Since that night, Ritu couldn't shake the unease that lingered from overhearing Abhimanyu and Shreya's conversation. It was clear they were hiding something about that night. Could her brother really have been involved in Jai's grandfather's murder? Otherwise, why would he insist that Shreya say only what he wanted her to in court?

She knew she needed to dig deeper, but how? Confronting them directly wasn't an option.

Meanwhile, Gyan had gone silent, no longer responding to her texts. Ritu knew he was avoiding her, unable to face her after what had happened that day. She also didn't have the heart to cause her brother anymore stress. So, she'd have to wait patiently now, hoping that in time, Gyan would come around.

14th April

Ritu sat at her cluttered desk, the soft glow of her desk lamp casting a warm light over the sketches and fabric swatches scattered before her. Her final year fashion show loomed on the horizon, and she could feel the pressure mounting. She had envisioned flowy designs for her dresses. She wanted to capture the ethereal beauty of the cosmos and the timeless tales of Mythology and blend them into her art. Perhaps, she'd add a touch of contemporary fashion to her designs to make it more modernized.

She picked up her pencil, sketching the lines of a gown inspired by the cosmic dance of creation and destruction, a theme rooted in both the stars and ancient tales. The dresses would be elegant and fluid, with fabrics like chiffon, lace, silk, and organza. Her vision was getting clearer with each design she drew.

Ritu still had her doubts about how everything would come together, but she could already envision it falling into place. The way the chiffon would billow as the models walked, how the lace would add delicate details, the richness of silk adding a luxurious touch, and the lightness of organza creating a dreamlike quality. And she'll add shimmering sequins that would reflect the light like stars in the night sky.

As she worked, her mind drifted to the logistics. "Eleven to thirteen models," she murmured, contemplating the runway, "From where I'll get them?"

"Perhaps, Maa-Papa can help," she murmured to herself again. They had quite a lot connection. And Pihu. She could help her as well. Ritu made a mental note to call Pihu the next day as she got up from her desk and went straight to bed.

As she settled down, she took her phone and unlocked it. Her heart skipped a beat. Gyan had sent her a new text. He had sent a link. Of course! What else could she expect from him! She opened the link and it led her to a YouTube video. Tomorrow was the Bengali New Year. So, it was a new song titled 'Boishakher Gondho' welcoming the new year by Fossils-a Bengali band.

Gyan was a complete music freak.

Ritu enjoyed the rhythm of the song, letting the beat carry her away until she drifted off to sleep without even realizing it.

15th April

"Subho Nabobarsho, Ritz," Navi greeted as he settled onto the couch beside her. Ritu smiled warmly and returned the greeting. "How is your recording going?"

"Oh, it's almost finished. We've already recorded four songs. Gyan will send his solo source audio today."

"Gyan's doing a solo?"

"Absolutely. You have no idea how talented he is. His pitch is exceptionally sharp when it comes to music." Noticing Ritu's surprised look, Navneet added, taking a Sandesh from the plate, "You'll understand what I mean once you hear the final mix. I'll make sure to send you the audio clip when it's ready."

Ritu nodded; she had no idea about Gyan's sharp pitch. She knew he was crazy about music; but this info was definitely new.

"When are you going back?" Ritu asked Navneet as she put a Rasogolla in her mouth.

"Mm, maybe in a week," Navneet answered with a mouthful.

"I'm going to the market to shop for the materials for my final year fashion show. Will you be interested in accompanying me?" Ritu asked as Irfan came inside the villa and walked straight toward Ritu. "Ritu ma'am, are you ready?"

She nodded at him, before turning to Navneet and threw him a questioning glance. Navneet shrugged. "I guess I can. I don't have anything to do until Gyan sends the audio."

Ritu nodded and smiled. "Okay then. Let's go."

~~~

They walked through the bustling market. Ritu's eyes scanning the colorful array of fabrics laid out before her. The fabric stalls were alive with the hues of vibrant silks, delicate chiffons, and intricate laces. Each bolt of material seemed to whisper possibilities for her final year fashion show.

"Let's start with the chiffons," Ritu said, her voice full of enthusiasm. She approached a stall displaying an assortment of chiffon in various shades. Her fingers glided over the fabrics, assessing their weight and texture. "I need something light and flowy."

Navneet helped her walk to the stall and picked up a swatch of soft pastel pink chiffon. "How about this one? It looks perfect for a flowy gown."

Ritu examined the fabric, nodding appreciatively. "Yes, this could work. But I also need some darker shades for contrast. Maybe a deep navy or midnight blue."

Irfan, standing nearby, adjusted his stance to better assist. "I think the fourth stall over there has the darker shades. Let's check over there," he said, pointing to a stall at the edge of the market where dark-colored fabrics were displayed. Ritu nodded as they navigated through the crowd. Irfan's presence was like a comforting shield in the busy market. Since the trials began in court, they have been under constant scrutiny from both the media and the public. It was impossible to move without catching any attention from the crowd.

Irfan picked a deep navy chiffon, and Ritu smiled, satisfied with his choice. "This is going to look stunning on stage," she nodded and said, her excitement palpable. "You've got good taste, Irfan."

Irfan nodded, pleased and guided her toward the next stall.

They moved to the lace section. Ritu continued to sift through the laces, her focus unwavering. She was searching for intricate patterns that could add elegance to her designs. "These are beautiful," she mused, holding up a delicate white lace with intricate floral embroidery. "Perfect for adding a touch of sophistication."

Navneet nodded. "That's gorgeous. In what kind of dress are you planning to use this?"

"Mmm, I guess the debutante dress will be perfect for this. Also, I want to use some rich, textured silk? Something that will stand out but still feel classic. Or some tulle."

"Ohkay! The Upcoming Fashion Designer Ritusha Roy. I have no idea what you just said. But I'm sure they'll look fabulous once ready to put on," Naveen admitted.

Ritu smiled. "Thank you. But we're not done yet. Let's go. We should also get some organza for the overlay, to create a more structured look. It'll add that extra layer of volume to the asymmetrical dress I'm designing."

Naveen shrugged, completely clueless of her vision. Ritu smiled to herself. She knew the men didn't understand much about the fashion. But that was fine. They were here to accompany her. They weren't her competition. The trio moved through the market with purpose, gathering all the necessary materials Ritu needed for the projects. As they completed their shopping, the sun began to dip lower in the sky, casting a warm glow over the market. The group decided to head to the nearest café to relax and unwind after their productive shopping trip.

The café was a cozy retreat, with soft lighting and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. Ritu, Navneet, and Irfan settled into a comfortable corner; their purchases carefully set aside. They began to chat about trivial things-what movies they had watched recently, new music releases, and funny anecdotes from their day.

Just as they were getting into the groove of their conversation, the café door chimed. Ritu's eyes shifted toward the doorway and her eyes furrowed instantly. The last person on earth she expected to see right now walked in through the door carrying a box of cakes. Jai Basu. The air around Ritu thickened, her eyes narrowing as they landed on him. An intense wave of abhorrence crashed through her, but beneath that revulsion was something far more unsettling-a strange pull toward this man she couldn't understand and hated even more. There's a strange curiosity about this man lurked underneath her abhorrence she couldn't ignore.

Her mood soured instantly. He was just a lowly baker. But something about him...just riled her up. She didn't know which emotion of her caused the discomfort. Her hatred or her curiosity. Ritu still remembered Shreya's warning. This man was a trouble. Jai Basu was nothing but a trouble disguised in polite manners, a man who could ruin reputations without breaking a sweat. Just like he did with her brother, Abhimanyu. It was safe to stay away from him.

"Why the hell that douche is here?" Ritu muttered, annoyance dripping from her words. Her discomfort was evident as she glanced at Navneet and Irfan. "Is he following us?"

Navneet looked up, curious but unconcerned. "Hey, that's Jai Basu. Isn't he? Why do you think he's here for us?"

"I don't know," Ritu replied, her voice low and tense. "Shreya warned me about him. I don't trust his good-man façade at all. There's something about him that just makes me... uneasy," she whispered in the end. Her eyes flickered as she averted her gaze from Jai. She didn't want to cause another drama. She had promised her father, and she intended to keep it that way.

Jai moved past their table, not acknowledging them, his focus solely on the task at hand. Either he didn't see them or pretended to not see them. The very sight of him made her feel apprehensive. As if something bad was lurking around them and would jump out any minute now. She knew it made no sense, but she simply couldn't shake the feeling that they were in the close proximity again, and it could bring nothing except chaos.

Jai delivered the cake box to the receptionist and waited for the payment while Ritu put her head down, avoiding him.

But fate was cruel. It proved her intuition was right when it screamed of something bad about to happen.

At that very moment, a group of rowdy customers entered the café, their loud voices cutting through the air like a knife. Ritu's heart started beating thousand drums as she eyed the crowds with eyes wide in terror. The mob rushed into the café, everyone carrying some kind of weapons. They came in and started destroying the interior. The loud noise mingled with the protesting slogans were all too much. Little did she could make out from their shouts were words like 'We want Justice' and 'Tilottoma', making her skin crawl.

Irfan took her hand and made her stand up. "They're protesting for the gang-rape that took place three days ago. The unrest has been spreading like wildfire."

Navneet got up as well and grabbed the bags from the floor. He made an effort to steer clear of the mob, carefully avoiding their path. "Gang-rape? Whose?"

"A doctor."

"What?"

Irfan explained as much as he could. "I'm not fully informed about what happened, but it took place around midnight. The doctor was at night-duty. They brutally raped her and then murdered her. People are saying there's political involvement. There were some kinds of illegal activities happening inside the hospital and she got caught up in it."

The mob separated them in an eyeblink. Navneet got pushed toward the exit while she and Irfan pushed more inside.

One of the men, clearly leading the mob, started chanting slogans. His voice was hoarse, fueled by anger.

Irfan tried taking her to a safer place. "This café must belong to one of the perpetrators. Or maybe one of the ruling party's leaders. That explains why they attacked the café. It's a target for the opposition party."

But Irfan's words were drowned out by the growing unrest. The men were getting louder, more agitated. She caught snippets of their conversation-words like 'justice,' 'retribution,' 'burn it down.' Her vision blurred as she realized the protest was not just talk; it was about to turn violent. The café was their battleground.

The mob was wreaking havoc, tearing through the café with a frenzy that turned the once-comforting space into chaos. The noise of destruction-the splintering wood, the crashing glass-triggered Ritu. She realized it was coming back. What if someone attacked her again? Here? And everything turned black again? What if... Her hands trembled and turned cold, her throat went dry and breathing quickened. The memories of that night flooding her senses with a cold, suffocating panic. Her vision turned hazy as if the world was collapsing around her.

She didn't understand what happened when she felt the push on her back and found herself crashing onto the nearest table. She looked up, her eyes searching for Irfan. But all she could see was angry looking silhouettes. None of them looked like Irfan.

But she spotted a man, frenzied and wild-eyed, was smashing the table closest to hers. Any moment now, he'd reach the table she was holding as a support. Ritu's instinct screamed to run, to escape the chaos, but her body was paralyzed, unable to move. The noise, the fury, the terror coiled around her, squeezing her chest tighter with every second. It felt like the air was being choked out of her.

And then, through the haze, she saw a familiar face. Jai. As if pulled by an invisible thread, he had sensed her distress and helplessness. The mob around them was a chaotic mess, tearing things apart, shoving, pulling, and trampling over one another. While Jai moved toward her through the chaos. Her body was frozen, vision mirroring the terror she felt inside. As soon as he came closer, he reached out and grabbed her arm. Without hesitation, he pulled her flush against him, shielding her from the chaos erupting around them. The noise, the shouts, the terrifying crash of breaking glass-it all faded as Jai wrapped his arms around her. Her smaller frame perfectly fit into his embrace like a lost puzzle piece.

She looked up. Their eyes met for a fraction of second, and in that instant, Ritu felt something shift inside her. Jai didn't say a word, but Ritu understood, she was in trouble.

It was that strange feeling again, stronger this time, more insistent.

Ritu clung to him, her body trembling uncontrollably. Her chest tightened, her breath coming in shallow, panicked gasps. But as he held her into him, she could feel the steady beating of his heart against her cheek, a stark contrast to the erratic pounding of her own. She didn't understand how could he maintain his calm demeanor amidst the chaos. She caught a whiff of his unique scent, slightly citrusy mixed with vanilla. She hated him, despised him for everything he was, for everything he had done to her and her family's reputation. But in that moment, an unexpected emotion washed over her. She felt protected in his embrace.

It made no sense. None of it did. For heaven's sake, he was an enemy! Then why? Why was he helping her? Why did he care? And why did she feel this overwhelming sense of protection in his arms? Every part of her screamed that he was the enemy, and yet, she was letting him take the lead. Her body betrayed her conscience. As much as she wanted to push him away, to resist the strange comfort his presence brought, she couldn't.

The café was in complete ruins now, the protest escalating into something violent. Ritu heard the crash of a chair being thrown, the angry shouts of the mob growing louder. But Jai didn't falter. He tightened his hold on her, shielding her against the pandemonium, his calm voice cutting through the panic. "Relax. We'll get out of this."

His words shouldn't have mattered. They shouldn't have had the power to calm the turmoil and fear swirling inside her. But they did. Against all rational reasons, she found herself leaning into him. The world outside their small cocoon was still spinning out of control, but in Jai's arms, she felt a strange sense of grounding.

As he guided her out of the café, avoiding clashing into the mob, she felt a raw sense of vulnerability. The man she had accused publicly in the past, was now the one shielding her against the tumult. It was her twisted fate, that she found support in the one person she had sworn to hate.