The Man Who Sold Time
Part Three: The Price of Fifteen Years
Aryan opened his eyes to the sound of traffic.
The mysterious hall was gone.
He was back at the old bus stop.
The silver pocket watch had vanished.
For a moment, he wondered if everything had been a dream.
Then his phone vibrated.
Bank Alert
$5,000,000 has been successfully deposited into your account.
Aryan stared at the screen in disbelief.
His hands trembled.
It was real.
Every single dollar.
Without wasting another second, he rushed to the hospital.
Within hours, Aisha's surgery was approved.
The best heart surgeon in the country was called in immediately.
Doctors who had ignored him just yesterday were now treating him with respect.
For the first time in months...
Aryan smiled.
Maybe the price had been worth it.
---
The surgery lasted six long hours.
Aryan sat outside the operating room, unable to move.
Every second felt like an hour.
Finally...
The doors opened.
The surgeon removed his mask and smiled.
"The operation was successful."
Relief washed over Aryan.
Tears filled his eyes.
He whispered,
"Thank you..."
---
The next morning, Aisha slowly opened her eyes.
Aryan rushed into her room.
"I'm here."
She looked at him quietly.
Her expression was blank.
"I'm sorry..."
she whispered.
"Do I know you?"
Aryan laughed nervously.
"Stop joking."
But Aisha didn't smile.
She looked at the nurse.
"Who is this man?"
The room fell silent.
The nurse frowned.
"He said he's your brother."
Aisha slowly shook her head.
"I don't have a brother."
Aryan felt the blood drain from his face.
"No... that's impossible."
He grabbed an old family photo from his wallet.
His hands froze.
The picture had changed.
Aisha was standing alone.
The place where Aryan had always been...
was empty.
At that exact moment, his phone buzzed.
A message appeared on the screen from an unknown number.
"Payment received."
"Fifteen years collected."
"This is only the beginning."
Aryan looked around the hospital in horror.
Somewhere down the corridor...
A man in a black suit smiled...
Then disappeared.
To Be Continued...
