The alley stretched before Aara like a secret whispered by the city itself, a narrow, damp path flanked by old brick walls that had witnessed too many forgotten stories. The cold air cling to her skin, and a thin veil of mist swirled around her ankles as she walked. Everything felt unnaturally still, the only sound the occasional hum of a distant car cutting through the silence.
And then she noticed the lady, her figure appearing smaller in the desolate alley, walked with a hurried yet cautious pace.
Aara's pace quickened, her instincts sharp. She didn't want to scare the woman but knew she had to stay close. Her vision had brought her to this moment, and everything around her felt like a puzzle piece snapping into place.
As they entered the same narrow alley from her vision, Aara's eyes scanned every dark corner. Shadows danced on the walls and something inside her tightened. Then, like clockwork, the sound she had been dreading echoed through the empty space, the low, menacing growl of a motorcycle engine.
Her pulse kicked up.
Aara's heart raced as the motorcycle approached. It was the same one she had seen in her vision, with two men riding it, their face covered with mask. As the impending danger drew closer, Aara knew she had to act quickly to protect the lady without alarming her.
Aara adjusted her position, searching for something she could use to intervene. Her eyes landed on a wooden stick lying in a nearby corner. Without a second thought, she grabbed it and with all her strength, hurled it towards the approaching motorcycle. The stick struck the rider squarely and the impact sent the bike skidding sideways. It slammed into the wall, the two men crashing down with a thud.
The lady let out a small cry of panic, stumbling back as Aara rushed to her without hesitation.
"Aunty, are you okay?" she asked, her voice calm despite the chaos.
The woman blinked, still shaken, " I... I don't know. What...what just happened?"
"Nothing," Aara said softly, offering a reassuring smile. "Everything's fine now."
The danger was over... or so she thought.
Hidden in the thick shadows of the alley, a fifth figure stood completely still, watching with sharp eyes. Presence quiet. This person had seen everything, every movement, every reaction. Specially, every choice Aara made. And now, they knew.
Aara, however, focused on ensuring the lady's safety, had no idea that she was being surveilled with every passing second, her extraordinary abilities and actions closely monitored by this unseen presence.
.............
At the police station, Aara stood quietly beside Mrs. Roy, trying to mask the odd blend of unease swirling inside her. It was her first time in such a place and the unfamiliar surroundings made her a little nervous. She fidgeted with the edge of her woolen scarf, glancing around at the walls lined with official notices, the soft clatter of typewriters and officers bustling about in neat uniforms. Mrs. Roy, however, looked calm and composed, though a gentle smile played on her lips whenever her eyes met Aara's. She was grateful, Aara could see it in the way she sat, in the quiet glances she kept throwing her way.
Soon, a tall man in uniform approached them. He looked to be in his early thirties, sharp-featured, with neatly combed hair and a presence that turned heads. Aara stiffened slightly as his eyes briefly met hers, stern, but not unkind.
"I'm glad we finally caught these thieves," he said, addressing Mrs. Roy. "We've been tracking them for a while now."
His tone was friendly, but the authority in his voice made Aara shift slightly in her place. She kept a bit of distance, letting the two talk as she pretended to focus elsewhere.
"Mrs. Roy, if you don't mind me asking, how did you know they were planning to rob you?" he asked, genuinely curious.
"Oh, Inspector," Mrs. Roy said with a soft laugh, "I didn't. This young girl saved me."
The Inspector turned toward Aara, a flicker of interest in his gaze. "Is that so?" he asked. "Could you tell us what exactly happened?"
Caught off guard, Aara's lips parted, but words didn't come easily. "Actually that…" Her voice trailed off, unsure of how much to say and how much to hide.
Mrs. Roy stepped in kindly, her voice warm and steady. "Let me explain. I had just finished at the grocery store and was heading home when two men on a bike came speeding towards me. She was right there, acted so quickly… I'm sure they would've taken my bag and maybe even hurt me, had she not stepped in. Her quick thinking stopped everything before it began."
The Inspector's brows lifted slightly, clearly impressed. "That's quite something, Miss…?"
"A… Aara," she replied softly.
He tilted his head slightly, watching her. "So, do you two know each other?"
Mrs. Roy smiled gently, "No, no. We met today at the store. She was just a kind stranger looking out for someone she didn't even know."
Arjun nodded slowly, the expression on his face hard to read.
"I can't thank her enough," Mrs. Roy continued. "She truly saved me from something awful."
The Inspector turned to Aara again, his gaze now more focused. "If you don't mind, Ms. Aara… how did you know she was going to be attacked? What made you follow her?"
Aara was taken aback by the sudden question, her nervousness evident. She took a deep breath and replied, with as much calm as she could gather, "Actually… when Aunt was talking to the shopkeeper, she mentioned she was new in town. She had a lot of bags, and I just thought… maybe I could walk with her for a bit, just in case. I didn't really know anything would happen."
For a second, it felt like the silence stretched. But Arjun nodded slowly, the edge of his suspicion softening, though not disappearing entirely.
After the formalities were done, he assured Mrs. Roy that the police would follow up with everything necessary and thanked both women for their cooperation. Then, finally, they were allowed to leave.
.............
As Mrs. Roy's car slowly disappeared into the quiet stretch of road, Aara stood outside her apartment building for a moment longer than necessary. The night air was crisp, nipping at her cheeks, but her mind was too restless to notice the cold. The evening had taken such an unexpected turn, from a casual trip to the grocery store to a chaotic rush to the police station.
It wasn't just the events themselves, but the heaviness that followed, something she couldn't quite put her finger on. She had helped someone, yes, but the experience had unsettled her. Maybe it was the questions from Inspector Arjun, or maybe just the feeling of being in a place she had never stepped into before.
Her wandering thoughts were suddenly cut off as she heard hurried footsteps. Minnie came dashing out of the house, barefoot and in her oversized pajama set, her face pale with worry. The moment she spotted Aara, she threw her arms around her without a word, hugging her tightly.
"Where were you?" she cried, her voice shaky. "I've been calling and calling, you weren't picking up! I was about to call the police or something!"
Aara blinked, caught off guard by the intensity of her friend's reaction. She quickly pulled her phone out of her bag and sighed... silent mode. She hadn't even thought to check.
"I'm so sorry, Minnie," she said, guilt washing over her. "I didn't even realize my phone was on silent."
Minnie let out a breath, half in relief, half in exasperation. "Okay... okay. But seriously, what happened to you? You look like you've just walked out of an action movie."
Aara gave a tired little laugh, brushing her hair off her face. "I kind of did," she said. "Let's go inside, it's freezing, and I really need to sit down. I'll tell you everything."
Minnie nodded and both of them walked up to their apartment, the familiar creak of the old staircase oddly comforting after the night's chaos. Once inside, the soft yellow glow of the lamps and the faint scent of vanilla from their diffuser wrapped around them like a warm hug. Aara kicked off her shoes and sank onto the couch with Minnie, a blanket pooled between them.
As she began telling Minnie everything... from bumping into Mrs. Roy, to sensing something off about the two bikers, and how it all led them to the police station... she kept her tone light. She told the story with humor and warmth, careful not to mention anything about her power. That part, she kept tucked away, even from Minnie.
Minnie listened wide-eyed, gasping at the right moments, and when Aara finally reached the end, she clutched her arm and said, in that familiar teasing tone, "You, my friend, are a full-blown superhero. We should get you a cape or something."
Aara rolled her eyes, laughing, "Yeah, right. More like a tired grocery shopper who forgot to charge her phone."
Their laughter echoed softly through the apartment, filling the space with a lightness that hadn't been there before. Whatever weight Aara had been carrying when she arrived, it now felt less heavy, softened by the comfort of home and Minnie's endless chatter.
But outside, just a few meters down the road, a lone car sat quietly under the shadow of a tree. The headlights remained off, the engine silent. Inside, a man sat still, his eyes fixed on the small house. He had followed Aara to home, had watched her every move. After a long, lingering glance at the door she'd walked through, he turned the key, and the car slowly pulled away into the night.