The nightmare returned—but this time, it didn’t end when Aarohia woke up.

She was standing in the same dark space.

No walls.

No doors.

Only sound.

Breathing.

Not hers.

She turned slowly.

Someone was standing behind her.

Close enough to touch.

She tried to scream—

And woke up.

Her throat burned.

Her hands trembled.

Across the room, Saira sat up sharply, eyes wide, chest rising and falling too fast.

Same time.

Again.

Aarohia didn’t ask.

She already knew.

Saira rubbed her face slowly.

“Aaj ka din heavy hoga,” she murmured.

Aarohia swung her legs off the bed.

“Hota hi hai,” she replied calmly.“Jab raat zyada bolne lage.”

They didn’t say anything more.

They never did.

Hotel – Late Morning

The hotel was busier than usual.

A corporate delegation had arrived.

Phones rang nonstop.

Keys changed hands rapidly.

Aarohia handled everything with quiet efficiency.

That’s when she noticed it.

A man near the lobby bar.

Watching her.

Not openly.

But not hiding either.

He was the businessman—again.

This time, he wasn’t checking in.

He was waiting.

When their eyes met, he didn’t look away.

Instead, he smiled.

Not friendly.

Curious.

He walked toward the desk slowly.

“Busy day,” he said.

“Usually,” Aarohia replied neutrally.

“You manage chaos well,” he added.

“Not everyone can.”

Aarohia glanced at the screen.

“It’s part of the job.”

He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.

“Or maybe you’re just… used to it.”

Something flickered in her eyes.

Gone instantly.

“Is there something I can help you with, sir?”

He straightened.

“Not today.”

Then, after a pause—

“But soon.”

As he walked away, Aarohia felt it.

Not danger.

Interest.

And that bothered her more.

From the housekeeping corner, Anita watched.

Her jaw tightened.

Why him?

Why always her?

Hospital – Emergency Review Room

The patient from last night was stable.

Too stable.

The senior doctor studied the report again.

Vitals normalized faster than expected.

Medication dosage… unusual.

He tapped the file against the desk.

“Call Saira,” he said to the intern.

“I want her input.”

Hospital – Corridor

Saira listened silently as the doctor spoke.

She didn’t interrupt.

She never did.

“You were present during the injection,” the doctor said.

“Yes.”

“Did anything feel off to you?”

Saira held his gaze.

“Yes.”

The doctor raised an eyebrow.

“Then why didn’t you report it?”

Saira paused.

Carefully.

“Because I wasn’t sure,” she replied.

“And assumptions harm patients.”

The doctor studied her for a long moment.

“You’re cautious,” he said finally.

“I like that.”

As Saira turned to leave, he added—

“Stay alert.”

She nodded.

She already was.

Hospital – Storage Area

Megha stood alone, gripping her phone.

Her palms were sweaty.

The message on the screen repeated in her mind.

You did well.

But something didn’t feel right.

Too easy.

Too clean.

Her smile faltered.

She hadn’t expected Saira’s stare last night.

That look—

Not angry.

Observant.

Megha swallowed hard.

She knows something, Megha thought.

And fear crept in.

Hotel – Staff Lounge

Riya sat quietly, stirring her coffee without drinking it.

Anita sat beside her, sighing dramatically.

“Tum badal gayi ho,” Anita said softly.

Riya looked up.

“Kya?”

“Pehle tum itni tense nahi rehti thi,” Anita continued.

“Kuch log hote hain na… jo dusron ki life me negativity le aate hain.”

Riya stiffened.

She knew who Anita meant.

“Aarohia… aisi nahi hai,” Riya said, unsure.

Anita tilted her head sympathetically.

“Main sirf keh rahi hoon… jab se usne tumhare relationship pe comment kiya hai, tum khush nahi ho.”

Riya’s fingers tightened around the cup.

That doubt—small, sharp—cut deeper than truth.

“She thinks she’s better than everyone,” Anita added quietly.

“Maybe that’s why log uske close aa jaate hain.”

Riya remembered the businessman.

The way he looked at Aarohia.

Something inside her twisted.

Hotel – Reception Desk

Aarohia noticed Riya avoiding her.

Again.

She didn’t chase.

She never did.

But something else caught her attention.

A cleaning cart parked near a restricted corridor.

Out of place.

She made a mental note.

Hospital – Night

The patient’s condition worsened suddenly.

Alarms rang.

Doctors rushed.

Saira pushed through the crowd.

“What happened?”

“Blood pressure crashing!”

Siyara checked the chart.

Her jaw tightened.

Same patient.

Same case.

This time, the calm from last night was gone.

Replaced with chaos.

Megha stood frozen near the wall.

Her face pale.

“Megha,” Siyara called sharply.

“What was administered yesterday?”

Megha opened her mouth—

Nothing came out.

The silence screamed.

Hotel – Late Night

The businessman stood near the elevator.

Aarohia walked past him.

“Ms. Aarohia,” he said suddenly.

She stopped.

Turned.

“Yes?”

“You ever feel like you’re standing in the wrong place… waiting for something to catch up?”

She studied him.

“All the time,” she replied honestly.

A pause.

He smiled—this time softer.

“We might have more in common than I thought.”

For a split second, something warm flickered between them.

Gone as quickly as it came.

Hospital – ICU

The patient stabilized—barely.

The doctor looked at Saira.

“Good catch,” he said quietly.

Megha sat on a bench, head in her hands.

Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

You made a mess.

Her breath hitched.

Mansion – Late Night

Aarohia and Saira stood on opposite ends of the room.

Both exhausted.

Both si

lent.

“Hospital?” Aarohia finally asked.

Siyara nodded.

“Hotel?”

Aarohia exhaled slowly.

“Someone’s moving pieces.”

They looked at each other.

Same thought.

Different battlegrounds.

“Raat phir se aayegi,” Siyara said softly.

Aarohia nodded.

“Aur is baar… sirf khwab nahi honge.”

Outside, thunder rolled.

And somewhere—

someone realized their first move had a price.