I know Sidharth won’t be happy, and he wouldn’t want me here. That’s exactly why I didn’t tell him.
“Then let him be mad. But I’m not leaving this place, not when there’s even the slightest chance I might find something here.”
“But ma’am—” he begins, but I cut him off.
“You promised you’d help me. So keep your word,” I bite back.
“Not one of my finest decisions,” Karan mutters under his breath, and I can’t help but let out a small giggle. He immediately turns to glare at me.
Earlier, when I told him I needed to go to Suman’s apartment, he had flat-out refused. Said it was unnecessary. But I wasn’t backing down. I reminded him about the message, about how Suman might’ve known something, and that this could be our only chance to find a clue. Eventually, after way too much arguing and a few well-aimed guilt trips, he finally agreed, albeit reluctantly.
Asking the landlord for the key was out of the question. He would’ve informed the police instantly, and Sidharth would’ve found out in no time. And I wasn’t ready for that.
Putting on my most serious face, I look at Karan. “Open the door. Please.”
He sighs. “Ma’am, I’m a bodyguard. Not a lock breaker.”
I arch a brow. “Aww, don’t sell yourself short. You’re more than just solid muscle. Pretty damn smart, too, to get us inside.”
He frowns. “The smartest way would be to call Sidharth sir and ask him to arrange the key.”
Jerk.
I shake my head stubbornly. “We are not telling him. Or anyone.”
Not bothering to argue this time, he steps forward and begins working on the lock. I cross my fingers, my heart racing, watching his hands move with surprising skill. After a few attempts, the door finally creaks open.
I glance at the now-unlocked door, then at Karan, unable to hide the satisfied grin spreading across my face.
“See, I told you, nothing is impossible for you. And for the record, this would’ve been much faster if you hadn’t wasted so much time arguing.”
“Yeah, forgive me for tryingnotto commit a crime.” He lets out a low, sarcastic huff. “I still think this is a really bad idea.”
Taking a deep breath, I say nothing and simply step past the threshold.
A rush of adrenaline surges through me as I glance around the dark, silent space.
Karan follows close behind, then steps to the side and flips the switch on the wall. Faint yellow lights flicker to life overhead, casting an eerie glow across the small apartment.
My pulse hammers as memories of all the times I spent here flood my mind. But I push back the ache in my chest and forcemyself to focus, letting my gaze wander around the living room. The brown furniture, coated in a faint layer of dust, is still neatly arranged with everything else perfectly in place.
A tingling unease creeps across my skin as I move further in. Karan stays close behind, silent, but the tension in his posture makes his discomfort impossible to miss.
And when we step into Suman’s bedroom, my chest tightens. Her bed is neatly made, just the way she always liked it before leaving home. The baby pink curtains are drawn halfway, the very ones we picked out together during one of my impulsive shopping sprees. A half-burnt lavender candle still sits on the bedside table… the scent she loved so much and I always complained about. Everything looks exactly as I remember, and yet somehow, it doesn’t.
Reminding myself once again that this isn’t the time to drown in sadness, I force my focus back to why I’m here. I start searching, methodically opening drawers, flipping through books, lifting picture frames, and even shaking out the pages of old diaries. But I find nothing.
Karan leans against the wall with his arms crossed, watching me. He doesn’t say a word, but I know exactly what he’s thinking. That this is pointless, that I won’t find anything. I let out a tired huff, and for a moment, I almost believe he’s right.
I’m just about to say we should leave when my breath catches, and my eyes land on the handbag resting on the chair by her dressing table. On autopilot, I walk across the room and carefully pick it up, my fingers running over the soft beige leather. My heart clenches. I gave this to her on her birthday three years ago. She had hugged me tight, saying it was her favorite gift and that she’d carry it everywhere. And now, it’s just sitting here, left behind.
My throat tightens as I clutch it to my chest. Somehow, just holding it makes me feel like she’s close enough. In this achingmoment, everything—breaking in, arguing with Karan, sneaking around in secret, suddenly feels worth it.
“What the hell are you doing here?”
The sharp edge of an angry voice slices through the silence, cutting straight through the tide of emotions crashing over me. I freeze, my eyes snapping towards the doorway, to find Sidharth standing there. Even from a few feet away, I can see the concern and fury etched all over his face. And with the way his hands clench at his sides, there’s no mistaking the storm of frustration and worry burning in his eyes.
Seeing how scared he is for me makes my heart ache and swell all at once. And in the next breath, I run straight into him, crashing against his chest with enough force to make him grunt in surprise. But I don’t let go. I wrap my arms around his waist and bury my face in his shirt, as the dam finally breaks.
