It was nearly two in the morning. The city had long since fallen asleep.
Bella Pizza's shutter had been pulled down hours ago.
Her day's work done, Supriya had gone home.
Kanchan, too, was in his own room.
But on that deserted street, someone stepped up silently to Bella Pizza's door.
Looking carefully around, he made sure no one was watching.
Then, within minutes, the figure vanished into the darkness.
No one knew that the spark he had left behind was about to become a terrible danger — in just a few minutes.
2:17 a.m. Smoke began curling out from inside Bella Pizza. Within moments—
Flames roared to life.
The wooden shelves inside the shop, along with some cartons and packaging material, caught fire.
A security guard at a nearby building suddenly spotted the smoke. He shouted—
— "Fire! Fire!"
His shout brought several people out of their homes nearby.
One of them called the fire department at once.
Another notified the police.
A few stood at a distance, watching it unfold. No one dared go near the flames.
Within minutes, the fire engine arrived. The firefighters quickly pulled out their hoses and began spraying water at the flames.
Shhhoooo...!
By then the fire had spread through several parts of the shop's interior.
Because of the side grille, there was no need to break down the shutter.
After a long struggle, the firefighters brought it under control. A while later, it was out completely.
It was fortunate the fire had been caught in the night. Otherwise, the whole shop might have burned to ash.
Dawn's light hadn't fully broken yet. As he did every day, Kanchan had headed out to the market.
As he neared Bella Pizza, he spotted from a distance — a few people standing in front of the shop.
He stopped his bicycle quickly. Part of the shutter had turned black. Charred debris lay scattered outside. Kanchan's heart dropped.
He quickly asked a local passerby—
— "What happened?"
The man said—
— "There was a fire in the shop last night. The fire brigade came and put it out."
Kanchan didn't wait another moment. He called Supriya at once.
After it rang a few times, she picked up, her voice thick with sleep.
— "Hello?"
Worry filled Kanchan's voice—
— "Supriya! Come to the shop, quickly!"
Supriya was startled awake.
— "What happened?"
— "There was a fire in the shop last night."
— "What!"
She asked nothing more. She rushed straight out.
Within minutes, Supriya reached the shop. A few people were still standing outside.
Part of the shutter had blackened. The smell of burning hung inside.
Several wooden shelves had burned. Some cartons, packaging material and other things had been ruined.
But the main structure of the shop had largely survived.
Supriya stood at the door, stunned into silence. Tears rose in her eyes.
This shop wasn't just a business. It was a dream she had built with her own two hands —
a dream she had kept alive for two years, even hiding her own identity to protect it.
Kanchan came and stood beside her.
— "It's fortunate the fire was caught in time."
Supriya said softly—
— "And if it had been caught a little later?"
Kanchan gave no answer. Both of them understood exactly what might have happened.
The police and the fire crew were still at the scene.
Kanchan began looking carefully around the shop, examining the burned sections.
Suddenly his eyes caught on a corner of the floor. He crouched down to look at something.
Beside the charred wood lay a dark, damp scrap of cloth. Without touching it, Kanchan studied it closely. Then he said slowly—
— "Supriya..."
— "What?"
— "This doesn't look like a natural fire to me."
Supriya looked at him. Kanchan said—
— "I can smell something like kerosene here."
Supriya's expression changed.
— "Are you sure?"
— "I can't say for certain. But the smell is unusual."
A police officer, overhearing this, stepped closer.
— "What did you say?"
Kanchan pointed to the burned spot and said—
— "Sir, there's an unusual smell in this section. I suspect the fire may have been set deliberately."
The officer began examining the spot at once.
— "No one touch anything. We'll look into this."
Supriya spoke now, in a firm voice—
— "I'm going to file a written complaint."
Kanchan looked at her. Supriya said—
— "First, strange complaints about the food. Then pressure to sell the shop. And now, a fire. It's all happening together."
This time, there was no fear in her eyes — only anger.
— "If someone did this on purpose, they need to be found."
The officer nodded.
— "Come to the station and file your complaint. We'll collect whatever evidence we can find here."
— "I'll come."
After the police left, Kanchan stood silent for a while. Then he said—
— "Supriya, can I say something?"
— "Go on."
— "I don't think this is just an attempt to shut down the shop."
Supriya looked at him.
— "Then what is it?"
Kanchan said slowly—
— "Someone might be trying to drive you out of this city altogether."
Supriya said nothing. That night came back to her mind.
Sundar. His arrogant eyes. His threat—
— "You'll pay for this insult."
But Supriya knew — no one could be called guilty on suspicion alone. She said—
— "I won't blame anyone without proof."
Kanchan nodded.
— "All right. But we'll stay alert."
Looking at the charred remains inside the shop, tears welled up in Supriya's eyes.
— "Everything's over..."
Kanchan said at once—
— "Nothing's over."
Supriya looked at him. Kanchan glanced around and said—
— "Some things in the shop have burned. But the shop is still standing."
Then he smiled faintly and said—
— "And our will hasn't burned, either."
Slowly, a smile spread across Supriya's face. She wiped away her tears and said—
— "Then let's start again."
Kanchan nodded.
— "Starting today."
— ✦ —
Neither of them knew — this fire was only the beginning.
Because the person working behind the scenes was about to make a move that would put not Bella Pizza, but Supriya's own hidden identity, in danger.
And tied to that identity was a mystery many years old...