Chapter 12 – Someone Else Knows

Treasure Hunter: The Seventh Tide of Andaman

Chapter 12 – Someone Else Knows

A t first—
you think you’re observing the story.
Then—
you realize—
the story is observing you back.

🌊 Radhanagar Beach

The beach was changing.

Sunset gone.
Light fading.

People leaving in small groups.

Voices softer.

And in that slow thinning of the crowd—
some things became clearer.

And some—
more dangerous.

👁️ The Certainty

I didn’t say it immediately.

Just watched.

That man—
again.

Standing near the driftwood area.

Same posture.
Same stillness.

Not talking.
Not moving much.

Just—
present.

“Dada…” I said quietly.

Arindam Da didn’t turn.

“Kothay?” he asked.

I tilted my head slightly.

“Right side… black t-shirt… backpack.”

A pause.

Then—
very casually—
he shifted his stance.

Glanced.

One second.

Enough.

“Hmm,” he said.

That “hmm”—
meant everything.

🧠 The Shift in Tone

“We’re leaving,” he said calmly.

“Now?”

“Yes.”

No argument.

No explanation.

Just decision.

Ishani Di understood immediately.

Didn’t ask.

Just picked up her bag.

Subho Kaku looked confused.

“Eto taratari?”

“Traffic avoid korbo,” I said quickly.

He accepted.

For now.

🚶‍♂️ The Walk Back

We didn’t rush.

That would be obvious.

We walked normally.

Toward the parking area.

But I could feel it.

That presence.

Behind us.

Not close.

But not gone.

❤️ The Subtle Protection

At one point—
the path narrowed.

Crowd merged.

And without saying anything—

Arindam Da moved slightly.

Positioned himself—
between Ishani Di and the open side.

Not dramatic.

Not noticeable to others.

But deliberate.

Ishani Di noticed.

Of course she did.

She didn’t say anything.

But her steps slowed slightly.

Matching his.

🚗 Back in the Car

We got in.

Doors closed.

For a moment—
silence.

Then—
I said it.

“He’s following us.”

This time—
no one dismissed it.

Subho Kaku frowned.

“Ke?”

I explained.

Everything.

Ferry.
Beach.
Now.

He listened carefully.

Not joking anymore.

“Coincidence hote pare,” he said slowly.

“Or not,” Arindam Da replied.

🧠 Logical Breakdown

“Let’s assume worst case,” Arindam Da continued.

“He’s tracking the same clues.”

“Or tracking us.”

I swallowed.

“Why us?”

“Because we have the diary,” Ishani Di said quietly.

That landed.

Hard.

🌌 Back at the Hotel

Hotel Rhishabh

Dinner felt different tonight.

Same food.
Same table.

But not the same mood.

Subho Kaku didn’t comment on taste.

That itself was alarming.

“Kal shokal ferry Neil,” he finally said.

“Same plan.”

“Yes,” Arindam Da nodded.

“But from now on—no separation.”

We all agreed.

📖 The Diary Again

Back in the room—
the diary came out again.

Placed on the table.

Like evidence.

Or maybe—
like a key.

Ishani Di opened it.

Pages still the same.

No new markings.

For now.

“Why hidden ink?” I asked.

“To delay discovery,” Arindam Da said.

“To ensure only someone observant finds it.”

I smiled slightly.

“So basically… you.”

He ignored that.

❤️ The Quiet Conversation

Later—
balcony.

Just them.

I wasn’t supposed to overhear.

But I did.

“Do you think we should stop?” Ishani Di asked.

First time.

Doubt.

Not fear.

Concern.

“For you?” he asked.

“For us,” she corrected.

A pause.

Wind moving softly.

“No,” he said finally.

“Because if we stop now…”

“Then whoever is following…”

“They won’t.”

Silence.

Then—
very softly—

“I won’t let anything happen to you.”

That was not analytical.

That was not logical.

That was—
something else.

She didn’t reply immediately.

Then—

“I know.”

And that—
was enough.

😄 Rit Observes

I stepped back inside quietly.

Didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t joke.

Because some moments—
don’t need commentary.

Even from me.

👁️ Final Confirmation

Before sleeping—
I checked once more.

Curtain slightly open.

Looked down.

Parking area.

Dim light.

And there—

A shadow.

Moving.

Then stopping.

Then gone.

I didn’t call anyone this time.

Because now—
we all knew.

🔚 End Hook

The island slept.

The sea stayed calm.

The world looked peaceful.

But inside—
everything had changed.

Because now—
the mystery wasn’t just something we were solving.

It was something—
we were part of.

And someone else—

was already playing the same game.

❄️ To Be Continued…