I sat at my desk, fingers tapping nervously against the wood. For once, the silence around me wasn’t deafening—it was oddly comforting. A rare smile played on my lips. I had Ira’s case in hand, a fat advance resting safely in my drawer, and for the first time in months, I felt like I was finally moving forward.
I looked at the small box of sweets I’d picked up on the way back—a quiet celebration. I was going to share it with Priya. Maybe even Liyana.
Speak of the devil.
The glass door flew open with a harsh clang, and there she was—Liyana. Fuming, hair a mess, eyes full of fire. She stormed in like a queen with an army behind her, except her army was pure rage.
“Dev! What the hell is this?” she shouted, slamming her phone onto my desk.
I stared at her, confused.
“All these messages—no replies?! I’ve been calling, texting, waiting! And you’re just here eating sweets like a child?”
I held up my hand calmly. “Hey, calm down. Sit. Please. Just try one.” I nudged the box toward her.
She didn’t even glance at it. “Don’t play cute, Dev. I’m done playing your little support system. My father was right. This detective nonsense is nothing but a fantasy.”
I stood slowly. “Liyana, I’ve told you before—I don’t want to live under your father’s shadow. I want to build something of my own.”
“And how long will that take? Five years? Ten? Forever?” she barked. “You're chasing a dream that’s not real! You're broke, you're barely surviving—and for what? A stupid nameplate that says ‘Detective Dev’?”
I clenched my jaw. “I just got a high-profile case, Liyana. Ira Menon—yeah, that Menon. She’s rich, serious, and she gave me a huge advance. This is big for me.”
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“Oh, so now you’re drooling over some rich client?” she hissed.
I froze.
“It’s not like that.”
She scoffed. “You know what? My dad’s done waiting. He’s fixed my marriage—with someone who actually has a future. Someone who isn’t chasing cats or lost love letters.”
My heart dropped.
“I’m a queen, Dev. A princess. Do you think my father would let me marry a guy who can’t even afford his own chai?”
I tried to breathe, but something inside me snapped.
“That’s it, Liyana,” I said, voice trembling. “You don’t love me. You love control. You love having someone to drag around, someone who’ll beg for your approval. But I won’t do that anymore.”
“Dev—stop—”
“I’m done. This relationship, this drama, all of it—it’s toxic. I’m walking away.”
She stared, stunned. “You’re… breaking up with me?”
“Yes.”
She laughed, bitter and broken. “So that’s it? You hand me a laddu and a breakup? That’s all I’m worth to you?”
“You were worth more. But not anymore.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Don’t do this, Dev… please.”
“I have to.”
And then—everything went dark.
Literally.
The lights flickered, then died.
A blackout.
Just the dull red glow of the inverter flickering in the corner.
I reached out for my phone, using the torch to guide me, when I heard something fall.
“Liyana?”
No response.
“Liyana…?”
My light found her on the floor.
Still.
Unmoving.
Blood.
Spreading slowly beneath her head.
I froze.
My breath caught.
“No… no no no no—Liyana! Liyana, wake up!”
I dropped beside her, my fingers shaking as I checked her pulse.
Nothing.
Her eyes… wide open.
A scream got caught in my throat.
The next hour was a blur—sirens, flashing red lights, uniformed officers, neighbors gathered outside.
I was in a daze.
The police asked questions. I barely responded.
Then a voice cut through everything like a blade.
“Dev!”
I looked up—and saw him.
Her father.
Rage twisted every line of his face.
He stormed toward me, grabbed me by the collar, and slammed me against the wall.
“You useless bastard! You were supposed to protect her! How could someone just come in and kill her—in front of you?”
“I—I didn’t—I broke up with her—I swear, I—”
The inspector intervened. “Sir, please. We’re investigating. But Dev… you were the last one to see her alive. Until we know more—you’re not walking away from this.”
