Unlawfully yours - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Ishani stared at her phone screen, the message still glowing under the dim lab lights.
“Stop digging. Or you’ll end up just like him.”
The second photo—the one that showed her and Aarav at the café—was still open. Someone had taken this just hours ago.
She swallowed hard, forcing herself to think rationally. Whoever sent this wasn’t bluffing.
But if she told Aarav right now, he’d react exactly how she expected—reckless, aggressive, and dangerously impulsive. He wasn’t afraid of threats. And that scared her more than anything.
She locked her phone and tucked it into her pocket. For now, she’d keep this to herself.
Aarav sat in the dimly lit library, flipping through the court archives.
Samar Kaul’s trial.
He had found two witness statements that stood out—one from Professor Bhatia, and another from someone named Rajat Saxena.
Aarav frowned. He didn’t recognize that name. But the moment he tried searching for Rajat Saxena’s current whereabouts, he hit a dead end.
No job records. No address. Nothing.
It was as if Rajat Saxena had disappeared off the face of the earth.
Aarav’s fingers drummed against the table. Either this man was dead… or someone didn’t want him to be found.
His phone buzzed. A message from Ishani.
“Library. Now.”
He smirked. She was finally starting to think like him.
Ishani placed the forensic report in front of Aarav as he slid into the chair across from her.
She kept her voice low. “We found something else on the handprint we lifted.”
Aarav raised an eyebrow. “Aur kya?” (“What else?”)
She leaned in. “Traces of burnt gunpowder.”
Aarav’s smirk disappeared. “Gunpowder?”
Ishani nodded. “Murder toh knife se hua tha, par wahan koi gun bhi thi. Maybe it wasn’t used, but it was there.” ("The murder was done with a knife, but there was a gun present. Maybe it wasn't used, but it was there.")
Aarav exhaled. “Toh kisi aur ne bhi crime scene pe witness kiya ho sakta hai.” ("So someone else might have witnessed the crime.")
Ishani nodded. “Ya phir kisi aur pe bhi hamla hone wala tha.” ("Or maybe someone else was supposed to be attacked too.")
Their eyes met.
Aarav’s voice was quiet but sharp. “Kaul akela nahi tha.” ("Kaul wasn’t alone.")
Ishani didn’t flinch. “Aur woh jis ke saath tha, woh humse ek kadam aage hai.” ("And whoever he was with, they’re one step ahead of us.")
She didn’t tell him about the text message. Not yet.
Not until she knew who was watching them.
The campus was quiet as they walked out of the library. Ishani expected Aarav to start throwing theories, but instead, he was… silent.
Different.
She studied him as they walked. There was something about his posture—tension, but not anger. A coldness she hadn’t seen before.
She finally broke the silence. “Tum itne chup kyun ho?” ("Why are you so quiet?")
Aarav glanced at her, then looked ahead again. “I’m thinking.”
Ishani smirked slightly. “Woh toh tum hamesha karte ho.” ("You always do that.")
Aarav didn’t smile back. “Nahi, aaj kuch alag hai.” ("No. Today is different.")
Ishani stopped walking. “Toh batao.” ("Then tell me.")
Aarav took a deep breath, then met her eyes. “Main pehle bhi murder cases dekh chuka hoon. Legal loopholes, criminals, courtroom games—sab kuch.” ("I’ve seen murder cases before. Legal loopholes, criminals, courtroom games—everything.")
Ishani folded her arms. “Aur?” ("And?")
Aarav’s expression darkened. “Par yeh case game nahi hai. Yeh kisi ne carefully plan kiya hai.” ("But this case isn’t a game. Someone has planned this carefully.")
Ishani watched him closely. There was something colder in his tone—not detached, but dangerous.
Like a man who had just realized he wasn’t going to play defense anymore. He was going to go on the attack.
“Aarav…” she started.
But he was already turning away. “Main kuch karna chahta hoon.” ("I need to do something.")
Ishani grabbed his wrist before he could leave. “Tum bina soche kuch mat karo.” ("Don’t do something reckless.")
Aarav looked down at her hand, then at her. His expression didn’t soften. “Mujhe rokogi?” ("Are you going to stop me?")
Ishani didn’t let go. “Nahi. Par agar tum bina proof ke action loge toh case khatam hone se pehle tumhe kisi aur ka case ladna padega—apne khud ka.” ("No. But if you take action without proof, you’ll be fighting another case before this one ends—your own.")
Aarav stared at her for a long moment. Then, finally, he pulled his hand away.
For the first time since they met, Ishani had managed to slow him down.
But she knew it wouldn’t last long.
Ishani walked back toward the forensic lab alone, her mind racing.
That’s when she heard it.
A sharp rustle. Footsteps. Too close.
She spun around, but the corridor was empty.
She took a deep breath. Calm down. Maybe it’s nothing.
She took another step.
The air shifted.
A movement behind her.
And then—a hand clamped over her mouth.
Ishani’s heartbeat exploded. She kicked back hard, struggling as the grip tightened around her waist.
A rough voice near her ear. “I warned you.”
And then—a sharp, stinging pain against her side.
A knife.
It was just a graze—a warning, not an attempt to kill. But the pain still burned.
And then, just as suddenly as it had happened—the attacker was gone.
Ishani stumbled against the wall, pressing a hand to her side. Her breath came in sharp, panicked gasps. Blood. Just a little, but enough.
This wasn’t just a case anymore.
This was personal.