The SIT had been analyzing the serial killer's pattern for weeks. Shashilata, as the lead profiler, had cracked the killer's psychological "type"—he targeted women who were strong but possessed a hidden vulnerability. During a late-night briefing, Shashi joked that she fit the profile perfectly.
Athira, playing the role of the hyper-vigilant friend and sister-in-arms, didn't find it funny. She claimed she had a "bad feeling" and told the team she was going to drop by Shashi's place after her shift to drop off some case files and check on her.
Inside, the lights were flickering. She heard the sound of a struggle from the study. the masked killer Phantom had reached his breaking point.
Athira burst into the room. She saw the masked figure looming over Shashi, who was fighting for her life.
The struggle was a blur of shadows. Athira forgets her gun in the car; she fought with a primal, focused aggression. She dug her nails into the killer's neck, a desperate, marking blow. He escaped through a window, leaving behind only the scent of clinical antiseptic.
Weeks later, on her engagement day to Srinivasan, the truth emerged in a flash of skin. As Srinivasan reached back to fix a garland, his collar shifted. There, healing but jagged, were the nail marks.
Athira didn't scream. She went to Vishwa and Shashi. "He's the one," she whispered. They began a shadow investigation, discovering that Srinivasan's entire medical identity was a facade. Realizing the net was closing, Srinivasan fled the engagement venue, leading Athira on a high-speed chase toward the coastal cliffs.