Author POV
Nora stepped out of the flight, the crisp Moscow air brushed against her cheeks. Pulling her luggage behind, she walked toward the exit to find her taxi—
when suddenly her shoulder bumped into someone.
A girl with curly hair, wearing a simple hoodie and jeans, turned around quickly and smiled warmly.
"Sorry!" she said softly.
Nora blinked, noticing the familiar accent. Both stared for a moment—same brown eyes, same Indian warmth.
The girl tilted her head. "India?"
Nora smiled and nodded. "Yes, India. You also Indian?"
"Delhi?" Nora guessed with a soft chuckle.
The girl shook her head eagerly.
"No, no… Kerala. My name is Meera… Meera Nair."
She extended her hand with a bright smile.
Nora shook her hand politely.
"Nora Singh "
The two girls felt an instant comfort—new city, new faces, yet a familiar soul beside them.
They had just reached outside the airport entrance when a small black cat suddenly jumped onto Nora's luggage.
Meera jumped a little. "Oh—! Scared me!"
But Nora's eyes sparkled seeing her.
"Aww… you're adorable," she whispered.
She gently picked up the cat, stroking its soft fur, while her gaze moved around to see if someone was looking for it.
"Pyari billo rani" [Hindi]
("Sweet cat queen")
"Where is your owner?"
she murmured, checking the nearby crowd.
But no one seemed to claim it.
"Sorry, little queen…" she murmured gently, stroking the cat's soft fur.
With a careful touch, she lifted the black cat off her lap and placed her down at the side near the corner, making sure she wouldn't fall or get hurt.
"Go on… stay here safely," she whispered, giving the cat one last sweet pat before stepping back. Meera following beside her.
Both girls got into separate taxis heading toward their hotels.
As Nora taxi started moving, she looked out at the vibrant Moscow streets.
'Moscow…'
The word echoed in her mind as she remembered the dream.
"Kang NO gul ...Who are you ...And the place where he is… Why he is in my dreams? Or am I sick?"
She pressed her fingers together, unsettled.
"But… is it really just a coincidence that I'm in Moscow right now?"
"Kang No Gul " she whispered his name seeing the cold sky.
Her phone pinged.
Msg from Advik:
"Miss… are you okay? I told you to wait for me.
Please call me when you read this.
Send me all the numbers—hotel, taxi, everything."
Meera breathed a soft laugh.
"This boy is literally my mother," she muttered.
She hit record and sent a voice message:
"Advik, I'm twenty-two now, not a sixteen-year-old baby. I'm safe. And no, I am NOT attending the wedding right now.
I'm here for a trip, So don't worry , okay?
Bye, bye!"
-----
Nora and Meera reached the hotel entrance, both paused at the reception desk—only to realize they were checking in at the same hotel.
They looked at each other, surprised, then burst into a warm laugh at the coincidence.
"Looks like destiny wanted us to stick together," Meera joked, swinging her curly hair behind her shoulder.
Nora smiled. "In a new city, it will feel good to be surrounded by people from my homeland."
They received their key cards and began walking toward the elevators, luggage rolling behind them.
At Meera's floor, she stepped out but turned back quickly.
"Listen…" she said, holding the elevator door with her hand.
"I know an Indian restaurant around here,"
"Would you like to come with me?"
Nora's face lit up. "Sure. I'd love that."
"Great! See you in a bit. Bye-bye!"
"Bye!" Nora waved as the elevator doors closed.
Inside Hotel's Room
She unlocked her room, stepped in, and let out a tired sigh.
Nora freshened up quickly—washing her face, brushing her hair—and stood in front of the mirror for a moment, appreciating the newness of the city reflected behind her.
Just as she turned toward the bed, ready to flop down for a minute—
She froze in shock. "You..."
Right on the crisp white bedsheet… was that black cat.
The same one from the airport.
Curled up comfortably—like it had been living there for years.
She sceamed in disbelief,
"Oh my God… "
"You… you followed me all the way here?"
The cat wagged its tail affectionately and meowed.
"You really like me that much." She asked softly.
The cat lifted its head, blinked at her lazily, and again
"Meow "...meowed as if to say yes.
Nora cutely. " Awww..."
"Alright then… I guess I've adopted a roommate." That night refused to end.
Nora sat cross-legged on the bed, laptop balanced on her thighs, the screen casting a pale blue glow across her face.
Search bar.
One name.
Kang No Gul.
Enter.
Nothing.
She frowned.
Again.
Different spellings.
Different languages.
English. Korean. Russian.
Still nothing solid.
No verified profile.
No articles.
No photographs that felt real.
"Why…" she whispered, fingers hovering over the keyboard.
"What happened to me?"
Her chest felt tight.
Why does he come to my dreams?
Why does he feel… real?
Why does my heart react before my mind can stop it?
She leaned back against the headboard, staring at the ceiling.
"Is there something about you that's pulling me?"
"Or am I losing my mind?"
Her gaze drifted to the window.
Moscow lay silent outside—cold, distant, unfamiliar.
"What if that place…" she swallowed,
"What if that palace… is really somewhere here?"
The thought made her shiver.
A soft weight pressed against her thigh.
She looked down.
The black cat had climbed into her lap, curling herself comfortably, warm and alive.
Nora smiled faintly.
"You want to sleep," she murmured, stroking its head.
The cat purred, slow and deep, eyes half-closed, completely unbothered by human confusion.
Her fingers tangled in the soft black fur.
"Fine," she sighed.
"I' also sleep. I'll go back. And I'll ask him myself."
She lay down, pulling the blanket over her shoulders.
Eyes closed.
To Be Continued…