Chapter Six.

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I'll imagine we fell in love
I'll nap under moonlight skies with you
I think I'll picture us, you with the waves
The ocean's colors on your face
I'll leave my heart with your air
So let me fly with you
Will you be forever with me?

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Author's POV.

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The apartment was quiet, blanketed in the stillness of the night. The faint hum of Aditi's laptop, abandoned on the coffee table, was the only sound aside from the soft ticking of the wall clock. Everyone had retired to the makeshift sleeping arrangements they'd cobbled together—exhausted from the day’s chaos.

Except for Evara.

Seated at the dining table, her laptop screen cast a faint glow on her face. She hunched forward, her fingers moving deftly over the keyboard. Her hair, usually pulled back in a tidy bun, was now loose and framing her face, giving her an almost vulnerable look. But her eyes told a different story—they burned with determination as she sifted through files and notes, hunting for the one clue that could crack the case open.

Behind her, Abhishek stirred. He shifted under the thin blanket on the couch, his subconscious tugging at him until his eyes blinked open. He squinted in the dim light, his gaze settling on Evara’s silhouette.

For a moment, he just watched her. The way her brow furrowed as she concentrated, the way her lips moved slightly as if silently rehearsing an argument. Even in the dim light, her presence was magnetic, pulling his attention toward her effortlessly.

Finally, he sat up, ruffling his hair and groaning quietly. He wasn’t a night owl, and staying awake any longer than necessary was not his idea of fun. But something about the way Evara was working so tirelessly—like she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders—made him want to do something, even if it was small.

Dragging himself off the couch, Abhishek padded into the kitchen. He opened a cupboard with the kind of lethargy only the truly lazy can muster and grabbed a mug. Coffee wasn’t his thing—too much effort—but for her, he could make an exception.

As the coffee machine whirred softly, he leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. He felt ridiculous—here he was, making coffee at an ungodly hour for someone who probably didn’t even need it. But he shook the thought away, pouring the steaming liquid into a mug and adding a splash of milk and sugar.

He approached her quietly, placing the mug on the table beside her. Evara blinked in surprise, glancing up at him. “What’s this?” she asked, her voice hushed in the quiet room.

“Coffee,” he said, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Figured you could use it. You’ve been staring at that screen for hours.” She gave a small, tired smile. “Thanks. You didn’t have to.”

He shrugged, trying to play it off casually. “I didn’t, but you’re keeping all of us alive with your brain, so… the least I can do is keep you awake.”

Evara chuckled softly, taking a sip. “Not bad,” she said, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you hated cooking—or making anything, really.”

Abhishek leaned against the table, smirking. “Don’t get used to it. This is a one-time thing. I’m feeling… charitable tonight.”

She laughed quietly, shaking her head. “Charitable, huh? Well, I appreciate the gesture, even if it’s born out of laziness.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, the tension of the day easing slightly. Abhishek’s eyes wandered to the scattered notes and files on the table. “Any luck?” he asked, nodding toward the screen.

“Not yet,” she admitted, her tone laced with frustration. “I feel like I’m missing something. There’s a thread here, but I can’t quite grasp it.”

He frowned, leaning closer to get a better look. “Maybe you’re overthinking it. Sometimes the answer’s right in front of you, and you’re too focused on the details to see it.”

Evara glanced at him, her expression softening. “You know, you’re not as clueless as you pretend to be.” Abhishek grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

She shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. “You should go back to sleep. It’s late.”

“So should you,” he countered. “I can’t,” she said simply, looking back at the screen. “Not until we’re closer to figuring this out.”

Abhishek studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then he reached out, placing a hand lightly on her wrist. “Evara,” he said, his voice softer now. “You’re not alone in this. You don’t have to carry it all on your own, okay? We’re all here for a reason. Let us help.”

She looked at him, her usually guarded eyes showing a flicker of vulnerability. For a brief moment, she let his words sink in, the weight on her shoulders feeling just a little lighter.

“Thanks, Abhishek,” she said quietly.

He gave her a small smile, pushing himself off the table. “Get some rest soon, okay? I’m not making coffee again if you pull an all-nighter.”

Evara chuckled, watching as he returned to the couch and flopped down with a dramatic sigh. She shook her head, taking another sip of the coffee he’d made. It was a small gesture, but it reminded her that she wasn’t as alone as she sometimes felt.

For the first time that night, the corners of her mouth lifted in a genuine smile. Well...

...

The morning at Abhishek's apartment was buzzing with energy, a mix of seriousness and chaos. In the kitchen, Aditi was flipping pancakes while Ishan leaned on the counter, clearly enjoying teasing her.

“Why are your pancakes shaped like amoebas?” Ishan smirked, watching her struggle with the batter. “They’re abstract art,” Aditi shot back, glaring at him. “Unlike your brain, which is just abstract.”

“That’s rich, coming from someone who thinks salt and sugar are interchangeable,” Ishan quipped, earning an annoyed huff from her.

Meanwhile, on the couch, Shubman and Abhishek were having their usual round of banter, this time over something trivial but no less heated.

“Tu bas yeh maan le, meri driving skills teri se better hain,” Shubman said smugly, arms crossed.

“Better? Tujhe pata hai tu horn ka use brake se zyada karta hai?” Abhishek shot back, his tone laced with mock disbelief.

“Arey, woh ek baar galti se hua tha!” Shubman defended, throwing a cushion at him.

“Galti? Pichhli baar scooter wale uncle tak ko tu road ke beech mein rokne chala tha!” Abhishek retorted, barely dodging the cushion.

“Main toh soch raha hoon tujhe driving school wapas bhej du,” Shubman said, laughing.

“Driving school mujhe nahi, tujhe chahiye, Shubman beta,” Abhishek said, leaning back with a victorious smirk.

“Guys,” Evara called, looking up from the dining table where she had been working. Her voice was firm but tinged with amusement. “Save your energy for Neil. We need to outsmart him, not each other.”

The two boys exchanged sheepish looks but couldn’t resist muttering under their breaths.

“Dekho kaun bola humein outsmart karna hai,” Shubman murmured. “Shut up,” Abhishek whispered back, though a grin tugged at his lips.

Evara, clearly used to their antics, refocused on the files in front of her. As the smell of Aditi’s pancakes wafted through the room, she suddenly straightened, her eyes narrowing as she studied the document on her laptop.

“Guys,” she called again, her voice sharper this time. The bickering stopped as everyone turned their attention to her.

“What happened?” Aditi asked, wiping her hands as she stepped closer.

“I think I found something,” Evara said, holding up a printout. “Look at this. Trishna’s phone records show repeated calls to this number leading up to her death. And that same number called Ahan multiple times the night she was murdered.”

“Whose number is it?” Abhishek asked, walking over with Shubman trailing behind.

“It’s Neil’s,” Evara replied, her tone resolute.

The revelation immediately sobered the room, the playful energy replaced by the weight of their discovery.

...

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Heyy! New update is here!

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Happy new year mates! A new book will come soon [kpop related].

Words count - 1382