Sera's POV
Raghav didn't sit.
That's how I knew.
He stood near my desk, phone face-down in his hand, shoulders squared like he was bracing for impact.
"Sera," he said slowly, "you're going to be shocked by what I found."
I didn't respond. I just waited.
"Your brother," he continued. "Rayan. He's involved with Arvind Rathore's business."
The words didn't register immediately.
"Involved how?" I asked, calm to the point of emptiness.
"Legally," Raghav clarified. "On paper. Contracts. Financial trails. Clean. Too clean."
I stared at the wall behind him.
"Did he ever mention knowing Arvind?" Raghav asked carefully.
"No," I said. "Never."
My voice sounded like it belonged to someone else.
"He told me he worked for a reputed company," I continued, almost mechanically. "Said he had a girlfriend. Said he was doing fine."
Raghav nodded. "That part's true. The company exists. It's just... funded by Rathore."
I let out a quiet breath.
"That doesn't prove guilt," I said. "Not yet."
"No," Raghav agreed. "But it proves proximity."
Silence settled between us.
Then I said, "Keep tracking him."
Raghav's eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Every move," I continued. "Every call. Every meeting. Let me know if anything changes."
He hesitated. "Sera—"
"I'm not accusing him," I cut in. "I'm preparing."
Raghav studied my face, as if searching for cracks.
He didn't find any.
"I'll be careful," he said. "Very."
As he turned to leave, something in my chest tightened—not pain, not fear.
Recognition.
Because Arvind didn't choose people randomly.
And Avinash never moved without leverage.
If my brother was close to them...
Then this case was already inside my house.
Sera's POV
I didn't look up from the files.
"The next trial is on Monday," I said.
Raghav stayed quiet.
"I have four days," I continued, voice steady but thin. "Four days to find something. Even a minor inconsistency. Even a crack."
I finally met his eyes.
"Enough to keep this case alive."
Raghav nodded once. "Four days is short."
"It has to be enough."
He leaned against the desk. "What do you want me to do?"
I didn't hesitate.
"Track Arvind's movements the night Nehra was assaulted. Cross-check with his business dinners, security logs, driver statements—anything that looks too rehearsed."
Raghav was already taking notes.
"Dig into Avinash's past cases," I added. "Especially the ones he 'won' without evidence. Patterns matter."
He glanced up. "And your brother?"
I paused.
"Quietly," I said. "No confrontation. No pressure. Just observe."
Raghav closed his notebook. "Okay."
I exhaled, pressing my fingers against my temples.
"I'm asking a lot," I said. "I know."
Raghav shook his head. "You're asking for justice."
I looked at him then—really looked.
"If I fall," I said softly, "this case falls with me."
Raghav's jaw tightened. "You won't."
I stood, gathering the files.
"Do accordingly," I said. "I trust you."
He nodded. "I'll start now."
As he turned to leave, I added, almost as an afterthought, "And Raghav?"
He paused.
"Be careful," I said. "They don't make mistakes unless they're forced to."
He smiled faintly. "Then we'll force them."
The door closed behind him.
Four days.
I looked at the calendar.
Four days to prove the world wrong—or let it crush me.