"Look! Look!" a girl shouted in the school corridor, holding a newspaper.
Her friends rushed over.
The headline said:
"Mysterious Masked Detective Solves Another Case in Delhi!"
"Who is this person?"
"No name, no photo… only a white mask!"
"She just solve cases and disappear!"
Everyone kept talking. But one girl, sitting alone, didn't say anything. No one noticed her.
Her name was Aaradhya, 17 years old, class 11 student at Taraniketan School in Subarnagarh. She had long black hair, wore glasses, and had soft brown eyes. She was quiet, always reading books and finishing homework on time.
Even though she was smart, students didn't include her. Some whispered things behind her back. Aaradhya was an orphan. She and her younger brother, Amit, grew up in Shantivan Orphanage.
After school, Aaradhya took the STC bus home.
At home, Amit was sitting on the floor, scrolling through his phone. "How was your school?" he asked, without looking up.
"Same as usual," she said, taking off her shoes and putting her bag down.
"Don't be lazy," Aaradhya said, half-smiling. "Make dinner today."
"You know I burn everything," Amit replied.
Still, somehow, they made a simple dinner—rumali roti and watery dal, with some pickle on the side.
Later, they sat together in their small room. The fan turned slowly above. Aaradhya looked out the window. The night sky was clear.
Suddenly, she felt like someone was watching from outside. The curtain moved slightly with the breeze.
She looked again.
Nothing. Only the moonlight.
"Maybe I'm overthinking," she whispered and lay back on her bed.
Meanwhile…
At the local police station in South Subarnagarh, two constables were discussing a case.
""Another girl missing," one said. "No leads, and no call yet."
Just then, a stranger entered the station.