[Steel]

Madhuri woke up Monday morning with a start, her wrist tingling where the key rested. She sat up, Ramesh still snoring beside her, and rubbed her eyes, a vague unease settling in her chest.

It was last night's dream. It lingered before her eyes where faceless hands with a single deep voice repeatedly counting her name. She shook it off, blaming the heat. But as she swung her legs out of bed, her gaze fell to the vanity.

Something felt... off, but she couldn't place it. It was shut locked but the air in the room was heavier, like someone had been there.

"Ugh, these filthy dreams!" she muttered, standing to stretch, her nightie riding up her thighs. 

She unlocked the drawer, checking the rose, petals curling inward. Relief washed over her, then guilt.

"Why do I even care about this? It was probably a stupid prank by a creep," she thought, tearing the note and throwing it in the bin along with the rose. She slammed the drawer shut, leaving the key there and dressed quickly.

Downstairs, Abhi was sitting idle at the dining table, hesitantly poking at his idlis with a fork.

"Morning sweetie! What, no appetite?" she asked, pouring herself tea.

He shrugged, mumbling, "Um.. Just tired, mom," but his voice was hollow.

She frowned, setting her cup down. "You're hiding something Abhi, did you get into any trouble in your class?"

He shook his head, and she sighed, brushing his hair back. "Tell me if anything’s bothering you, okay? I'm always here."

Abhi nodded, feeling her touch he didn't deserve, and watched her leave for work. 

He noticed the key absent from her bracelet. "Oh no, did she notice me last night?" his anxiety flared.

Once his dad had left, he nervously crept into her room. The drawer was slightly open, the rose nowhere in sight. A quick glance around revealed it lying in the trash, petals mangled, the note shredded.

He grabbed his phone and messaged Ishaan: "Hey, she tore up the note. I told you, my mom's not like that." and received no reply.

At the office, Madhuri buried herself in reports. The junior associate dropped by her desk, leaning too close. "Morning ma'am, you're glowing today," he said.

She scoffed, "Thank you, can you work on your files?"

She pushed it down, focusing on her screen, but the note crept back, with the words "I see you", Ishaan's voice yesterday, and now this guy. 

"Uhh.. What's going on?" she grumbled.

The day dragged, and when she got home, another parcel waited for her, a small box, no sender. Her hands trembled as she opened it while Abhi’s upstairs, oblivious.

Inside, a single petal, fresh, red, and a new note.



"You can't hide, Madhuri. I'm closer than you think."

Her breath caught and she stuffed it into her bag, heart racing, and glanced at the stairs.

"Who is this creep? It has to be the guy from work, right? Or is it the weird client that I'm dealing with? No, it's probably the guy who took my number from Mrs. Sharma that night... Or is it someone else from the colony? Is it Ishaan? or Is it.. Abhi? Whatt, Noo..." she rushed straight to her room without a word to Abhi.

"Get your head straight girl, how did you even form that thought? He's your son. Step out of it," she cursed herself.

Madhuri tore the new note and threw it in the bin, her pride warring with a growing itch she couldn't scratch.
 
It was not a random prank. Someone was watching, even closer now, and she didn't know whether to run or wait.