Twisted Thrones

Glimpses of Shadows 2

The taxi pulled into a quieter lane, a familiar building ahead. Arnab led her inside. The apartment was modest, sparse, yet ordered. Books stacked neatly on shelves, a faint aroma of brewed coffee lingering in the air, subtle shadows dancing under the evening lights.

“Sit,” he said, gesturing to the couch. “I’ll make tea. You need to calm down.”

She sank into the cushions, hair still damp, eyes wide. Arnab moved to the kitchen, his movements precise, deliberate. Each motion unhurried, calculated. Even in normal acts, there was an undercurrent of discipline, of alertness that mirrored his mind.

He returned, carrying two steaming cups. Handing one to her, he said softly, “Sip slowly.”

She obeyed, letting the warmth seep into her fingers, into her chest. The calm steadied her heartbeat.

Arnab finally spoke, voice low, conversational yet sharp. “He’s just one man. And he misjudged everything. You didn’t.”

She glanced at him. “You… don’t look… angry.”

“I am,” he said quietly, eyes fixed on the cup. Inside, the fury remained...burning, coiled, precise, but controlled. Nothing would shatter the calm. He couldn’t let it. Not tonight. Not until she was safe.

She looked down at her hands. “I… I don’t want to see him again. Not ever.”

“You won’t,” Arnab assured her, tone unwavering. “Not while I’m around.”

For some time, they spoke quietly, about her feelings, the city, trivial notes of daily life. Nothing extravagant, but each word, each pause, a thread of trust weaving between them.

After a while, Shanchayita’s thoughts drifted. The quiet of Arnab’s flat, the distant hum of the city outside, and the lingering adrenaline from the chase had given her a strange, fragile calm. But there was one thing she couldn’t shake.

She tapped her fingers on her knee, voice barely above a whisper. “Should I… tell her?”

Arnab’s head lifted slightly, eyes narrowing, reading her expression with calm precision. “Tell who?”

“Shreyoshi,” she said, biting her lip. “I mean… she already knows about Ashmit, but today… everything that happened… she should know.”

Arnab’s gaze held hers, steady and unreadable. There was no judgment, no rush to speak, just that sharp, controlled observation he always carried. “Sure,” he said finally, voice low, measured. “If it’s what you want, go ahead.”

Shanchayita exhaled, a soft, trembling sigh. She reached into her sling bag and pulled out her phone. The screen glowed in the dim light of the room, the reflection of the lamp catching on the edges of her fingers. She pressed Shreyoshi’s name, hesitated for a fraction of a second, then hit call.

The line clicked once, twice, then a familiar, energetic voice rang through.

“Shanchayita! Finally! What’s up?”

Her lips curved in a small, tired smile. “Hey… you free to talk?”

“Of course, always for you. What happened? You sound… different.” There was a note of concern beneath the cheerfulness.

Shanchayita drew in a steadying breath. “It’s… about today. About Ashmit. I… I ran. He tried to force something...I mean, he got angry when I said no.” Her words rushed, tumbling out faster than she expected, but she couldn’t stop them.

There was a brief pause on the other side. Then Shreyoshi’s voice sharpened, protective, instant. “What? He...he what?”

“I… I just ran,” Shanchayita said softly. “I didn’t know what else to do. I was… scared.”

Shreyoshi’s tone became low, almost furious, her words clipped. “That son of a b***h! How dare he even think...Did the fucker touch you?”

“No! I stopped him. I...he was… he was angry, but I managed to get away.” Her voice faltered slightly, the memory of fear still raw.

Shreyoshi’s sigh of relief was audible, yet it carried fire. “Thank God. That’s good. And… wait, where are you now?”

Shanchayita’s gaze flicked to Arnab, still sitting calmly on the couch, his posture unreadable. She let herself smile faintly. “I’m… safe. I’m with Arnab. He helped me.”

There was a brief intake of breath on the other end. “Arnab? That’s… wow. He’s there? You’re safe with him?”

“Yes,” Shanchayita said, quietly, the words steady despite the lingering tremor in her chest. “He… he made sure I was okay. He… kept me calm.”

Shreyoshi’s voice softened slightly, though the protective edge remained. “I don’t even know what to say. I’m… so glad. You’re okay, you’re safe. And… Arnab… he’s… reliable, isn’t he?”

Shanchayita nodded, though she knew he couldn’t see her. “Yes. And calm.”

There was a pause, filled only by the low hum of the city outside the flat. Then Shreyoshi’s voice returned, teasing, but with warmth. “You sound… different. Braver.”

“I guess I am,” Shanchayita admitted softly. “After today… I had to be. And… I wanted to tell you. You should know what happened.”

Shreyoshi’s tone grew serious again, protective but resigned. “I know. I just… I hate that you had to go through that. But… you handled it, and you’re safe now. That’s all that matters. Promise me one thing?”

“Anything,” Shanchayita said, attentive.

“Promise me you won’t go back there. Not ever. Not even if that fucker tries to… charm you with that fake smile of his.”

Shanchayita smiled faintly, a shadow of amusement passing through the tension. “I promise. Never again.”

“Good,” Shreyoshi said, her voice softening, almost affectionate. “And… call me if you feel even a little unsure. I’ll be there. No questions. Just… you know, backup.”

“I know,” Shanchayita whispered, warmth threading through her tired voice. “Thank you.”

Another pause, then Shreyoshi laughed lightly, the tension breaking. “You’re too calm for someone who just ran from a… disaster date. Seriously, I expected a screaming fit.”

Shanchayita laughed softly, the sound trembling but genuine. “I have someone to thank for that,” she said, glancing at Arnab, who gave a slight nod without looking up, expression unreadable as always.

“You do realize… you just owe him big time,” Shreyoshi teased, voice bright again.

“I know,” Shanchayita said. “And I will. But… let’s just survive today first.”

Shreyoshi sighed, the sound of relief and lingering concern mixing. “Alright. Keep me posted. And… drink water, eat something, recover. You’re still trembling, aren’t you?”

“Maybe a little,” Shanchayita admitted, pressing a hand over her chest. “But… I’m okay now.”

“Good,” Shreyoshi said, finally easing. “I’ll check in later. And… enjoy your calm. You’ve earned it.”

Shanchayita smiled faintly, a quiet warmth settling in her chest. “I will. Thank you… for everything.”

“Anytime,” Shreyoshi replied, the line crackling slightly in the background. “Now… get some rest, or at least sit down with a cup of tea or something.”

Shanchayita’s lips curved in a faint smile. “I will. Don’t worry.”

They hung up, leaving her with the muted hum of the city outside the rain-slick streets. The apartment felt calm now, warm. Arnab remained silent, standing by the window, gazing at the streets below. He said nothing, yet his presence radiated an unspoken assurance, the kind that made her pulse steady, her breaths even.

Shanchayita leaned back, finally allowing a long exhale to slip past her lips. The apartment was quiet, yet outside, the city hummed. And Arnab, standing there, calm and unreadable, held within him a storm she could not yet perceive.

The street outside darkened, the city lights flickering like distant stars caught in mist. Arnab finally stood. “I’ll get you home.”

The taxi ride back was silent, except for the occasional squeal of tires over wet asphalt. Shanchayita’s head rested lightly against the seat, eyes closed. She felt safe, strangely protected, the world outside the glass blurred and distant.

Arnab’s mind, however, was a web of calculations and suppressed rage. Ashmit, the delivery he had retrieved earlier at the Mall, the subtle instructions he had received from Gaurav never left his consciousness.

They reached her building. He walked her up the stairs, each step measured, deliberate. “Here,” he said, stopping at her door. “Safe. All yours now.”

She turned to him, voice barely above a whisper. “Thank you… truly.”

He nodded, with a faint smile.

“Goodnight, Shanchayita,” he said in a low voice.

“Goodnight, Arnab,” she replied, as she closed the door.

Arnab turned, sliding his hands into his pockets, silent, his mind already two steps ahead. The envelope would wait, the delivery’s significance would surface soon. And tonight, he had ensured one thing, she was safe.

*****

At the same time, Far across the world, on an uncharted island in the Indian Ocean, a hidden laboratory throbbed with cold, blue light. Inside, a cryogenic pod hissed, frost curling into the air as its lid slid open with mechanical precision. Issei’s eyes snapped open, vision blurred, chest tight, the sterile tang of antiseptic sharp in his nostrils. Machines around him whispered, fans hummed, monitors flickered. His mind, sluggish and fragmented from a month-long slumber, fought to piece together the impossible. And then, cutting through the haze, a question that burned through his brain,

"Who am I?"