Morning arrived quietly.
But Sarthak's mind was chaos.
The bracelet rested on his desk.
Silent.
Harmless-looking.
Yet somehow—
It felt heavier than anything else in the room.
"Ask Riya what happened 4 years ago."
Four years.
Before the rooftop.
Before the accusations.
Before everything broke.
Which meant—
Someone had been planning this for a very long time.
Or watching for a very long time.
Sarthak barely slept.
Every time he closed his eyes—
He saw that hidden room again.
The photographs.
The notes.
"HE STILL DOESN'T REMEMBER."
Remember what?
That question crawled beneath his skin like static electricity.
College Campus
The weather had cleared.
Students moved normally again.
Laughing.
Talking.
Living.
As if nobody noticed the storm growing underneath everything.
Sarthak walked through the corridor with one goal now.
Find Riya.
Get answers.
No more hesitation.
He found her near the library staircase.
Alone.
The moment she saw him—
Her expression changed.
Fear.
Again.
"…We need to talk," Sarthak said quietly.
Riya looked around nervously.
"…Not here."
That alone confirmed enough.
Unused Music Room
Dust floated through thin sunlight.
The old piano in the corner sat untouched.
Riya closed the door carefully behind her.
Hands trembling slightly.
Sarthak noticed immediately.
"…You already know why I am here."
Silence.
Then—
Very slowly—
She nodded.
The room suddenly felt too quiet.
"…What happened four years ago?" he asked.
Riya froze instantly.
Like the words physically hurt her.
"…Who told you that?"
"Answer me."
A pause.
Then—
She whispered:
"…You really do not remember."
That sentence again.
Sarthak stepped closer.
"…Remember what?"
Riya looked at him with an expression he could not understand.
Not fear.
Not guilt.
Sadness.
Deep sadness.
"…Four years ago," she said quietly,
"…you saved me."
Silence.
What?
"…I never even knew you four years ago."
"That is not true."
Her answer came instantly.
And confidently.
Which made it terrifying.
Riya walked slowly toward the dusty piano.
Then sat beside it carefully.
"…There was a middle school festival," she began softly.
"Rain started suddenly that evening."
Rain again.
Always rain.
"I got separated from everyone."
Her fingers tightened slightly.
"…And some boys cornered me near the back gate."
Sarthak's heartbeat slowed.
No.
"I was terrified," she continued.
"…I thought nobody would help."
Then—
A faint smile appeared.
Painful.
Fragile.
"But you did."
Flash.
Something hit his mind suddenly.
A blurred memory.
Rainwater.
A frightened girl crying.
Someone grabbing his sleeve.
His head hurt instantly.
Sharp.
Violent.
Sarthak grabbed the table beside him.
"…Wait…"
More flashes.
Him shouting.
Someone running away.
A small hand clutching his hoodie.
"…No…"
Riya stood quickly.
"Sarthak!"
But he barely heard her.
Because memories were crashing back violently now.
Not clear.
Broken.
Yet undeniably real.
"…You…" he whispered slowly.
He remembered her eyes.
Smaller.
Younger.
Riya.
"You forgot me after that," she said softly.
"But I never forgot you."
Silence.
"That is why I came close to you this year."
Her voice trembled slightly now.
"…Because when I heard what happened to you…"
A pause.
"…I wanted to help."
Everything inside Sarthak twisted painfully.
Because for the first time—
Riya's actions finally made sense.
The kindness.
The fear.
The attachment.
None of it was random.
"…Then why hide things from me?" he asked quietly.
Riya looked away.
"…Because I was told to."
Cold silence filled the room instantly.
"…By who?"
Riya's breathing became uneven.
"…I cannot say."
"Riya."
"He is watching."
Those words landed like ice.
"…Who is watching?"
Riya shook her head desperately.
"…You do not understand."
"Then help me understand!"
Suddenly—
She grabbed his wrist tightly.
Tears forming in her eyes now.
"…The person sending messages…"*
A pause.
"…they are not doing this because they hate you."*
Heartbeat.
Slow.
Heavy.
"They are trying to wake you up."
Silence.
"…Wake me up to what?"
Riya looked directly into his eyes.
And whispered the most terrifying sentence yet.
"…To what you did that night."*
Everything stopped.
"…What?"
Riya stepped back slowly.
Fear returning instantly.
"…I am sorry," she whispered.
Then—
Ran.
Out of the room.
Leaving Sarthak frozen beside the piano.
Because now—
The story had changed again.
What if he was not just a victim?
What if—
Something important had been erased from his memory?
And what if the sender's true goal—
Was not revenge.
But remembrance.
A vibration.
Unknown Number.
"Good."
Another message.
"Now ask yourself…"
Pause.
"Why can't you remember the moment after she fell?"
Sarthak's blood ran cold.
Because suddenly—
He realized something horrifying.
No matter how hard he tried—
That part of the memory…
Was completely blank.
To be continued…