Episode 5 – A Stranger in the Café

The café buzzed with students chatting after college.

Ishaan and Aarav sat by the window, arguing over who would pay the bill.

"You lost the bet, so you pay," Aarav grinned.

"I never agreed to that!"

Their laughter echoed through the café.

A few tables away...

A man wearing a black hoodie sat alone.



A cup of coffee rested untouched in front of him.

His eyes never left Ishaan.

Aarav noticed him.

"Oi... that guy has been staring at us for the last ten minutes."

Ishaan looked over.

The stranger calmly looked away, as if nothing had happened.

"You're imagining things."

"No, I'm not."

Aarav stood up.

"I'm going to ask him."

"Aarav, leave it."

But he was already walking.

He stopped beside the stranger's table.

"Excuse me."

No response.

"I've been watching you."

The hooded man slowly looked up.

His eyes were cold.

"If you're here to drink coffee..."

"...drink it."



"If you're here to stare at my friend..."

"...we have a problem."

The stranger calmly picked up his cup.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Aarav slammed his hand on the table.

"Don't play games with me."

For the first time...

The stranger stood.

He was taller than Aarav had expected.

The café suddenly fell silent.

Students turned to watch.

"You should walk away," the stranger said calmly.

"Or what?"

Aarav stepped closer.



"You'll hit me?"

The stranger leaned in slightly.

"I don't fight without a reason."

Aarav smirked.

"Good."

"Because I'm about to give you one."

Before either of them could move...

Ishaan rushed between them.

"Aarav! Stop!"

For a few seconds...

The stranger and Aarav stared into each other's eyes.

Neither one looked away.

Finally...

The stranger adjusted his hood and walked toward the exit.

As he reached the door, he spoke without turning around.



"Control your temper."

Aarav scoffed.

"Next time, don't give me a reason to lose it."

The stranger left.

Outside, he took out his phone.

"The target is safe."

A calm voice answered,

"Continue the mission."

The call ended.

For the first time in years...

Arthit glanced back toward the café.

Not at Ishaan...

But at the hot-headed boy glaring through the window.

A small smile crossed his face.

"This should be interesting."

The next morning...

"Ishaan! Hurry up, we'll miss Professor Sharma's class!" Aarav shouted from outside the apartment.

"I'm coming!"

The two reached college just before the bell rang.

"That was close," Ishaan sighed.

"See? If you listened to me, we'd never be late."

"You've been late more than I have."

"Details don't matter."

The two burst into laughter.

Meanwhile...

Across the road, a black SUV was parked beneath a large banyan tree.

Inside, Arthit lowered his binoculars.

"The target has arrived."

One of Rudra's men sitting beside him spoke quietly.

"Boss wants us to continue observing. No mistakes."

"I know."

Arthit's eyes never left Ishaan.

He noticed every movement...

Every person Ishaan spoke to...

Every route he took.

By afternoon, college ended.

Aarav insisted they stop at a nearby bookstore before going home.

As Ishaan searched for a pharmacology book, Aarav stepped outside to answer a phone call.

The moment he ended the call...

He noticed the same hooded man from yesterday standing across the street.

"You again..."

Without thinking, Aarav marched toward him.

Arthit glanced at him but remained silent.

"Why are you following my friend?" Aarav demanded.

"I don't have to answer you."

"You've been around the café, the college... and now here."

"What do you want from Ishaan?"

Arthit looked him straight in the eyes.

"Move."

Aarav didn't budge.

"Not until you answer me."

The street around them slowly grew quieter.

People sensed something was about to happen.

Arthit took one step forward.

Aarav matched it.

The distance between them disappeared.

"I said..."

"Move."

"And I said..."

"Answer me."

For a moment...

Neither of them blinked.

Then suddenly—

A motorcycle sped toward the footpath, out of control.

Without hesitation, Arthit grabbed Aarav's arm and pulled him aside.



The motorcycle crashed into a parked cart and sped away.

Aarav stumbled, losing his balance.

For a split second...

He found himself held firmly by the very man he wanted to punch.

Their eyes met.

Arthit immediately let go.

"Watch where you're standing."

He turned and walked away.

Aarav stared after him, frustrated.

"...Who the hell are you?"

From the other side of the road, Ishaan called out.

"Aarav! What happened?"

Aarav looked back at the disappearing figure.

"...Nothing."

But for the first time...

He wasn't just angry.

He was curious.

To be continued...

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