Dedicated to MozibulMilon for being the first one to comment on the story

special thanks to priyankachhabra

Chapter 3

Mistaken Identity

He thought he'd finally bumped into someone who could help him or rather help his financial condition.

He might have lost his memory but he knew normally people reward others who save their children with cash or kind.

Though this Tom guy was pretty helpful but he was an extremely busy man. He was continuously on his phone on the way to the police station where they filed in regular details about the attempt of abduction.

He'd already cracked the fact that the kidnapper was the employee of Mr. Tom and since he did not pay him advance money to treat his ailing mother he had to take extreme steps.

Although it saddened him to learn that Richard, the mask guy was only looking to help his sick mother however the measures he adopted to kidnap the small child actually deserved punishment.

So a police complaint was filed and appropriate legal procedures were followed.

Mr. Tom took a quick exit while all the procedures were followed, he rather had to wait and give his testament and the summary of the entire incident.

Mrs. Tom too left early to get her child assessed by her pediatrician.

So all was left with him was his lack of identity.

Well that was silly because the cops had already named him John

"But why John?" he'd asked.

"Oh" laughed the bold officer, his beer belly jumping up and down with the motion "it is a common name. Most of the men here named are John." The assistant in mid forties said "even we have three Johns in our department." laughed again. "Today we even found a dead in the dumps and his name was guess John" he patted on his shoulders "so you know most parents like to name their kid John"

But now named as John he himself didn't find any humor in it.

"Can I leave now?" Now John asked.

"Yes you may" the officer said "but you will have to report us whenever we call you." writing on his board he added "we might need you somewhere during further investigation"

"Sure thing" John said though he very well knew that there was no way these cops could contact him.

He himself didn't know where he was going to be after he left the police station.

But he couldn't waste any more time there so he left quietly.

"Wait John" the round assistant called again and John actually cringed at the thought of coming to the police station daily since he did not have any contact number

"Mr. Tom left this card for you" he handed the card to John "he said you can visit him anytime you want."

John dully thanked the officer not sure if he'd ever want to take Tom's help and made a run like his tail was rested on burning hot coal.

He didn't want them to remember that they did not have his contact details.

Turning the black matt finished card with golden initials John now felt bad for himself that he wished for a reward for saving a child's life.

Feeling guilty of his inner conscience he shrugged his head and left.

Wandering around the streets of the unknown city John tried each and every store be it grocery or cosmetic or the local diner wherever he could locate the vacancy sign.

He almost lost hope and sat on an empty bench around the corner wondering if he ever belonged to the city. None of the places, stores or diner seemed familiar except the Burger King, Nike, Adidas and few other big brands that probably have their outlets all over the world.

Was he a tourist or a vagabond?

However his trial of thoughts was interrupted when he heard two men mumbling with each other

"Yes yes this is a hand gun by Wesson and Smith." A lean guy dressed in military print cargos and a plain black shirt told a bald man with a distinct personality.

The bald man shouted his wealth with his Armani shirt teamed with black pants, sleeves of his shirt folded making him appear that he was on a leisure shopping.

The original alligator skin shoes already hit a statement that he wanted the best.

He did look out of place shopping for guns but well the shopkeeper too seemed like a completely atrocious salesman.

He knew nothing about what he was selling.

Rather he was even more clueless than the buyer himself.

He was handling the gun as if he was holding it for the first time.

"Which one is better?" the guy in white shirt asked "It would be better if I am able to say something to my friends along with showing off my gun."

The teen age kid seemed shattered and immediately pulled back the revolver 'you don't have a license?" he asked.

"I have already applied for one." He said in defense.

"Look man my dad is unwell and I am only here for couple of days before he bounces back. You can come later." Cargo pants suggested.

"No I have to submit my form and I have to mention the gun I need to keep so.." he omitted the rest part wondering the guy would understand but the cargo pants turned even paler.

"Look I don't know. It's all after you. You can decide." The young lad said.

John as he now names himself. It was in police records so it was anyways his legal name "let me help you" he barged into the conversation before his rational part could stop him "this one is Ruger handgun and this is semi-automatic and the other one, he held the matt black one in his hand is a revolver.

Like a pro he started comparing the two guns.

This one does not have a safety, other one does, this one is DOA and the other one is both DOSO

"And that means" the confused young seller adjusted his brows, licked his dry tongue and asked shocked wondering how a random stranger knew so much about the guns.

"That means single shot and double shot which is this black matt one and this one, he lifted the fancy looking one and said this one only has double shot.

"But since you are buying it for bragging purpose I'd advise you take the one with safety" he lifted the revolver and assessed the metal thing curiously "The safety one makes it safe and advisable for you"

Though annoyed at his eavesdropping the buyer didn't say much was mentally glad that he could finally decide

Limiting his words into few he said, "I'll take the revolver" and signed a check of the mentioned amount.

"You'll have to fill the form and I want your identity and other documents" the young lad was now in a hurry to finish the deal

"Sure." he said picking papers from his Gucci laptop bag and handed it to him.

Realizing he wasn't needed anymore John was about to make an exit when the young lad stopped him.

"Hey!" he called "how do you know so much about the guns."

Not knowing what to answer him he shrugged again "I read it somewhere."

"I tried to read too" the guy pouted and blushed at the same time "On the google" he scratched the back of his neck nervously "But I got bored after sometime."

John laughed "maybe these things" he glanced at the row of ammunition displayed in the counter "things amuse me and ah!" he exclaimed there was a beauty calling out to him "this is the rare a latest RFA30CATCS 884451003939" he was shocked at his own memory.

Excited at the word rare the man in white shirt dropped whatever he was filling in and pounced

on the new thing on the display wanting to have a rare thing in his collection, his shoulders broadening at the thought of his friends widened eyes at his display of his rare collection. He already decided to throw a huge party in which he would show off.

"But civilians cannot have it" John directed at the cabinet "this showcase is locked for a reason"

Making a grunting noise at the digital lock on the display cabinet the Armani guy went back to his pen and paper.

"Do you have a criminal record?" the young lad asked again, curiosity evident on his face.

"No" was a quick answer although John thought later how'd he know he doesn't have his memory.

He almost felt sorry for the blatant lie but realized later that if he had any records the police would know they had taken his picture and then checked them in their computers

He took a breath of relief he was right he didn't have any criminal records.

Another point to add to my little diary John thought to himself

"Whoa" the young lad exclaimed "can you work for me?" he asked impatiently.

"Who me?" John asked surprised.

Anyone in his place would be.

He had been to almost twenty shops in the span of three hours hunting and begging for jobs but was declined every time because he said he did not remember his past and this lad didn't even ask his name before offering him a job.

"Yes you. Who else" the teen asked back "you know about this stuff and my dad had a stroke. I don't know when he'll be back for work." He looked at the showroom like it was a live grenade "I know nothing about this shit. I don't think I can handle this work and you seem perfect," the boy said.

"500 a month and you are hired." The lad offered

"500?" john mumbled and the young lad was disappointed.

"Okay okay! The young lad feared as if John would deny "I will add 2% commission to after every sale"

"Done" John's eyes lit with genuine happiness for the first time.

"The young lad smiled too "Done" he stretched his hand for shake "I am Dana"

"You can call me Danny," he said in a very cool accent now. It was like the job of handling the showroom had completely drained him off his confidence.

John felt good that he could help.

The whole day was spent in meaningless entertainment of customers who were there at the shop merely out of curiosity but had no intentions of buying.

John however was happy to narrate and guide.

It felt he was revising for himself.

He rather felt at home with the limited memory that was evoking inside him.

During lunch break when the closed sign was displayed on the door he sat down with the small notepad he'd bought earlier and started jotting down what he learnt about himself

To the list of educated, English and No criminal records. He added expert knowledge of ammunition, no blood pressure or diabetes was added too since he remembered his perfectly normal medical reports.

He was starving and itching to log in to the computer and check about himself on the net but Danny was long gone and he didn't want to risk his job using the office equipment without the permission of his employer.

Deciding to visit the hospital he was discharged from to learn a little more about himself he drowned himself into few books and magazines that were on the shelf describing about latest arms and ammunitions on the release.

Danny's dad was surely an expert of the stuff he'd displayed in his shop and he wished to meet him in person.

But for now the urgency of the hour was to look for his identity.

Rest of the day passed in a blur and he couldn't thank Danny enough for bringing him a ham sandwich with extra cheese.

Actually he was thankful to the diner who added peanut butter to the sandwich that Danny was allergic to so he was benevolent enough to pass it on to John, his newest buddy.

They'd mingled up soon. Although with an age gap of more than five years Danny did not fear of being judged when he shared that he was a nerd in his school and was trying his best to fit in the college.

He tried smoke and weed but did not help but once he befriended a beautiful cheerleader who was now his girlfriend people started looking at him differently.

His girlfriend was cute and all but he wasn't sure he loved her.

John patiently listened to him keeping his views of not leading on the innocent girl to himself.

He too wanted to know what kind of person as he himself.

Was he good?

Bad?

Evil?

Mysterious?

Did he have nay sense of humor?

Or girlfriend?

Did girls like him?

What did he do or used to do to earn his livelihood?

Too many questions and he actually sprinted towards the hospital once his shift was over.

Unfortunately the receptionist was not very kind enough.

She did not let him in till he had an appointment or was relative to the patient already admitted.

He tried his best to convince even he used his charms if he ever had.

Complimenting a girl is a kind of charming right?

So he complimented her brown or green whatever color they were that she had beautiful eyes but it didn't work on her.

Dejected and disheartened he was about to leave the hospital when someone pulled his elbow and pulled him into the janitors

"You are doing great agent" she complimented, "sir likes to keep it that way. "Though her face was not visible but he did recognize the strong Burberry scent.

"Look lady I think you have mistaken." John said

"Oh no!" she exclaimed irritated "they are right I cannot do one job properly" she said dejected and apologetic "you aren't..." but before she could complete a loud thud was heard and smoke filled the room.

There was smoke all over suddenly and he did not know what to do. He tried to chase the girl but she disappeared.

Only after he could dodge the smoky corridors, he reached children's ward and kid wheel chaired up to him "excuse me" he called "that girl" he pointed behind "asked me to give you this" he opened his tiny hand which had a small blue pen drive in them. John recognized that it was pen drive and he could see the contents in the laptop only which he did not actually have.

But was it actually meant for him?

"Hey buddy" John talked politely to the li'l boy "Are you sure this pen drive was meant for me?"
"Mmmhh..." the boy thought for a moment "I think" he said.

Before he could finish a fat nurse quickly came and pulled the handle of his wheelchair "how many times have I asked you not to go up to the strangers?' she scolded him "now come it is time for your medicines" and whisked the boy away.

"Wait but" John called "I think this isn't meant for me" but his voice was muffled with a  loud gun shot.

"SHIT!".....

Please please please share your views on the story so far.

Do you think the pen drive has reached the right person?

Is the newly named John actually been shot?

Do you think it was wise of Danny to offer John a job so quickly without any background check?

Are you enjoying the story so far

Please VOTE if you like the story and do share your views in the comment box.

will mean a lot:)