Aarav's hand hovered over his phone, his finger hesitating on the call button. The weight of the message gnawed at him—I found something… about your father. The words felt unreal, like a cruel joke.
"Why are you hesitating?" the machine's voice interrupted, breaking the heavy silence.
Aarav clenched his jaw. "Because… what if it's nothing? What if it's just another dead end?"
Anahata's voice was calm, even firm. "Hope is a mechanism for progress. You will not know unless you act."
He sighed, pressing the call button reluctantly. The line buzzed for a moment before his uncle's voice crackled through.
Uncle: "Aarav! Beta, why weren't you picking up? I've been trying to reach you all day!"
Aarav(slightly defensive): "Sorry… I've been busy. What is it about my father?"
Uncle: "I… I found something while sorting through some old things. A purse. I'm not sure, but I think it's your father's."
Aarav straightened, his grip tightening on the phone. "A purse? Where did you find it?"
Uncle: "Near the hospital where your mother… where she passed. Someone found it and handed it over to the police. They investigated it but didn't find anything of note. They decided to return it to you, but since you weren't picking up, they contacted me instead."
Aarav's mind raced. "So, you have it now?"
Uncle: "I'll bring it to you tomorrow. But Aarav… this might be important. It could be a clue."
Aarav's heart raced. "Thanks. I'll see you then."
He ended the call, his mind racing. This was more than just a random discovery—it was a thread, one that could lead to answers. The machine's voice broke through his thoughts.
Anahata: "Analyzing the situation, Aarav. I suggest we investigate further. We need to retrieve all available data about the purse."
Aarav nodded, walking to his desk. "You're right. Let's check for any surveillance footage around the area where he found it."
The screen flickered to life as Anahata accessed a nearby CCTV feed. Moments later, a series of clips appeared on the monitor, showing the hospital's entrance. Aarav leaned forward, scrutinizing the footage.
Aarav(under his breath): "There's nothing. The footage is clean."
Anahata: "Incorrect. The footage has been tampered with."
Aarav blinked, turning back to the machine. "What do you mean?"
Anahata: "I've analyzed the frames. Someone edited this footage. Watch closely. The timestamps are inconsistent. I will guide you through the process. First, connect me to your phone."
Aarav quickly followed the instructions, linking the machine to his phone. He felt a slight tremor as the device synchronized with Anahata.
Anahata: "Now, I will hack the tampered footage and reveal the missing parts."
Aarav's phone screen flickered for a moment, then the video sped up. He could see a figure—someone in black—lurking just out of view, and then a few moments later, another person was seen running away from the scene.
Aarav(softly): "Someone's hiding something. Who were these people?"
Anahata: "They appear to be following the man who lost the purse. It seems like a coordinated chase."
Aarav's eyes widened. "I need to find them. Who are they? Why were they after him?"
Anahata: "To uncover the truth, we need to track their movements. I will assist you. Follow my lead."
Aarav's fingers tapped rapidly on his phone, following Anahata's instructions. The machine directed him to another area, where security cameras had captured glimpses of the men in black, their features obscured but their actions clear.
Aarav(focused): "These men… they knew what they were doing. They were after him for a reason."
Anahata: "Correct. And you will find out why. The next step is crucial—"
The screen flickered again as Anahata's voice softened.
Anahata: "You must stay alert, Aarav. This is just the beginning."