The piercing sound of the alarm clock jolted her awake. Roshni Kapoor stretched lazily, savoring the warmth of her bed for a moment before glancing at the bulky black clock beside her. Her eyes widened in panic—she was already ten minutes late! Scrambling out of bed, she dashed to the washroom to get ready.
Roshni Kapoor, a 22-year-old in her final year of college, was not just an excellent student but also a celebrated athlete. Her passion for basketball and badminton had earned her numerous state-level medals. Recently, she had been selected to represent her state at the National Badminton Championship, set to take place in Delhi in two months.
As Roshni sat at the dining table, her mother, Yamini, came out of the kitchen with a plate of steaming parathas.
“Don’t shout at me, Roshni,” Yamini scolded. “You wake up late and act like it’s my fault you’re running behind!”
“Mumma, I’m your sweet, adorable daughter! Why are you always scolding me?” Roshni replied with a grin.
Yamini sighed, shaking her head. “I’m your mother. I know how you try to wriggle out of everything with those sweet words. Now eat quickly and leave for college.”
“Fine, Mumma. Love you!” Roshni said, planting a quick kiss on her mother’s cheek before rushing out.
“Love you too. Take care,” Yamini called after her.
---
Evening
Roshni and her friends, Alia and Meera, stood at the college gate, waiting for her car to arrive. The three of them were laughing and chatting when something heavy and wet landed at Roshni’s feet with a sickening thud.
Roshni froze as her gaze fell on a man lying on the ground, his face covered in blood and his body riddled with bruises. It was evident he had been beaten severely. Before she could process what was happening, a commanding voice bellowed, “You bastard! Did you really think you could escape me?”
A tall man in a crisp black suit strode forward, his expression like thunder. His sharp features and piercing gaze demanded attention. This was **Siddharth Sharma**, a 27-year-old Senior Investigator with the CBI, known for his ruthless pursuit of justice and unparalleled success in cracking high-profile cases.
Roshni’s heart raced as panic overtook her. She clutched Alia’s arm tightly, retreating behind her friends and squeezing her eyes shut. She whispered, “Please, let this be over. Please go away.”
Alia, alarmed by Roshni’s reaction, whispered back, “Roshni, calm down. It’s okay. Open your eyes. Nothing will happen.”
Meera, however, was too awestruck to pay attention. “Oh my God, it’s Siddharth Sharma! He’s the most brilliant officer in the country. And he’s so… dashing!” she exclaimed, her voice dripping with admiration.
“Meera, shut up!” Alia snapped. “Can’t you see Roshni’s condition? Focus on helping her!”
“Sorry, sorry!” Meera said, snapping out of her daze.
Meanwhile, Siddharth handed the battered criminal over to his team. As he turned, his gaze landed on Roshni. For a fleeting moment, the world seemed to slow. Something about her caught his attention—the vulnerability in her stance, the way she tried to make herself invisible behind her friends. It intrigued him.
He approached them, his presence commanding but calm. “What’s going on here? Is everything alright?” he asked.
Alia quickly stepped forward, her voice steady despite the tension. “Yes, sir. Everything is fine. Our friend just… got a little startled.”
Siddharth’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly. “Startled? That’s a strong reaction for a little scare.”
Meera jumped in, offering a nervous laugh. “Oh, she’s just dramatic sometimes. You know how it is. Nothing serious!”
Siddharth wasn’t convinced, but he decided not to press further. “Alright. Take care of her,” he said, his voice softer now. “And make sure she’s okay.”
As Siddharth walked away, Roshni’s rapid breaths began to slow. Alia and Meera exchanged worried glances.
“That was close,” Alia muttered under her breath.
“Too close,” Meera replied.
Roshni, still shaken, whispered, “Thank you… for covering for me.”
“We’ve got your back, always,” Alia reassured her, squeezing her shoulder.
From a distance, Siddharth glanced back at Roshni one last time. Something about her reaction didn’t sit right with him. He made a mental note to find out more about her.
---
What lies in Roshni’s past that causes such fear? And why can’t Siddharth shake the feeling that their paths are destined to cross again? As their worlds begin to collide, a web of mystery, danger, and unexpected emotions starts to unfold.
