Chapter 2: The Face in the Crowd
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
(Rohan arrives, his expression worried) Anika! What happened? You sounded frantic.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Still shaken) I saw him, Rohan. I saw *his* building.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
You meanโฆ the man from your dreams?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
Yes! And his nameโฆ itโs Vikram.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Vikram? Thatโsโฆ thatโs a name.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
Itโs *his* name. I know it. And something elseโฆ I felt like I was remembering something, Rohan. Like I wasโฆ reliving a moment.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Anika, this is getting intense. Maybe we should take you home.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
No! I need to understand this. I need to know why his name feels like a brand on my soul.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Looks back across the street, the building now just a regular structure) Heโs in there. I can feel it.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Anika, thatโs a huge office building. Youโre justโฆ youโre letting these dreams get to you.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Shakes her head) No, Rohan. Itโs more than dreams. Itโs likeโฆ like a part of me is trying to break free.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Okay, okay. Letโs justโฆ letโs go somewhere quieter. We can talk about this.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Reluctantly agrees, but her gaze keeps returning to the building)
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(At a quiet cafรฉ, sipping tea) Iโve been researching the name, Rohan. Vikram.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
And? Anything?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
Nothing concrete. Justโฆ a few old news articles. Mostly about a successful businessman named Veer.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Veer? Whatโs the connection?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
I donโt know yet. But something about himโฆ itโs like a distorted reflection of the man in my dreams.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Anika, youโre grasping at straws.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
Am I? Or am I finally seeing the truth? I have a feeling he changed his name.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Suddenly freezes, her eyes widening)
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
What is it?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
Heโs here.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Who? Veer?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Nods, her eyes fixed on something outside the cafรฉ window) Heโs walking down the street.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Looks out the window) I donโt see anyone.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Points) There! The man in the dark suit.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
(Squints) Oh, yeah. I see him. Just a guy in a suit.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Her heart pounding) Itโs him, Rohan. I know it is.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Stands up abruptly) I have toโฆ I have to see him.
๐๐ค๐๐๐ฃ/ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฃ๐จ๐
Anika, wait! What are you doing?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Rushes out of the cafรฉ, weaving through the crowd)
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Eyes fixed on Veerโs retreating figure)
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(She manages to close the gap, her voice barely a whisper) Veer?
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข / ๐๐๐๐ง
(Turns, his eyes meeting hers. A flicker of something, recognition? Or something else?)
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข / ๐๐๐๐ง
(His voice smooth, almost too smooth) Can I help you?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Her breath catches in her throat) Do you know who I am?
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข / ๐๐๐๐ง
(A slight pause, his expression unreadable) Iโm afraid I donโt. Have we met?
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Her voice trembling) My name is Anika. Butโฆ I think you knew me as Anya.
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข / ๐๐๐๐ง
(His eyes narrow slightly) Anya? Iโm afraid you have me mistaken.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Stares at him, searching for a sign, any sign) Youโre lying. I can feel it.
๐๐๐ ๐ง๐๐ข / ๐๐๐๐ง
(A cold smile plays on his lips) Youโre mistaken, Missโฆ Anika. Now, if youโll excuse me. I have a meeting to attend.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Watches him walk away, her mind reeling)
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Inner monologue) He knows. He knows exactly who I am.
๐ผ๐ฃ๐๐ ๐/ ๐ผ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐
(Inner monologue) And heโs afraid.
Comments