Late at night, beneath a dark sky illuminated only by scattered streetlights, a car stood parked near an open field outside the courthouse.

Inside the car, tension hung heavily in the air.

Miransh sat in the driver’s seat, his gaze shifting repeatedly between the courthouse entrance and the watch on his wrist.

In the backseat, Palki sat quietly beside Nayab.

Her hand rested against her stomach, gripping it tightly.

Her eyes remained fixed on the courthouse.

Waiting.

Hoping.

Praying.

Miransh noticed.

His gaze shifted to the rearview mirror.

“Eyelid.”

Palki immediately looked up.

“Are you okay?”

Palki casually said.

“Yes. I’m absolutely fine.”

Then she looked away and returned her attention to the courthouse.

Miransh wasn’t convinced.

Not even slightly.

Before he could question her further, Nayab suddenly pointed outside.

“Hey.”

Everyone looked up.

“Kiaan is coming.”

Instantly, all eyes moved toward the courthouse.

Kiaan was walking toward the car.

Fast.

The tension inside the vehicle doubled.

Palki unconsciously held her breath.

Miransh’s fingers tightened around the steering wheel.

A few seconds later, Kiaan opened the passenger door and slid into the seat.

The moment he sat down, three pairs of eyes locked onto him.

Waiting.

Kiaan leaned back.

Closed his eyes.

Took a deep breath.

Then slowly raised a thumbs-up.

Relief exploded inside the car.

Palki almost smiled.

Nayab visibly relaxed.

Even Miransh’s shoulders loosened.

Kiaan finally opened his eyes.

“We need to go to the Secret Agency.”

His voice turned serious.

“The files are there.”

Silence followed.

Then Miransh nodded.

“Okay.”

His eyes darkened with determination.

“You go.”

A pause.

“I’ll handle the rest.”

Kiaan immediately gave him a look.

“The hell I will.”

Miransh raised an eyebrow.

Kiaan folded his arms.

“I’m coming with you.”

Now Miransh looked interested.

“Oh?”

A faint smirk appeared on his face.

“What happened?”

He leaned back.

“Aren’t you worried about losing your license anymore?”

Kiaan smiled.

“You’re my friend.”

His answer was immediate.

“For you, I’d risk my license.”

Then he added dramatically,

“Maybe even my life.”

A rare smile appeared on Miransh’s face.

Without saying anything, both of them bumped fists.

“Awwww.”

Palki’s voice immediately ruined the moment.

The two men looked at her.

She grinned.

Nayab laughed.

Kiaan shook his head.

“Can we leave now?”

Miransh started the engine.

The car moved into the night.

A few minutes later, while driving, Kiaan casually asked,

“By the way, Palki.”

“What is your mother’s name?”

The smile disappeared from Palki’s face.

Almost instantly.

She lowered her eyes.

“Swati.”

A strange look crossed Kiaan’s face.

He frowned slightly.

But said nothing.

The rest of the drive passed in silence.

A while later, they arrived.

The Secret Agency.

A massive building stood before them.

Cold.

Silent.

Mysterious.

The place seemed to hide countless secrets behind its walls.

Everyone stepped out of the car.

For a few moments, nobody spoke.

They simply stared at the building.

Miransh’s eyes narrowed.

A strange feeling settled inside him.

He looked at the agency and quietly said,

“This place has the answers.”

Everyone looked at him.

“The answers to all my questions.”

Kiaan stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.

Miransh continued,

“This won’t be easy.”

His voice was calm.

“But we have to be careful.”

He looked toward the building again.

“This isn’t dangerous for our lives.”

Then his expression hardened.

“It’s dangerous for the mission.”

His gaze darkened.

“And we’re walking out of here with the truth.”

Palki immediately stepped forward.

Determination burned in her eyes.

“Then I’m ready.”

Miransh looked at her.

Really looked at her.

The confidence.

The stubbornness.

The determination.

And then—

His gaze shifted lower.

To the way she was standing.

To the hand pressed against her lower back.

To the discomfort she had been trying to hide for the last hour.

Without saying a word, Miransh walked toward the car.

Opened the rear door.

And made her sit inside.

Everyone froze.

Including Palki.

“What are you doing?”

She looked genuinely confused.

Miransh ignored her question.

Instead, he turned toward Nayab and handed her the keys.

“Nayab.”

She caught them automatically.

“Drive.”

Nayab blinked.

“What?”

“Take her home.”

The silence that followed was dangerous.

Very dangerous.

Palki looked out of the car window.

“No.”

Miransh didn’t react.

Palki folded her arms.

“No, no, no.”

She pointed at herself.

Then at Nayab.

“One minute.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“How misogynistic are you?”

Kiaan immediately looked away.

Because this was about to become entertaining.

Palki continued,

“Just because we’re girls doesn’t mean we can’t do dangerous work.”

Miransh finally looked at her.

His expression remained completely calm.

“No.”

He bent slightly toward the window.

“I know better than anyone what you’re capable of.”

For a brief second, Palki softened.

Then he continued.

“But right now, you need to go home.”

Her irritation immediately returned.

“Why?”

Miransh answered casually.

“Because your periods are about to start.”

Silence.

Palki’s eyes widened.

Her brain stopped working.

For a moment, even the wind seemed shocked.

Miransh straightened.

Then he looked at Nayab.

“Drive.”

Nayab obediently climbed into the driver’s seat.

Palki was still frozen.

Still processing.

Still wondering how on earth he said that.

Before she could form a single argument.

The engine started.

The car moved.

And her protest remained trapped inside her mouth.

As the girls disappeared down the road, Miransh finally turned around.

Only to find Kiaan staring at him.

With a very suspicious smile.

Miransh frowned.

“What?”

Kiaan’s smile widened.

“Nothing.”

A pause.

“You know her period schedule too. Interesting”

Miransh cleared his throat.

“I’m leaving.”

But before he could walk away—

“Miransh.”

The smile vanished from Kiaan’s face.

Instantly.

Something about his tone made Miransh stop.

Both men became serious.

Kiaan looked toward the agency.

Then quietly said,

“I didn’t mention this before. Because Palki was there.”

Miransh frowned.

“What?”

Kiaan took a deep breath.

Then spoke words neither of them expected.

“I talked to some seniors.”

Miransh waited.

Kiaan continued,

“And according to the records…”

A pause.

“Officer Swati was banned from the Secret Agency.”

For a second, Miransh thought he had heard wrong.

“What?”

Shock flashed across his face.

“That’s impossible.”

His voice rose slightly.

“I heard Mom talking about Eyelid’s mother’s mission.”

He looked confused.

Kiaan nodded.

“I’m only telling you what they told me.”

Silence fell between them.

Miransh slowly turned toward the agency building.

His eyes narrowed.

The mystery had just become deeper.

Much deeper.

Officer Swati.

Banned.

Why?

What had she done?

Or perhaps—

What had she discovered?

A dangerous feeling settled in his chest.

He stared at the towering building and said quietly,

“All these puzzles…”

His jaw tightened.

“They’ll be solved here.”

Without waiting any longer, Miransh started walking toward the Secret Agency.

Kiaan followed beside him.

A Few Hours Later — Maurya Mansion

Palki stepped out of the bathroom and collapsed dramatically onto her bed, clutching her stomach.

“What the hell?!” she groaned. “Why do my periods always decide to show up whenever something important is about to happen?”

She buried her face in a pillow, letting out another frustrated whine.

Then her gaze fell on the bracelet wrapped around her wrist—the mother-and-daughter sculpture bracelet Miransh had gifted her.

Her expression softened.

“I wanted to go with Ansh too…” she murmured sadly. “But…”

The next second, frustration took over.

With an annoyed huff, she grabbed a pillow and hurled it across the room.

Thud!

“Ow!”

Palki instantly sat up.

The pillow had hit Ivana, who had just walked into the room.

“Oh my God, Ivana!”

Palki quickly jumped off the bed and rushed toward her.

“Are you okay?”

Ivana laughed.

“Yes, bestie. It was just a pillow, not a brick.”

Palki sighed in relief before dragging herself back to the bed and falling onto it once again.

Watching her dramatic behavior, Ivana raised an eyebrow.

“What happened? Are you planning another escape mission?”

Palki groaned.

“No. I got my periods.”

“Oh.”

Ivana immediately walked over and sat beside her.

“Then you definitely need a hug.”

Without waiting for permission, she wrapped her arms around Palki.

Palki smiled.

“Thank you.”

After a moment, she looked at Ivana curiously.

“So? You didn’t come here just to get attacked by a flying pillow. What happened?”

The smile on Ivana’s face faded.

She lay down beside Palki and stared at the ceiling.

“I made a mistake.”

Palki turned toward her.

“What kind of mistake?”

Taking a deep breath, Ivana told her everything that had happened at college.

When she finished, silence filled the room.

Palki thought for a moment before speaking.

“Then just apologize to him.”

Ivana sighed.

“I want to… but I’m scared.”

“Scared of what?”

“What he must be thinking about me right now.” Her voice lowered. “I was so insensitive.”

Palki smiled gently.

“Ivana, anyone can make a mistake. What matters is that you’ve realized it and want to make things right.”

Ivana looked at her for a few seconds before finally smiling.

“Yeah… you’re right.”

She sat up.

“I’ll apologize to him tomorrow.”

“That’s my good girl.”

Palki patted her head proudly.

Ivana laughed.

“Goodnight, bestie.”

“Goodnight.”

Ivana left the room.

The moment the door closed, the smile disappeared from Palki’s face.

She sat upright.

“No. I can’t sleep.”

Determination flashed in her eyes.

“I’ll talk to Ansh first. Only then will I sleep.”

Secret Agency

After successfully slipping past the guards, Miransh and Kiaan finally made their way inside the agency.

The room they entered was completely dark.

Kiaan looked around nervously.

“Dude, we managed to get inside without being seen by the guards, but what about the cameras?”

Miransh smirked.

“Don’t worry. Nayab is handling the cameras.”

Kiaan’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

“What?! You got the security system hacked?”

Before Miransh could reply, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the corridor.

Both immediately hid in the shadows.

A man entered the room and switched on the lights.

He scanned the area before his attention landed on several files placed in an open cabinet.

Picking them up, he checked their codes.

“Yes, these are the files I need to place in the storage room.”

Kiaan leaned closer to Miransh and whispered,

“I think he’s heading to the room where they keep the confidential files.”

“Then we’ll follow him,” Miransh whispered back.

Keeping a safe distance, they trailed the man through the hallway.

Eventually, he stopped in front of a heavily secured room.

After entering a passcode, he unlocked the door and walked inside.

Before Miransh and Kiaan could reach it, the door shut behind him.

“Damn it!” Kiaan hissed.

Miransh remained calm.

“Relax. Let him finish his work and leave first.”

Kiaan stared at him suspiciously.

“Don’t tell me you already know the password.”

Miransh simply smiled.

Kiaan frowned.

“I hate that smile.”

Miransh silently pointed toward a security camera mounted above them.

Kiaan looked at the camera, then back at Miransh.

At that exact moment, Miransh’s phone vibrated.

He pulled it from his pocket and unlocked the screen.

A message from Nayab appeared.

Attached to it was a passcode.

Realization dawned on Kiaan’s face.

Now he understood why Miransh had been so calm.

A few minutes later, the man exited the room and locked it before walking away.

The moment he disappeared from sight, Miransh entered the passcode.

Click.

The door unlocked.

Both slipped inside.

The moment they stepped into the room, they froze.

Files.

Thousands of them.

Shelves stretched from floor to ceiling, packed with documents.

Rows after rows.

Cabinets after cabinets.

An endless sea of files.

Both exchanged a glance and took a deep breath.

Neither of them knew the mafia’s name.

Neither of them knew the operation’s codename.

They had almost nothing to work with.

Kiaan rubbed his forehead.

“Finding that file is impossible.”

“It has to be here,” Miransh replied firmly.

Without wasting another second, he began searching through the files.

Kiaan joined him.

One shelf.

Then another.

Then another.

Hours passed.

Still nothing.

***

Two Hours Later

The room looked as if a storm had passed through it.

Files were scattered everywhere.

Yet there were still hundreds left to check.

Frustration finally snapped Miransh’s patience.

“Irrelevant!”

He threw a file across the room.

The folder landed with a loud smack against the floor.

Exhausted, he dropped to his knees.

Kiaan walked over and sat beside him.

“Don’t lose hope, Miransh. We’ll find it.”

Miransh laughed bitterly.

“How?”

He gestured toward the endless shelves.

“There are thousands of files here. Even if we search the entire night, we’ll still miss plenty of them.”

Kiaan fell silent.

Because Miransh was right.

Finding one specific file among thousands was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

For several moments, neither of them spoke.

Then Miransh slowly lifted his head.

His eyes began scanning the room.

The shelves.

The tables.

The cabinets.

Every corner.

Every detail.

Then his gaze stopped.

On the file he had thrown earlier.

A strange look crossed his face.

He immediately stood up and walked toward it.

Kiaan followed.

“What happened?”

Miransh stared at the floor.

“This area is strange.”

“What do you mean?” Kiaan asked.

Miransh looked around the room.

“The entire storage room has tiled flooring.”

Then he pointed downward.

“But this…”

His eyes narrowed.

“…is the only spot covered by a carpet.”

Silence filled the room.

Because he was right.

It was strange.

Very strange.

Slowly, Miransh picked up the file and set it aside.

Then he grabbed the edge of the carpet.

And pulled.

The carpet slid away.

Both boys’ eyes widened.

Underneath it was something neither of them had expected to find.

***

Sitara’s Note 

Sometimes the truth doesn’t hide in darkness.

Sometimes it hides in plain sight.

An unknown name.

A question nobody dares to ask.

A file buried beneath thousands of others.

A carpet covering something that was never meant to be discovered.

In this chapter, every character is fighting a different battle.

Palki is fighting her frustration.

Ivana is fighting her guilt.

Kiaan is fighting uncertainty.

And Miransh is fighting a mystery that keeps growing deeper with every answer he finds.

But perhaps the most dangerous thing they discovered tonight wasn’t hidden beneath that carpet.

It was a single piece of information:

Officer Swati was banned from the Secret Agency.

The question is no longer what happened.

The question is—

what was so dangerous that someone wanted it buried forever?

See you in the next chapter.

— Sitara Chandria