Chapter 1: Chapter 1
The daily hustle on the street had just begun its journey to reach the pinnacle while the sunlight
piercing through the windows, which felt like a smooth caressing, started to become
unbearable. Harvey Stroope didn't know how much he drank or what he drank, but his head
was still a little dizzy from the previous night's party. He sauntered away from the bed to the
bathroom to start his workday routine. That morning he had been examining his face just like
every other day as if he were trying to imprint it in his mind. His wheatish skin and dark brown
eyes meant so much to him. The alarm from the bedroom reminded him to hurry for work. He
decided that he would skip the breakfast for that day so that he wouldn't miss his daily metro.
He climbed down the stairs in a hurry, crossed the road and took his train to work. He worked
as an editor for the 7in24 Magazine. It didn't pay a lot, but then again he didn't need a lot as he
wasn't responsible for anyone. The job filled his stomach, made him afford an apartment and
allowed him to save some aside as well. That day being Friday, his desk would be ready for him
with a pile of articles that need to be checked and finalized for the Sunday issue. He was very
content with what he had. Before he went into the office, he walked past the office building
and bought a cigarette from the newsstand on the corner. After enjoying his cigarette, he
walked back to the office. That was his usual routine. He wasn't addicted, but a cigarette before
the office was a must. It helped him sort out the things he had to do. The janitor greeted and
whispered to him that Louise was already there. Harvey responded with an unpretentious face
and went to his cabin. Everyone who worked in that office knew Louise had a long crush on
Harvey. Louise was a short woman with long, wavy, brown hair that hangs up to her shoulders.
Her glowing brown eyes, thin lips and celestial nose were enough for any man to willingly give
up on his dreams and stay by her side for eternity. Louise joined 7in24 eight months earlier as
an intern. She had asked to work full-time and was immediately agreed. It wasn't entirely
because she was good at her articles. The chief editor didn't want to miss a cute woman on the
floor. Louise Abbott had hands those of an artist. Sometimes she would bring beautiful sketches
of places that seemed to exist only in her mind.
"Hello Harvey, good morning", said a voice entering his cabin.
"Good morning, Louise", replied Harvey without looking away from the paper on his desk.
"I was wondering if you meant what you said last night", she continued after a brief pause,
"Can we meet somewhere private after work?"
"Sure."
"Is Ormer Mayfair at 08:30 pm okay for you?"
"Okay, I will make a reservation."
Though he didn't raise his head until she left, he kept staring into the void for a while. He didn't
remember what it was that he told her yesterday. Finally, he called the hotel and made a
reservation for them.
He reached the restaurant on time. Of course, he didn't expect Louise to be there even though
she was the one who came up with it, but it is taking a little longer than what he thought he
would have to wait. A young couple near their table seemed to be arguing over something. He
wasn't interested in them at all but soon found himself listening in to their conversation. The
lady was saying she wanted to keep their baby and her husband was not yet ready to be a
father. He wondered what he would do if he ever found himself in that situation and called
Louise. She wasn't answering the calls as usual. Unlike Harvey, who always immerses himself in
his phone to avoid interaction, Louise preferred not carrying one of those around all the time.
It was 09:15 already and he was starving. Few of the waiters have been throwing weird glances
at him. At one point of time, he doubted if that was all an elaborate prank on him. He drank
some wine, ordered his favourite food and ate to his content. Plugging earphones and listening
to City of Stars, he decided to stop by Louise's house on his way home. He quickly got
into a cab and told him her address. The cool breeze from the Thames was eroding his anger
away.
When he had reached her apartment he wasn't angry, only confused. The door was slightly
open and it was dark inside. After checking if it was indeed her apartment, he pushed the door
and started groping for the light switch by the entrance. The calmness was very frightening.
Turning the light on, he called out for Louise and walked into her bedroom. She wasn't there.
Everything in the house seemed undisturbed yet he felt something odd. He found a note on the
fridge saying "OM 08:30". He hesitated but decided to call her friend Gita if she knew anything
about their date.
"Hi"
"Hello, Harvey "
"I was wondering if you knew anything about Louise's plans for this evening", asked Harvey.
"Finally warming up to the miss huh? What are you planning? Are you going to propose
soon?..", Gita started showering a lot of questions upon him.
"No nothing of that sort. I just wanted to ask her something about the article she wrote but she
isn't picking up my calls" he managed to come up with a lie.
"Yeah, she has always been like that. She doesn't carry her mobile most of the times"
Feeling that the conversation is going nowhere, Harvey said "Oh ok then, bye"
"Oh wait a minute, I remember her saying something about going on a vacation last week" that
was all Gita said before hanging up the call.
For a while, he stared into the blank space. He was confused, disappointed, angry but more
than all that he felt pity for himself. Just before he was about to close her apartment door, he
noticed a pen drive with OM written in capitals. Intrigued, he picked it up and then.....