Whispers in the Dark

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The night was calm, the soft ripples of the pool glistening under the dim lights scattered around the villa. The air carried a salty breeze, mixing with the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore in the distance. Dhruvin had been restless ever since Aashna’s panic attack. His mind kept replaying the scene—the way she trembled, her ragged breaths, the fear in her eyes. And through it all, one thing stood out—Nishant.

Dhruvin had caught him staring at Aashna too many times today. Every time she got tense, every time her fingers clenched around his shirt, Nishant was always there—watching. His instincts told him something wasn’t right, and he wasn’t one to ignore his instincts.

So when he saw Nishant near the swimming pool, leaning against the railing, gazing into the water with an unreadable expression, he knew this was his chance.

With measured steps, Dhruvin approached. "Enjoying the view?" he asked, his voice casual but firm.

Nishant turned, his usual smirk intact. "Oh, hey, birthday boy. Can’t sleep?"

"Not really," Dhruvin said, stepping beside him. The water reflected the golden glow of the lamps, creating a false sense of tranquility. He cut straight to the point. "Did you say something to Aashna?"

Nishant raised a brow. "Aashna?"

"Yeah. She’s been acting weird all day. And every time you’re around, she just—” Dhruvin exhaled sharply, trying to find the right words. "She tenses up. I saw it, man. So, did you say something to her?"

Nishant chuckled, shaking his head. "Come on, dude. That must be a misunderstanding. I barely spoke to her today. Why would I say anything?"

Dhruvin wasn’t convinced. Nishant’s tone was too easy, too smooth. He had met enough people in life to know when someone was playing innocent. But he wasn’t going to push—not yet.

"Hmm," he hummed, nodding slightly, though his eyes stayed sharp.

He turned to leave, but just as he took a step forward, Nishant called after him.

"By the way…"

Dhruvin stopped.

"Did Aashna ever tell you she belonged to our school?" Nishant asked, his voice laced with something Dhruvin couldn’t quite place. Amusement? Curiosity? Malice?

Dhruvin frowned, turning back slowly. "What?"

Nishant shrugged, playing nonchalant. "She was our junior. Back in school. Strange she never mentioned that to you, isn’t it?"

Dhruvin felt his pulse slow, his mind working through the information. No, Aashna had never told him she knew him or Nishant before. Never once had she mentioned they had a past. Why?

"Guess she forgot," Nishant added with a smirk before turning back to the water, leaving Dhruvin frozen in place.

Aashna never forgot things. She wasn’t someone who hid details from him. And yet… she had hidden this.

The thought gnawed at him.

What else was she hiding?

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Author’s Note

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