The Man Outside The Window
1071 Words
Episode 13: The Man Outside The Window
10:15 PM.
Aarav pulled Neera closer after the kiss. His arms were still around her waist.
The apartment was quiet. Peaceful. For the first time in weeks.
"I think," Neera whispered against his chest, "we should celebrate that the contract is over."
Aarav smiled. "With dinner? Or with sleep? I'm exhausted."
"With both," Neera laughed softly.
She pulled away and walked to the kitchen. "Let me make tea. You sit."
Aarav nodded and collapsed onto the sofa. He closed his eyes for just one second.
His phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: "You shouldn't have testified, Officer. - R"
Aarav sat up straight. His police instincts kicked in instantly.
He looked toward the window. The curtains were closed. But something felt wrong.
Outside, across the street, a black car was parked. Engine off. Lights off.
Inside the car, a man lowered his binoculars and spoke into his phone.
"They're home. Both of them."
"Wait for my signal," the voice said. "And make it look like an accident."
---
Kitchen.
Neera was boiling water. She was humming. Happy.
She didn't see Aarav standing in the doorway, watching her with worry in his eyes.
"What's wrong?" Neera asked, turning around. "You look... tense."
Aarav forced a smile. "Nothing. Just thinking about tomorrow's court date."
Neera walked to him and touched his face. "Hey. We dealt with Riya. We dealt with the case. We can deal with anything."
Aarav wanted to tell her about the text. About the car outside.
But he didn't want to scare her. Not tonight.
"You're right," he said. And kissed her forehead. "Make the tea. I'll check the doors."
---
Aarav checked every lock. Twice.
Front door. Bolted.
Back door. Bolted.
Windows. Locked.
But when he reached the bedroom window, he saw it.
A small shadow. Moving. Across the street.
His blood ran cold.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. "Rahman sir? It's Aarav. I need a patrol car outside my building. Now. Don't ask why."
"What's going on?" Rahman asked.
"I think someone's watching us. From the Rajib case."
There was a pause. "I'll send someone in 10 minutes. Stay inside. Don't open the door for anyone."
Aarav hung up.
---
Living Room. 10:30 PM.
Neera came out with two cups of tea. "Here. Chamomile. For stress."
Aarav took the cup but didn't drink. His eyes were fixed on the window.
"Neera," he said quietly. "I need you to listen to me. And don't panic."
Neera's smile faded. "What is it?"
"I think... I think we're being watched."
The cup in Neera's hand shook. "What? By who?"
"I don't know. But after what happened in court today, it's possible. SP Khaled has people. Even from jail."
Neera set the tea down. Her hands were trembling now. "Aarav, you're scaring me."
"I know. I'm sorry. But I need you to stay away from the windows. And stay close to me, okay?"
Neera nodded. She walked to the sofa and sat next to him.
Aarav put his arm around her. With his other hand, he kept his gun on the coffee table.
10 minutes passed. Then 15.
Nothing happened.
"Maybe it's nothing," Neera whispered. "Maybe you're just stressed from the case."
"Maybe," Aarav said. But he didn't believe it.
Then.
BANG.
The sound of a car door closing. From outside.
Both of them froze.
Aarav stood up slowly. He walked to the window and moved the curtain an inch.
The black car was gone.
But in its place, walking toward their building, was a man.
Tall. Black jacket. Cap pulled low.
And something in his hand that looked like... a gun.
"Neera. Get down. Now."
---
The man stopped in front of their building.
He looked up. Directly at Aarav's window.
Even from the 3rd floor, Aarav could feel him staring.
The man raised his hand. And pointed. Right at them.
Then he turned and walked away. Disappeared into the dark.
Aarav exhaled. His heart was pounding.
His phone rang. Rahman.
"We sent the patrol," Rahman said. "But they didn't see anyone. Are you okay?"
"Someone was here," Aarav said. "Watching us. He had a gun."
"Stay inside. I'll come myself. 20 minutes."
---
11:00 PM.
Rahman arrived with two other officers. They searched the building. The street. Nothing.
"No evidence," Rahman said to Aarav. "But I'll put a patrol outside your place for the next few nights."
"Thank you, sir."
After Rahman left, Aarav and Neera were alone again.
Neera was sitting on the floor, hugging her knees. "This is because of me, isn't it? Because I made you testify?"
Aarav sat beside her. "No. This is because of me. Because of choices I made 5 years ago."
He pulled her into his arms. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you. I promise."
Neera cried quietly into his shirt. "I was so scared, Aarav."
"I know, baby. I know."
They stayed like that for an hour. Until Neera fell asleep in his arms.
Aarav didn't sleep that night. He sat by the window. Watching. Waiting.
---
Next Morning. 8:00 AM.
Court Day.
Aarav and Neera walked out of the building together. Two police officers were waiting by their car.
"For protection," one of them said.
In court, Riya testified again. Calm. Clear.
SP Khaled's lawyer tried to break her. But she didn't break.
By the end of the day, the judge said: "Case will go to trial. SP Khaled will remain in custody."
It was a win.
But as they left the court, Neera's phone buzzed.
Unknown Number: "You think you're safe? This is just the beginning."
Neera showed it to Aarav.
Aarav's jaw tightened. "From now on, you don't go anywhere alone. Understood?"
Neera nodded. "Understood."
---
Night. 9:00 PM. Back Home.
They ordered food in. Watched a movie. Tried to act normal.
But both of them kept checking the windows.
At 11 PM, Aarav got another text.
Unknown Number: "Tell Neera to stay away from you. Or she gets hurt. - R"
Aarav deleted the message. He didn't show Neera.
He couldn't.
He looked at her, sleeping on the sofa beside him. Peaceful. Safe. For now.
He whispered, "I won't let them touch you. Ever."
Outside, in the dark, the same black car was parked again.
Engine running this time.
And inside, the man smiled. "Tomorrow," he said to himself.
To Be Continued...
Episode 14: The Threat
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