The next morning Nadia arrived at Orion Strategic Consulting earlier than the previous day.
The office was quieter at this hour.
Several employees sat at their desks preparing for the day while a few assistants carried coffee cups into meeting rooms.
But one thing had not changed.
Varma was already there.
He sat near the same window as before, calmly writing something in a small notebook.
Nadia walked toward him.
Her heart beat faster with each step.
This was the moment.
The moment she had waited ten years for.
Varma looked up as she approached.
His expression remained neutral.
"Good morning," he said calmly.
Nadia sat down in the empty chair across from him.
"Good morning."
For a few seconds neither of them spoke.
The silence felt strangely intense.
Varma closed his notebook.
"You came back."
"Yes."
"Most people who visit consulting firms do not return the next day."
Nadia met his gaze.
"I told you yesterday that I was researching a port incident."
"Yes."
"The explosion ten years ago."
Varma studied her quietly.
"And?"
"I think you know something about it."
He didn't react.
Instead, he simply asked a question.
"Why do you believe that?"
Nadia placed a printed document on the desk between them.
"You were assigned as the consulting advisor after the disaster."
Varma glanced at the paper briefly.
Then he leaned back in his chair.
"That was a long time ago."
"But you remember it."
Varma didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he watched Nadia carefully.
Almost like he was trying to understand something about her.
Then he asked quietly,
"Why are you investigating this incident?"
Nadia hesitated.
She had prepared several explanations.
But suddenly none of them felt right.
So she told the truth.
"My Father died in that explosion."
For the first time…
Varma's eyes changed.
The shift was subtle.
But Nadia noticed it.
Not shock.
Not sympathy.
Something else.
Recognition.
The moment passed quickly.
Varma looked away toward the window.
Rain clouds gathered over the city again.
Finally, he spoke.
"You should stop investigating."
Nadia blinked.
"That's not an answer."
"It's advice."
"I didn't ask for advice."
Varma's gaze returned to her.
"Then you should."
Nadia leaned forward slightly.
"My father believed something illegal was happening that night."
Varma remained silent.
"He argued with several men just before the explosion."
Still no response.
"Whatever was inside those containers scared him."
Varma stood up slowly.
"You are asking questions that cannot bring you peace."
"Maybe," Nadia said.
"But they might bring me the truth."
For several seconds Varma simply watched her.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Truth can be dangerous."
Nadia crossed her arms.
"So, you admit there is something dangerous about this case."
Varma didn't respond directly.
Instead, he walked a few steps toward the window.
"Do you know why some investigations are closed quickly?" he asked.
"Because they're inconvenient?"
"Because the truth behind them is more dangerous than the lie."
Nadia's heartbeat quickened.
"You know what happened that night."
Varma remained silent.
She stood up.
"My father died trying to stop something."
"And you want to finish what he started?"
"Yes."
Varma turned to face her again.
For a moment his calm expression seemed heavier.
Almost tired.
Then he spoke quietly.
"Your father was a very brave man."
Nadia froze.
"You knew him."
Varma didn't answer.
But his silence was answer enough.
Nadia felt a rush of emotion.
"Then tell me what he discovered."
Varma looked directly into her eyes.
And said something that made her stomach tighten.
"You should stop investigating."
Nadia's voice hardened.
"Why?"
"Because some questions have dangerous answers."
She stared at him.
"Dangerous for who?"
Varma paused.
Then he said quietly,
"For you."
Nadia opened her mouth to respond.
But Varma had already turned away.
The conversation was over.
As she walked out of the office a strange feeling settled in her chest.
Varma definitely knew something.
Something big.
Something dangerous.
And now he had warned her to stop digging.
But Nadia had spent ten years searching for the truth.
She wasn't going to stop now.
She didn't realize it yet…
But someone else had already noticed her investigation.
And they were far less patient than Varma.