Chapter 41: Beneath Her Quiet

Mira hadn't spoken much since the candle incident.

Aarav had hovered near her, always within reach, and Rehan had tripled the surveillance and backups around the house. But Mira didn't need more security.

She needed clarity.

Because this wasn't just about surviving anymore.

It was about fighting back.

She sat alone in the sunroom the next morning, a thin blanket over her legs, listening to the rhythm of footsteps around the house. Aarav's were heavier — purposeful, always pacing. Rehan's were methodical, deliberate, like someone always thinking ahead.

But there was a third sound sometimes… soft, paused, withdrawn.

Someone observing.

Not moving with care. But with caution.

Someone hiding in plain sound.

Mira's fingers moved along the Braille buttons of her new smart cane. It beeped softly, connected now to a second GPS log that Rehan helped her secretly install. Not just to track her movement — but to log who came near her when she was alone.

Because she couldn't see them… but the data could.

That afternoon, Naira brought her a cup of tea.

Mira took it politely, fingers brushing the edge of the ceramic cup. "Thanks," she said softly. "Is this your blend again?"

Naira chuckled. "You remembered."

Of course Mira remembered. The scent was slightly different — jasmine this time, not chamomile.

She let the steam touch her face, but she didn't sip.

She waited.

Listened.

Naira lingered for a second longer than necessary, like she wanted to say more… or wait for something.

Mira smiled gently. "You've always looked out for me, haven't you?"

There was a pause. "Of course I have."

And then the footsteps walked away.

Mira placed the tea aside — untouched.

Later, when Rehan passed by, she stopped him quietly.

"Can you run a test on this?" she whispered, handing him the full, still-warm cup.

He nodded slowly. "Are you…?"

"I don't know," she said. "But I'm tired of being blind in more ways than one."

That night, Mira sat in her room, headphones on, listening to a recorded log from her smart cane. It wasn't audio she could understand — but Rehan had converted the data into movement patterns.

Two entries stood out.

One at 3:12 a.m., near her door.

One at 4:43 a.m., standing near her bed for 17 seconds.

She had been asleep.

So had Aarav.

But someone else had been awake. Watching.

She didn't tell Aarav. Not yet. He'd burn the place down before letting her near the traitor again.

But Mira had learned something in the dark: People forget you're listening when they think you can't see.

She opened her journal that night and wrote one word in large, rough strokes:

"Trap."

Then, below it:

"Let them make their next move. I'll be waiting."