The visions

I woke up with a strange feeling, one I hadn't experienced since my father passed away. He was my hero, my best friend. We had a special tradition – just like the boy in my dream with his father. My dad used to take me to the beach whenever he was home. We'd build sandcastles together, giving them silly names, and we'd laugh about it endlessly. It felt like I was watching myself, waiting for my dad who never came back from the war. This feeling deeply disturbed me and left me feeling lost the entire day.

I ignored all my calls and didn't leave my room. I decided to take a day off from work, especially after the incident I had the other day. I tried to distract myself – did the laundry and vacuumed my entire house. But that emptiness in my heart remained. The day dragged on, and I couldn't focus on anything. It felt like the longest day of my life. Eventually, I gave in to sleep.

The next morning, there were knocks on my door. It was Aman, checking to see if I was okay. Aman and I had applied for visas for my mother and his wife, but the progress was slow. While my mom was willing to come here, Aman's wife wasn't thrilled about the change. She never liked our line of work and the potential dangers that came with it. Aman and I had a chat, just like two best friends would. We discussed things openly, as transparency was our motto, and rule as a duo.

As Aman was about to leave, I knew I had to open up to him about the missing survivors. Sharing information was crucial in our line of work, and Aman was not just my partner but also my best friend. We leaned on each other, and this was something we needed to face together. 

"We'll figure this out together, Tarun," he assured me. "No matter how complex it seems, we've overcome challenges before, and we'll do it again, now come on you know you can share anything with me...take your time"

His words were a source of comfort, reminding me that I wasn't alone in this journey. Together, we'd navigate the intricate web of mysteries that had entangled us, with our friendship and unwavering commitment to the truth guiding the way.

"Aman there is something I need to tell you about" Surprised Aman took his seat on the couch and I refilled his coffee, by this, he must have understood that it was going to be a long conversation, he took off his socks, and sat comfortably on the couch.

Aman looked at me expectantly, curiosity etched on his face. I hesitated for a moment, collecting my thoughts before answering, "Survivors."

He furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled. "Survivors of what? The tunnel? But we rescued them all, right?"

I nodded slowly, understanding his confusion. "Yes, we did rescue them, but there's more to it. You remember the Korean girl who wouldn't talk to anyone?"

He nodded, recognition dawning on his face. "You mean the girl who was kidnapped, right?"

I affirmed his question with a nod. "Yes, that's the one. She had important information to share. Remember how we had a hunch that the guy who died in the tunnel was just a pawn?"

Aman's expression shifted to one of surprise and curiosity as he nodded again. "Yes, I remember. We thought he was just following orders, but why would he kidnap her in the first place if he didn't want any part of it?"

"That's the question," I said. "The girl believes they are connected closely, maybe even from the same family."

Aman considered this for a moment. "So, the guy who died might have been coerced into this, but we still don't know why he'd participate in something he didn't want to. It doesn't make sense."

I leaned forward, my voice serious. "Exactly my point. But there's more. She claims that they had a connection, maybe the same family. The girl's insights were compelling, but I had doubts. I know we can't always trust the victims, especially given the situations we've encountered. So, I looked into her background."

Aman's gaze sharpened. "And what did you find?"

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. "She was a college dropout who had majored in criminology. She was enrolled at the University of Seoul and was the top student in her batch. Her professors had lauded her, saying she had an excellent capability to understand crimes and her surroundings. They believed she'd make a great detective. As for the reason she dropped out, it was because of her mother. Her mom had been the head of the orphanage where she was left, adopted her, and raised her like her own. She used all her savings for Taeri's college instead of her own cancer treatment. Taeri wanted to continue her mother's legacy, so she opened a barista business and spread cheer, just like her mom. Everything about her checks out, Aman. I can vouch for that."

Aman considered this information, and after a moment, he nodded in agreement. "Okay, I trust your research. But what about the survivors? Were there more? And why would the guy kill himself?"

I sighed, trying to organize my thoughts. "To answer your first question, yes, she believes there are more survivors. As for the second question, it's complicated. They were given choices, and those who followed the instructions would survive. We don't yet know the details of these choices, Aman. We don't know if there are any missing survivors either."

Aman ran a hand through his hair, clearly overwhelmed by the complexity of the situation. "And about the guy who died? Why did he kill himself?"

I took a deep breath, preparing myself to share what I'd learned. "She said she'd been studying him ever since they were on that vacation. It's almost like he was forced into something he didn't want to do. He pleaded with her, begged her not to hate him for what he was doing, and told her he had no choice. He had helped others when he had the opportunity, but it seemed like whoever was behind all of this found out. So, she assumes he was ordered to kill her, maybe even all of them in the tunnel, but he couldn't. He kept apologizing to everyone until the very end. He chose to take his own life rather than harm the others. He shot himself."

Aman leaned back, his eyes wide, processing the information. "Whoa, that's a lot to take in. I need another coffee."

He stood up to refill his coffee, and we sat in silence for a moment, each lost in our thoughts. Eventually, he turned back to me. "When are you going to talk to her again?"

I hesitated, glancing around my room. "Probably tomorrow," I replied, my voice heavy with uncertainty.

Aman leaned back in his chair and looked at me with a knowing expression. "Why not today?"

I hesitated before answering. "I'm not feeling very good."

He looks at me concerned and simply nods. Aman and I aren't the type who for some reason are very concerned about each other but never show it to each other...maybe that is us, or maybe our egos. He knows me too well and vice versa...

"Tarun, are you hiding something from me?"

"What do you mean?"

"Oh, don't get me started...I have been with you for years, and worked with you, practically speaking I was the only one who saw you closely, we were most of the time crashing at each other's place and people would in a heartbeat believe that we behaved like an old couple. Oh and please do not tell me the lame excuses the doctors gave you. Really? exhausting your body? We have practically had countless sleepless nights, we pulled all-nighters straight for more than three days. So do not try to sell me your crap. Tell me what is going on?"

"visions...dreams...I don't know how to name them...I have been having dreams about this particular person. His name is Mohan, in his early 20s and got married maybe, I think I saw his girlfriend or she could be his wife, they were expecting a baby. This is what I dreamt the other day you were with me...Yesterday, (taking deep breaths before talking) I saw a little boy...waiting for his father...all he wanted to do was ride a Ferris wheel with his dad...he waited and waited but his father never returned home. I saw myself in his place, waiting for my dad...I never felt such a strong emotion you know since my father..."

"I understand and it is totally okay for you to take a day or two off. I know how sensitive of a topic it is for you...from when are you having these?"

"Visions? When we visited the tunnels...the next was when I was talking to Taeri...I fainted right in front of her after having one."

"But what about the other time?"

"one back at home?"

he nodded.

"I don't know what triggered me, I was reading the case related to the tunnel and I fainted...I almost felt I couldn't breathe, it was so suffocating as if I was dying."

"Tarun, I know you can pretty much handle yourself, but if they get worse, you know...you might want to see a therapist."

I would have argued all day with him, why I do not need a therapist but I was just too tired to argue at all. Whatever is happening to me, all these random people appearing in my dreams, I am scared and I do not want to portray it out. I am glad that I opened up with Aman and I also know the fact that he would do everything in his power to help me and would never judge me. Aman is like my brother from another mother and we don't break the bro codes. Subduing all my thoughts I simply nod my head. I asked Aman if he could spend the day with me and he immediately agreed. We spoke about all the weird stuff, we went grocery shopping and had too much fun at the arcade and later decided to go to a karaoke bar. Trust me, I know I am a bad singer but Aman is whole another level. If I am minus 10 he would be minus 100. We had the Korean hotpot and for the entire day, I forgot everything...my job, who I was, what was pestering me, the cases I had to deal with...nothing...nothing came to my mind except for the fact that I am just a young man enjoying his day worrying about nothing. We were pretty beaten and headed back to the camp. Aman before going to his stopped me and said...

"You know, if whatever she is telling you is true, then I need you to ask her to tell the same to everyone in the department, we would want to hold a meeting regarding this. She could be of huge help, but as of now, there is no rush right? And in the process please don't hurt yourself or exhaust yourself mentally...get it?"

"Got it, Captain"

we both chuckled said our nightie nights and went back into our respective rooms.

And that night I had another vision...

"Mohan had a best friend, he might have met him where he worked. They both hit off right off the bat and became best pals pretty soon. They felt inseparable. If I had to describe their relationship, it felt like mine and Aman's. I tried very hard to recognize his face, it felt very similar, and yet I couldn't decode it. They had pretty much fun together and the last thing I remember in the dream is him saying "Mohan I can't breathe, it is suffocating, I know we are dying but let me tell you it is an absolute honor to die with you my best friend, see you on the other side" and he left the world. And just then I remembered his face...it was Aman...I woke up and it was 3:00 in the morning. I did not know what to do and I simply rushed to Aman's room and kept banging the door until he opened.

Aman was in an odd state, somewhere between being awake and confused. He looked at me with a sweaty brow, breathing heavily, and banged on his door as if he'd lost his mind. Seeing him like this, I hurried over, giving him a tight hug while saying sorry repeatedly. I promised him I'd protect him with my life. My sudden outburst of affection and concern caught Aman by surprise. He invited me inside, gave me a glass of water, made sure I was comfortable, and stayed by my side until I felt better. He didn't want to leave me alone in my distressed state, so he kindly let me stay in his room.

The next morning, Aman mentioned that I had been mumbling apologies to him in my sleep throughout the night. It was clear that he was deeply worried about my well-being. He was patient and didn't rush me to explain what had happened. Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to confide in him about the nightmare I had experienced the previous night. Aman was incredibly understanding and compassionate, which helped me make sense of my unusual behavior.

After our heart-to-heart talk, Aman prepared a simple breakfast for us before we headed to the office. We sifted through the files, trying to make sense of the information they contained. But as I read through them, I began to feel suffocated and overwhelmed. Aman noticed my discomfort and suggested that I leave work early for the day. Gratefully, I accepted his advice and decided to take a short nap.

When I woke up in the evening, I reached out to Aman to update him on my condition. I told him that I had decided to have a conversation with the person who had triggered my distress. Aman listened attentively and offered his support, reminding me that he was there for me if I needed anything.

Amidst it all, I realized how fortunate I was to have a friend like Aman by my side, someone who cared deeply about my well-being and offered unwavering support during a challenging time. His kindness and understanding made me feel like I wasn't alone in facing the mysterious and unsettling events that had taken a toll on me. With Aman's friendship and support, I felt stronger and more capable of unraveling the enigma that surrounded us.