fix: Resolve OTP verification instant transition and ensure bulletproof non-crashing conversation contact listing

backend/app/Controllers/ChatController.php

@@ -34,7 +34,11 @@ class ChatController
                     [$tId]
                 );
             }
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            error_log("Seed teacher note: " . $e->getMessage());
+        }
 
+        try {
             // Ensure default sample students if no students exist
             $student = Database::selectOne("SELECT id FROM users WHERE role = 'student' LIMIT 1");
             if (!$student) {
@@ -55,8 +59,8 @@ class ChatController
                     );
                 }
             }
-        } catch (\Exception $e) {
-            error_log("Seed users note: " . $e->getMessage());
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+            error_log("Seed students note: " . $e->getMessage());
         }
     }
 
@@ -81,7 +85,7 @@ class ChatController
                 ORDER BY u.id DESC
                 LIMIT 100
             ", [$userId]);
-        } catch (\Exception $e) {
+        } catch (\Throwable $e) {
             error_log("Users select in getConversations error: " . $e->getMessage());
         }
 
@@ -107,12 +111,20 @@ class ChatController
                     WHERE sender_id = ? AND receiver_id = ? AND is_read = 0
                 ", [$otherId, $userId]);
                 $unreadCount = (int)($unreadRow['cnt'] ?? 0);
-            } catch (\Exception $e) {
+            } catch (\Throwable $e) {
                 // Ignore per-user message query issue if any
             }
 
             $rawName = (string)($row['encrypted_name'] ?? '');
-            $decryptedName = Security::decrypt($rawName) ?: $rawName;
+            $decryptedName = $rawName;
+            try {
+                $dec = Security::decrypt($rawName);
+                if (!empty($dec)) {
+                    $decryptedName = $dec;
+                }
+            } catch (\Throwable $e) {
+                $decryptedName = $rawName;
+            }
 
             $conversations[] = [
                 'user_id'           => $otherId,