The Ideal Stranger

Chapter 25: Pieces of the Puzzle

  The next morning, Raj called her with an update. They had managed to track down an old friend of Kabir's—a man named Suraj, who had been close to Kabir in high school. Raj invited Aanya to join him in meeting Suraj, hoping that talking to someone who had known Kabir well might provide more insight.

  Aanya met Raj at a small café in the city. Suraj was already seated, a nervous-looking man in his early thirties, fidgeting with his coffee cup. When Aanya and Raj approached, he stood up awkwardly, offering a handshake.

  "Thanks for meeting us," Raj said, motioning for everyone to sit.

  "No problem. I was surprised when you called," Suraj said, his eyes flickering to Aanya with a hint of recognition. "It's been a long time since anyone's mentioned Kabir."

  "What can you tell us about him?" Raj asked, getting straight to the point.

  Suraj shifted in his seat, glancing down at the table as he gathered his thoughts. "Kabir was... different. Quiet, but smart. He never really fit in with the other kids, but he and I got along. We hung out a lot in high school, but he started pulling away after graduation. I didn't see him much after that."

  "Did he ever talk about Aanya?" Raj asked, watching Suraj closely.

  Suraj hesitated, his brow furrowing. "Yeah, actually. He mentioned her a few times. He was obsessed with her. Not in a creepy way, at least not back then, but he talked about her like she was this perfect person. He'd write poems about her—never showed them to her, though."

  Aanya's stomach turned at the mention of the poems. She had never known, never suspected.   "Did he ever act on those feelings?"

  Suraj shook his head. "Not that I know of. But after Aanya left for college, he got weird. Withdrawn. He wouldn't answer my calls, stopped hanging out. Then one day, he just... vanished. His family moved away, and I never heard from him again."

  Aanya exchanged a glance with Raj, a silent understanding passing between them. Kabir's obsession had been building for years, long before Rohan ever entered the picture. He had been biding his time, watching, waiting.

  "Did he ever mention Rohan?" Raj asked, leaning forward slightly.

  Suraj's eyes widened in surprise. "Rohan? No, never. Why? What's going on here?"

  Raj sighed, sitting back in his chair. "We think Kabir might be involved in something... dangerous. Have you heard from him at all in recent years?"

  Suraj shook his head quickly. "No. I haven't spoken to him in over a decade. Is he in trouble?"

   "He might be," Raj said carefully. "If you hear from him, please contact us immediately."