Arjun read the message twice before reacting.
She just filed a police complaint.
He didn't drop the phone. He didn't curse. He didn't pace around the room.
He sat still.
Then he typed.
Arjun:
For what exactly?
The reply came after a minute.
Unknown:
Emotional harassment. Financial intimidation. Threats.
Arjun exhaled slowly.
He had expected escalation. Just not this quickly.
He stood up, picked up his car keys, and left the apartment.
The police station wasn't crowded when he walked in. A few people sitting on wooden benches. A constable writing something in a thick register. The smell of paper and dust.
He approached the desk calmly.
"My name is Arjun Malhotra," he said. "I believe a complaint was filed against me today."
The constable looked up. "Wait."
Arjun waited.
Ten minutes later, a sub-inspector called him inside a small room.
"Sit," the officer said.
Arjun sat.
"You know why you're here?" the officer asked.
"Yes," Arjun replied. "I believe someone filed a complaint."
The officer flipped through a file.
"Riya Sharma," he said. "Accuses you of harassment and coercion related to financial agreements."
Arjun nodded once.
"Your response?" the officer asked.
"I deny the allegations," Arjun said clearly. "I have documentation showing the financial documents were forged without my consent."
The officer paused.
"Forged?" he asked.
"Yes," Arjun replied. "Rental agreement and loan application using my identity."
The officer leaned back.
"Do you have proof?" he asked.
Arjun opened his folder. He had printed everything before leaving home.
Cancellation letters. Bank objection emails. Salary verification denial. Screenshots.
The officer reviewed them slowly.
"You've prepared," he said.
"I expected this," Arjun replied.
The officer nodded slightly.
"She claims you pressured her to sign joint agreements," the officer said.
"She signed my name," Arjun replied.
Silence.
The officer tapped the table lightly.
"Until we verify both sides," he said, "this remains inquiry level. No arrest. No FIR yet."
Arjun didn't show relief. He just nodded.
"You will receive notice if further action is required," the officer added.
"Understood," Arjun replied.
He stood and left.
Outside, his phone buzzed.
Neha.
"Did they call you?" she asked immediately.
"Yes."
"She's serious about this," Neha said.
"I know," Arjun replied.
"She believes going legal first protects her," Neha added.
Arjun didn't respond.
"She didn't expect you to walk into the station voluntarily," Neha continued.
"I'm not hiding," Arjun said.
Neha went quiet.
"Be careful," she said finally.
"I am," he replied.
When Arjun reached home, Sameer was waiting near his gate.
"You went to the police?" Sameer asked.
"Yes."
"And?" Sameer pressed.
"Inquiry stage," Arjun replied.
Sameer ran a hand through his hair. "This is insane."
"No," Arjun said calmly. "This is predictable."
Sameer stared at him. "How are you this calm?"
Arjun shrugged. "Because panic won't help."
At 9:12 p.m., Riya called.
He stared at the screen for three seconds.
Then answered.
"You went to the station?" she asked.
"Yes."
"You're trying to make me look like a criminal," she snapped.
"You filed the complaint," he replied evenly.
"You forced me," she said.
"I asked you to withdraw fraud," he replied.
"You threatened me," she insisted.
"I said I would object legally," he said. "That's not a threat."
Silence.
Her breathing was heavier than usual.
"You could've just let it go," she said quietly.
"You could've just not used my name," he replied.
She didn't respond.
Then her voice changed.
"If this goes public, it ruins both of us."
"I'm not the one spreading it," he said.
"You think I wanted this?" she asked.
"I think you wanted control," he replied.
She hung up.
The next morning, Arjun's manager called him again.
"There's a police inquiry," the manager said quietly.
"Yes," Arjun replied.
"This is serious," the manager added.
"I know."
"We have to put you on temporary internal review," the manager said.
Arjun nodded.
"For how long?" he asked.
"Until clarity," the manager replied.
Arjun didn't argue.
He packed his desk calmly.
Sameer looked furious.
"This is because of her," Sameer said.
"Yes," Arjun replied.
"You're just walking out?" Sameer asked.
"It's temporary," Arjun said.
He didn't slam drawers. He didn't shout.
He left.
By afternoon, the rumor had spread fully.
WhatsApp groups. Mutual friends. Social media whispers.
Arjun didn't respond to any of it.
Instead, he met his lawyer again.
"Police complaint at inquiry stage means she's testing pressure," the lawyer said.
"She wants leverage," Arjun replied.
"Yes," the lawyer nodded.
"What if she escalates?" Arjun asked.
"Then we counter-file for identity misuse," the lawyer said calmly.
Arjun leaned back.
"Not yet," he said.
The lawyer looked at him. "Why?"
"Because once I file," Arjun said, "there's no coming back."
The lawyer didn't push further.
That evening, something unexpected happened.
Aditya called.
"I heard," Aditya said.
"How?" Arjun asked.
"She messaged me," Aditya replied.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"What did she say?"
"She said you're harassing her like you did me," Aditya said.
Arjun went silent.
"I told her to stop," Aditya added.
"Did she threaten you?" Arjun asked.
"Yes," Aditya said. "Said if I interfere, she'll drag me too."
Arjun exhaled slowly.
"She's cornered," Aditya said.
"Yes," Arjun replied.
"You need to be careful," Aditya added.
"I know," Arjun said.
At 7:48 p.m., the unknown number messaged again.
Unknown:
She's not stable right now.
Arjun typed.
Arjun:
Meaning?
Pause.
Then:
Unknown:
She's planning something emotional.
Arjun frowned.
Arjun:
Be clear.
The reply came slowly.
Before it arrived, his phone buzzed with another notification.
Instagram.
Riya had gone live.
He opened it.
She was crying on camera.
Soft lighting. Shaky voice.
"I trusted someone," she said into the screen. "And he turned against me when I needed support."
Comments were flooding in.
Stay strong.
Expose him.
Men are like this.
Arjun watched silently.
She didn't say his name.
But she didn't need to.
Her followers knew.
She ended the live after three minutes.
His phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
Unknown:
She's going to attempt something tonight.
And if she does, she'll blame you for it.
Arjun stared at the message.
Because false complaints were one thing.
But emotional manipulation at that level—
Could spiral into something far worse.