The night was darker than usual.
Rain fell in sheets, making the streets slippery and the air thick with tension.
Ariya Verma tucked Aarav into his crib and kissed his forehead softly.
"I'll protect you… always," she whispered.
Arnav Malhotra double-checked every security camera, every lock, every alarm system.
Nothing was left to chance.
But even the best preparations can't stop a ghost in the night.
The First Strike
At 2:17 AM, a subtle movement appeared on the corner camera.
Three masked figures were crawling toward the Malhotra home—fast, silent, and professionally trained.
Arnav's eyes narrowed.
"They're not amateurs," he muttered.
"They're here for Aarav… or worse."
He grabbed his gun, signaling Ariya to stay hidden with the baby.
Ariya's Instincts Kick In
Ariya's heart pounded as she heard footsteps outside.
She moved to the nursery, clutching Aarav close.
Her instincts screamed danger.
She whispered to herself, "Stay calm… stay calm…"
But deep down, she knew something was about to happen.
Arnav Strikes First
The intruders reached the back door.
Arnav was waiting.
"Stop right there," he said, calm but lethal.
The attackers froze—one reached for a weapon.
Arnav moved faster, disarming him in a swift, precise move.
Another attacker lunged—but Arnav's reaction was quicker.
Within seconds, two of the three were incapacitated.
The last one…
escaped into the shadows.
The Unthinkable
Arnav exhaled heavily, relieved that Ariya and Aarav were safe—
but something felt off.
A text message pinged on his phone.
"Next time… we take what's yours."
A chill ran down his spine.
Ariya clutched Aarav, trembling.
"They'll come back…" she whispered.
Arnav pulled her close, his face dark and determined.
"Yes. And next time, they won't leave alive."
Foreshadowing
Far away, in a sleek, dark room, a figure watched the live security feed.
"Malhotra thinks he won," the figure murmured.
"But patience… patience is the key.
Soon, we take more than just their child…" 😈
Cliffhanger
The camera pans to a shadow lurking near the Malhotra home, barely visible in the storm.
A new threat has arrived—someone even smarter and more dangerous than Karan ever was.
And for the first time, Arnav feels like he might not be able to predict their next move.