LOOP (TS)

Part-1

The Mahila Police Thana had never felt so suffocating.

Karishma Singh stood rooted to the spot; her fists clenched tightly by her sides. Her breathing was steady, but only because she forced it to be. Inside, though, a storm raged. A storm of betrayal, of disbelief, of something dangerously close to heartbreak.

Across from her, Haseena Malik held her gaze, her expression unreadable, her tone firm and unwavering.

"Karishma Singh, aapko badalna padega. Agar aap change nahi kar sakti, toh aapko transfer lena hoga."

The words echoed in the silent room, slicing through the air like a whip. Karishma felt them in her very bones. She had always known that she and Haseena were different, that their ideologies clashed, that they often stood on opposite sides of an argument. But this? This wasn't an argument. This wasn't just another disagreement that would dissolve into their usual reluctant understanding.

This was rejection.

Her heart clenched painfully, but she refused to let them see. Instead, she let her gaze drift across the room, searching—hoping—for even a flicker of protest, of hesitation, of anything that suggested someone cared enough to stop this.

Pushpa Ji's eyes wavered, but she remained silent, her hands wringing together. She looked pained, conflicted even, but she didn't speak.

Cheetah stood stiffly; his usual carefree expression wiped clean. His jaw was tight, his eyes downcast. But still, he didn't say a word.

Billu had his arms crossed, his gaze darting between Karishma and Haseena, as if he was waiting for someone else to intervene, to object. But he wouldn't be that person.

Santu looked like she wanted to step forward, wanted to say something, but one glance at Haseena's face, and she stayed back, her lips pressing together as if holding back words that she knew wouldn't matter.

No one objected.

No one defended her.

They all just... let it happen.

The lump in her throat grew, but she swallowed it down with practiced ease. She had spent years in this Thana, given it everything, put herself on the line more times than she could count. And yet, when the moment came, when she needed them to choose her, to stand by her, they said nothing.

Karishma took in a slow breath, steadying herself.

She could beg. She could argue. She could demand to know how, after everything, they could simply stand there and let this happen.

But she wouldn't.

If they wanted her gone, she wouldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her break.

With one last look at Haseena—a look that held all the hurt, all the pain, all the words she would never say—Karishma turned on her heel and walked out of the Mahila Police Thana.

And no one stopped her.

As soon as Karishma disappeared, a strong gust of wind blew through MPT. The lights flickered violently, casting eerie shadows on the walls. The air turned colder, thick with something unspoken, something unseen.

A woman appeared in the center of the room.

Draped in a simple saree, her presence was unsettling yet strangely familiar. Her calm eyes held an ancient wisdom, her posture commanding yet effortless. There was something about her that sent shivers down their spines, something that made their guilt claw at their hearts—except for one.

Haseena stood firm, her stance unshaken, her resolve untouched. She believed in what she had done. It was necessary. It was right.

But the others...