Darkness.
It wasn't just the lights going out—
it felt like the entire house had been swallowed by something unseen.
Aarav stood frozen.
That voice…
He knew it.
He knew it.
"Aira," he said sharply, trying to stay calm, "stay behind me."
But Aira didn't move.
She wasn't scared.
She was… listening.
"You heard it too, right?" Aarav asked.
Aira nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Do you recognize it?"
Aira hesitated.
"…Not completely."
That wasn't a no.
Aarav clenched his jaw.
"Someone's playing games," he muttered.
Suddenly—
A faint light flickered back.
Emergency backup.
Just enough to see shadows… not enough to feel safe.
"Stay here," Aarav said, moving toward the hallway.
But before he could take another step—
Aira grabbed his hand.
"Don't go alone."
That moment—
It wasn't fear in her eyes.
It was concern.
For him.
"I've handled worse," Aarav said coldly.
Aira's grip tightened slightly.
"This isn't 'worse'," she whispered.
"This is personal."
Aarav paused.
That word hit differently.
The Locked Room
Without another word, Aarav changed direction.
He walked straight toward the one place he had been avoiding.
The locked room.
Aira followed.
Silently.
"You said something inside is connected to you," Aarav said while unlocking the door.
"Now's your chance to explain."
The lock clicked.
The door creaked open.
A cold air rushed out.
Like the room had been sealed with secrets.
Inside—
Dust. Darkness. Memories.
Aira stepped in slowly.
Her eyes scanned everything.
The old furniture.
The covered mirror.
The photographs on the wall.
Then—
She stopped.
A single photo.
Half-burnt.
Aarav noticed.
"That shouldn't be there," he said.
Aira picked it up carefully.
Her fingers trembled… for the first time.
"Who is she?" Aarav asked.
Aira didn't answer immediately.
Her eyes were locked on the picture.
A young girl.
Smiling.
Standing next to a boy.
The boy was Aarav.
And the girl…
Looked exactly like Aira.
Aarav's breath hitched.
"That's impossible."
Suspect 1: Aira — now deeper mystery
If she wasn't lying…
then how did she exist in a memory Aarav didn't even remember?
"I've never seen this before," Aarav said, his voice tense.
Aira finally spoke.
"You have."
Aarav turned to her.
"No. I would remember—"
"You were made to forget."
Silence.
"What?" Aarav's voice dropped.
Aira looked at him.
Straight. Unflinching.
"Your past isn't missing by accident," she said.
"It was taken from you."
A chill ran through him.
A New Suspect Appears
Suddenly—
Footsteps.
Fast.
Rushing toward them.
Both of them turned.
Meera stood at the door.
Breathing heavily.
"Sir…" she said, her voice shaking, "you need to see this."
Aarav narrowed his eyes.
"What now?"
Meera stepped aside.
Behind her—
A man stood.
Tall.
Well-dressed.
Calm.
And smiling.
Aarav's expression turned cold instantly.
"You…"
Suspect 3: Kabir
Aarav's business partner.
Or… former partner.
"I see you're still alive," Kabir said casually, stepping inside.
Aira's eyes narrowed.
She didn't like him.
Not one bit.
"What are you doing here?" Aarav asked.
Kabir chuckled.
"Miss me?"
"No."
Kabir's gaze shifted to Aira.
And for a second—
His smile faded.
"Well… that's interesting," he murmured.
"You know her?" Aarav asked immediately.
Kabir didn't answer.
Instead, he walked closer.
Too close.
Aira stepped back slightly.
But her eyes never left his.
"Stay away from her," Aarav warned.
Kabir raised his hands mockingly.
"Relax. I'm not the enemy here."
"Then who is?" Aarav snapped.
Kabir's smile returned.
But this time—
It was darker.
"You really don't remember anything, do you?"
Aarav's fists clenched.
"Stop talking in riddles."
Kabir leaned closer.
And whispered—
"She's the reason everything was destroyed."
Silence.
Aira's expression didn't change.
But her eyes…
They dimmed.
Aarav looked between them.
"What is he talking about?"
Aira finally spoke.
Softly.
"He's not lying."
That hit harder than anything else.
"What?" Aarav stepped back.
"I didn't mean for it to happen," Aira continued, her voice breaking slightly.
"But yes… I'm connected to your past."
Kabir laughed.
"Connected? That's a nice way to put it."
"Shut up," Aarav snapped.
Kabir tilted his head.
"Or what? You'll protect her?"
A pause.
A dangerous one.
"Even after knowing she's the reason your life fell apart?"
Aarav didn't answer.
Because he didn't know the truth yet.
And that scared him more than anything.
The Final Twist
Suddenly—
The lights flickered again.
Then—
A loud sound.
A gunshot.
Everything froze.
Meera screamed.
Aarav turned sharply.
"Who fired that?!"
But before anyone could react—
Aira collapsed.
"AIRA!"
Aarav caught her before she hit the ground.
Blood.
His hands were covered in it.
"No… no, no…" he whispered.
Aira looked up at him.
Weak.
Fading.
"Aarav…" she whispered.
"Stay with me!" he said desperately.
Her fingers gripped his shirt.
"You have to remember…"
"Remember what?!"
Her eyes slowly closed.
"The truth… about us…"
And then—
Silence.
Aarav's heart stopped.
Because for the first time—
He wasn't feeling anger.
Or confusion.
He was feeling fear.
The kind that comes when you're about to lose someone…
You never even realized you needed.
Behind him—
Kabir watched.
Smiling.
And in the shadows—
Someone else stood.
Watching everything.
Suspect 4: Unknown shooter
This wasn't over.
It had just begun.
To Be Continued…