AUTHORS POV

One girl paced back and forth in the corridor of the Delhi hospital, her mind racing with the urgency of her work. Her phone rang, snapping her out of her thoughts. She quickly picked it up, recognizing her friend's name on the screen.

"Tanu, I'll be there on time, don't worry. It's just a last-minute case. I'll—" she began, only to be interrupted.

"Yaar, Lasya, you’re always working. We’re doctors too, we understand, but you're always busier than us. No more excuses, just come fast. The train leaves at 11:30," Tanu chided gently.

Lasya sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I’m a forensic specialist, not a regular doctor. You know how the cases in Delhi are, with the crime rate and all. I’ll come on my own, don't wait for me."

Tanu relented, but not without a final word. "Okay, Lasya, just don’t be late, alright?"

"Alright," Lasya replied, ending the call and taking a deep breath. She glanced at the clock, calculating how much time she had left before she needed to leave.

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Meanwhile, on the other side of Delhi, a boy was hurriedly packing his bags. Just then, his friend burst into the room, frustration evident on his face.

"Saale, you kuttey, how much time will you take, badmash? You came from Mumbai and now you're making us late again!" his friend scolded him.

He looked up, sheepish. "Arey, I'm packing! But I got a call from the forensic department asking for my help. By talking on the phone, I forgot about packing...see, I've already packed," he said, gesturing to his half-filled suitcase.

Just as his friend was about to retort, they were interrupted by another voice.

"Aadil bhai, did you pack your things? And Manoj, why are you always scolding my bhai? Go and get ready, we have to leave soon."

Manoj turned, exasperated. "Shreya baby, listen to me once—"

"No, no, you just go," Shreya cut him off firmly.

With a resigned sigh, Manoj turned to finish his preparations. Soon, they all packed their things and left together, ready for whatever awaited them next.

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On the other side, at the bustling railway station, a group of friends had gathered.They were  all waiting eagerly, exchanging animated conversations and laughter.

Just then, Manoj, Shreya, and Aadil entered the station, joining the lively group. They were soon caught up in a discussion about their plans for the trip, voices overlapping in excitement and anticipation.

In the midst of the chatter, Tanu's phone rang. Glancing at the screen, she saw Lasya's name and quickly answered. "Hello, where are you?" she asked, trying to hear over the noise of the station.

Lasya's voice came through the phone, slightly breathless. "I'll be late by 10 minutes. I got stuck in traffic. I'll be there on time, don't worry."

Tanu sighed, a mix of concern and exasperation in her voice. "I told you to come soon, but you never listen."

Lasya's voice came through the phone, slightly breathless. "Okay, girl, don't worry. I'll be there on time. But it's only 10:30, why are you in such a rush?"

Tanu's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? 10:30? Do you know how much time it will take you to get here? It's a 45-minute journey, girl!"

Lasya sighed, a mix of concern and exasperation in her voice. "Yeah, yeah, I'm coming. Don't worry."

"Okay, then. Be careful. Bye-bye, see you here," Tanu said, ending the call with a sigh.

After Aadil  turned to his friends. "Guys, I'm going to buy some snacks because this kutta," he pointed towards Manoj, "didn't give me anything to eat."

Manoj rolled his eyes, shrugging. "Go on, then. Get something for everyone while you're at it!" he called after Aadil, as the group laughed and resumed their conversations, the excitement of the upcoming journey palpable in the air.

Just then, as the group's chatter continued, Manoj's voice cut through. "Is she really coming?" he asked, a note of doubt in his tone.

Before anyone could respond, Ajay interjected. "We didn't expect her to come, but let it be," he said, brushing off the uncertainty with a casual wave of his hand.

Just then, Pooja spoke up, her voice tinged with concern. "If she finds out about him, what will she do? I'm also unable to understand her," she said.

Tanu chimed in, her voice calming and reassuring. "Yaar, let her come. We'll figure out what we have to do, okay? Don't take tension, guys," she said.

In unison, they all echoed, "Get ready to die in her hands..." And then Asad interjected sarcastically, "She will definitely do that without any case. She's a forensic specialist, and after witnessing so many crimes, she will definitely use that one crime for all of us." Their words hung heavy in the air, a mixture of dark humor and underlying concern.

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Will Lasya arrive in time?

What awaits our friends on their trip?

And what will happen when secrets come to light?

But before we part ways, I'd love to hear from you, dear readers.

What do you think will happen next?

How would you react in their shoes?

Share your thoughts, theories, and reactions in the comments below!

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