Meera's POV
I was at aryan's house. We were just talking about random thing and maybe only about 'vale' we reamined silent for few minutes and then aryan asked a question which was not expected by me
"On the rooftop, you said she showed up." Aryan's voice was calm, but his eyes held something sharp. "Who were you talking about, Meera?"
I stiffened. My fingers curled into my sweater as I tried to ignore the sudden tightness in my chest.
"No one. It was nothing." The lie slipped out before I could stop it.
Aryan narrowed his eyes. "Don't do that." His tone was softer now, but insistent. "I know when you're lying."
I looked away, my pulse pounding. He wouldn't let this go. And maybe he was right not to. Because she had shown up again.
Reyza.
The name alone sent a chill down my spine. I had seen her only once before, but that was enough to understand—she wasn't just another version of Aarohi. She was something else entirely. Something wrong.
I licked my lips, my throat dry. "It's complicated."
"Then explain it to me." Aryan's voice was steady, but there was something in his eyes—concern, maybe even fear. "Who is she, Meera?"
I exhaled slowly, debating whether I should tell him. Whether I even could explain what I had seen. The way Aarohi's entire presence had shifted. The way her voice had lost its warmth, turning sharp, mocking. The way she had looked at me—not with confusion or familiarity, but with amusement.
As if I were just another piece in her game.
I met Aryan's gaze, lowering my voice. "Her name is Reyza."
His expression flickered. "Reyza? What kind of name is that?"
I hesitated. "The kind that doesn't belong to Aarohi."
Silence stretched between us. I could see the wheels turning in his head, his sharp mind piecing things together.
"You're saying…" He trailed off, shaking his head slightly. "Are you serious right now?"
I swallowed. "I wish I wasn't."
The weight of the truth settled over us like a thick fog. I could still remember the last time Reyza had surfaced. What she had done. What she was capable of. And now… she was back.
Aryan ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. "So, what? She just… takes over Aarohi?"
"It's more than that." My voice was barely above a whisper. "She's not just another side of Aarohi. She's something darker. Something that doesn't care about consequences."
Aryan's jaw tightened. "And she's back?"
I nodded.
His face darkened, and for the first time, I saw it—real fear.
Because we both knew.
Reyza wasn't just back.
She was here for a reason.
I took a shaky breath, my fingers tightening around the fabric of my sweater. This wasn't something I wanted to talk about, but if anyone needed to know, it was Aryan. He had to understand exactly what we were dealing with.
"Reyza isn't just another version of Aarohi," I started, my voice low. "She's something else. A completely different person. Ruthless. Unpredictable. And worst of all… she enjoys the chaos."
Aryan didn't say anything, but his gaze hardened. I could see the questions forming in his mind, but I didn't give him the chance to ask.
"She doesn't care about people the way Aarohi does. She doesn't care about right or wrong. Reyza only cares about control—about proving that she's the one in charge. And she'll do whatever it takes to make sure everyone knows it."
I swallowed hard, the memories flashing behind my eyes like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. "The last time she showed up… I saw what she was capable of. She doesn't just manipulate people, Aryan. She plays with them. Like they're toys."
His jaw clenched. "What did she do?"
I hesitated, the weight of my own words pressing down on me. Then, I forced myself to speak.
"She lied. She tricked people. She turned friends against each other just to see what would happen. And when she got bored of that… she did worse."
Aryan's fists tightened. "Worse?"
I nodded, my throat dry. "She knows how to find people's weaknesses. She knows exactly what to say to make someone break. And she enjoys it." I met his eyes, my voice barely above a whisper. "Aryan, she's dangerous."
He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "And Aarohi… does she know?"
"She knows Reyza exists. But I don't think she understands just how much control Reyza really has."
Silence.
Aryan's mind was racing—I could see it in his expression. He wasn't just processing the information. He was strategizing. Trying to figure out what to do next.
"So, what now?" he finally asked.
I looked away, my stomach twisting. "I don't know."
Because the truth was, I had no idea how to stop her. And if Reyza was back…
We were running out of time.