I Think I Love You.

Anushka woke up early the next morning, her mind already racing with plans. She sent a quick message to Emily: Something urgent came up. I won't be in today. Let me know if anything comes up. She didn't wait for a reply before tossing her phone onto the bed and getting ready.

She arrived at the coffee shop downtown an hour early, her nerves on edge. The place was quiet, with only a few patrons scattered around. Anushka chose a corner table with a clear view of the entrance and discreetly pulled out her laptop. Within minutes, she had hacked into the shop's surveillance system, ensuring she would have access to all the footage from the meeting. She wasn't taking any chances with Otim.

As the minutes ticked by, Anushka's anxiety grew. She kept glancing at the door, her heart pounding every time it opened. Finally, at exactly noon, a man walked in. He was dressed in a simple cap and sunglasses, his face partially obscured, but Anushka recognized him immediately. It was Otim.

He spotted her at the corner table and made his way over, sliding into the seat across from her. Before he could even greet her, Anushka leaned forward, her voice low but fierce. "Where's Mark? What have you done to him?"

Otim held up a hand, his expression calm but firm. "Patience, miss. Mark is safe. He's fine."

Anushka's eyes narrowed, her frustration bubbling over. "Fine? You've been hiding him for four months, and you expect me to believe he's fine? What did you do to him?"

Otim sighed, leaning back in his chair. "I gave him a chance to live. He wouldn't listen to reason. He was putting his life in danger, and I had to intervene. He has simple amnesia now, with only a few fragments of his memory lost. It was necessary."

Anushka's fists clenched under the table. "Necessary? You had no right—"

"I had every right," Otim interrupted his tone sharp but controlled. "Mark was reckless. He was digging into things he didn't understand, things that could have gotten him killed. I did what I had to do to protect him."

Anushka stared at him, her mind racing. She wanted to argue, to demand answers, but she knew she had to tread carefully. "Why are you telling me this now? Why after four months?"

Otim's expression softened slightly. "Because you've proven yourself, Anushka. You're good—better than I expected. It took the best I could get at least two months to trace back the source of the attack on my phone. And even then, they wouldn't have found out if Mark hadn't disclosed that it was you when he was under the influence of the sedatives."

At the mention of sedatives, Anushka's anger flared. "What did you do to him? What kind of drugs did you give him?"

Otim held up a hand again, his voice calm but firm. "He's safe, Anushka. I made sure of that. The sedatives were necessary to keep him calm and to protect him from himself. But he's fine now. He just needs time to recover."

Anushka took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "What do you want from me? Why did you call me here?"

Otim leaned forward, his expression serious. "I need you to relay a message to Mark's father and grandfather. Tell them that all of this—the attacks, the danger, everything—is the work of Thomas Pezi."

Anushka frowned, her confusion evident. "Who is Thomas Pezi? Why would they know him?"

Otim shook his head. "That's not for me to explain. They'll know who he is. Just deliver the message."

Anushka hesitated, her mind racing. She didn't trust Otim, but she had no choice. If this was the only way to get Mark back, she had to play along. "Fine. I'll tell them. But where is Mark? When can I see him?"

Otim glanced around the shop, his expression cautious. "The situation is calmer now. Pezi's men won't go after Mark—for now. You can take him home."

Anushka's heart leaped at the words. "Where is he?"

Otim stood, gesturing for her to follow. "Come with me."

Anushka hesitated for a moment, then grabbed her bag and followed him out of the coffee shop. They walked in silence, the bustling streets of the town providing a stark contrast to the tension between them. After a few minutes, Otim turned into a narrow alley, and Anushka's breath caught in her throat.

There, parked at the end of the alley, was Mark's car. And standing beside it, leaning against the door with his arms crossed, was Mark.

Anushka froze, her heart pounding in her chest. He looked the same—tall, broad-shouldered, his dark hair slightly messy—but there was something different about him. His expression was guarded, his eyes searching hers with a mix of confusion and recognition.

"Mark," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He straightened, his gaze locking onto hers. For a moment, neither of them moved. The world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them standing there, separated by months of uncertainty and pain.

Anushka took a hesitant step forward, her eyes filling with tears. "Mark, it's me. It's Ruhi."

He frowned, his brow furrowing as if trying to place her. "Ruhi…" he murmured, the name sounding unfamiliar on his tongue.

Her heart ached at the uncertainty in his voice. She wanted to run to him, to hug him and tell him everything would be okay. But she couldn't move. She was frozen, caught between hope and fear.

Then, slowly, Mark took a step forward. His hands reached out, trembling slightly, and cupped her face looking closely into her eyes. His touch was warm and gentle, and for a moment, Anushka felt a surge of relief. She leaned into his hand, her tears spilling over as she whispered, "Mark…"

He stared at her, his eyes softening as if something deep inside him had stirred. "I think… I think I love you," he said, his voice low and hesitant, as though the words were being pulled from a place he couldn't quite understand.

Anushka's breath caught in her throat, her heart swelling with a mix of joy and sorrow. She had waited so long to hear those words, to feel this connection again. But before she could respond, Mark's expression shifted, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"But… how come I don't know who you are?" he asked, his voice tinged with frustration and sadness.

Anushka's heart shattered at his words. She reached up, covering his hand with hers, her tears falling freely now. "It's okay, Mark," she whispered, her voice breaking. "We'll figure it out together. I promise."

Mark stared at her, his eyes searching hers as if trying to piece together a puzzle that was just out of reach. "Ruhi…" he murmured again, the name sounding like a question, a plea.

Otim stepped forward, his presence breaking the moment. "He's still recovering," he said quietly, his tone almost apologetic. "The memories will come back, but it will take time."

Anushka nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She didn't care how long it took. She would be there for him, every step of the way. But the pain of seeing him like this—so close yet so far—was almost unbearable.

Mark's hands dropped from her face, and he took a step back, his expression clouded with confusion. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just… I don't understand."

Anushka reached out, taking his hand in hers. "You don't have to understand right now," she said, her voice steady despite the tears streaming down her face. "I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."

Mark looked down at their joined hands, his fingers tightening around hers as if anchoring himself to her. For a moment, there was silence, the weight of everything unspoken hanging between them.

Then, Otim cleared his throat, his tone urgent. "We need to go. It's not safe to stay here."

Anushka nodded, her grip on Mark's hand tightening. "Let's go home," she said softly, her heart aching with a mix of hope and fear.