The tension in the fellowship lobby was impossible to ignore.
Meher stood between Aarav and Reyaan, feeling as if the air around them had suddenly grown heavy.
Aarav crossed his arms slightly.
"So… you're Meher's mentor?" he asked Reyaan.
Reyaan nodded calmly.
"Yes. I've been guiding her since the beginning of the fellowship."
Something about his tone made Aarav uneasy.
"And you are?" Reyaan asked politely.
"Aarav," he replied. "Her partner."
For a brief second, Reyaan's expression changed—almost like surprise—but it disappeared just as quickly.
"I see," he said quietly.
Meher could feel the silent tension building between them.
She quickly spoke, trying to break the moment.
"Aarav just arrived this morning. He'll probably stay only for a short time."
Aarav looked at her, confused by how quickly she said it.
Why does she sound like she wants me to leave? he wondered.
A few minutes later, Reyaan excused himself for a meeting and walked away.
The moment he disappeared around the corner, Aarav turned to Meher.
"Okay… what's going on?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Meher."
She sighed.
"You're imagining things."
Aarav shook his head slowly.
"No. I know you. And something is definitely wrong."
She stayed silent.
Her mind raced between two choices.
Tell him the truth…
Or keep him safe by hiding it.
Finally she said quietly, "This fellowship… it's more complicated than I expected."
"How complicated?" Aarav asked.
Before she could answer, her phone vibrated again.
Another unknown message.
"Stop digging into the committee files. This is your last warning."
Meher's heart dropped.
Aarav noticed her pale face immediately.
"What happened?"
She quickly locked her phone.
"Nothing."
But this time Aarav didn't believe her at all.
That evening, Aarav stepped outside the building alone.
He leaned against the railing, thinking deeply.
Something about Reyaan felt wrong.
Something about Meher's behavior felt even more suspicious.
And then a voice spoke behind him.
"You're worried about her."
Aarav turned.
Rishan stood there.
"Yes," Aarav replied carefully.
Rishan looked toward the fellowship building.
"You should be."
Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"What does that mean?"
Rishan sighed.
"Because the people inside that building are playing a game much bigger than Meher realizes."
A cold feeling ran through Aarav.
"What kind of game?"
Rishan looked directly at him.
"The kind that destroys careers… and sometimes lives."
At that exact moment, thunder echoed across the sky.
The storm had returned.
And this time, it wasn't just Meher who was caught inside it.