Aarav leaned forward, squinting at the security footage Anahata had decrypted. His heart skipped a beat when one of the men in black stopped abruptly, pulled out a phone, and glanced at it. Aarav's eyes narrowed.
"Anahata, focus the camera on the phone screen," he whispered, his voice trembling.
The screen zoomed in, but the image was blurry, the text unreadable.
"This image is too distorted," Anahata responded calmly. "Processing enhancements. Hold on…"
A few moments later, the phone screen came into focus. Aarav froze as he saw the image—his adoptive mother's photo.
"Why... why does he have her picture?" Aarav stammered, his throat dry.
Before he could process the revelation, he noticed the man moving purposefully toward the hospital where his mother had been admitted. Aarav's chest tightened, a storm of emotions brewing inside him.
Rage. Sorrow. Guilt. Revenge.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears, so loud it drowned out Anahata's voice momentarily.
"Aarav," the machine said, breaking through his chaotic thoughts. "Your emotional state is unstable. You need to calm down."
"Calm down?" Aarav's voice cracked with anger. "That man... he's heading to the hospital. To her hospital! I need to know why!"
Anahata remained silent for a moment, as if gauging Aarav's emotional state. Finally, it spoke, its tone firm but steady. "If you lose control now, you risk losing everything. Let's follow him. Gather evidence. The truth comes first."
Aarav nodded reluctantly, his fists clenched. "Fine. But if he's involved in this…" His voice trailed off, the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.
Sneaking into the hospital felt like stepping into a battlefield. The fluorescent lights buzzed softly, casting an eerie glow over the empty corridors. Aarav's footsteps were light but deliberate as he made his way to the security room.
"Anahata, any cameras in this hallway?" he whispered.
"Negative. This area appears to be a blind spot. Continue forward," the machine replied.
Reaching the security room, Aarav found the door locked.
"Anahata?"
"Stand back."
A small device emerged from Aarav's wrist, emitting a quiet hum as it picked the lock. The door clicked open, and Aarav slipped inside.
The security guard was absent, leaving the monitors unattended. Aarav quickly accessed the system, pulling up footage from the day his mother had died.
The first clip appeared normal—until Anahata's voice cut through.
"This footage has been tampered with. Allow me to restore it."
The screen flickered as the machine worked its magic. Slowly, the missing details came into focus. Aarav's eyes widened as he watched the man in black enter his mother's chamber.
"What is he doing?" Aarav whispered, his voice shaking.
The man lingered inside the room for several minutes before leaving, his face obscured but his movements deliberate. Aarav checked the timestamp.
"The same day… the same time…" Aarav's voice broke. "He was there when she… when she died."
His hands trembled as he gripped the edge of the desk, his knuckles white. A deep, guttural anger rose in his chest, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Aarav," Anahata said softly, almost hesitantly. "Your heart rate is dangerously high. I urge you to step back."
But Aarav couldn't hear the machine anymore. His vision blurred, tears streaming down his face as raw fury took hold. His eyes burned red with anger, yet the tears wouldn't stop flowing—a torrent of grief and rage intertwined.
"They killed her," he muttered, his voice a low growl. "They killed her."
He slammed his fist onto the desk, the sound echoing in the small room.
"Aarav," Anahata interjected, its tone firmer now. "Focus. This is just the beginning. If you act recklessly, you'll lose the chance to uncover the truth. Control yourself."
Aarav's breathing slowed slightly, but his anger remained palpable. He clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
"I'll find him," he said through gritted teeth. "I'll find him and make him pay."
Anahata's voice softened, almost as if it understood his pain. "Then let us proceed. The next step is crucial."
Aarav stood frozen, staring at the timestamp on the footage. The memory of his mother's lifeless body flooded his mind, mixing with the image of the man in black leaving her room.