Chapter 7: The Library's Secrets

(Arrives at the old library, its imposing facade casting a long shadow across the quiet street. She checks her watch. 8:45 AM. Fifteen minutes early.)
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Inner monologue) Riya said 9 AM sharp. I hope sheโ€™s not late.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(She enters the library, the air thick with the scent of old paper and dust. The grand hall is mostly deserted, with only a few patrons scattered among the towering bookshelves.)
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(She finds a quiet corner near a large window, overlooking a small courtyard. She sits down, her nerves on edge.)
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Checks her watch. 9:00 AM. No sign of Riya.)
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Starts to feel a knot of anxiety tightening in her stomach. What if Riya doesn't show up? What if sheโ€™s changed her mind?)
(Suddenly, she sees a figure approaching. A woman with fiery red hair and a determined expression. Itโ€™s Riya.)
Riya
Riya
(Approaches Anika, her eyes sharp and assessing.) Youโ€™re Anika?
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
Yes. Youโ€™re Riya.
Riya
Riya
(Sits down opposite Anika, pulling out a small notepad.) Letโ€™s cut to the chase. You said you have proof about Veer. Show me.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Hesitates for a moment, then reaches into her bag and pulls out the silver locket.) This belonged to Anya.
Riya
Riya
(Examines the locket, her brow furrowed.) Anya? Whoโ€™s Anya?
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Takes a deep breath.) Anya was me. In a past life.
Riya
Riya
(Raises an eyebrow, a flicker of skepticism in her eyes.) Past life?
Riya
Riya
(Nods.) I know it sounds crazy, but itโ€™s true. Iโ€™ve been having these dreams, these memoriesโ€ฆ of a life I donโ€™t remember living.
Riya
Riya
(Scribbles something in her notepad.) And you believe thisโ€ฆ past life has something to do with Veer?
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
Yes. He killed me. In my past life. And now, Iโ€™m back to expose him.
Riya
Riya
(Looks at Anika, her expression unreadable.) Youโ€™re serious.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Nods.) I know it sounds unbelievable, but I have proof.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(She pulls out her phone and shows Riya the photos and clippings from the hidden room in the clock tower.) This is just a fraction of what I found.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Studies the photos and clippings, her eyes widening slightly.) Thisโ€ฆ this is a lot.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
Itโ€™s enough to prove that Veer is involved in some very shady activities.
Riya
Riya
(Nods slowly.) Itโ€™s a start. But I need more. I need concrete evidence. Something that will stand up in court.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Her voice filled with determination.) Iโ€™ll get it. Iโ€™ll find it.
Riya
Riya
(Looks at Anika, a flicker of respect in her eyes.) I believe you. I donโ€™t know how, but I do.
Riya
Riya
(She closes her notepad and looks directly at Anika.) Weโ€™re going to work together on this. Weโ€™re going to expose Veer for what he is.
Riya
Riya
(A wave of relief washes over her.) Thank you, Riya.
Riya
Riya
(Stands up.) We need to be careful. Veer has eyes everywhere. We canโ€™t trust anyone.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Nods.) I understand.
Riya
Riya
(Pulls out a business card.) Hereโ€™s my number. Donโ€™t call me unless itโ€™s urgent. And donโ€™t tell anyone about our meeting.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Takes the card.) I wonโ€™t.
Riya
Riya
( to leave, then pauses.) One more thing. Be careful, Anika. Youโ€™re playing a dangerous game.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Nods.) I know.
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Watches Riya disappear into the maze of bookshelves, her mind filled with a renewed sense of purpose.)
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ ๐™–/ ๐˜ผ๐™ฃ๐™ฎ๐™–
(Inner monologue) Weโ€™re going to get him, Veer. Weโ€™re going to bring you down.

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