Chapter 36: Chapter 33

In the eerie stillness of their room, sleep seemed like a distant dream. Raghav paced restlessly, while Siya sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly into the void. Their thoughts were interrupted by an eager knock at the door.

“Come on, you two! We’re hitting the club tonight!” Vasu’s voice rang with infectious enthusiasm as he leaned against the doorframe, flashing a pair of tickets. Urmi stood beside him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “No excuses. Be in the lobby in 15 minutes.”

Raghav exchanged a wary glance with Siya. “We can’t say no,” he murmured under his breath. “It’ll look suspicious.”

Siya sighed, nodding. “Yeah, you are right.”

As Raghav threw on a casual hoodie and jeans, Siya changed into a flowing floral dress paired with pristine white shoes—the ones Raghav had gifted her. He caught her glance in the mirror.

“They suit you,” he said softly, his voice betraying a hint of something unspoken.

“Do they?,” she replied with a smirk, masking her gratitude as they prepared to face the night.

The nightclub thrummed with life, the bass of the music vibrates through the walls. Glittering lights painted the crowd in streaks of blue, red, and gold as people moved in unison to the rhythm. Urmi and Vasu were at the center of it all, spinning and laughing without a care in the world.

“Siya, Raghav! Stop standing like statues and join us!” Urmi called out, her voice nearly drowned by the music.

Siya hesitated, glancing at Raghav. His expression was unreadable, but after a moment, he shrugged and extended a hand toward her.

“If we’re going to survive this trip, we might as well join the madness,” he said, a teasing lilt in his tone.

She rolled her eyes but placed her hand in his. Together, they walked toward the dance floor. At first, Siya moved stiffly, her discomfort evident, but as the music wrapped around her, she began to loosen up.

“See? Not so bad,” Raghav said with a smirk, trying—and failing—to match the energy of the crowd.

Siya laughed, a genuine sound she hadn’t heard from herself in weeks. “You’re terrible at this.”

“Oh, so now you’re a professional dancer?” he shot back, grinning.

“I learnt from the best, The Rudra Sir”, she said grinning.

The tension between them seemed to evaporate as they laughed together. Raghav’s awkward attempts to mimic the crowd’s moves were endearing, and Siya found herself relaxing more with each passing second.

They danced, the distance between them vanishing. Raghav’s hand rested gently on Siya’s waist, her breath hitching. Their locked eyes silenced the world, the music fading into nothingness. In that fleeting moment, the air buzzed with unspoken emotions, leaving their hearts racing and butterflies fluttering wildly within them. Raghav was about to give in to his adrenaline rush.

But before the moment could settle, Urmi’s voice rang out, sharp and panicked. “Siya, get down!”

In an instant, Urmi lunged toward them, knocking Siya to the ground. A gunshot shattered the music, silencing the club.

The crowd erupted into chaos. Screams echoed as people scrambled for cover. Siya froze, her breath caught in her throat, as she saw Urmi clutching her elbow, blood staining her sleeve.

“Urmi Di!” Siya rushed to her side, panic rising in her chest. “Are you okay?”

Urmi winced but managed a shaky smile. “It’s just my elbow. I’m fine. Are you okay, you didn't get hurt right?”

Siya sat on the floor, her face pale with shock. “You… you saved me.”

“Well, I had to,” Urmi said, her voice steady despite the pain. “I can't just look if someone is trying to kill my muffin.”

Raghav glanced around, her eyes searching for the shooter. A figure cloaked in black with a scarf covering his face was slipping through the frantic crowd, disappearing before anyone could react.

“Stay here,” Raghav said firmly, rising to his feet. He scanned the room, his jaw tight with anger. “I’ll find him.”

“Raghav…don’t…please!” Siya grabbed his arm, her grip desperate. “Stay here”. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she cried in fear. Watching her break down for the first time, Raghav couldn't resist and hugged her tightly. “I’m here”.

The authorities arrived minutes later, their flashing lights cutting through the chaos. They secured the area, directing panicked guests to safety. Meanwhile, Vasu knelt beside Urmi, his face pale as he whispered reassurances.

Urmi sat in a cold metal chair, her arm now bandaged. The sterile air of the police station seemed to heighten the tension in the room. Siya and Raghav stood nearby, watching as she gave her statement.

“I didn’t see his face, I just saw him, he looked suspicious being all black and before I could think more he pointed the gun towards Siya” Urmi said, her voice steady despite the exhaustion weighing on her. “He wore a scarf, but… he had a tattoo on his hand. It was green, shaped like a scorpion.”

The officer nodded, scribbling in his notepad. “That’s a good detail. We’ll follow up on it.”

Siya, standing in the corner, felt a wave of frustration. The shooter had vanished so quickly. She doubted they’d be caught—at least not in time to prevent whatever was coming next.

The Home

The flight back home was somber, marked by an unspoken tension. Urmi’s injury wasn’t severe, but the incident had left its mark on everyone. Now, seated in the Desai mansion’s expansive living room, silence weighed heavily over the group.

Raghav broke it first. “You were right,” he said, his voice low.

Siya looked up from where she sat, startled. “What?”

“You were right about someone following us. About the danger,” Raghav said, meeting her eyes. “I didn’t believe you. And because of me, bhabhi got hurt.”

“It’s not your fault, Raghav,” Siya said softly. “None of us could have expected this.”

Raghav shook his head, the guilt evident on his face. “No. I dismissed your fears. I should have listened.” He hesitated, his next words quieter. “I’m sorry.”

Siya studied him, her expression softening. “We’re all in this together.”

The room fell silent again until Urmi’s voice, light but firm, cut through the gloom. “Well, one thing’s for sure. Next time we go abroad, I’m picking the destination—and we’re hiring a goddamn security team.”

Her words drew a small laugh from Vasu, who tightened his arm around her. “You’re never stepping into another nightclub,” he said, half-serious.

Urmi smiled at him, her usual cheerfulness breaking through. “Oh, please. I saved the day! I deserve a medal—or at least another trip.”

Despite the lightness in her tone, Siya couldn’t shake the unease curling in her stomach. The incident in Goa wasn’t random, she was sure of it.

And if her instincts were right, this was only the beginning.