Unlawfully yours - Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Aarav couldn't shake the feeling that they had just stepped into something far more dangerous than either of them had anticipated.
The ride back from the warehouse was silent, except for the hum of the engine beneath them. Ishani’s hands clutched his jacket a little tighter than usual, and Aarav could feel the tension in the way she held onto him.
He knew she was scared.
And yet, when he glanced at her in the mirror, her eyes were sharp. Determined.
They reached her hostel, and she climbed off the bike, but she didn’t move. She just stood there, staring at him.
“Kal milte hain?” she asked softly. (“See you tomorrow?”)
Aarav exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Haan.” (“Yeah.”)
But just as she turned to leave, he caught her wrist.
“Ishani.” His voice was lower now, almost hesitant. “Agar kuch bhi ajeeb lage, mujhe turant bataana.” (“If anything feels off, tell me immediately.”)
Ishani looked down at where his fingers wrapped around her wrist. His grip was firm, warm. Protective.
Her heart skipped a beat, but she simply nodded.
Aarav let go, watching as she disappeared through the gate.
Something inside him twisted. She had no idea how much trouble they were actually in.
The next morning, Ishani arrived at the forensic lab earlier than usual. The night had been restless—her mind kept replaying the scene at the warehouse, the way the men handled the cash, the intensity in Dr. Sinha’s voice.
It was bigger than just altered reports.
But how big?
She pulled out her laptop and began digging into past autopsy records again, this time focusing on the names attached to the falsified reports.
That’s when she noticed something odd.
Most of the manipulated reports had a common factor—the deceased were linked to corporate crimes.
Bank fraud. Land disputes. Even whistleblowers.
Her blood ran cold.
These weren’t just random cases.
These were assassinations disguised as accidents.
Her hands trembled as she scribbled notes. Aarav needed to see this.
Just as she reached for her phone, the door to the lab opened.
Her breath hitched.
Dr. Sinha.
He stood there, hands in his pockets, eyes calm—too calm.
For a second, Ishani forced herself to act normal, to keep her face neutral.
“Good morning, sir,” she said, closing her laptop slowly.
Dr. Sinha smiled. “Early start today?”
Ishani nodded, gripping the edge of the table. “Just catching up on some case studies.”
He stepped further inside. Too close.
“That’s good. A forensic scientist should always be curious.” His gaze lingered on her laptop before flicking back to her face.
She swallowed. Did he suspect something?
“Thank you, sir.”
Dr. Sinha smiled again, but this time, there was something unsettling about it. “Curiosity is good, Ishani. But too much curiosity…”
He tilted his head slightly.
“Sometimes, it leads people to places they shouldn’t go.”
A chill ran down her spine.
Her fingers gripped the edge of her laptop.
Dr. Sinha held her gaze for a second longer, then turned toward the door. “Have a good day, Ishani.”
And then, he was gone.
Ishani let out a shaky breath.
He knew.
Somehow, he knew.
She grabbed her phone and texted Aarav.
Ishani: We need to meet. Now.
Aarav read the message twice, his grip tightening on the phone.
He was in the middle of a lecture, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered more than this.
Without a word, he grabbed his bag and walked out of the class.
“Ishani, kya hua?” (“Ishani, what happened?”) he asked the moment she picked up his call.
Her voice was low. Shaken.
“He came to the lab.”
Aarav stopped in his tracks. “Kya?” (“What?”)
“Dr. Sinha. He knows something, Aarav.”
Aarav’s blood ran cold. “Tumne kuch kaha?” (“Did you say anything?”)
“No, but—”
“I’m coming.”
She didn’t even get a chance to respond before he hung up.
Fifteen minutes later, they sat inside a secluded corner of a café near the university.
Ishani showed him her notes, her voice hushed but urgent.
“It’s not just forensic reports, Aarav. Yeh saare log jo reports mein hain—” (“All the people in these reports—”) she pointed at the screen, “—they were linked to something bigger.”
Aarav scanned the names, his mind working fast.
It was all there. Clear as day.
The deaths weren’t just covered up. They were deliberate.
“Yeh sirf ek professor ki baat nahi hai,” Ishani whispered. (“This isn’t just about one professor.”)
Aarav clenched his jaw. “Yeh ek pura network hai.” (“This is an entire network.”)
Ishani nodded, her throat dry. “Aur ab wo jaanta hai ki hum kuch dhoondh rahe hain.” (“And now he knows we’re looking into it.”)
Aarav leaned back, running a hand over his face. This wasn’t just about exposing one man anymore.
They had just made enemies out of people who didn’t mind killing.
He looked at Ishani. She was staring at him, waiting for him to say something.
Aarav exhaled. “Tum ab safe nahi ho.” (“You’re not safe anymore.”)
Ishani swallowed. “Mujhe pata hai.” (“I know.”)
There was no fear in her voice.
Just resolve.
Aarav cursed under his breath and rubbed his temple. “Tumhe hostel chodna padega. Kam se kam kuch din.” (“You need to leave your hostel. At least for a few days.”)
Ishani frowned. “Aur kahaan jaungi?” (“And where will I go?”)
Aarav stared at her. The answer was obvious.
“Mere saath.” (“With me.”)
Ishani’s breath caught.
“Aarav—”
“Yeh koi discussion nahi hai, Ishani.” His voice was firm. “Agar Dr. Sinha tumpe nazar rakh raha hai, toh hostel safest jagah nahi hai.” (“If Dr. Sinha is keeping an eye on you, the hostel isn’t safe.”)
Ishani hesitated, then exhaled. She knew he was right.
“Thik hai,” she said quietly. (“Alright.”)
Aarav nodded, but something about the way he looked at her made her heart pound harder.
The distance he had been trying to maintain between them? It was slipping.
And neither of them knew how to stop it.