Aksh's POV
Red frock. Go away. Someone shouting, crying, and the screech of a truck hurtling toward me. I tried to move, to escape, but I couldn't breathe. A sudden jolt—a bullet—pierced my shoulder. My body turned numb, my vision hazy. A deafening crash shattered the chaos, and everything went black.
I gasped for air as I jolted awake, sweat trickling down my body. My chest heaved, trying to calm the storm inside me. I hadn't taken my pills last night, and now this dream haunted me again. My fingers brushed my face, wet with tears I hadn't realized were falling.
"Who are you?" I whispered to the girl in the red frock from my dream. Why does she keep appearing? She looks worried, desperate, her voice begging me to go away. But who is she?
Psychiatrists had told me it was difficult to recover memories like this without a trigger, and so far, I'd found nothing that could unlock the missing pieces of my past. Frustrated, I leaned back against the headboard, closing my eyes.
And then, another flash. This time, it was a girl in a yellow frock. Her kind, brown eyes were filled with nervousness and sadness, glancing at me like she wanted to say something but couldn't. Her expression lingered in my mind, and before I knew it, I was smiling.
"What is wrong with me?" I muttered, shaking my head.
I checked the time. I had a meeting to attend—one where I would recruit new interns. "Damn it, I can't be late." I called my secretary. "Mr. Han, bring the car. I'll be ready at 7."
After quickly getting ready, I saw Mr. Han waiting by the car. As we drove, I stared out the window, distracted. At a red light, a girl darted across the street, clutching files, trying to steady herself.
Suddenly, the light turned green, and she froze in front of my car. Mr. Han slammed on the brakes just in time. I almost got out, but before I could, she gathered her papers and ran off. She turned back briefly, her hair wild around her face. A gust of wind cleared the strands, revealing her features.
It was her.
The girl from the yellow frock flashback.
I shook my head, regaining composure as we reached the office. Staff greeted me with bows, but I hurried to the lift. As the doors closed, someone ran to stop them. I gestured to Mr. Han to hold the lift.
It was her.
She hesitated at the door, her nervous figure making her seem smaller. For a moment, she froze, but when the lift opened again, she stepped in. I watched her, noting how she avoided meeting my eyes. She stepped out on the second floor, leaving behind a small paper from her files. I picked it up, tucking it into my pocket.
"Who is she, and why does she keep crossing my path?"
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Ahana's POV
I was dead tired, rushing orders at the café. Questioning my life choices, I was making a latte when my phone buzzed. Too exhausted to care, I answered lazily, "Hello?"
The voice on the other end jolted me awake. "Hello, Mrs. Ahana Sah. This is Vervain Forever. You've been selected for an interview tomorrow at 9 a.m. Please be present for further steps. Thank you."
I froze, the words sinking in. Then I screamed. Customers stared at me like I'd lost my mind. Embarrassed, I smiled awkwardly and hurried to finish work.
At my dorm, I prepared for the interview, settling on an elegant white floral frock. After brushing up on questions, I fell asleep, determined not to show up with dark circles.
The next morning, disaster struck. My cab got canceled, leaving me to run all the way. I was rushing to cross the street when the light turned green. A car zoomed toward me, and I froze, thinking it was my last moment on Earth. Thankfully, the brakes screeched, and I was saved. Gathering my files, I ran without looking back, though curiosity nagged at me.
When I arrived at the towering building, I felt impossibly small. Everyone looked so professional, and my hair, ruined during the rush, didn't help. I tied it back quickly and was directed to the second floor.
Rushing for the lift, I froze when the door opened. Inside stood a man who looked like he'd stepped out of a dream. His hazel eyes held a quiet intensity, and his sharp features made my heart skip a beat.
I hesitated, feeling like I didn't belong in his space, but the door reopened, urging me in. I stepped inside, acutely aware of his gaze, but too nervous to look back.
When we reached the second floor, I bolted out. Only then did I realize I had an interview to focus on.
"Will he be the one to interview me? No way. He's way too busy. That's a relief, though. I wouldn't survive if he was in the room."
Moments later, my name was called. Taking a deep breath, I walked into the room. Three people were seated inside, but my attention was on the man facing away from me.
"Good morning," I said, bowing politely.
The chair turned, and there he was.
The man from the lift.
My heart stopped, and my soul left my body.