Arjun didn't move for a few seconds after reading the message.
He's going after her job offer in another city — and he already knows where she plans to move.
He read it again.
Then again.
Sameer was watching him.
"What now?" Sameer asked.
Arjun looked up slowly.
"They're not targeting me," he said.
Sameer frowned. "That's good, right?"
"No," Arjun replied. "It's worse."
"Why?" Sameer asked.
"Because she's out of options," Arjun said.
Silence.
Sameer understood.
"When someone has no options," he said slowly, "they do stupid things."
"Yes," Arjun replied.
At 11:12 p.m., Arjun called Riya.
She picked up instantly.
"They came, didn't they?" she asked.
"Yes," he replied.
"What did he say?" she asked, voice shaking.
"That you have until midnight," Arjun said.
She started breathing unevenly.
"I don't have the money," she whispered.
"I know," he replied.
"They'll ruin my job," she said.
"They already know," Arjun replied.
Silence.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"He knows where you're moving," Arjun said.
Her voice broke.
"No… no, that's not possible," she said.
"It is," he replied.
She started crying.
"That's my last chance," she said.
"I know," Arjun replied.
Silence stretched.
"You need to leave," she said suddenly.
"Where?" Arjun asked.
"Anywhere," she replied. "Just go."
"I'm not running," he said.
"They won't stop," she insisted.
"They're not after me," he replied.
"They will be," she said.
Arjun didn't argue.
"Listen," she said quickly, "if they show up tomorrow, don't open the door."
"I won't," he replied.
Silence.
"I didn't think it would get this bad," she whispered.
"It always gets this bad when you stack lies," he replied.
She didn't argue.
For the first time, she didn't defend herself.
At 12:03 a.m., the deadline passed.
Arjun's phone stayed silent.
No messages.
No calls.
That silence felt heavier than noise.
At 7:18 a.m., his phone buzzed.
Unknown number.
Unknown:
Deadline missed.
Arjun typed.
Arjun:
What now?
Pause.
Then:
Unknown:
He moves.
Arjun stared at the screen.
At 8:42 a.m., Sameer received a message.
"Check this," he said, showing his phone.
A screenshot.
From a company internal group.
Riya's job offer had been withdrawn.
No reason mentioned.
Just "position no longer available."
Arjun's jaw tightened slightly.
"That was fast," Sameer said.
"Yes," Arjun replied.
"They actually did it," Sameer said.
"Yes."
At 9:03 a.m., Riya called.
He answered.
"They canceled it," she said, voice broken.
"I saw," he replied.
"I didn't even join yet," she said.
"They know," he replied.
Silence.
"I have nothing left," she whispered.
Arjun didn't respond immediately.
"That's not my responsibility," he said finally.
She didn't argue.
"I know," she said.
That was new.
At 11:26 a.m., Rahul called again.
"He did what he said," Rahul said.
"Yes," Arjun replied.
"She's under pressure now," Rahul added.
"She already was," Arjun said.
"This is different," Rahul said.
"How?" Arjun asked.
"She has no legal income option now," Rahul replied.
Arjun understood.
No job.
Debt.
Public scandal.
No way to pay.
"What happens next?" Arjun asked.
Rahul was silent for a second.
"He'll escalate again," he said.
"How?" Arjun asked.
Rahul didn't answer directly.
"He removes layers," he said.
At 2:14 p.m., Arjun received a message from Neha.
She didn't show up today.
Arjun typed.
Where is she?
Reply came after a minute.
No idea. Phone off.
Arjun's chest tightened slightly.
He called her.
Switched off.
He called again.
Same.
Sameer looked at him.
"She's not answering?" Sameer asked.
"No," Arjun replied.
"That's not good," Sameer said.
"No," Arjun agreed.
At 4:52 p.m., another message came.
Unknown number.
Unknown:
She's missing.
Arjun typed immediately.
Arjun:
What do you mean?
Pause.
Then:
Unknown:
No one has seen her since morning.
Arjun's grip tightened on the phone.
Arjun:
Did he take her?
The reply came slower this time.
Before it arrived, Arjun's phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered.
A male voice spoke.
"Arjun?"
"Yes."
"This is Mahesh."
Arjun didn't speak.
"She didn't pay," Mahesh said.
"I know," Arjun replied.
"She disappeared," Mahesh added.
Arjun's eyes narrowed.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"She's not answering calls," Mahesh said.
"That's not my problem," Arjun replied.
Mahesh paused.
"You're calm," he observed.
"I've been clear," Arjun said.
Mahesh exhaled softly.
"If she contacts you, you inform me," he said.
"No," Arjun replied.
Silence.
Mahesh's tone changed slightly.
"You're not involved," he said. "But you're connected."
"I'm not responsible," Arjun replied.
Mahesh didn't argue.
"If she runs," he said, "it gets worse for her."
Arjun didn't respond.
The call ended.
At 7:08 p.m., Arjun sat on his balcony.
Phone in hand.
No updates.
No messages.
Just silence.
Sameer sat across from him.
"This doesn't feel right," Sameer said.
"No," Arjun replied.
"She wouldn't just disappear," Sameer added.
"No," Arjun agreed.
At 8:36 p.m., his phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
He opened it.
Unknown:
He didn't take her.
She ran.
And she just used your name again to book a ticket out of the city.
Arjun stared at the message.
Because that meant—
Even now…
When everything was collapsing…
She was still dragging him into it.