____________________________________________________________________

The school hallways buzzed with their usual energy—students chattering, lockers slamming, and the faint sound of teachers calling out instructions. But Sanaya felt none of it. Every move she made was calculated, every word carefully chosen. She was no longer playing an ordinary game of manipulation; she was locking horns with someone who could ruin her.

Maya.

Sanaya's former friend had always been perceptive, but now her curiosity had turned into a dangerous obsession. Maya wasn't just suspicious anymore—she was actively investigating, and Sanaya couldn't allow her to uncover the truth.

---

That evening, Sanaya sat at her desk, scrolling through Maya's social media. Her posts were an open window into her life, her thoughts, and her vulnerabilities. Sanaya's fingers hovered over the keyboard as she crafted a message, one that would sow seeds of doubt and confusion.

The text, sent from an anonymous number, was simple: "You're making a mistake, Maya. Some truths are better left buried."

She pressed send, then leaned back, her lips curling into a faint smile. It wasn't a direct threat, but it was enough to make Maya think twice about her next move.

---

The Next Day

Sanaya was waiting. She knew Maya wouldn't be able to resist confronting her after receiving the message.

Sure enough, during lunch, Maya cornered her by the water fountain. Her expression was a mix of anger and determination.

"Stop playing games, Sanaya," Maya hissed, keeping her voice low so others wouldn't hear. "I know it was you who sent that message."

Sanaya raised an eyebrow, feigning confusion. "Message? What are you talking about?"

Maya's fists clenched. "Don't act innocent. You're trying to scare me off, but it's not going to work. I'm going to figure out what you're up to, no matter what."

Sanaya leaned in closer, her voice a whisper. "And what will you do when you find out? Do you think anyone will believe you? Be careful, Maya. You're not as untouchable as you think."

Maya's face tightened, but she didn't respond. Instead, she turned and stormed off, leaving Sanaya standing there, her calm facade hiding the flicker of unease that had begun to grow inside her.

---

Meanwhile

Maya wasn’t backing down. After school, she went to the library, searching for answers in the most unconventional way. She started digging into Sanaya's background, piecing together fragments of stories she had overheard in passing, rumors from years ago, and bits of information that didn’t quite add up.

Maya’s research led her to an unsettling discovery. Sanaya’s family had always been marked by secrets, but now she was uncovering something darker.

While scrolling through the archives of a local newspaper, an article from several years ago caught her eye. It was titled, "Businessman Found Dead, Police Investigation Stalled."

The article reported the mysterious death of Sanaya’s father. It was an unsettling piece—his body had been found in the family’s estate, with no clear cause of death. The police had ruled it as "an accidental death" despite the odd circumstances, and no further investigation had been done. There were hints in the article about a strained relationship between Sanaya’s father and mother, but the investigation had never looked deeper into the family dynamics. The police hadn’t found any foul play, but it was clear that the case had been swept under the rug.

Maya stared at the article, a chilling thought creeping into her mind. Could Sanaya have done this?

She dug deeper, finding another piece from a smaller local newsletter about a sudden, unexplained move by the family after the father’s death. They had sold off some of their assets, including properties that seemed to have sentimental value. Strangely, no one from the family spoke much about him after the funeral. Maya even found accounts from neighbors who mentioned that there had been loud arguments in the house shortly before his death.

"I can’t believe this... could she have...?" Maya muttered to herself, her heart racing. She didn’t have all the pieces, but there was enough here to suggest something was very wrong with Sanaya’s past. The more Maya pieced together, the clearer it became that Sanaya's father's death wasn't as simple as it seemed. It was becoming increasingly hard to ignore the possibility that Sanaya had been involved, even if she had managed to cover it up all these years.

---

Sanaya’s Plan

Sanaya, unaware of Maya’s discovery, was focused on Tushar. She needed to keep him distracted and dependent on her. Their study sessions were no longer about academics—they were about control. She subtly planted ideas in his head, turning him against classmates who posed a threat to her plan.

"Did you notice how Arjun keeps trying to one-up you in class?" she said casually during one of their sessions. "He's probably jealous of you."

Tushar frowned, considering her words. "I didn’t think about it that way, but now that you mention it, he has been acting weird."

Sanaya smiled inwardly. It was so easy to manipulate people when you knew their insecurities.

But her focus was divided, and she hated it. Maya was becoming a bigger problem than she had anticipated.

---

The Confrontation

That evening, Maya showed up unannounced at Sanaya's house. Her face was pale, her expression serious.

"We need to talk," she said the moment Sanaya opened the door.

Sanaya’s eyes narrowed, but she stepped aside, letting Maya in. They stood in the dimly lit living room, the tension between them thick.

"What's this about?" Sanaya asked, crossing her arms.

Maya pulled out her phone and showed her the old newspaper article about Sanaya’s father. "I’ve been looking into your family, Sanaya. And I found something interesting."

Sanaya’s face faltered for just a moment, but she quickly recovered, her voice a sharp hiss. "You’re wasting your time. There’s nothing here for you."

Maya didn’t back down. "You don’t get to decide that. What happened to your father? Why hasn’t anyone spoken about him since his death? Why did the police close the case so quickly? And why are people scared to ask questions about it?"

Sanaya took a step closer, her eyes burning with fury. "You don’t know what you’re messing with. Drop it now, or you’ll regret it."

Maya didn’t flinch. "I’m not scared of you, Sanaya. Whatever you're hiding, I’ll find it."

The two girls stood there, the air thick with tension, their unspoken threats hanging between them like a storm waiting to break.

---

Later That Night

Sanaya sat alone in her room, her mind racing. Maya had gone too far. She couldn't let her ruin everything she had worked for.

Reaching for her phone, she composed another anonymous message: "You've made your choice, Maya. Now face the consequences."

Sanaya pressed send, her heart pounding. This wasn’t just a game anymore. It was a battle, and she intended to win—no matter the cost.

____________________________________________________________________

If you enjoyed this chapter, don't forget to vote and share your thoughts in the comments! Your feedback means a lot and helps me improve!