"Everything you know is a lie. You are next. Don't dig much, trust no one, and run back to your country."

Ishan's blood ran cold. He read the note again, disbelief and fear washing over him. What did this mean? Who could have sent this? His mind raced with possibilities, each more sinister than the last.

Everything he thought he knew seemed to crumble around him. Was this connected to Raj? To Shubman? The photograph flashed in his mind again, adding to his mounting paranoia. He felt trapped in a web of secrets and lies, unsure of whom to trust.

Ishan ran outside to the gateman, his heart pounding with fear.

"Who sent the parcel? Was it a boy, a man? Did he wear any costume?" he demanded.

"Sir, it was just left at the gate. I didn’t notice when it came. It had your name on it, so I thought you ordered something," the gateman replied, looking bewildered.

"CC-TV, does the CCTV at the gate cover the whole road?" Ishan asked, desperation creeping into his voice.

"Yes, Sir," the gateman confirmed.

"Check it. I want to see who delivered it," Ishan ordered, his mind racing.

The gateman quickly sat down to check the CCTV footage, but after a few moments of fumbling with the controls, he looked up with a troubled expression.

"Sir,... the camera... I think it's disturbed, spoiled!" the gateman stammered.

"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME! What is your job? Why is it not checked properly? Do we keep you here to sleep?" Ishan shouted, his frustration boiling over.

The gateman flinched, clearly taken aback by Ishan's outburst. "I’m really sorry, Sir. I didn't know. I'll get it fixed immediately," he mumbled, scrambling to his feet.

Ishan turned away, running his hands through his hair, his mind a chaotic mess.Who could be behind this? Why now? And what did they mean by "Everything you know is a lie"? The warning to "trust no one" echoed ominously in his mind.

Just then, Ishan got a call from Aditi.

"Hey, how are you?" she asked, her voice warm and familiar.

"I am fine," Ishan replied, trying to sound normal despite the turmoil inside.

"You seemed distracted, Ishan. Anything happened?" she probed gently.

"A lot, apparently. I will tell you when we meet," Ishan said, not wanting to dive into it over the phone.

"Evening?" she suggested.

"Okay," he agreed. "What's that noise?"

"That? My aunt adopted a stray dog," Aditi explained, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"Oh, okay. Take care then," Ishan said, managing a small smile.

As he ended the call, two kids came running and hugged Ishan. They were his uncle's daughters, who had come for Ishan and Aditi's wedding.

"Ish uncle, how are you?" they chorused, their eyes sparkling with excitement.

"Hey! When did you two get here?" Ishan asked, kneeling down to their level.

"Just some hours ago. We missed playing with you," one of them said, her face beaming with joy.

Ishan ruffled their hair fondly. He had always been a bit distant from them, often busy with his partying lifestyle. It had been Raj who bonded with them more, always making time to play and take care of them.

"Well, I'm here now. Let's make up for lost time," he said, trying to mask the sadness in his heart.

They all gathered for lunch in the dining room. The table was filled with a variety of dishes, prepared with care and love. Ishan's grandfather, uncle, the kids, and Ishan himself sat down together.

"Ishan, it’s good to see you spending time with the family," his uncle said, smiling warmly at him.

Ishan nodded, feeling the weight of the recent events pressing down on him. He glanced at his grandfather, who was unusually quiet, staring at his plate.

"Grandpa, are you okay?" one of the kids asked innocently, noticing the change in his demeanor.

His grandfather looked up, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I was just thinking... how nice it would be if Raj were here," he said, his voice trembling with emotion.

Everyone at the table fell silent, the mention of Raj bringing a wave of melancholy over them.

"I miss him too, Grandpa," Ishan said softly, his own heart aching with the longing for his twin brother.

Ishan swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat. The sight of his grandfather's teary eyes only made him guilty.

As they continued their meal, the atmosphere remained heavy with a mix of love, longing, and hope. Ishan's mind kept drifting back to the ominous note and the mysterious parcel, his heart pounding with the weight of it all.

After lunch, Ishan found a quiet moment to himself. Standing by the window, he stared out at the garden, his thoughts a tangled mess of fear, determination, and a burning desire to reunite his family.

******

Aditi's expression shifted from shock to horror as Ishan explained everything over coffee in his room. He couldn't risk discussing it in a public place.

"Well, I sort of didn’t tell you something," Aditi began, her voice hesitant. "The therapist friend we had dinner with... She was Shubman's therapist."

"What?" Ishan's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Yes, and then..." Aditi took a deep breath, "she explained everything she heard."

"Wait, so according to her, Shubman dated Ishan, not Raj. Let’s say Raj is Ishan to him for a moment, but that still doesn’t make sense! According to your friend, they mostly broke up because Shubman didn’t show himself to Shahneel. But I saw their picture together. So who is lying?" Ishan questioned, frustration evident in his voice.

"Why would my friend lie to me?" Aditi countered, her brow furrowed in confusion.

"Why would Shubman lie to his therapist?" Ishan shot back, his mind racing with possibilities.

"I don’t know, maybe to establish something?" Aditi suggested, though she seemed unsure.

"Well, how? His data would be kept confidential, so it's not like it would be published or something!" Ishan said, running his fingers through his hair.

Aditi sighed, "Shahneel told me they are coming to Mumbai tomorrow. Shubman has an ad shoot. Should we ask them?"

"No, if they wanted to say, they would have! Let's pretend we don’t know anything and act subtle around them," Ishan decided, though the uncertainty gnawed at him.

Aditi squeezed Ishan's hand. The boy she had known for years suddenly seemed older, burdened by the weight of the situation.

"But, you can be uninvolved, Aditi, given your relationship with Shahneel," Ishan said, his voice softening as he looked at her.

"

We just bonded. But Ishan, you are more important to me. Don’t worry, Ishan, I won’t leave your side. I will fulfill my duty as your friend," Aditi assured him.

"Thank you, Aditi," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't know what I would do without you."

"We'll get through this together," Aditi replied, squeezing his hand once more. "Now, let's figure out our next steps carefully."

*****

Shubman and Shahneel threw a party at their shared apartment to celebrate Shubman's collaboration with a huge international brand. The brand, which didn’t even have any branches in India yet, had approached Shubman in advance, recognizing his immense potential and influence.

Ishan and Aditi were also invited. They mingled with different people, enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the party. Music played in the background, and laughter filled the air as guests chatted and celebrated.

"Aditi, come with me," Shahneel said, taking her hand and leading her to the balcony.

Ishan was left alone, sipping his drink, when Shubman approached him.

"Hey!" Shubman greeted with a smile.

"Hey, Shubman. Nice apartment," Ishan replied, returning the smile.

"Thanks. Everything is still scattered. It's been only a month since I bought it. I sold my last one," Shubman explained, his words beginning to slur slightly. Ishan noticed that Shubman had a low tolerance for alcohol.

"So, tell me, Shubman, why is a handsome guy like you still single?" Ishan asked, leaning in closer, curiosity piqued.

Shubman laughed, his dimples popping. "I am unlucky in love. Either I lose interest or..." Shubman paused, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Or they leave me."

Ishan felt a strange pull towards Shubman, a mix of curiosity and attraction fueled by the alcohol. The room seemed to blur around them as the party continued in the background.

"Maybe they just didn't see what I see," Ishan said softly, his eyes locking with Shubman's.

Shubman looked up, his eyes searching Ishan's face. "And what do you see?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I see someone worth knowing," Ishan replied, moving closer.

Their breaths mingled, the tension between them thick and electric. Shubman leaned in, his eyes fluttering shut, and Ishan closed the distance, their lips meeting in a hesitant, tentative kiss. The kiss deepened, slow and exploratory at first, but quickly growing more intense as the alcohol fogged their senses.

Shubman pulled Ishan into one of the bedrooms, the door barely shutting behind them. The room was still half-packed, with boxes and furniture in disarray. They stumbled against each other, their hands roaming and mouths exploring with increasing urgency.

Ishan felt the roughness of Shubman's stubble against his cheek, the taste of alcohol on his lips. They collapsed onto the bed, Shubman's hands tangling in Ishan's hair as their kisses grew hungrier, more desperate.

Shubman suddenly paused, his breath ragged. "I...I can't..." he muttered, his eyelids drooping.

Ishan pulled back slightly, his own breathing heavy. Shubman's eyes fluttered closed, and within moments, he was passed out, sprawled on the bed.

Ishan sat up, his head spinning from the alcohol and the intensity of their encounter. He glanced around the room, noticing a box labeled "Therapy" in neat handwriting. Curiosity piqued, he carefully opened the box, revealing a stack of reports and a small USB drive.

With Shubman out cold beside him, Ishan silently took the USB drive, slipping it into his pocket. He stood up, taking one last look at Shubman before quietly slipping out of the room.

As he navigated through the crowded apartment, Ishan felt a mix of guilt and determination.But he wanted to know about the therapy, why Shubman lied,maybe the USB helds the sessions!

"Aditi, we have to go," Ishan said urgently.

"What, so soon?" Shahneel asked, her arm still around Aditi's waist.

Aditi glanced at Ishan, noticing his anxious expression. She quickly understood the hint.

"Sorry, Grandpa called us suddenly," Ishan lied, trying to sound convincing.

"We will meet tomorrow? " Aditi said placing a kiss on Shahneel's cheek.

"Oh, okay. Well, take care," Shahneel said, though she looked a bit puzzled.

Aditi and Ishan exchanged quick goodbyes and made their way to the car. As soon as they were inside and the doors were closed, Ishan turned to Aditi, his face serious.

"I found something," he said, pulling the USB drive from his pocket. "In Shubman's room. It was in a box labeled 'Therapy.'"

Aditi's eyes widened. "Therapy? What does it contain?"

"I don't know yet, but we need to find out," Ishan replied, starting the car and heading towards their house. "I couldn't risk talking about it there. We need to see what's on this drive."

The drive to their house was tense and filled with silence. Both were lost in their thoughts, anticipating what they might uncover. As soon as they arrived, they rushed inside and headed straight to Ishan's room.

Ishan locked the door behind them and pulled out his laptop, placing it on the desk. He inserted the USB drive, his hands slightly trembling with a mix of fear and excitement. Aditi stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the screen.

"Let's see what's on this," Ishan said, taking a deep breath.

The laptop dinged as it recognized the USB drive. Ishan opened the drive and found several files, including folders labeled "Sessions," "Reports," and "Video Logs."

"Where do we start?" Aditi asked, her voice barely a whisper.

"Let's check the vedio first," Ishan suggested, clicking on the folder.

There were several video files, each with a date.Everything was dated two year's back. Ishan clicked on the most recent one.It was a video session with Shubman.

"Wait a minute," Aditi said, her brow furrowing  "That's not my friend. This therapist is a guy. How many therapists does Shubman have?"

[A/N: Okay,so someone said in my message board that he/she can't focus on her/his ongoing exam because she/he can't stop thinking about my plot.This is one of the biggest compliment for me😭.So an early update for HER and you guys.❤️ ]