CHAPTER TWO[The First Knock]

"The most dangerous people are not the ones who know your secrets. They're the ones who know your habits."

The rain had finally stopped.

Morning sunlight spilled across Kanishka's bedroom, but it did little to brighten the uneasy feeling that had settled in her chest since yesterday's phone call.

"If six people witnessed a murder... who wrote the seventh statement?"

She had replayed those words all night.

Unknown number.

No trace.

No explanation.

And now...

Her library card had vanished.

"You're overthinking," she muttered to herself while tying her hair into a loose ponytail.

People lost things every day.

Library cards.

Wallets.

Pens.

There had to be a logical explanation.

There always was.

At least, that's what she wanted to believe.

By ten o'clock, the Psychology Department was buzzing with its usual energy.

Students rushed from one lecture to another, some carrying stacks of books while others carried nothing but coffee and confidence.

Kanishka had barely entered the hallway when Rhea spotted her.

"There you are!"

Rhea practically ran toward her.

"You look like you slept for... what? Three minutes?"

"I slept."

"You blinked for eight hours. That's not sleeping."

Kanishka chuckled weakly.

"I've had better nights."

Rhea's smile faded.

"Is everything okay?"

For a second, Kanishka considered telling her everything.

The phone call.

The missing library card.

The strange feeling that someone knew far too much about her.

Instead, she smiled.

"I'm fine."

Rhea narrowed her eyes.

"Liar."

"What makes you say that?"

"You haven't corrected my grammar once today."

That earned a genuine laugh.

"You know me too well."

"I do."

"And that's exactly why I'm worried."

Before Kanishka could reply, Professor Ishaan walked into the classroom.

"Everyone, settle down."

The chatter slowly disappeared.

"I have an announcement."

His expression was unusually serious.

"This afternoon, the university will be hosting a guest lecture by one of the country's leading criminal psychologists."

Whispers spread through the room.

Professor Ishaan continued.

"Many of you have read his published work on criminal profiling and behavioral analysis."

"He has assisted in dozens of homicide investigations."

"He'll be discussing how psychology is applied during criminal investigations."

Rhea leaned toward Kanishka.

"Please don't tell me you're about to become excited."

"I already am."

"I knew it."

Professor Ishaan smiled faintly.

"Please welcome..."

Dr. Zayan Arif.

The room erupted into applause.

Only Kanishka remained still.

She recognized the name immediately.

Every psychology student did.

His research papers were considered essential reading.

Some admired him.

Others feared his brutally honest conclusions about human behavior.

Kanishka had always been curious about one thing.

How could someone spend years studying killers...

...without becoming haunted by them?

Three hours later...

The university auditorium was completely full.

Students filled every seat.

Some even stood along the walls.

A quiet murmur spread through the hall as a tall man walked onto the stage.

Simple black shirt.

Grey blazer.

No dramatic entrance.

No attempt to impress anyone.

Dr. Zayan Arif adjusted the microphone.

"Good afternoon."

His voice was calm.

Almost gentle.

"I was asked to speak about criminal psychology."

He paused.

"I'd rather talk about people."

The room fell silent.

"Movies teach us that murderers look frightening."

"They don't."

"They smile."

"They joke."

"They help strangers."

"They attend birthdays."

"They fall in love."

"They pay their taxes."

"They look..."

"...ordinary."

Every student listened without moving.

"The mistake most investigators make," Zayan continued, "is searching for monsters."

"There are no monsters."

"There are only people."

"And people are wonderfully complicated."

Kanishka found herself writing every sentence.

Not because she had to.

Because every word felt deliberate.

Then...

His eyes drifted across the audience.

For the briefest second...

They met hers.

He stopped speaking.

Only for a heartbeat.

Before continuing as though nothing had happened.

Kanishka frowned.

Had he...

Recognized her?

No.

Impossible.

They had never met.

The lecture ended with thunderous applause.

Students rushed forward, eager to ask questions or request autographs.

Rhea grabbed Kanishka's wrist.

"Come on!"

"You've literally quoted this man in your assignments."

"I don't need an autograph."

"I do."

"You don't even read psychology."

"I like famous people."

Kanishka laughed despite herself.

As the crowd slowly dispersed, Professor Ishaan approached Dr. Zayan and quietly said something.

Both men turned.

Toward Kanishka.

A strange silence settled inside her.

Professor Ishaan gestured for her to come over.

Confused, she walked toward them.

"Dr. Arif," Professor Ishaan said warmly, "this is the student I mentioned."

Zayan studied her for a moment.

Not rudely.

Carefully.

As though observing more than her face.

"So..."

he finally said.

"You're Kanishka Mehra."

Her heart skipped.

"...Yes."

He nodded once.

"I've been looking for you."

Those six words landed like a stone in her stomach.

Before she could ask why—

A police officer entered the auditorium.

His eyes searched the room.

The moment they found Kanishka...

He walked straight toward her.

"Miss Kanishka Mehra?"

"...Yes?"

He held up a transparent evidence bag.

Inside it...

Was her missing library card.

"We need you to come with us."

The entire auditorium fell silent.

Students stared.

Whispers spread instantly.

Kanishka looked at the card.

Then at the officer.

Then at Dr. Zayan.

For the first time in her life...

She had absolutely no idea what was happening.

And somewhere outside the university gates...

A man wearing a black hoodie watched the scene from inside a parked car.

He smiled.

Everything was unfolding exactly as he had planned.

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