The Names We Forgot

The night air was cold as Ravi and Raj walked back to their usual rooftop. Neither of them spoke for a while, still shaken by their encounter with Akash. "We've been looking at this all wrong," Raj finally said, breaking the silence. "It's not just about Rana anymore. There are more people—people we don't even remember." Ravi nodded, flipping through the notebook. "Names, dates, locations… This isn't just some personal vendetta. It's organized." He exhaled sharply. "We need to find out how deep this goes." Raj swallowed hard.

"And what happens if we don't like the answer?"

The next morning, they decided to start with the names in the notebook. "We'll go one by one," Ravi said as they sat at a café, spreading out the pages. Some names were familiar—old classmates, neighbors—but others meant nothing to them. "Look at this one," Raj said, pointing at a name circled in red. "Vikram." Ravi frowned. "I don't remember anyone named Vikram." But the notes next to the name told a different story. "You should," Raj muttered, reading aloud. "'Vikram—once a friend, then forgotten. Just like the rest of us.'" Ravi felt a chill. "How many people did we forget?"

Their search led them to an old library where Vikram was last seen working. The place was quiet, almost too quiet.

"Are you sure he still works here?" Raj asked, glancing around. Ravi checked the notes. "It says he comes here every evening." They waited, watching people come and go, but no one seemed to recognize the name. Just as they were about to leave, an older librarian approached. "You're looking for Vikram?" she asked. Ravi and Raj exchanged glances. "Yes," Ravi said. "Do you know where we can find him?" The librarian hesitated before answering. "You won't," she said quietly. "Vikram disappeared years ago."

Raj frowned. "Disappeared?" The librarian nodded. "One day, he just stopped showing up. No warning, no goodbyes. His house was emptied overnight, like he never existed." Ravi's grip on the notebook tightened. "Did he say anything before he left?" She hesitated, then nodded. "Just one thing. He told me, 'They'll come for me next.'" A shiver ran down Ravi's spine. "Who did he mean?" he asked. The librarian glanced around nervously. "I don't know. But you should leave it alone." She turned away quickly, ending the conversation. Raj exhaled. "That's not normal," he whispered. "It's like he vanished into thin air."

Outside, the air felt heavier. "This isn't a coincidence," Ravi said, flipping through the pages again. "First Rajat, then Akash, now Vikram. All people we barely remember, all connected somehow." Raj looked around warily. "What if it's more than just hurt feelings? What if something actually happened to them?" Ravi nodded. "We need to find someone who knew Vikram before he disappeared." As they spoke, a figure across the street watched them. A woman, standing completely still, her gaze locked onto them. "Raj," Ravi whispered, nudging him. "Look." The moment their eyes met hers, she turned and walked away.

Without hesitation, they followed her through the narrow streets. "She knows something," Raj muttered, keeping pace.

The woman moved quickly, leading them through alleyways, past dimly lit shops. "She's trying to lose us," Ravi noted. They sped up, but as they turned a corner, she was gone. "What the—" Raj started, scanning the area. Ravi's eyes landed on a small, flickering sign: "The Hollow Room." "She went in there," he said, pointing to the worn-down door. Raj hesitated. "This feels like a trap." Ravi swallowed hard. "Maybe. But we don't have a choice." Taking a deep breath, they stepped inside.

The interior was dimly lit, filled with old furniture and stacks of newspapers. A few people sat in the shadows, their faces hidden. The woman stood at the back, waiting. "You're looking for answers," she said, her voice calm but firm. Ravi nodded. "Who are you?" She tilted her head slightly. "My name is Meera. And if you're here, it means you're already in danger." Raj tensed. "Danger from who?" Meera's expression darkened. "From the ones who don't want the past to be remembered." Ravi exchanged a glance with Raj. "You mean Rajat? Akash?" Meera shook her head. "No. They're just the beginning."

A sinking feeling settled in Ravi's stomach. "Then who?" Meera gestured to the newspapers stacked on the table. "Everything you need to know is here," she said. Ravi picked up the top paper. The headline sent a chill down his spine: "Mysterious Disappearances Continue—Another Name Erased from Records." He flipped through it, heart pounding. The article listed names—names that matched the notebook. "They're not just forgotten," Ravi whispered. "They're being erased." Meera nodded. "And if you're not careful, you'll be next." Raj exhaled sharply. "This is bigger than we thought." Meera's eyes were steady. "Much bigger. And you're running out of time."

The weight of her words settled over them. "If someone's behind this, we need to find out who," Ravi said. Meera studied them carefully. "You won't like what you find." Raj clenched his fists. "We don't have a choice." Meera hesitated, then finally nodded. "Then listen carefully. You need to find the first one." Ravi frowned. "The first what?" Meera's voice lowered. "The first person who was erased. The one who started it all." Raj's breath hitched. "And who is that?" Meera exhaled. "Someone none of us remember anymore. But if you find them… you'll find the truth."

Silence filled the room as the realization sank in. "We're looking for a ghost," Ravi murmured. Meera nodded. "And if you find them, be careful. Because the ones who erased them? They're still watching." A sudden sound outside made them all freeze. A car engine, slow and deliberate. Meera's eyes widened. "They found us," she whispered. "You need to leave—now." Ravi and Raj barely had time to react before the lights flickered, and the door behind them slammed shut