"A CULT CLASSIC IN THE MAKING"
Best Actor award winner Adnan Amir leads Back 2 Forward in a powerful, emotionally charged performance.
"SOME SECRETS CAN KILL" IS THE UNDERSTATEMENT OF THE CENTURY! I LOVED THE FILM. IT HAD EVERYTHING. DRAMA, SUSPENSE, CLIFFHANGERS AND THAT PLOT TWIST...AMAZING!" El
After surviving a brutal attack, Roshan regains his memories and uncovers a truth. Framed for a series of murders, he must outrun those hunting him, uncover the real killer and protect the woman he loves before time runs out.
Five star reactions following the packed Everyman Cinema premiere.
Warning: Contains flashing images from the beginning.
Instant access on phone, tablet, laptop or TV.
"LIKE A NORMAL MOVIE ON CRACK." SHAUN
ABOUT
Back 2 Forward is a British romantic thriller feature exploring how a single moment can alter the course of a life. At its core, it's a love story about obsession, memory and the fragile nature of fate. If Roshan and Kelly had not been left stranded, their story would never have begun.The film asks a simple question: If you change one moment, does everything else change with it? The story continues through three companion novels set in alternate timelines within the Back 2 Forward universe.
Starring: Adnan Amir, Ellen Jones, Paul Rushton, Alisha Tauro, Shervin Panahgar and Maria-Solberg Williams
Writer | Director | Producer | Creator: Adnan Amir
Music: Matthew Parker
"WHAT SETS ADNAN APART ISN'T JUST TALENT, BUT TRUTH. AN AUTHENTICITY SO RARE AND POWERFUL THAT EVERY EMOTION FEELS LIVED, NOT PERFORMED. THAT'S WHY HE WINS BEST ACTOR, BECAUSE HE DOESN'T JUST PLAY THE ROLE, HE MAKES YOU BELIEVE EVERY SECOND OF IT.THE WAY HE'S DIRECTED AND SHAPED THIS FILM IS ON ANOTHER LEVEL. THERE'S SOMETHING SO UNIQUE IN HIS STORYTELLING, SOMETHING YOU DON'T SEE OFTEN. I WASN'T EXPECTING IT to BE THIS BRILLIANT, BUT IT TRULY IS." Anna
ADNAN AMIR
Adnan Amir is the creator of the Back 2 Forward universe and the writer, director, producer, and lead actor behind the independent romantic thriller Back2 Forward. An award-winning actor and filmmaker and author, he built the film through passion, persistence and a deep belief in the power of storytelling.Here is what he had to say about the journey behind the film."They said it couldn't be done. I made it anyway... because the story needed to be told. Back 2 Forward is more than a film, it's proof that determination and passion can overcome anything.Sometimes the hardest films to make are the ones that need to exist most."Watch Adnan share his first idea behind Back 2 Forward.
Ready to dive into the mystery? No subscriptions, just the film.
"it was really good! LOVED IT and the MUSIC WAS SO GOOD TOO." Vikki
VIDEOS
Exclusive previews, behind the scenes moments and conversations about the making of Back 2 Forward. Explore trailers, teasers and videos where Adnan shares the idea and inspirations behind the film.
"I couldn't put it down. I felt like I was right there with the characters, living every moment with them. I loved the way one small change could shift everything, kept me completely hooked, yet somehow these characters always found their way back to each other.There's something really special about that kind of storytelling. It feels real, it feels unique, and it stays with you after you've finished. I've loved every book and I'm actually going to read them again as I think it's really clever how they connect with the film." Mel
NOVELS
The story continues beyond the screen. Discover the companion novels that expand the Back 2 Forward universe, revealing deeper perspectives, hidden motivations and new layers to the story set in alternate timelines. Read the first five chapters of Heart Lines for free below!
"I STARTED HEART LINES THIS MORNING AND HAVE NEARLY FINISHED IT, COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN! READ IT ON MY WAY TO WORK, ANY CHANCE I GOT, IN THE OFFICE AND WAY HOME. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT." Sara
FREE CHAPTERS
HEART LINES | BACK 2 FORWARD
A Novel by Adnan Amiri© 2026 Adnan Amir • All rights reserved.
Website: back2forwardmovie.com • Instagram: @adnanamir.officialNo part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission of the publisher, except as permitted by UK copyright law.This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Cover and interior design: Colossal FilmsiiHEART LINES—Back 2 ForwardTable of ContentsCHAPTER ONE – The Wrong Kind of Silence .............................................. 1
CHAPTER TWO – Somewhere That Stays Awake ..................................... 4
CHAPTER THREE – Eight Months Earlier ..................................................10
CHAPTER FOUR – Fractures Beneath the Surface ..................................18
CHAPTER FIVE – Fault Lines and Fantasies ..............................................26
CHAPTER SIX – Between the Lines ...............................................................37
CHAPTER SEVEN – Beneath the Surface ....................................................53
CHAPTER EIGHT – Cracks in the Mirror .....................................................61
CHAPTER NINE – Touched Nerves ...............................................................68
CHAPTER TEN – Beneath the Surface ..........................................................77
CHAPTER ELEVEN – Into the North .............................................................89
CHAPTER TWELVE – The Setup .....................................................................98
CHAPTER THIRTEEN – Fire and Silence.................................................. 106
CHAPTER FOURTEEN – Tiffany’s ............................................................... 115
CHAPTER FIFTEEN – Loose Ends ............................................................... 124
iiiPAGE 1CHAPTER ONE: The Wrong Kind of SilenceJFK Airport: A Memory He Can’t PlaceThe crowd moved like cattle, slow, pulsing, irritable. The fluorescent
lights hummed overhead, a sound that felt too loud, too close. Roshan’s
fingers trembled as he gripped the black rucksack tighter against his
chest. His pulse thudded in his throat, louder than the announcements
echoing through JFK’s vast terminal. A cop stood near the arrival board,
scanning the crowd. Roshan didn’t make eye contact. He couldn’t.He adjusted his hoodie, lowered the baseball cap on his head, and took
one cautious step forward. For a moment, he wasn’t sure if he was
walking toward the exit, or remembering walking toward it. The edges of
the moment didn’t quite fit together.Almost there.His phone vibrated. Another blocked call.He ignored it.PAGE 2The bag felt heavier with every passing second. Sweat trickled down his
back despite the air conditioning. He glanced left, just passengers,
families, jet-lagged tourists.But then… there he was. That same guy from the plane. The tall one with
the buzzcut and black leather jacket. He hadn’t stopped staring since
Heathrow. Now he was trailing again, subtly, but definitely.Roshan broke into a faster walk. The terminal signs blurred past him,
Exit, Customs, Toilets, but he kept going, weaving through people like a
ghost. The man behind him adjusted pace, just slightly.He knew.PAGE 3Roshan reached the bathrooms and ducked in. He slid into a stall,
slammed it shut, locked it. Chest heaving. He dropped the bag on the
toilet lid and sat beside it. His hand slipped into his jacket. He
pulled out the photo. Yellow graffiti. A warehouse. Water in the
background.Brooklyn. It had to be Brooklyn.There was a name scrawled faintly in pencil on the back: LYN-W. He
mouthed it again. “Brooklyn Warehouse.” It wasn’t a clue. It was a
target.The man’s voice came back to him. Raspy. Warped by a voice modulator.
“You’ve got the bag. Now take it where we told you. Or the girl dies.
Just like the last one.”Roshan clenched his jaw. Not again. Not her. He wouldn’t let it happen
again.He wiped his face, stuffed the photo back in his pocket, and picked up
the rucksack. It clinked softly, glass, metal, unknown weight.As he opened the stall to leave, his heart nearly stopped.The buzzcut man stood by the sinks, glancing at his reflection. Not
looking. But very aware.Roshan turned away, forced a calm stride toward the door. He pushed it
open, stepped into the chaos of the terminal again.And ran.PAGE 4CHAPTER TWO: Somewhere That Stays AwakeOne Year Earlier: New York CityKelly’s laugh sparkled across the table, rich and bold, the kind that
turned heads.“I’m telling you,” she said, holding up a limp slice of pepperoni, “this
is not what I imagined when people raved about New York pizza. Where’s
the crunch? Where’s the soul?”Roshan smiled. “That’s the third insult to New York tonight. You might
get deported.”“I’m American,” she grinned, blue eyes flashing. “Born and raised on the
East Coast, remember? I’ve had better slices in Jersey gas stations.”PAGE 5They sat in a no-frills pizza joint off 32nd Street, the kind with
sticky floors and handwritten menus. Kelly looked effortlessly striking
even in a hoodie and jeans, dark brunette waves falling around her face,
eyes too expressive to hide behind sarcasm. There was something magnetic
about her, open and sharp at the same time.Roshan Khan sat across from her, one arm slung over the back of the
booth, watching her like she might disappear if he blinked too long. He
was tall, dark-skinned, handsome in that quiet, slow-burn kind of way,
Yorkshire in his voice, calm in his presence.“You always this picky about pizza?” he asked.PAGE 6“I’m just saying,” she said, leaning in slightly, “if I’m going to fall
in love with a city, I need it to feed me properly.”He smirked. “So you fall in love easily?”“Only with cities. And dogs. People take longer.”Roshan chuckled and looked out the rain-streaked window. The city
outside shimmered in reflected reds and yellows. “So why New York? You
could’ve gone anywhere.”“I almost went to Manchester,” she said, poking the crust. “Got offered
a place in med school. It felt right, till it didn’t. I needed something
more human. Ended up doing this charity program here, working with kids,
trauma recovery, emotional resilience.”“That’s big work,” Roshan said softly.She shrugged. “Someone’s got to hold the pieces.”PAGE 7He studied her, then nodded slowly. “I get that.”She tilted her head. “And you? What brings a Yorkshire boy across the
ocean?”“Leadership course,” he said. “It made sense on paper. But I dropped it.
Started playing small gigs, doing freelance marketing research stuff,
just… trying to breathe, I guess.”“Running or searching?”“A bit of both,” he admitted. “My dad once missed a train to a meeting.
Last-minute change. That train derailed. No survivors.”Kelly’s expression stilled. “That’s, Jesus.”Roshan’s eyes softened. “I can’t even imagine my life without my dad,
he’s such a strong, amazing guy. He’s like, life’s an adventure. Go live
it…One day, when I grow up, I wanna be like him!”PAGE 8Kelly smiled warmly. “He sounds like a really nice person. I’m sure he’s
really proud of you too.”“Yeah. Ever since then, I’ve tried not to wait too long when something
feels right. Life can flip on you fast.”She nodded, eyes suddenly softer. “So this, tonight… feels right?”Roshan didn’t answer immediately. Just looked at her, like he was
memorising the moment.“Yeah,” he said. “It does.”They sat in comfortable quiet for a moment, listening to the buzz of the
city through the window.Then Kelly added casually, “I ran into a guy earlier. Danny? He knows
Ria. Said he’s in town, his mom’s undergoing some treatment trials.”Roshan’s jaw tightened, barely. “Yeah. Okay.”PAGE 9“He seemed nice,” she said, unaware of the subtle shift in Roshan’s
expression. “Charming, maybe a little intense.”Roshan didn’t push. Just nodded. “I’ve heard a few things about him,
sounds like he’s got… layers.”Kelly raised a brow, amused. “What, like an onion?”“No, more like a landmine.”But he said it with a half-smile, so she didn’t take it seriously.“Noted,” she said, smirking. “You’re a tough guy to read, Roshan.”“And you’re easy to talk to,” he replied.Their eyes locked. The moment lingered, unspoken but felt.Outside, the sirens hummed. Somewhere, a cab splashed through a puddle.
But inside, time slowed.“I feel like I’ve always known you,” she said suddenly. “Even before we
met. Is that crazy?”Roshan didn’t blink. “No. I feel it too.”Her smile was quiet, but it reached all the way into her eyes.PAGE 10CHAPTER THREE: Eight Months EarlierNew York City: Midtown Medical HospitalDanny wheeled his mother through the wide corridor of the oncology wing,
her shawl wrapped tightly around her shoulders. The sterile lights above
buzzed softly, and the walls were lined with posters that tried, and
failed, to make the place feel warm.“I thought you said Room 213,” Danny muttered, scanning the room numbers
again. “None of these are even in the 200s.”“I told you to ask at the desk,” his mother said gently, amusement in
her tired voice.“Thought I had it covered,” he sighed, half to himself.PAGE 11At that moment, a doctor turned the corner, reading from a tablet. Amit.
Neatly dressed, quick on his feet. He looked up, recognised Danny, then
smiled politely.“You look lost, again.”Danny gave a nod, trying to stay composed. “Yeah, we were told Room 213
for the trial consult, but this wing’s all 300s.”Amit glanced at the tablet, then gave a half-laugh. “Classic admin
reshuffle, it’s Room 212 now. New wing. They moved everything for air
unit testing.”“Right,” Danny said. “Of course they did.”Amit stepped closer. “I can take her if you like. It’s on my way.”PAGE 12Danny hesitated, then looked at his mother. She gave him a tired nod,
already warming to the doctor’s calm energy. “He seems efficient.”Danny exhaled. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks.”As Amit took the handles and gently began steering the wheelchair, Danny
hung back a second to grab his bag from the floor.He turned just as Kelly exited the trauma ward at the end of the
hallway, clipboard under her arm. Their eyes met.“Well, well,” Danny said with a crooked smile, catching up to her as
they neared the elevator. “We really need to stop meeting like this.”Kelly gave a soft laugh. “Midtown Medical’s got some strong stalker
vibes from you right now.”PAGE 13“I’m just a devoted son,” he replied, nodding toward his mum being
wheeled away. “And a man who clearly can’t navigate a hospital
building.”“Lucky you’ve got backup,” she teased, glancing at Amit ahead.They stepped into the lift together.“I didn’t know you were still on the trauma placement,” he said.“I wrapped last week,” Kelly replied. “I’m just dropping off some
reports. After this, it’s mainly back to the charity project full time.”“Well,” Danny said, flashing a smile, “don’t disappear too fast. I’ll
miss you!”Kelly arched an eyebrow. “I thought you came for the high-stakes
diagnostics and vending machine coffee?”“How did you find out?”PAGE 14The elevator dinged. As the doors slid open, Danny’s phone buzzed. He
glanced at it, unreadable, then back at her.“I’ll see you around, Kelly.”She tilted her head, amused. “I’m sure you will.”He stepped out, glanced back once, then disappeared into the corridor.Later That Evening: Lower ManhattanThe sidewalk hummed with late-evening energy. Neon signs flickered
across concrete and cab windows.Roshan was adjusting his guitar strap just beneath a plaza fountain
where the acoustics weren’t great, but the soul of the place made up for
it.“You’re actually going through with it?” Kelly asked, grinning.“You dared me.”“I didn’t think you’d take it personally.”PAGE 15He raised a brow. “You clearly don’t know Yorkshire men.”He stepped into the open space, settled on a bench, and started
strumming. The chords echoed across the plaza, loose, free, magnetic. A
few passersby dropped coins into the open guitar case. Kelly leaned
against a post, hiding a laugh as he winked mid-song.When he finished, a few passersby clapped, not just politely, but with
real appreciation. Someone dropped a five-dollar bill in his case.
Another gave a soft “you’re amazing” as they walked past.Kelly mock-applauded as she approached. “Wow,” she said, eyes twinkling.
“That was actually good. Like… almost professionally good.”PAGE 16Roshan glanced up, grinning. “Almost?” He slung his guitar back in the
case. “Careful, darling, I might start charging you for private
encores.”Kelly raised a brow. “You assume I’d stick around for one.”He leaned in, just close enough. “You always do.”She tried to hold his gaze but couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at
her lips, or the blush that bloomed across her cheeks.“Shut up,” she said lightly, brushing a curl from her face.But her eyes lingered.And so did his.They started walking toward the subway station.Roshan’s phone buzzed.He smiled when he saw the screen. “Salam, Ammi.”Kelly turned her head with a grin.Roshan’s mum’s voice came through: “Are you wearing a jacket? It’s
cold.”“I’m fine,” he said. “I’m with someone.”“Oho! With who?”PAGE 17Kelly leaned in. “Tell her I said hi.”Roshan passed the message along.In the background, his dad shouted, “She’s got honest eyes! What’s she
doing with you?” followed by laughter.“Alright, alright,” Roshan laughed. “Talk later.”He slipped the phone away.“They’re so sweet,” Kelly said.“They’re trouble,” he replied. “But I wouldn’t change them.”They paused at a street corner, letting a bike whiz past.“You know,” Kelly said, suddenly thoughtful, “the more I see you, the
more I feel like we were supposed to meet.”He looked over at her, quieter now. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking that too.”The lights changed. They crossed the street in silence, but something
about the way their hands brushed, like the air between them was
charged, said more than words.PAGE 18CHAPTER FOUR: Fractures Beneath the SurfaceNew York City: Five and a Half Months AgoThe rooftop didn’t belong to them, but it felt like it did.High above the noise of the city, framed by rusted pipes and an old
satellite dish that never worked, Kelly and Roshan sat side by side on a
crate, nursing cheap coffee from a bodega that somehow tasted better
under the stars.They’d spent the afternoon walking in High Line, sharing headphones and
arguing over the best Elliot Gold album. At a food truck near 14th,
they’d split the worst tacos either of them had ever eaten, and laughed
so hard that they nearly cried.PAGE 19Now, in the hush of the rooftop, Roshan reached over and gently took her
hand. His thumb moved in slow circles over her palm, tracing the grooves
like he was reading her story.“You’ve got strong heart lines,” he said softly, still studying her
hand.Kelly smiled, her breath catching just slightly. “Is that your subtle
way of flirting?”He looked up at her, his eyes suddenly serious. “No. It’s my honest
way.”He leaned forward. The kiss came like a natural exhale, slow, warm,
inevitable. And when their lips met, it felt like everything. Like the
world tilted just slightly to make space for it.PAGE 20When they pulled apart, Kelly leaned her head on his shoulder. The stars
above blinked in scattered constellations.Kelly pulled her jacket tighter around her. “Do you ever think about the
roads not taken?”Roshan tilted his head. “Like what?”She glanced at him, her breath visible in the air. “You know how I was
supposed to study medicine. In Manchester. Had everything lined up. Even
looked at apartments.”He blinked, “Yeah, so crazy when you think about it.”She nodded. “Yeah. I backed out last minute. Something didn’t feel
right.”
PAGE 21Roshan shook his head. “Imagine us both walking down Oxford Road at the
same time and never knowing.”“Crazy,” she said, her voice quiet now. “We could’ve passed each other
every day and never said a word.”He smiled, watching her from the corner of his eye. “Or maybe I’d have
bumped into you on purpose.”Kelly turned to him slowly. “And I’d have told you to watch where you’re
going.”He laughed, and something eased between them again. Comfortable.
Charged.“But I like this version better,” she said softly. “This version, where
I met you here.”Roshan’s throat tightened.PAGE 22She looked out at the skyline. “You ever get the feeling you were always
meant to meet someone? Like even if you’d taken a different road, they’d
still have found you eventually?”He didn’t answer right away.Instead, he studied her face, lit by the glow of a flickering rooftop
bulb, eyes faraway but honest.“Yeah,” he said finally. “I feel that right now.”Her lips parted slightly, like she might say something more, but
instead, she smiled and looked away.And for a second, the world around them felt still.Elsewhere: Upper East Side ApartmentPAGE 23Danny sat in the corner of the dim living room, the only light coming
from the flicker of his laptop screen. Old photos. University debate
competitions. One of him and his mother outside Columbia Presbyterian.
She looked tired in that photo.The screen went black.Danny didn’t move.Then his fingers twitched and he opened the side drawer. Inside, a stack
of journals, all handwritten. The top one had Kelly’s name underlined.He touched it with care.Like it might shatter if he held on too long.Midtown Medical Building: Oncology Research DivisionPAGE 24Amit adjusted his blazer, walking briskly through the hallway. His badge
gave him access to almost every wing. Perks of a famous father and a
little charm.He paused at the door of Room 403.Danny’s mother lay inside, tubes running from her arm, pale but lucid.
Kelly sat beside her, reading softly from a children’s book, the kind
the older patients sometimes liked, nostalgic and simple.Amit watched through the glass. Kelly laughed gently at something the
woman said.Danny stood behind him, arms folded. “She’s good with her.”Amit didn’t turn. “She’s good with everyone.”Danny’s voice lowered. “I’ve never met anyone like her.”Amit turned now, eyes steady. “Yeah she deserves someone special.”PAGE 25Danny smiled. But it didn’t reach his eyes. “Why? You think I don’t
deserve someone like Kelly?”Amit didn’t blink. “No, I’m just saying. I think Kelly deserves someone
as amazing as her.”Danny said nothing.But his jaw twitched.Downtown Jazz Bar: Later That WeekRoshan was on stage again. Bare lightbulbs. Muffled applause. A stool
and his guitar. He didn’t say much. He didn’t need to.He just played.Kelly watched from the back, tucked in a shadowed booth, chin resting on
her hand.One of the songs, new, rough around the edges, had a line she hadn’t
heard before:“I think I’ve always loved you, even when I didn’t know what love was.”She sat up, heart hammering.Roshan looked up for just a moment.And their eyes met.She smiled, unsure, surprised, maybe even a little scared.But she didn’t look away.Neither did he.PAGE 26CHAPTER FIVE: Fault Lines and FantasiesNew York City: Four Months AgoThe clinic smelled of hand sanitizer and old paint. Floor four, oncology
wing, the waiting room always too quiet, even with the low hum of
vending machines and distant coughs.Kelly sat beside Danny’s mother, her hand gently resting on the older
woman’s wrist. “You’ve got a fighter’s spirit,” she said with a warm
smile.Danny leaned against the far wall, watching them. Noticing every detail.
The way Kelly’s hair curled slightly behind her ear. The way she smiled
when she meant it, and when she didn’t. The way his mother’s face
softened when Kelly was near.“Isn’t she wonderful?” his mother said suddenly, looking at him.Danny straightened. “She is.”PAGE 27Kelly laughed politely, brushing it off, but something flickered behind
Danny’s eyes.She stood. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I promised Ayesha we’d paint story
rocks together.”“You’re too good,” Danny’s mum said, squeezing her hand.Danny stepped closer. “I’ll walk you out.”They headed down the corridor in silence.“You didn’t have to come so often,” he said eventually. “You’ve done
enough.”Kelly looked up at him. “It’s not about doing enough. Your mum’s brave.
And I like being around her.”Danny’s jaw tightened, then softened. “You’re rare, you know that?”Kelly smiled, a little wary. “I’m just doing what anyone would.”He stopped at the exit. “Not everyone would.”PAGE 28A long pause hung between them. She gave him a quick nod, then walked
toward the street.Danny watched her go, hands clenched in his coat pockets.He didn’t move for a long time.Brooklyn: Medical Housing Common RoomAnna poured another glass of wine, her cheeks flushed.“He’s intense,” she was saying to Ria, sprawled out on the couch.“Who?” Ria asked, half-scrolling through a study sheet on her phone.“Danny. I bumped into him again at the cafeteria earlier. He just…
appeared at my table, like he’d been waiting for me to look up.” Anna
laughed lightly. “He remembered what I was wearing last week.”Ria’s eyes lifted from her phone. “Leaning creepy.”PAGE 29Anna tilted her head, thinking. “I don’t know… He’s got this way of
looking at you, like he’s figured you out already. He asked me out,
actually. Said we should do dinner. No noisy crowd, just us.” She smiled
faintly. “I said yes.”Ria frowned. “You sure about that?”Anna waved it off. “He’s just misunderstood. He’s dealing with a lot.”“Anna, you’re not his therapist,” Ria said, sitting up now.Anna smirked, swirling her wine. “Didn’t say I was. But… he’s
interesting.”Ria shook her head. “Look, just be careful. He’s… intense in ways you
don’t see at first.”Anna rolled her eyes, but the words stuck. Just enough to linger later
that night when Danny messaged her a quote from a poem she’d never
shared with him.“She walks in beauty, like the night.”PAGE 30How did he know she loved that line?Lower East Side: Jazz BarRoshan was mid-set when Kelly entered again. This time with Danny after
visiting his mum.Ria was already at the bar, sipping ginger ale and trying not to feel
out of place.Kelly leaned into Roshan’s orbit like a satellite that didn’t know how
to escape gravity. Danny watched her the entire time.When Roshan came down, towel around his neck, sweat on his brow, Kelly
rose to greet him with a spark in her eyes, until Danny stepped up
beside her.“Great set,” Danny said, reaching to shake Roshan’s hand.PAGE 31Danny gave a half-smile, eyes scanning Roshan like he was trying to
figure him out. “You’re so versatile, the way your mind works…music,
words, people. I wish I could train mine to do that. Control it. Shape
it. Instead, it just…loops.”For a second, something flickered across his face, not envy exactly, but
something close.Roshan’s smile barely flickered. “Thanks, music’s like therapy.”But inside, something twisted. He wasn’t used to praise from Danny, not
like this. It felt almost sincere, but there was a weight behind it,
like the words were pulling double duty. Like Danny wasn’t just
admiring, he was studying him.PAGE 32Kelly stepped in lightly, sensing something awkward in the air. “I keep
telling him that,” she said with a smile, though her tone was too
bright, the kind of smile you give when you’re not sure what else to do
with the moment.As the tension thickened, Ria approached, defusing the energy with an
easy grace. “We going to this rooftop party or just pretending we’re
twenty?”Roshan turned to her, a flicker of old warmth in his eyes. “Still good
at hijacking plans, huh?”She shrugged, smiling. “You always liked that about me.”Kelly’s smile faded for half a second.Then she turned to Danny and hooked her arm around his. “Let’s crash
it.”Danny’s eyes widened, pleased. Roshan watched, unreadable.That Night: Rooftop Somewhere in the East VillagePAGE 33Music. Fairy lights. Rooftop views. The city glittering like a promise
none of them fully trusted.Roshan sat with Ria near the edge, trading old memories and low laughs.
The kind that echoes with unspoken what-ifs.“Do you remember that summer in Scarborough?” she asked, tipsy on
nostalgia. “The night you said you didn’t believe in fate?”He smirked. “Yeah, think you did that I.T training course in York, then
we went to the beach in Scarborough. You made me eat fish and chips at
midnight to change my mind.”Ria paused for a moment and then tilted her head, staring straight
through him. “I love your voice. You have something special Roshan.
Seeing you on stage makes me really proud. I love that you’re following
your passion.Roshan taken back a bit, smiled sincerely. She continued.“You ever think maybe we were just out of sync?”PAGE 34He paused, long enough that she looked away.Across the roof, Kelly danced near Danny, her laughter high and
sparkling, but her eyes kept finding Roshan’s.She met his gaze across the space.The room still buzzed from the gig, voices rising and falling under dim
lights and scattered applause.Danny leaned in toward Kelly, gesturing toward the bar. “Come on, just
for one drink,” he said with an easy smile.Kelly hesitated. Her body shifted slightly away from him, the smile on
her lips not quite reaching her eyes. “Maybe in a bit,” she said, voice
soft but noncommittal.Just then, across the room, her gaze found Roshan. And in that moment,
the noise, the lights, Danny’s presence, all seemed to blur into the
background.Their eyes locked.Something shifted.No more games. No more half-truths. They both knew.PAGE 35Roshan didn’t hesitate. He made his way through the crowd, calm but
deliberate. When he reached her, he slid his arm gently around her
waist, not possessive, but certain. Kelly didn’t flinch. She leaned into
him like she’d been waiting for it.Danny raised an eyebrow, his grin tightening just slightly.“Danny,” Roshan said.“Roshan,” Danny replied, tone light, but something sharpened behind it.
“Big finish tonight. Crowd loved it.”“Thanks,” Roshan said flatly. “You seemed to enjoy yourself too.”Danny’s eyes flicked to Kelly, then back. “What can I say? I have an
appreciation for live performance.”Roshan didn’t let go of her. “Good. Then let’s cut through the act.”Danny’s smile didn’t move. “That’s a strong entrance.”“Strong company,” Roshan replied. “Some people earn it. Some try to
rewrite the script.”Danny’s gaze lingered on the space between them. “You think I’m
pretending?”PAGE 36“I think you’re always performing,” Roshan said, voice quiet. “Just
depends on the audience.”For a second, no one spoke.Then Danny chuckled, slow and careful. “Careful, Roshan. You’re starting
to sound like someone with something to lose.”Roshan met his eyes. “Only if someone tries to take it.”Kelly stayed still, watching the exchange unfold beside her.Roshan’s arm around her felt steady, solid. His words didn’t come from
ego, they came from something real. Protective. Clear.She glanced at Danny. His smile held, but there was something colder
behind his eyes now, something calculating.She didn’t say anything, but her silence spoke for her. She didn’t move
away from Roshan.Across the room, Ria watched.She said nothing, just sipped her drink slowly, eyes flicking between
the three of them.She saw the tension. She saw the choice.And she knew, things had just shifted.Subtly. Permanently.PAGE 37CHAPTER SIX: Between the LinesNew York: Two Months EarlierThe click of pool balls echoed through the nearly empty hall. Amit
chalked his cue lazily, watching Roshan line up a shot.“Still gutted I missed your gig,” Amit said. “Been meaning to make this
up to you. This feels… overdue.”Roshan sank a solid with an easy tap. “No worries, man. Life happens.”“Yeah, tell me about it. Dad being a top surgeon meant we moved around a
lot, Dubai, Qatar… You get used to starting over, but it never really
gets easy. I guess I know a bit about what you’ve been through.”Roshan just nodded, eyes on the table. Amit remembered something Roshan
had said weeks ago, about how life could change in an instant.PAGE 38“That thing you said… about your dad. I get it.” Amit leaned on his cue.
“My cousin in Kent, she went to uni in Manchester. She was dating this
guy, smart guy, kept to himself. Then one night… he takes one of these
so-called study pills or happy pills. Black market stuff. Started as
focus boosters, then made their way into clubs because some batches made
people hallucinate. He only did it to fit in. Next morning, he was
gone.”Roshan looked up, silent.“She knew this detective. Proper good at his job. Managed to track down
one of the small-time dealers, but the main guy, the one really moving
the stuff, never got caught. This was years back, but it changed her.
Makes you notice things… makes you wary.”PAGE 39Amit sank a ball without looking, then added, “Anyway, enough of the
heavy talk. You seeing anyone these days?”Roshan’s lips twitched. “Me and Kelly… looking like we’re more than
friends now.”Amit’s grin spread. “You’re a lucky man. In a different dimension, she’d
be with me.”Roshan laughed. “In a different dimension, you’d probably still miss my
gigs but I’d beat you in pool.”“Never!”The game rolled on, the easy rhythm of their banter carrying them toward
whatever came next.Later That EveningKelly stretched across the weathered leather sofa in Roshan’s flat,
absently thumbing through a stack of old gig flyers they’d been sorting.
A half-open book rested in her lap, though her eyes hadn’t moved past
the same line in ten minutes.PAGE 40Roshan stood in the kitchen, spooning instant coffee into mismatched
mugs. His guitar leaned on the counter behind him, close enough to
reach, like a reminder of the thing she kept telling him to chase.Reaching for another pile of flyers on the coffee table, Kelly noticed
the corner of a drawer sticking out from the unit underneath. She tugged
it open.Her eyebrows shot up. “How much pasta do you actually have in here? You
could feed half of Brooklyn.”Roshan smirked over his shoulder. “Hey, pasta never lets me down.”She grinned. “You make it sound like you’re in a relationship with it.”“Maybe I am,” he said, bringing her a steaming cup. “Might have to fight
for my attention.”Kelly laughed, shaking her head as he sat cross-legged on the floor by
the coffee table.PAGE 41She sipped, watching him shuffle the flyers into some semblance of
order.“I meant what I said the other night,” she said. “It feels like I’ve
known you longer than I actually have.”“Like we’ve been circling each other,” he said, glancing up. “Even
before New York.”She smiled faintly. “Especially after that kiss. I think we were both
scared to say anything… just in case it was one of those perfect moments
that should stay perfect. But seeing you with Ria at the bar that
night…” She paused, her voice softening. “It just made me realise even
more.”His eyes held hers. “Yeah. Same here. Seeing you with him… I knew.”They were quiet for a beat, the noise of the city muffled outside the
window. Her voice dropped.“Sometimes I think I could fall in love with you, Roshan.”
PAGE 42His throat caught, but he didn’t speak at first. Instead, he reached out
and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Their eyes stayed
locked, a silent exchange, heavy with things neither had dared to say
aloud. She leaned in, and he met her halfway.The kiss was slow, certain, the kind that spoke of knowing someone’s
rhythm, yet still finding something new in them every time. It lingered
just long enough to say what words couldn’t.When they parted, he whispered, “You don’t have to fall… you’ve already
landed.”She stayed there, resting against him, his arms holding her close. Her
smile was quiet, unshaken, and entirely content, like, for that moment,
there was nowhere else in the world either of them needed to be.Midtown Medical Centre: Later That WeekPAGE 43Kelly passed brightly coloured murals and the scent of antiseptic as she
made her way to the children’s oncology wing. She wasn’t sure what had
pulled her to this charity placement, but it anchored her in a way
little else did.Today, she was paired with Ayesha, a sharp, sassy ten-year-old with too
many hospital bracelets for a girl her age.“You talk funny,” Ayesha said cheerfully as Kelly read from a picture
book.“You mean I sound posh?”“You sound like the voice in my audiobooks.”Kelly laughed. “That’s the nicest insult I’ve had all week.”Danny’s mum walked to the bed and gently stroked Ayesha’s hair, tucking
a loose strand behind her ear. “You’re a fierce little thing,” she said
affectionately. “You remind me of someone I used to know.”PAGE 44Kelly offered her a seat, and the two women sat nearby while Ayesha
flipped back to the first page of the book, pretending she wasn’t
listening, but definitely still listening.“You’re very kind to him,” his mum said, stirring her tea absently.
“Danny. I know he doesn’t make it easy.”Kelly gave a small smile. “He’s… complicated. But he means well, I
think.”There was a pause. Then his mother exhaled, the kind of sigh that had
lived in her chest a long time.“It’s been hard for him. After I moved to the States, he stayed back
with his father in Manchester. Maybe he resents me for it, not that he’s
ever said. But I see it. The way he holds everything so tightly inside.
Like love is a risk he never fully agreed to.”Kelly looked down at her tea. “He’s mentioned his dad. A little.”PAGE 45“Yes,” his mother said, her voice softening. “They were close in a way
that sometimes worried me. Not because of anything awful… just that his
father could be very rigid. Very controlled. Danny didn’t learn how to
let go, only how to hide.”“He does have a good heart,” his mum added. “But sometimes even a good
heart gets lost in the dark if no one ever taught it how to come back.”Ayesha, still pretending not to eavesdrop, piped up without looking up
from her book. “Danny says I’m special.”Kelly glanced at her. “He does?”“Mhm. He brings me puzzles sometimes. And asks questions. Like what I
dream about. If colours feel loud. Weird stuff.”Danny’s mum turned slightly, her smile not quite reaching her eyes.PAGE 46“He gave me some new tablets last week. Said they’d help my brain stay
sharp.” Ayesha wrinkled her nose. “But they made me feel like my head
was buzzing. I told Nurse Mel and she switched them.”Kelly’s grip tightened faintly around her mug. “He probably just wanted
to help,” she said, her voice careful.“He said I was different,” Ayesha murmured, flipping the page.Danny’s mum didn’t speak. She just stirred her tea a little longer than
necessary, watching the swirl like it might reveal something she wasn’t
ready to say aloud.She didn’t speak, and Kelly didn’t press. But something about the way
Danny’s mum kept watching the swirl in her tea, like it might reveal
something she didn’t want to say aloud, stayed with Kelly long after
she’d left the ward.PAGE 47Later that evening, they sat on a bench just outside the hospital car
park. The air smelled like rain that hadn’t yet arrived, and the
streetlight above them buzzed faintly.Roshan handed Kelly a takeaway coffee. “You okay?”She held it for a moment before answering. “Ayesha said something
earlier. About Danny.”Roshan’s brows drew together. “What kind of something?”“She said he brings her puzzles. Asks questions about her dreams,
feelings, even colours. And…” She hesitated. “He gave her pills. Said
they’d help her focus. But she felt weird after and the nurse changed
them.”Roshan stiffened. “What…I mean that’s wrong on on so many levels. He’s
not a doctor, let alone her doctor. That’s… not okay.”PAGE 48“I thought maybe it was innocent. But his mum was there too. She didn’t
say anything. Just… listened. Stirred her tea like she was trying not to
hear it.”Roshan looked away, jaw tightening. “That’s not nothing.”“I don’t know what he’s doing,” Kelly said. “But it’s not just kindness.
It’s like he’s testing her. Like she’s… data.”Roshan stayed quiet for a long moment, his jaw tense. Then he stood
slowly, pulling out his phone.“What are you doing?” Kelly asked.“I’m texting Amit,” he said. “He needs to know what’s going on there and
his cousin’s a solicitor in Manchester. Sometimes works with ex-police
on cold case reviews and tech stuff. His cousin also knew a detective.
If anyone knows someone we can trust, it’s her.”Kelly looked at him, surprised. “You think it’s that serious?”PAGE 49“I think if Danny’s giving pills to a ten-year-old without clearance,
and no one’s stopping him, then yeah, it’s serious.”She hesitated. “What will you say?”“That we’re not accusing anyone. Just… asking someone with a badge to
look where we can’t. If something was to happen to Ayesha and we do
nothing….”He hit send. “If something’s off, we’ll know soon enough.”Kelly pulled her coat tighter. “Let’s just be sure before we make
enemies.”“That’s the plan,” Roshan said quietly. “Truth first. Then whatever
comes next.”Roshan turned back to her, his voice low. “Has he ever done that with
you?”Kelly shook her head. “Not directly. But sometimes I think… he watches
people too closely. Like he’s not seeing them, he’s measuring them.”The silence that followed said more than either of them could.Then Roshan finally said, “We need to be careful.”Uptown: Same DayPAGE 50Anna and Danny walked along Riverside Park. The wind swept through the
trees and the grey skyline loomed behind them.She liked being around him. He made her feel chosen.But sometimes, when she caught his stare, it was like looking into a
mirror fogged with heat, something slightly warped beneath the charm.“I trust you,” she said, unsure why she needed to say it aloud.Danny glanced over. “I know.”He offered his arm, and she took it.Downtown: Medical Observation LabAmit leaned on the doorframe, arms crossed as he watched Danny from a
distance. Danny was chatting with one of the visiting consultants,
smiling, charismatic, easy.Too easy.Something didn’t sit right.The background checks Amit had run hadn’t shown much. But people like
Danny didn’t leave trails, they left impressions. And something about
the way Danny always seemed near Kelly, even before being introduced
formally…PAGE 51Amit tapped a note into his phone:“Find out how Danny knew where Kelly would be. Cross-reference clinic
rosters + visiting hours.”He looked up and caught Danny staring at him from across the corridor.Danny smiled, all teeth.Amit smiled back, but something in his stomach twisted.Later That Night: Roshan’s ApartmentThe rain had left the city damp and quiet. Inside, the soft hum of the
radiator filled the space between them.Kelly curled up beside Roshan on the old couch, her legs tucked beneath
her. She cradled a mug in both hands, tracing the rim with her finger
like she was winding up to say something she wasn’t sure she should.“The more I think about it… he keeps showing up,” she said finally.
“Danny. Today he just… appeared. With coffee.”Roshan’s shoulders tensed. “He brought you coffee”“Yeah. Said it was to say thanks, with his mum receiving treatment…”Roshan’s gaze sharpened. “You believe that?”PAGE 52She hesitated. “I mean, he’s been… polite. Odd, but not threatening. But
giving Ayesha tablets is out of order.”Kelly glanced at him. “You think I’m overreacting? I mean… what if
they’re just some boiled sweets?”“No,” Roshan said firmly. “I think you’re underreacting.”Her eyes flickered away.Roshan exhaled, the tension in his jaw easing. “You’re allowed to be
kind,” he said more gently. “But you’re also allowed to protect your
space. He obviously likes you. Like a stalker.”She turned back to him, eyes clearer now. “I don’t want to give him room
in my life.”“You haven’t,” Roshan said, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his
mouth. “You gave that to me.”Her lips softened into a smile. She leaned her head against his chest,
feeling the steady rise and fall of his breathing. He wrapped an arm
around her, pulling her closer, and for a moment the world, Danny, the
tablets, the questions, all faded into the background.
THE REVIEWS...
"THREE WORDS...UNEXPECTED. THRILLING. BRILLIANT." AUDREY
"Absolutely loved it. it was SO EXCITING, thrilling, TWISTS AND TURNS. LOVE THE MUSIC, THE ACTING'S FANTASTIC, ENJOYED THE WHOLE THING!" Tiff
"I WAS SCARED STIFF, SO MANY TWISTS AND TURNS...HONESTLY, I DIDN'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO LOOK sometimes. incredible!" KASH
"fantastic film and good local production, should be really proud it's produced in Manchester, huge dedication to it, you can tell. brilliant, I'd say watch it." daood
"the movie was amazing, and I was very, very impressed." joceline
"LOTS OF TWISTS AND TURNS. WHAT A MOVIE. GREAT MOVIE." AMAN
"very clever. the editing, the acting, the music score, everything was brilliant. Amazing, really, really enjoyed it." LES
"LOVED THE FILMING, VERY MYSTERIOUS. EDGY AND DARK." MUSTAFA
"Amazing. The effects, the way it flicks back and forwards, it's really good." Lee
"really enjoyed that, really enjoyed it, my first question is when's the sequel?" carl
"YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE IS." TIM
"Fantastic movie." Paul
watch the video for more authentic reviews!
PREMIERE HIGHLIGHTS
Back 2 Forward premiered at the Everyman Cinema Manchester to a packed audience and powerful reactions. These are real genuine reviews straight after the premiere and some of the moments that capture the atmosphere, excitement and celebration of the film's first screening.
Photographer: Amber Louise
LAUNCH HIGHLIGHTS
"the whole evening was something special. the atmosphere was incredible, you could feel the excitement in the room from the start. The live singers were amazing, the unveiling of the poster and motion logo was such a moment, and the speeches really brought everything together.I loved learning the story behind back 2 forward by Adnan and how it all started, it was really inspiring. it felt like everyone there knew they were witnessing something big. by the end of the night, people were genuinely excited about the film. It's one of those events you don't forget." Katie
The launch of Back 2 Forward marked the next chapter of the film's journey. These highlights the energy, support and unforgettable moments as the story reached audiences.
Photographers & Videographers: Elevate Visual Hub, Amber Louise & Heer Mahant