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twenty four

So, I just saw your post on the guy who resembled Ishaan in your imagination (which was so uncanny). And, after seeing them, I think it's high time to talk about it.

I know, this sounds too mysterious and stuff. But, I fear that I couldn't give any more details other than these. Some stuff needs to be explained in real life. So, if possible, could we catch up somewhere? I live in New Delhi as well, so meeting is quite easier in this case. I swear, you can trust me. I'm not a prankster.

Thank you!

I reread the message I had received to my personal account and my professional account a week ago, meanwhile waiting for Miss Bansal to arrive at the Starbucks near my house.

Though I was vehemently against this plan— like, only God knows what the Hell her motive is— she managed to convince me like Hell. Let me tell you, this woman's tenacity was something to be feared of! Upon fixing our appointment, I warned Shaina and Dhruv to stay alert and pick up my calls at any time, so that they could be an additional help if I ever landed in danger because of her.

Just then, a corner of my eye spotted a maroon Activa scooter of two people from outside the window. One was a short girl in a white “Main Character Energy” T-shirt and black cargo pants with a pair of rectangular spectacles. That innocence in her face made her look like she was twenty, making me almost confirm that it was Advika Bansal.

The guy who sat behind Bansal… He had those features I would remember even in my dreams. After all, he was the real life carbon copy of the child I created with my brain. Messy hair. Two-months-old beard. Dusky skin. Dark green eyes. It was him, indeed.

It was Miss Bansal who saw me first and seemingly alerted Ishaan regarding the same, making me straighten my posture. Then, Miss Bansal paused on her way and had a brief conversation with Ishaan about God-knows-what.

Done with their conversation, they enter the café together and look at me with a smile. While Ishaan perfectly mastered the art of shooting a confident smile, it was Miss Bansal whose eyes squinted a little as she tried to smile, making me wonder if it was Miss Bansal who had texted me.

“Hello, Maya! Errr… Miss Chatterjee,” Ishaan greeted me and extended his hand for a shake as I stood up from my place and felt ashamed of the past me who had lied about my identity.

“Hello, Ishaan!” I reciprocated his handshake and extended my hand for a shake with Miss Bansal while greeting, “Hello, Miss Bansal.”

“Hi, Miss Chatterjee,” she greeted back with an evidently faux confident smile and reciprocated my handshake.

As Ishaan and Miss Bansal sat together opposite me, I joined them while Miss Bansal asked, “Did you order anything?”

As I nodded a no, there was silence at our table. A silence that screamed that nobody was interested to be here.

“So…?” It was Ishaan, remaining as interested as he was, who tried to initiate the conversation.

“I thought we were here to talk about something,” I spoke up finally, thus brushing off my awkwardness from the corners of my senses. “So, may I know what Miss Bansal was going to say?” I positioned myself at the edge of my seat, my inner self proud of my sudden, boosting confidence.

“Well, yeah…” Miss Bansal paused and looked at Ishaan, then proceeded with her speech. “I know that the thing I would say is unbelievable and uncanny. But, at the end of the day, I fear that there are no choices for you other than trusting me.”

Why do I feel like this girl was telling everything I wished to tell them?

“You know—” I focused deeper into her words as she continued speaking. “— this sounds very surreal to think about and to speak. But, this is a fact. When you posted about Ishaan, I realised that—”