Balancing work, house duties, and child care often leaves me too exhausted to cook, so I frequently opt for takeout dinners. Over time, our relationship with our delivery driver, Ravi, evolved into a friendly one. However, during his last visit, his usual warmth was replaced with noticeable unease.

Instead of his usual cheerful greeting, he offered only a quiet “Hi,” and his movements were unusually quick as I handled the order. Something felt off, but I assumed it was just a rough day. Then, as I unpacked the food, I noticed a note tucked inside one of the bags. It read, “Check your trash!” My heart raced—had Ravi discovered something about our home?

The police confirmed that the corrosive liquid and tools were meant to weaken our house locks, revealing a planned break-in. Though we installed cameras the next day, my fear lingered. When I finally encountered Ravi in the neighborhood, he seemed apprehensive. “How did you know we were in danger?” I asked. He confessed to spotting suspicious individuals near our house and the trash can, which led him to warn us.

Even with cameras monitoring, the threat felt ever-present. While grateful for Ravi’s alert, I couldn’t shake the lingering anxiety, knowing we were now on high alert thanks to his quiet warning.