HAANI

Episode6

HAANI

Episode 6

The next morning, Haani opened her eyes to the sound of light rain tapping against the window. Dark clouds covered the London sky, and the continuous sound of cars moving along the wet streets filled the morning air.

But Haani’s mind was somewhere else.

On the table in front of her lay the same small silver key.

There was only one thing engraved on it.

1887

She stared at it for a long time.

The missing file, the old photograph, the strange note, Eric’s unusual behavior—and now this key.

It could not all be a coincidence.

But Haani still had no proof.

Eventually, she got ready. She wore a beautiful light-green shalwar kameez with a white dupatta and carefully adjusted her hijab. She placed the key safely inside a small pocket of her bag.

As soon as she reached the university, Sophie and Emma came toward her.

“You’re very quiet today,” Sophie said.

Haani gave a faint smile.

“I just didn’t sleep well last night.”

Emma immediately asked, “Still thinking about that file and 1887?”

Haani said nothing.

Sophie gently held her hand.

“Look, if this whole thing is bothering you, the three of us will figure it out together.”

Haani looked at both of them.

“But we need to be careful. I feel like there’s something about this situation that we still don’t know.”

Just then, Eric entered through the main university doors with Jack, Leo, and Chris.

His eyes fell on Haani standing in the distance.

He stopped for a few seconds.

Then his gaze moved toward the book in Haani’s hand.

Haani noticed that Eric was looking at something.

Eric immediately looked away.

Jack placed a hand on his shoulder.

“What happened?”

“Nothing.”

“You were acting strange yesterday too.”

Eric replied sharply, “I said nothing happened.”

Jack tried to change the subject.

“By the way, they still haven’t found that archive file.”

Eric suddenly stopped.

“I told you not to bring that subject up in front of me again.”

Jack’s expression became serious.

“Why do you react so strongly?”

Eric stared at him.

“Because I said so.”

Haani heard the conversation from a distance.

The same question returned to her mind.

Why was Eric so troubled by that file?

Before the class began, the professor informed all the students that the missing archive file had still not been found.

“We checked the archive records again,” the professor said. “Mr. Henry was the one who reported the file missing that morning.”

Haani raised her hand.

“Professor, did you find out who saw the file last?”

The professor opened his folder.

“Yes. According to the records, the file was still in the archive at around five in the evening. Several students were present around the archive at that time.”

The classroom suddenly became quiet.

The professor looked at the names.

“Sophie, Emma… and Eric Johnson.”

Haani immediately looked toward Eric.

His face remained completely calm, but his fingers were moving restlessly across the desk.

The professor quickly added,

“Being near the archive does not make anyone guilty. I am only explaining the presence records.”

Eric suddenly raised his head.

“Then why mention my name in front of everyone?”

The professor calmly replied, “Because we are trying to find the truth.”

Eric’s voice became harder.

“And if I was there? That doesn’t mean I took the file.”

“I never said that.”

“But that’s what everyone is thinking.”

Several students exchanged nervous glances.

Eric stood up from his chair.

“If you suspect me, then ask me directly.”

The professor replied calmly, “I don’t personally suspect anyone, Eric. We simply need to find out what happened.”

Eric said nothing.

He picked up his book and walked out of the classroom.

Haani’s eyes remained fixed on the door for several moments.

Emma whispered, “He was really defensive.”

Sophie nodded.

“Yes, but being defensive doesn’t prove that he is guilty.”

“I know,” Haani replied.

Then she added quietly,

“But there’s something.”

Around noon, Haani, Sophie, and Emma were researching for their project in the library.

Sophie looked through some old historical records.

“The professor said that the missing file was related to an old religious historical event.”

Emma closed a book.

“And what about that photograph from 1887?”

Haani remained silent for a moment.

“I don’t know. The professor said he didn’t remember the photograph being part of that file.”

Sophie asked, “Then maybe the photograph was separate?”

“Maybe.”

Emma looked at Haani.

“And the key?”

Haani immediately looked around.

Then she took the key out of her pocket.

Sophie and Emma stared at it in surprise.

“Where did you get that?”

Haani told them everything.

Emma took the key in her hand.

“It really says 1887.”

Sophie examined it carefully.

“It looks like the key to some old door.”

Haani quietly replied,

“I think so too.”

Suddenly, a sound came from the other side of the library.

A book had fallen.

All three girls turned around.

There was no one there.

“I’ll go and check,” Sophie said.

She walked a few steps forward and then returned.

“There’s no one there.”

Haani gathered her books.

“I’m going outside for a moment.”

She left the library and headed toward the old archive section.

On the way, she suddenly saw Eric.

He was standing in front of an old door.

The same door that was usually kept locked.

There was a small metallic object in his hand.

Haani immediately stopped and hid behind a pillar.

Eric looked around carefully.

Then he brought the object toward the lock and tried to open the door.

Haani’s heartbeat quickened.

A key?

Eric opened the door and went inside.

A few moments later, the door closed behind him.

Haani remained where she was.

She knew she shouldn’t go inside, but only one question was running through her mind.

What was Eric doing in that part of the archive?

She moved closer to the door.

It wasn’t completely closed.

She could hear the faint sound of papers moving inside.

Haani looked through the narrow opening.

Eric was standing in front of an old cabinet.

He was searching for something.

Haani couldn’t clearly see what it was.

Suddenly, Eric picked up an old envelope.

He opened it.

For several moments, he simply stared at what was inside.

Then his expression changed.

He quickly closed the envelope and slipped it into his pocket.

Haani stepped back.

At that exact moment, her foot touched a small piece of wood on the floor.

Click!

The sound echoed through the archive.

Eric immediately turned around.

Haani quickly hid behind the pillar.

A few seconds later, the door opened.

Eric stepped outside.

He looked around for a while.

Then he said quietly,

“I know someone was here.”

Haani remained silent.

Eric stood there for several moments before going back inside.

Haani took the opportunity to leave.

But as she was walking away, she noticed a small piece of paper lying on the floor.

She picked it up.

There was only one sentence written on it:

“1887 was never just a year.”

Haani’s heart sank.

She stared at the paper.

Suddenly, a voice came from behind her.

“Do you have a habit of reading other people’s things?”

Haani immediately turned around.

Eric was standing in front of her.

His face was filled with anger.

Haani held the paper tightly.

“It was lying here.”

“Then put it back.”

“What were you doing here?”

Eric remained silent.

“Why did you go inside the archive?”

“That’s none of your business.”

For the first time, Haani spoke firmly.

“When a file goes missing, an 1887 photograph appears, I find an 1887 key, and then I see you searching inside the same archive, it becomes my business.”

Eric stared at her.

“You ask too many questions.”

“And you hide too many things.”

Eric remained silent for a few moments.

Then his eyes moved toward the paper in Haani’s hand.

For a brief moment, there was clear fear in his eyes.

But he quickly controlled himself.

“Give me that paper.”

Haani pulled it back.

“Why?”

“Because you don’t know what it is.”

“Then you do?”

Eric didn’t answer.

Haani asked again,

“Is there a connection between the missing file and 1887?”

Silence.

“Did you see the missing file?”

Eric looked away.

“I told you to stay away from this matter.”

“Why?”

Eric looked at her.

“Because some things are better left alone.”

Haani replied,

“That’s not an answer.”

Eric said coldly,

“Not every question needs an answer.”

He turned to leave.

Haani looked at his hand.

There was a faint trace of old ink on his fingers.

The same kind of ink found on the pages of old archive documents.

Haani immediately asked,

“How did that ink get on your hand?”

Eric stopped.

He looked at his hand.

For a moment, worry appeared on his face.

Then he pulled his sleeve down.

“You want an answer to everything, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

Eric gave a faint, sarcastic smile.

“Then wait.”

He walked away.

Haani watched him disappear down the corridor.

Her suspicion was now stronger than ever.

But one question still remained.

If Eric hadn’t taken the file, then what was he secretly searching for inside the archive?

That evening, Haani returned to the library and found Sophie and Emma.

Sophie immediately asked,

“Where were you?”

Before answering, Haani closed the library door.

“I saw Eric inside the archive.”

Emma looked shocked.

“What?”

Haani told them everything.

Sophie thought for a moment.

“So now it really looks like he’s hiding something.”

Haani nodded.

“Yes, but I still don’t believe that he stole the file.”

Emma said,

“Then we need evidence.”

Haani placed the key on the table.

“And maybe this is our first clue.”

At that exact moment, the library lights suddenly went out.

The three girls fell silent.

A few seconds later, the lights came back on.

But the key lying on the table was gone.

Haani’s face changed.

“The key…”

Sophie immediately asked,

“What happened?”

Haani pointed toward the table.

“The key was right here.”

Emma looked around in disbelief.

“Where is it now?”

All three searched the table.

The key was nowhere to be found.

Then Haani’s eyes moved toward the library door.

The door was slowly closing.

And outside in the corridor, the shadow of a person was moving quickly away.

Haani immediately ran toward the door.

She reached the corridor.

There was no one there.

Only a small piece of paper lay on the floor.

Haani picked it up.

Two words were written on it:

“Stop looking.”

Haani gripped the paper tightly.

Now she was certain that someone was watching them.

And this time, the mystery was no longer limited to Eric’s strange behavior.

Perhaps someone else was also trying to keep this secret hidden.

But one question remained stronger than all the others in Haani’s mind.

If Eric was innocent… then why was he so afraid of 1887?

And most importantly—

What was inside that old envelope?

To be continued…