Nobody spoke.
The video had already ended.
But the image remained frozen in our minds.
Aisha.
Alive.
Walking out of St. Gabriel Hospital.
Alone.
For three years, everyone had believed she was dead.
Professor Dev had mourned her.
I had forgotten her.
And Meera...
Meera had lived with the guilt of losing her.
Yet somehow—
Aisha had survived.
Kabir slowly sat down on the couch.
"No..."
He whispered.
"This doesn't make any sense."
"Why would she disappear?"
"Why wouldn't she contact anyone?"
Professor Dev's eyes had become red.
His hands trembled.
"She would never abandon us."
Sara hugged her grandfather tightly.
"Maybe she couldn't."
Nobody wanted to say the possibility aloud.
But all of us were thinking the same thing.
If Project Echo could replace memories...
Then perhaps Aisha's memories had been stolen too.
Outside, dawn had begun to break.
The rain had finally stopped.
But the atmosphere inside the house felt heavier than ever.
I stood near the window while Meera quietly approached me.
"Arjun."
I looked toward her.
She seemed exhausted.
But more than that...
She seemed afraid.
Not for herself.
For me.
"I know that look."
"What look?"
"The one you have when you're trying to carry everything alone."
I smiled weakly.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Always."
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then Meera smiled faintly.
"Do you remember our first fight?"
I blinked.
"Our first fight?"
"You accused me of cheating during chess."
I laughed.
"I don't even remember playing chess."
"Because you were terrible."
"I refuse to believe that."
She laughed softly.
And once again, hearing that laugh brought warmth to my chest.
Not because of memories.
But because of the present.
Because somewhere between all the mysteries and forgotten promises...
I had fallen in love with her again.
Suddenly—
Kabir called out.
"Guys."
His voice sounded strange.
We turned.
He was staring at something on his laptop.
"What happened?"
He swallowed.
"The footage wasn't complete."
"What do you mean?"
"There was another file."
Everyone moved closer.
Kabir pressed play.
The timestamp showed:
11:58 PM.
A hidden camera angle inside the underground parking lot.
The quality was clearer.
Three figures appeared.
Me.
Aisha.
Meera.
Then Dr. Malhotra.
We seemed to be arguing.
Violently.
My younger self looked terrified.
Aisha was crying.
Meera looked desperate.
Then—
A woman entered the frame.
The moment she appeared, Professor Dev froze.
His face lost all color.
"No..."
He whispered.
"No..."
Sara looked shocked.
"Grandfather?"
He stood up suddenly.
His entire body trembling.
"Impossible."
The woman in the footage wore black clothes.
Long silver hair.
Elegant posture.
And eyes that looked frighteningly calm.
Even through the grainy footage.
Professor Dev whispered her name.
"...Ananya."
The room fell silent.
Meera frowned.
"Who is Ananya?"
Professor Dev's expression was filled with horror.
"She founded Project Echo."
My blood froze.
"What?"
"Forty years ago."
"She disappeared twenty years ago."
"Officially..."
His voice shook.
"She died."
Nobody moved.
Because if what he was saying was true—
Then the woman controlling Project Echo...
Should have been dead.
Meanwhile...
Far below the earth.
Inside a hidden facility.
Soft lights illuminated a circular room filled with advanced machines.
In the center stood a transparent glass chamber.
And inside—
A young woman lay peacefully asleep.
Black hair.
Pale skin.
Closed eyes.
A yellow scarf rested beside her.
The silver-ringed man approached respectfully.
"Madam Ananya."
The mysterious woman stood behind him.
Watching.
"Begin the process."
The man nodded.
"The memory stabilizers are ready."
"And Subject A?"
The woman smiled.
"She's stronger than expected."
A monitor beside the chamber suddenly beeped.
Heart rate increasing.
Brain activity rising.
The silver-ringed man's eyes widened.
"Madam..."
"She's waking up."
Ananya smiled.
Not kindly.
Not warmly.
But with satisfaction.
"Good."
"After three years..."
"It's finally time."
Inside the chamber—
The sleeping girl's fingers moved.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
Then—
Her eyes opened.
Bright.
Confused.
Alive.
She looked around weakly.
And whispered the first name that came to her lips.
"...Arjun?"
Back at Professor Dev's house...
My phone vibrated.
Unknown Number.
A message arrived.
I opened it.
And nearly dropped the phone.
Because attached to the message—
Was a photograph.
Taken only minutes ago.
It showed a girl sitting inside a hospital bed.
Looking directly at the camera.
Alive.
Awake.
And unmistakably—
Aisha.
Beneath the picture were eight words.
"She's awake. Come get her, Arjun."