A silent threat

★ Sara's POV ★

The ceiling above me was barely visible, the shadows of the curtain lines dancing gently from the pale glow of the streetlamp outside. But even in this calm setting, my heart wasn't.

I rolled over again.

Still no sleep.

I buried my face into the pillow, but the lump in my chest refused to settle. My hands clutched the blanket, but nothing could hold back the storm swirling in my mind.

It's been like this… ever since the call with Tithi.

That voice—her sweet, innocent anger.

"You haven't called me for a week!"

I could hear it on repeat, like a loop stuck in my soul.

I wanted to scream. I wanted to throw the phone across the room. But more than anything, I wanted to pull her close… and make sure no one could take her away from me.

That's where the fear began.

The fear of him—

The boy with messy hair and sleepy eyes.

The boy I ran into during lunch.

The one who looked at me like I was a stranger, when it was my own heart that ran away.

Asif.

The name burned quietly in the back of my mind.

At first, it was just a guess. A silly, emotionally charged conclusion.

But then—

I remembered that photo in Tithi's childhood album. The soft, chubby cheeks. The glasses. That distant look in his eyes, even as a child.

He looked just like that photo.

Asif. Tithi's real brother.

It made sense. Too much sense. And that's what made it hurt.

Because who was I, really?

Just her step-sister.

A stranger who intruded on someone else's family because her father married a woman chasing money and status.

I hated thinking that way.

But I hated even more how true it felt.

"Damnit…" I whispered under my breath.

I clutched the edge of the bedsheet and pulled it over my face.

This was dumb. So dumb.

I've rejected boys like it was a daily chore. I've ignored confessions like reading a boring ad. But the one person who hasn't even tried to approach me—who has simply looked at me—I'm scared to face him.

What am I doing?

I thought about this morning.

Our eyes met. For just a second.

I could have nodded. I could have smiled. Said something.

But I turned and walked away. Again.

Because I was afraid.

Afraid he'd get close.

Afraid he'd realized who I am.

Afraid he'd steal Tithi from me.

Well—"take back" is the right term.

And it'd be normal. They are family, after all.

By blood.

Unlike me.

But somewhere deep inside, the thought of that happening… hurts me. It made me feel like I'd disappear again.

It's all that woman's fault.

That fake. That manipulative—

If she didn't barge into our lives… maybe I'd have a real family. Maybe I wouldn't feel like an outsider in my own home. Maybe Asif's life would have been better, not like this.

I closed my eyes and sighed, defeated.

"I should clear things up with Asif… soon," I mumbled.

"Or else… this will just get messier."

I turned to face the wall, trying to lull myself into sleep.

But then—

Buzz.

My phone screen lit up on the nightstand.

Unknown voicemail.

I blinked. My breath hitched.

"What the…?"

I hesitated for a few seconds. My thumb hovered over the play button.

Probably a prank. Just some loser trying to get back at me for rejecting him.

Right?

Still… something felt off.

I tapped it.

> "Hello there, little Sara. Hope you don't mind this late-night message…"

My eyes widened.

The voice was digitally warped—cold, lifeless, unnatural.

Definitely a voice changer.

But male.

Even with the distortion, I could tell.

> "It doesn't matter who I am… but Sara, you see… I have a little advice for you."

My throat tightened.

This wasn't just a prank.

> "I know who you are. Where you're from. And your family… So I hope you'll follow my advice."

My fingers clenched around the phone.

This person knew that much.

And he wasn't here to play.

> "Stay away from Asif. You'll only break him more."

My heart dropped.

What?

How does he know?

There's no way anyone should know I ever spoke to Asif. We haven't even exchanged proper words. This—

This is something else. Something deeper.

> "If you follow the advice, your identity is safe. But if not—your father can't even save you from the humiliation waiting for you."

And then—

Click.

It ended.

I sat there frozen, the phone still in my hand.

What kind of sick threat was that?

How does he know about Asif? About me?

But the bigger question…

Why is he warning me away from Asif?

Why not the other way around?

That voice—whoever it belonged to—sounded dangerous. Calculated. But for some reason… it felt like he was protecting Asif, not threatening him.

This person…

He's close to Asif. Somehow.

Maybe even watching him.

I should be scared.

But honestly, I'm more furious.

You think threatening me with my family history will scare me off?

No.

I've already lost everything I could lose.

I live on my own. I don't care what anyone thinks of me.

The only one I care about is Tithi.

And maybe…

I hugged my knees to my chest and leaned against the wall.

Sleep? No. Not tonight.

I stared at my phone, the voicemail still sitting there.

My heart burned with questions.

Who was that?

And what does he want from Asif?

I need to figure this out.

I need to protect him… for Tithi's sake...

Before it's too late.