White.
That was the first thing he saw.
White walls.
White lights.
White silence.
Hospitals always felt like that.
Empty.
Cold.
Unforgiving.
Sarthak stood outside the emergency room.
Still.
Unmoving.
As if time had stopped for him.
"…Sarthak."
Vansh's voice.
Careful.
"You should sit down."
"…I am fine."
Lie.
He had been standing there for over an hour.
No movement.
No expression.
Just waiting.
Riya sat a little distance away.
Quiet.
Shaken.
Her hands still trembling slightly.
Every now and then—
She glanced at Sarthak.
But said nothing.
Because there was nothing she could say.
Ananya stood near the window.
Arms crossed.
Eyes sharp.
Watching everything.
Not emotional.
Focused.
"…This was not random," she said suddenly.
Silence.
Sarthak did not turn.
"…I know," he replied.
Ananya stepped closer.
"That attack… and this…" she gestured toward the emergency room,
"…it was planned."
"Yes."
A pause.
"…Then stop acting like a victim," she said coldly.
That—
Got his attention.
Slowly—
Sarthak turned.
"…What did you say?"
Ananya did not hesitate.
"You heard me."
Her gaze locked onto his.
"Someone is targeting people around you."
A step closer.
"And instead of reacting emotionally…"
Another step.
"…you should start thinking logically."
Silence.
"…I am thinking," Sarthak said quietly.
"No," Ananya replied instantly.
"You are reacting."
That hit.
Because it was true.
Before he could respond—
The emergency room door opened.
All of them froze.
A doctor stepped out.
"…Who is with the patient?"
"I am," Sarthak said immediately.
The doctor looked at him.
"…She is stable."
A breath.
Relief—
But not complete.
"She had a head injury," the doctor continued.
"But it is not life-threatening."
"…Can we see her?"
"Only one person for now."
Silence.
Sarthak stepped forward.
"…I will go."
No one argued.
Hospital Room
Machines beeped softly.
The room was dim.
Quiet.
Mahi lay on the bed.
Bandage around her head.
Eyes closed.
For a moment—
Sarthak just stood there.
"…You are still the same," he said quietly.
No response.
"…Still getting hurt because of me."
Silence.
His hand clenched slightly.
"…I told you to stay away."
A weak voice.
"…And since when do I listen to you?"
Sarthak froze.
Mahi's eyes slowly opened.
Tired.
But alive.
"…You look terrible," she whispered.
"…You should focus on yourself."
She smiled faintly.
"…I am."
A pause.
"…That is why I am still here."
Silence.
Then—
Her expression changed.
Serious.
"…It was not an accident."
Sarthak's eyes sharpened instantly.
"…Tell me."
Mahi took a slow breath.
"I was pushed."
The words landed heavily.
"…By who?"
She hesitated.
"…I did not see clearly."
Frustration flickered in his eyes.
"But…" she continued,
"…I heard something."
"…What?"
"…A phone."
Silence.
"…What about it?"
Mahi's fingers tightened slightly on the bedsheet.
"…It had a ringtone."
A pause.
"…A very specific one."
Sarthak leaned slightly closer.
"…Which one?"
Mahi looked at him.
"…It was playing a song."
Silence.
And then—
She said it.
"…'Until I Found You.'"
Everything stopped.
Because that—
Was not random.
It was specific.
Traceable.
Sarthak's mind started connecting pieces instantly.
A clue.
Finally—
A real clue.
"…Good," he whispered.
Mahi looked confused.
"…Good?"
His eyes darkened slightly.
"…Now I know where to start."
For the first time—
This was not just guessing.
This was a lead.
And whoever made that mistake—
Would regret it.
Outside the room—
Someone stood.
Silent.
Listening.
And slowly—
Walked away.
To be continued…