The mansion slept, but the room didn’t.

Heavy curtains blocked the city lights, trapping the darkness inside like a secret that didn’t want to escape. The air was still—too still—for a place this expensive.

On the wide bed, two women slept far apart.

Not because they were distant.

Because they were careful.

A door slammed.

Not in the room—in the mind.

Aarohia ran.

Her feet burned against cold stone floors. The walls were narrow, damp, alive. Somewhere behind her, footsteps echoed—too many, too close.

“Faster,” a voice cried. A child’s voice.

Hands reached for her hair.

She screamed.

Siara was running too.

Her lungs burned, vision blurred by tears she refused to shed. Chains rattled somewhere in the dark. A key turned. A laugh followed.

“Girls don’t get to choose,” someone said.

She slipped.

Fell.

Both woke up at the same second.

Aarohia sat upright, breath uneven, fingers digging into the mattress.

Siyara gasped, eyes wide, scanning the room like she expected someone to still be there.

For a moment, neither moved.

The nightmare clung to them like smoke.

Finally, Siyara spoke—her voice calm, controlled.

“Same place?”(“Wahi jagah?”)

Aarohia nodded once. “Same.”

No details followed.

They never did.

The room slowly came back into focus—the velvet sofa, the glass table, the soft hum of the air conditioner. Luxury without warmth.

Siyara leaned back against the headboard. “You were shaking.”(“Tum kaap rahi thi.”)

Aarohia stood, already walking toward the window. “So were you.”(“Tum bhi.”)

She pulled the curtain aside just enough to see the city below. Lights. Movement. Life continuing like nothing had ever gone wrong.

Behind her, Siyara watched quietly.

She always did.

Morning arrived without knocking.

By the time the sun rose, both women were already dressed—neutral colors, forgettable faces.

Aarohia tied her hair into a neat low ponytail. “I’ll be late tonight.”(“Aaj late ho jaungi.”)

Siyara adjusted her watch. “So will I.”(“Main bhi.”)

Neither asked why.

They didn’t need to.

🏨 HOTEL LOBBY — AFTERNOON

The hotel smelled like polished floors and fake smiles.

Riya practically bounced as she walked toward Aarohia. “You’re finally meeting him today!” (“Aaj finally milogi tum usse!”)

Aarohia looked up from the desk. “Him?” (“Kaun?”)

“My boyfriend,” Riya grinned. “He’s perfect.”

Perfect was a dangerous word.

Moments later, a man walked in—confident, well-dressed, phone in hand.

“This is Rohit,” Riya said proudly.

Rohit smiled at Aarohia. His eyes lingered half a second too long.

“Nice to meet you,” he said.

Aarohia nodded politely. “Likewise.”

Her gaze dropped—

to the second phone in his pocket,

to the notification lighting up with a different name,

to the way his smile changed when Riya turned away.

She said nothing.

Not yet.

That night, the staff room was quiet.

Riya hummed softly while checking her phone. Aarohia leaned against the wall.

“He’s not loyal,” Aarohia said suddenly. (“Woh wafadar nahi hai.”)

Riya froze. “What?”

“He’s seeing someone else.” (“Woh kisi aur se mil raha hai.”)

Riya laughed nervously. “You’re joking.”

“I’m not,” Aarohia replied.

Riya stood up, anger flashing in her eyes.

“You don’t know anything about him.”

“I know patterns,” Aarohia said calmly. (“Main patterns pehchanti hoon.”)

“That’s enough,” Riya snapped.

“You’re jealous. Tumhe bardaasht nahi hota ki main khush hoon.”

The words hit harder than expected.

“I’m trying to protect you,” Aarohia said quietly.

“No,” Riya shook her head.

“You just don’t want me to have something you never did.”

She walked out.

And something shifted.

From a distance, Siara had watched it all.

She said nothing.

She rarely did.

Later, as they walked back into the mansion, Siyara spoke casually, almost gently.

“People don’t like truth when it threatens comfort.” (“Sach logon ko tab bura lagta hai jab woh unki comfort todta hai.”)

Aarohia nodded. “I know.”

What she didn’t notice—was how carefully Siyara had chosen her words.

That night, as the lights went out, the mansion fell silent again.

Two women.

Two ordinary lives.

Too many unanswered questions. And somewhere in the dark, the past waited patiently—

for the next crack.