Ritu stared at the paper in her hand for a long time.
"Be careful tomorrow."
The words looked simple… but they made her uneasy.
That night, she kept thinking about it.
Careful from what?
What was going to happen?
The next morning felt heavier than usual.
Ritu woke up early.
She checked her phone, her bag, everything twice.
Even while getting ready, she felt like someone was watching her.
"Calm down… you're overthinking," she told herself.
On the way to college, she stayed alert.
She looked left and right while crossing the road.
She avoided crowded places.
Nothing happened.
By afternoon, she started relaxing.
"Maybe he just wanted to scare me," she murmured.
Classes ended, and Ritu walked toward the stairs of the college building.
Students were rushing down, laughing and talking.
She held the railing and started going down slowly.
Halfway through, she heard a loud sound above.
A metal bucket slipped from the top floor.
It was falling fast… straight toward her.
Everything happened in seconds.
Ritu froze.
Her body didn't react.
Then suddenly—
Silence.
The bucket stopped mid-air.
Time had frozen again.
Ritu exhaled sharply.
"You don't learn, do you?"
She turned quickly.
He was standing on the stairs above her.
"You knew this would happen…" she said.
"That's why I warned you," he replied calmly.
He walked down slowly, his eyes on her.
"You need to be more careful. You're becoming a target."
"A target? Of what?" she asked, fear creeping into her voice.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he moved the bucket aside with one hand.
Then he looked at her.
"You can't stay normal anymore, Ritu."
Her heart skipped.
"You… know my name?"
He paused.
"I know more than that."
Ritu felt a strange mix of fear and curiosity.
"Then tell me everything," she insisted.
For a moment, he looked like he wanted to say something.
But suddenly his expression changed.
He looked around, alert.
"I don't have much time," he said.
Before she could respond, he stepped closer.
"You need to trust me," he whispered.
Her breathing became uneven.
"Why?" she asked softly.
"Because…" he paused, "I'm the only one who can keep you safe."
He snapped his fingers.
Time resumed.
The bucket crashed on the stairs loudly.
Students screamed and stepped back.
Ritu looked around quickly.
He was gone again.
But this time… she wasn't just confused.
She was scared.
Because now she knew —
Whatever was happening…
It wasn't over.
And someone… or something…
Was getting closer to her.