A fleeting silhouette shimmered briefly in the golden reflection of the rising sun. It moved swiftly, almost vanishing into the morning mist—its urgency unmistakable. Nearly eighty-five percent of it was hidden in shadow, but its speed made one thing clear: whoever it was, they were in a great hurry.
"Should've woken up earlier. I don't know how I managed to sleep so deeply today… deeper than I've ever slept before."
"Feels like I'm no longer certain of my own words anymore..."
The shadow whispered to itself as it turned into a narrow lane.
That's when the illusion broke, and the figure's identity became clear—Aarav.
A furrow rested on his forehead, worry etched into every feature, urgency radiating from his every movement.
Roughly half an hour earlier, he had woken up, startled, only to find it was already 4:00 AM. After freshening up and stepping outside, he was met by Iravati, who brought him a cup of tea and a warm kachori. He declined politely, but Iravati insisted, eventually convincing him to eat.
By the time he left the Joshi household, it was already 4:38 AM.
Now, after a brisk ten-minute walk, he stood before Singh House.
Inside, silence enveloped the place.
"Now's the perfect moment," Aarav whispered to himself.
He began to walk, each step cautious and calculated.
Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence:
"Oh, I thought you'd gone to that town near Karimnagar."
Aarav froze. Panic flickered in his eyes as he turned around—Kavya Singh stood there with her hands on her waist, her eyes narrowed, watching him closely.
"I... I just—"
Before he could finish, Raghu Singh stepped out of a nearby room.
"You took quite a while. When I got home, the lady told me you'd gone out… to clear your mind."
"I didn't realize the time…" Aarav muttered.
Kavya crossed her arms. "Fine, let's assume you lost track of time. But the sun is out. Didn't its light give you a clue whether it's morning, noon, or evening?"
"Ahh… I'm sorry. It won't happen again," Aarav said sincerely.
He lowered his head slightly.
"Sorry isn't always enough," Kavya added firmly.
"Alright, dear lady, it seems the guest understands his mistake," Raghu Singh said with a gentle smile, placing a reassuring hand on Aarav's shoulder.
"You could've just told us you were with the Joshi family," Raghu continued.
Aarav looked visibly surprised.
"No need for that look," Kavya said sharply. "A call came from Ashwini Joshi earlier. She told us everything."
"Was it necessary to climb the rooftop just to catch a little goat?" Kavya scolded softly.
"Your wounds aren't fully healed. With stunts like that, it'll only take longer."
Raghu Singh nodded. "Go on. Freshen up."
As Aarav turned to leave, Raghu called out once more.
"Look, we're not your parents. But until your memory returns and your wounds are healed, this house is your shelter. You're our guest—but remember, you're not in Karimnagar anymore. You can't blindly trust everyone. The Joshi family is kind—but not everyone out there is. Some may deceive you. Some may take advantage."
"I understand. I'll be more careful next time," Aarav promised.
"Oh right, I meant to give you something—but you weren't home earlier, so I kept it with me," Raghu Singh said, pulling something from his pocket.
He handed Aarav two cards. One was yellow-brown, the other jet black, with a mysterious white square near the bottom-right corner.
"What are these?" Aarav asked, intrigued.
"The yellow-brown one is your Temporary City Permit Card . It's valid for only twenty days. After that, you'll either have to apply for a permanent one… or leave the city."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"As for the black one—that's special. It holds an address… but not visible to the naked eye."
"But there's nothing written on it. Unlike the yellow card, this one's blank," Aarav pointed out.
"Exactly. This isn't just any card. It's encoded using a concealment technique . No ordinary person can read it," Raghu Singh explained.
"So, how do I read it?"
"Hold the card gently. Press your thumb against the white square. Then place it under a candle's flame—but not too close. Wait a few seconds. Shake it slightly. And watch... as golden ink reveals the hidden text."
Aarav nodded slowly, absorbing every word.
He glanced ahead thoughtfully.
"Hello again... Do you recognize me? I feel like I should know you. But I can't remember anything."
He turned, facing the air as if speaking beyond the veil of reality.
"Ahh, yes… Like a treasure map with secret layers, revealed only through ancient tricks. Thank you, reader… for reminding me."
Aarav had just broken the fourth wall —addressing an unseen observer, connecting with something beyond the fabric of his story.
Then, turning back toward Raghu, he quietly took both cards into his hands.
"Keep the yellow-brown one with you always. Use the black card only when you feel lost—when everything feels uncertain and you're unsure where to go," Raghu Singh advised gently.
"We weren't going to throw you out. But the city doesn't allow any guest without a valid permit to stay more than two weeks. If we keep you here without one, we'll be the ones in trouble," he added.
"Understood. I'll take care. And yes, I've already received medicine from the traditional healer. Don't worry, Kavya—it'll help my wounds heal faster," Aarav reassured them both.
With a faint smile, he turned and quietly walked toward his room—cards in hand, thoughts full of questions… and a hidden destination awaiting his discovery.
Aarav lay still on his bed, staring at the ceiling, the gentle hum of the ceiling fan echoing his thoughts. In his right hand, he held a yellow-brown city permit card — temporary in nature, something issued in haste, bearing only a code and his assumed name. His left hand clutched a sleek jet-black card — blank, cold, and etched with silence. It pulsed faintly, embedded with a high-level concealment technique that no ordinary scan could decipher.
"What am I supposed to do now?" Aarav muttered under his breath.
His voice carried the weight of uncertainty. "I don't remember anything — not where I'm from, not who I am, just this name… Aarav. And these people, these strangers — why are they helping me? Why would they take care of someone who's practically a ghost? How long can I keep burdening them like this? What if my presence puts them in danger?"
Beyond the closed door of his room, in the softly lit living room, Kavya sat with Raghu, both wearing visible concern on their faces.
"What did the traditional healer say about his memory?" Kavya asked, fidgeting with the edge of her shawl.
Raghu exhaled heavily, the kind of sigh that aged the soul. "He said he's tried every method known to him — mantras, herbs, energy healing — but there's no trace of trauma, no clue to unlock the missing pieces. Aarav remembers only his name. Everything else is locked away… perhaps by something not entirely natural."
Kavya's brows furrowed. "So it's not medical?"
"No. He advised us to seek help from someone who understands spiritual barriers — someone versed in deeper, more esoteric practices."
She hesitated before whispering, "And the wounds on his back — will they heal?"
"Yes," Raghu nodded. "He gave me a salve — said to apply it twice a day and bandage the wounds. He'll recover physically in two or three days, but mentally… that's the real wound."
Kavya stood up, brushing her hair behind her ears. "I'll prepare dinner before it gets dark."
She walked into the kitchen, leaving Raghu lost in thought. He remained seated, staring at the lamp in the corner, its warm glow barely soothing the storm of questions in his mind.
Meanwhile, far away from the cozy warmth of that home, in the northern edge of Karimnagar, something stirred. This part of the district was known for its dense vegetation and the small mountain nestled within its eight-kilometer range. Beyond that, the jungle belonged to another jurisdiction, where rules and oversight shifted.
It was 7:00 p.m. The sky had dipped into the indigo hues of early twilight. By local law, no one was permitted inside the forest after 5:00 p.m., and yet tonight — something was moving.
Two state security officer, part of the evening patrol unit, were assigned to monitor the border of the woods. Their routine rounds had recently doubled in frequency due to a rise in unexplained activities — strange lights, shifting shadows, and sounds that defied logic.
Unbeknownst to them, someone was already inside.
A figure, tall and alert, moved with surgical precision through the underbrush. He wore a dark brown cloak that flowed behind him like a whisper of smoke. His face was veiled in black, a protective charm sewn into the fabric to mask his presence even from magical surveillance.
After twenty minutes of weaving through the narrowing trail, he halted.
A voice, crisp and without source, echoed around him. "No one saw you coming, correct?"
The man flinched, his eyes scanning the treetops, the shadows, the ground — all void of any visible presence. "No one. I avoided the patrol."
"The soldiers?"
"I laced their water with a sleep draught. They won't wake for at least an hour," he said, trying to sound confident.
"Report. What have you brought?"
The cloaked man's voice dropped to a whisper. "Madan is scheduled to deliver the sealed package tomorrow morning in Mithalpur. He's being discreet and has hired a few trustworthy men for protection."
A low chuckle rose in the air, followed by a voice dipped in disdain. "Let him try. I have other forces waiting in Mithalpur. His efforts will be… neutralized."
There was a pause. The cloaked figure looked uneasy. After a moment, he asked, almost hesitantly, "Forgive me, but what exactly is in this sealed package that warrants such extensive efforts from your side?"
Silence hung heavy for a beat too long.
Then came the reply. Cold. Final.
"That's not your concern. Your payment will arrive as promised. Question me again, and you'll regret knowing even this much."
The figure swallowed hard and nodded. "Understood."
"What is the significance of the jet-black card Aarav holds, and how does it link to his forgotten past?"
"What dark forces are lurking in the woods, and how are they connected to the mysterious sealed package being delivered in Mithalpur?"