By the time Nadia left Orion Strategic Consulting, the sky over Mumbai had darkened again.
Heavy clouds rolled across the city like slow-moving mountains, threatening another evening storm. The humid air carried the distant scent of rain mixed with exhaust fumes and street food.
Nadia walked down the crowded sidewalk toward the metro station.
Her mind replayed the conversation with Varma again and again.
Your father was a very brave man.
The words echoed in her thoughts.
Varma had known him.
There was no doubt about it.
But instead of helping her, he had warned her to stop investigating.
That only confirmed one thing.
The truth behind the explosion was still dangerous—even after ten years.
Nadia descended the metro stairs and joined the flow of commuters moving through the underground station.
Vendors shouted from small kiosks.
Announcements echoed across the platform.
The entire station buzzed with noise and movement.
Normally the chaos helped Nadia blend in.
But today something felt… wrong.
She couldn't explain why.
Just a quiet instinct pressing against the back of her mind.
The feeling that she was being watched.
She slowed slightly while walking.
Then glanced casually over her shoulder.
Hundreds of people moved around the platform.
Students.
Office workers.
Families.
Nothing unusual.
Nadia shook her head.
"Paranoia," she muttered.
After ten years of chasing conspiracy theories, her mind had learned to imagine danger everywhere.
The train arrived with a loud screech of metal.
Crowds surged forward.
Nadia stepped inside and grabbed one of the overhead rails as the train began moving again.
Stations blurred past.
Her stop arrived twenty minutes later.
She stepped out into the evening air and began the short walk toward her apartment building.
The streets were quieter here.
Small restaurants glowed with warm yellow lights while scooters passed occasionally along the narrow road.
Nadia turned the corner toward her building.
And suddenly stopped walking.
Across the street, a black sedan sat parked beneath a streetlamp.
The engine was running.
The windows were tinted dark.
And the driver inside was watching her.
Nadia felt a chill run down her spine.
The man didn't look away when their eyes met.
He simply stared at her calmly.
Then slowly lifted a phone to his ear.
Nadia's heart started beating faster.
Don't panic.
She forced herself to keep walking.
Maybe it was nothing.
Maybe he was waiting for someone else.
But as she approached the apartment entrance, she glanced back again.
The sedan's headlights turned on.
And the car began moving slowly down the street.
Following her.
Now there was no doubt.
Someone was watching her.
Nadia quickly entered the building and hurried toward the elevator.
Her pulse raced as she pressed the button.
The sedan stopped outside the entrance.
Two men stepped out.
Both wore dark suits.
Neither looked like ordinary visitors.
The elevator doors opened.
Nadia stepped inside and pressed the 12th floor.
The doors closed just as the two men entered the building.
Her heart pounded as the elevator began rising.
Who are they?
Why are they following me?
Then a new realization struck her.
The only people who knew she was investigating the explosion were—
Varma.
And whoever might still be hiding the truth behind that night.
The elevator doors opened.
Nadia stepped out and walked quickly toward her apartment.
She unlocked the door and entered.
Only when the door locked behind her did she finally breathe again.
But across the street…
The black sedan remained parked beneath the streetlamp.
And the two men who had followed her into the building were now speaking quietly into their phones.
Waiting.