Devika Chatterjee Chapter 1 The mist rolled in early that morning, curling like silk threads over the dark waters of Naini Lake. Vihaan Kashyap stood by the promenade, his gloved hands wrapped around a steaming cup of chai from a roadside stall. The scent of pine and damp earth clung to the cold air. It had been three days since he arrived in Nainital, hoping for silence, detachment, and the unfamiliar comfort of anonymity. The lake, rimmed by colonial rooftops and shuttered windows, had offered just that—until now. As he sipped slowly, Vihaan caught sight of the headline splashed across…