The evening air in Vernonica felt heavier than before.
Not because the wind had changed…But because something in Vansh had.
It began with a simple thought.
A fleeting idea about life's unpredictability—spoken casually in the backseat of a cab. The driver's laughter still echoed faintly in his mind, along with those strangely comforting words:
"Embrace what comes your way."
At the time, it had felt like ordinary wisdom.
Now… it felt like a warning.
The image of the girl lingered.
The one on the sidewalk.The one who smiled as if she already knew him.The one the world took away before he could even react.
Vansh sat by the restaurant window, his meal growing cold in front of him. Outside, the city moved as it always did—unbothered, unaware.
But his thoughts were elsewhere.
Why did that moment feel important?
He didn't know.
But he couldn't let it go.
Later that night, as the city dimmed into silence and the stars quietly reclaimed the sky, Vansh walked home with an unfamiliar sense of clarity.
Ideas came faster.
Sharper.
More precise.
AI integration. Pattern recognition. Narrative enhancement.
For the first time, it didn't feel like just a project.
It felt like something waiting.
Something… aligning.
And then—
Everything broke.
His keys were gone.
In their place—
A note.
What if someone leaks insider information about the game?What if someone reincarnates… and already knows everything?
The words didn't just confuse him.
They unsettled him.
Because they didn't feel random.
They felt… meant for him.
Sleep didn't come gently that night.
It came like a quiet intrusion.
And somewhere between awareness and unconsciousness—
Something watched.
A shadow.
Still.Silent.Unreal.
Yet undeniably present.
The next morning looked normal.
Too normal.
The kind of normal that feels staged… like a cover for something just beneath the surface.
Vansh moved through his routine automatically—coffee, laptop, notes.
But his mind wasn't in it.
It was stuck on two things.
The note.
And the feeling.
He reached into his pocket again.
Just to be sure.
Just to confirm it had been real.
Nothing.
His fingers stilled.
He checked again.
Left pocket. Right pocket. Jacket. Table.
Nothing.
The note… was gone.
A cold unease crept down his spine.
"I kept it here…" he murmured.
He remembered reading it.
Folding it.
Keeping it carefully.
So where did it go?
His gaze shifted slowly toward the window.
For a brief second—
Something felt wrong.
Not outside.
Inside.
He stood up abruptly and walked toward it.
Opened the window.
Looked out.
Everything was normal.
People walking. Vehicles passing. Life continuing, uninterrupted.
But as he stared at the glass—
His reflection lagged.
Just for a fraction of a second.
Vansh froze.
Then it snapped back to normal.
"…I'm overthinking," he whispered.
But the words felt hollow.
His phone buzzed.
The sudden sound made him flinch.
Rohit.
Buddy, what happened to your lock? Found a locksmith for you. He'll be there by 11 AM.
Vansh stared at the message for a moment longer than necessary.
Normal.
Simple.
Real.
Exactly what he needed.
He typed quickly:
Nothing much. Just lost my keys. Thanks for the locksmith.
He hit send.
And immediately felt it—
Something off.
The reply was too short.
Too clean.
Too unlike him.
Miles away, Rohit frowned at his screen.
Seven years of friendship had taught him one thing—
Vansh was terrible at lying.
And even worse at hiding things.
Short replies always meant trouble.
Rohit leaned back, thinking.
Then a small smirk appeared.
Let's meet tomorrow. SK Café. 1 PM.
Vansh read the message.
His fingers hovered over the screen.
Meeting meant questions.
Questions meant explanations.
Explanations meant… everything.
He exhaled slowly and typed:
I don't think I can make it. Busy with the upcoming game.
Rohit raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah… not happening," he muttered.
A second later, he sent another message.
Okay as you say… but I'm bringing my girlfriend this time. Thought you'd finally meet Sawati. You're the one who keeps asking, remember?
Vansh froze.
That worked.
His eyes remained on the screen.
Rohit rarely brought her up like this.
And every time Vansh had asked before—
There had always been an excuse.
Now suddenly—
She was coming?
A small, resigned smile formed.
Okay, I'll be there at 1 PM. But don't cancel like last time.
Rohit grinned.
Relax. This time it's fixed. See you.
"Bingo," he murmured to himself.
Vansh locked his phone and set it down.
For a moment—
Things felt normal again.
Grounded.
Stable.
But only for a moment.
Because as his eyes drifted back toward the window—
That feeling returned.
Stronger this time.
Not from outside.
From within.
Like something had already started.
Like something had chosen him—
And there was no stepping back.
Vansh slowly sat down, running a hand through his hair.
"First the note disappears…" he muttered."Now this feeling…"
His gaze shifted toward his laptop.
"…and somehow it feels like this is just the beginning."
Silence filled the room.
Heavy.
Waiting.
And deep within that silence—
A thought surfaced.
Maybe I should tell Rohit everything.
But another followed immediately—
Or maybe… I'm already too late.
The clock ticked softly.
11 AM was approaching.
And with it—
Something far more unexpected…
had already arrived.