The night deepened as the train rattled along the tracks, the rhythmic hum filling the dimly lit compartment. Aami sat across from Aarush, her curiosity tinged with concern. His casual demeanour hadn't wavered, but she could sense the tension beneath the surface.
"Do you have a gun or something with you, Aarush?" she asked, lowering her voice.
He smirked but shook his head. "No, but I can manage. I just need to stay alert, keep my eyes open all night."
Aami folded her arms. "Does intelligence have any clue about them? Where they boarded from? Their seat numbers?"
"No idea," he admitted. "The gang I suspect is from Kottakkal."
Aami leaned back, thinking. If Aarush was being watched, she had to be careful too. She decided to take matters into her own hands.
She slipped out of her seat and strolled casually through the corridors, her lips curving into a friendly smile as she passed passengers. At the TTE's berth, she struck up a conversation, weaving charm into her words.
"Three young men boarded from Tirur," the TTE said, flipping through his notes. "They're in B1 compartment."
Aami's mind raced. Could they be the ones? She made her way toward B1, her confidence unwavering. Approaching them with an easy smile, she struck up a conversation, effortlessly disguising her true intentions.
"You guys are heading to Delhi?" she asked.
One of them, a broad-shouldered man with a trimmed beard, nodded. "Yeah, we're on a biking trip to the Himalayas."
Aami's instincts told her otherwise, but she played along. "That's amazing! I actually have some contacts who rent out Royal Enfields in Delhi. Want me to help book them for you?"
They exchanged glances before one of them hesitantly handed over his license for verification. In a swift, practiced motion, Aami took a quick photo before returning it with a charming laugh.
"Just in case I need details," she winked. "I'll text my guy in Delhi."
Back in her berth, she showed the license photos to Aarush. He frowned, quickly forwarding the images to his office for verification.
As the train neared Kannur (CAN), Aarush stretched, eyeing Aami with a glint of mischief. "Let's continue our game."
Aami smirked. "You just don't want to go to sleep, do you?"
He chuckled. "Maybe I enjoy your company."
They engaged in another round of dares and confessions, their banter laced with flirtation. With each passing moment, Aami subtly earned Aarush's trust, steering their conversation toward his work.
She finally asked, "Tell me the most questionable thing you've done in your job."
Aarush hesitated, but the warmth of the game loosened his tongue.
"There was this one case," he admitted, rubbing his temple. "A Gulf returnee at the airport - he was innocent, but I needed a quick win, so I framed him in a smuggling case."
Aami's smile faltered. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she masked her reaction. "And what happened to him?"
Aarush shrugged. "He was detained for a few months, got bail. I never followed up after that."
Aami clenched her fists under the blanket. That man… that innocent man was her father, Gopinathan. The humiliation, the pain, the whispers in their town - all of it had driven him to his grave. And the man responsible sat before her, completely unaware.
Her mission wasn't just about survival anymore.
At around 2 AM, Aami finally climbed into the upper berth, staring at the ceiling, her mind a storm of emotions. Revenge had never felt so close.