Araina

“Come on, let’s dance!” Sasha pleaded, her words slightly slurred as she waved her hands in a tipsy gesture.

I wasn’t drunk—yet. I pride myself on holding my alcohol better than most, but Sasha? Two glasses of scotch, and she’s on the edge of tipsy-town. “Sasha, maybe you should relax for a bit,” I suggested, watching her sway dangerously close to Rudra’s whiskey.

“Relax?” Sasha scoffed, putting her hands on her hips. “You guys are so boring! Fine. I’ll go alone.”

And before we could stop her, she’d strutted to the dance floor, disappearing into the sea of people under strobing lights.

Aakar, who had been nursing his drink in silence, suddenly tensed. His gaze flickered to Sasha and stayed there, like he was tracking her every move. He didn’t say anything at first, just watched as she laughed and twirled. Then, when she didn’t come back after a while, he stood abruptly.

“We left her alone in the crowd,” he said, his tone clipped.

Before anyone could respond, he was already weaving through the mass of bodies toward her.

The three of us exchanged knowing glances. There was worry in his voice, yes, but we all knew better. That wasn’t just worry.

“Finally,” Rudra muttered with a smirk.

“Can’t blame him,” Nikhil added.

I smiled faintly, but my thoughts were elsewhere. The energy of the club—the music, the laughter, the chaos—felt muffled. My mind kept returning to that stranger, his touch, his voice, the way he’d disappeared before I could say anything more.

“It’s been a long day,” Nikhil said, pulling me from my thoughts.

“For singles like us, every day is long,” Rudra quipped, taking a slow sip from his glass.

“Why don’t you guys date, then?” I asked, leaning back in my seat.

“With our caseloads? You think we even have time to breathe, let alone date?” Nikhil replied, shaking his head.

“Fair point,” I said with a laugh.

Rudra wasn’t about to let it go. “What about you? Why don’t you date?”

I shrugged. “Honestly? I just don’t think I’m girlfriend material. Too busy. Too complicated. Too…”

“Perfect,” Nikhil interrupted, his voice softer than usual. “You’d be the perfect girlfriend.”

For a moment, the noise of the club seemed to dull. I blinked at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.

“Alright, alright!” Rudra stood suddenly, breaking the moment. “I’m grabbing more drinks. Don’t go anywhere!” He bolted toward the bar, leaving me and Nikhil in an awkward silence.

“So… uh, have you heard about the new case? Child trafficking?” Nikhil asked, clearing his throat and steering the conversation to safer waters.

“Only a quick overview. I’ll dig into the file tomorrow,” I replied, grateful for the shift in topic.

Rudra returned moments later, drinks in hand, and the conversation shifted to lighter, random topics. But I couldn’t shake a strange sensation—like someone was watching me.

It wasn’t the usual club stares, the fleeting glances from strangers in the crowd. This felt... heavier. Intentional.

I scanned the room casually, trying to pinpoint the source of the feeling, but nothing stood out. Just faces, laughter, and the swirl of bodies under the dim light.

You’re being paranoid, I told myself, shaking off the thought.

Aakar returned, his arm around a very drunk Sasha. “We should go,” he said, looking visibly tired. “She’s had enough.”

We all agreed. It was already past midnight, and the exhaustion from the day’s interrogation was catching up with us.

“Let me drive you home,” Nikhil offered as we stepped outside.

“No need,” I said with a small smile. “I’m not drunk, and I’ll be fine.”

He hesitated but eventually nodded. “Text me when you get home, at least.”

I promised, and soon I was on my way back to my flat. The roads were quiet, the hum of my car the only sound accompanying my thoughts. Once inside, I locked the door behind me, discarded my dress, and took a long, hot shower.

Slipping into an oversized T-shirt and shorts, I crawled into bed, exhaustion weighing heavily on me. But even as I drifted off, his face—his voice—lingered in my mind.

The stranger. The feeling.

Was it stupid to keep thinking about him? Probably. But my gut told me there was something more to it.

I hit the pillow, hoping for dreamless sleep, but my mind had other plans.