eye.
Her silence began to weigh heavy in the small room.
Priya, who had been watching the exchange, turned to Ravi.
She placed a gentle, calming hand on his arm and spoke in a hushed tone.
"Ravi, please... be a little patient. She hasn't slept properly for four days because of him."
"By the time she gets home from school, she's so exhausted that she barely gets any time with him."
"That's why she's so distressed and lonely."
Priya looked at Asha, watching the tear finally track down her cheek.
Her maternal heart ached.
She met Ravi's eyes and gave a small, pleading nod.
Ravi let out a long, defeated sigh and set his glasses down on the table.
"Fine," he conceded, his voice softening.
"Asha, you can take him. But listen to me—your studies must remain your priority."
"And make sure no one sees him."
A faint smile touched Asha's lips.
A look that appeared to be one of relief to her parents.
But deep inside, it carried the cold glint of a strategic victory.
She glanced down at the creature on the floor.
She had successfully taken the first step toward trapping the predator
Asha sprang from the table.
Her steps were no longer heavy; they carried the swiftness of a predator.
Back in her room, she pulled out a large camping backpack.
With a practiced jerk, she cleared out her heavy textbooks, stuffing them into another bag.
The empty space was now a dark cell, perfectly sized for the one-foot creature.
From her desk drawer, she grabbed a roll of heavy-duty duct tape.
Feeling its weight, she shoved it deep into her pocket.
She carried the bag out.
Under the watchful eyes of her parents, she gently tucked the small black silhouette inside.
"Bye Daddy, bye Mummy! I'll be back soon, and I'll take great care of Shadow," she chirped.
Her voice mirrored the old Asha, but the calculation behind her eyes told a different story.
As soon as the heavy front door clicked shut and the house faded behind her, Asha's demeanor shifted.
Reaching a deserted bend in the road, she unzipped the bag.
With lightning speed, she pulled out the tape.
She wound a thick, tight layer around the creature's snout.
The thing didn't flinch; the crimson glow in its eyes only seemed to deepen behind the adhesive.
"Asha! What are you doing?"
A sharp voice tore through the silence from behind.
Asha's heart skipped a beat, but her face remained a mask of calm.
In a split second, she shoved the tape down and yanked the zipper shut.
Turning around, she saw Rahul and his other friend running toward her.
"Nothing... my tape just fell out. I was just putting it back," she said, offering a casual, effortless smile.
Rahul asked, breathless, "Tape? Why'd you bring tape to school? Were you using it for something?"
Asha patted her pocket with a feigned sheepish grin.
"Oh, I was doing some crafting last night. Must have left it in my pocket by mistake."
"I felt it slip out just now, so I was just tucking it into my bag."
Rahul's friend pointed to his watch.
"Forget the tape, man. Asha, we're late! We have to run or we'll be locked out!"
The three of them began to sprint toward the school.
Between ragged breaths, Rahul asked, "Asha, did you finish that Math homework?"
"The tutorial the teacher gave... I couldn't solve a single one. Did you?"
"Yes, Rahul. Mine is complete," Asha replied shortly, maintaining her pace.
Rahul pleaded, "Please, Asha! Can you give me your homework? Otherwise, Sir is going to kill me today."
"Help me out, I swear next time you're late or need anything, I'll have your back. Please Asha, help me out!"
Asha's eyes were fixed on the school building ahead.
But her mind was tuned to the movement of the cold creature inside her bag.
"Fine, Rahul. Take it when we get to school," she said flatly.
She knew she might need them—perhaps sooner than they thought.
Tu bhi continue...