Rishab turned the knob & the door opened.
Entering, like every other day, he said, "Honey, I'm home. Oh wait! that's right, I live alone."
It had become his routine. He always craved coming home to someone, saying these words to his partner, and spending the evening together.
But he wasn't lucky.
Or was he?
Today was a bit different.
Rishab stopped in his tracks when he heard a voice reply, "I picked some pizza."
He stood stupefied in the living room, gazing at the woman who appeared from the kitchen with a pizza in her hand.
"Wha......? Ho.....? What?"
There stood Ira.
The woman of his dreams. Dressed in her pyjamas. In his living room. And he stood there, in front of her, unable to speak. His mind was in a whirlwind.
"Hello? Say something," asked Ira.
He still couldn't. Blankly he made his way towards the middle of the room and sat on the sofa, holding his head. His mind was racing with thoughts.
How is Ira here?
How did she get in?
Did this mean she remem....?
"Rishab?" she exclaimed.
He glanced at her so fast that his neck could snap.
"Did you just call me by my name?"
"Yes"
"Does that mean you remember me?"
She nodded.
"WHAT! You do?" he exclaimed.
"Yes."
The smile that came to his lips was so big that it could light up the entire room. Unable to control his joy, he ran towards her, hugged her and spun her around. Their laughter filled up the room.
Wanting his questions answered, he stopped spinning them. Taking Ira's hand in his, he pulled her near the sofa, and they sat.
"Tell me everything. Please." Rishab said.
"I am so sorry. I can't imagine how the last two years must have been."
He squeezed her hands gently.
"When I woke up after the accident in the hospital two years ago, everything was hazy. I know you came to meet me and I couldn't remember you. I am so sorry. I still remember your face when you realised I did not recognise you. I can't even fathom how you must have felt then. That was when the tests began. The doctors were checking what exactly I remembered from earlier. I did recollect a lot of things but not you. Not anything from the accident. My parents were doing everything they could to help me out. The doctors had informed them that stress could cause me harm. I believe that is why they asked you to stay away from me. I am sorry!"
"It's okay now." He replied.
"No! You have to know they love you and mean nothing wrong. They .."
"I know they did it to protect you. I get it."
"Thank you!"
Taking a deep breath, she continued.
"My head and body hurt a lot. Even after getting discharged, it took a lot of physiotherapies to walk again. Though I was slowly getting better physically, I wasn't mentally. I felt so drained out all the time. It felt as though something was missing from my life. But what that was, I did not know. Trying to figure out what was wrong nearly drove me mad. Now I know you were the missing piece, Rishab. It was always you. It took me so long to get back to you. I'm sorry!"
"How did you remember me?"
"It was getting irritating sitting at home. I felt so disconnected. So lonely. Even though my parents never left my side, it was getting suffocating. I requested to go outside for a walk, but obviously, my parents refused. But seeing as though I wasn't backing down, they agreed. When my mom and I went for a walk, we passed by a cafe. Any guess which?"
"Beans 'n Cream." He whispered.
Nodding, she replied.
"Yup! I don't know what happened, but I suddenly wanted a cappuccino. So, we went inside. The ambience, the faces and everything were so familiar. It felt as though I had been there many times. When mom went to the restroom, there was a moment. A moment where I sensed I was sitting with someone else. The face was a bit hazy. I freaked out, but I did not tell anyone about it. Slowly, more such events kept occurring. When I walked past the park. Or even the beach. I started getting flashbacks, hazy ones. Faces were unclear. One day, I was organising my closet and found a box hidden. It had a diary, my ring and your letters. I started reading them but hid that from the others. Even unknowingly, it was you who brought back my memories. Although not all. But I remembered you, how we met, how our relationship started, how we got married and almost everything else. But you would help me with what I don't remember, right? We would figure everything out together, right?"
Seeing him unresponsive, she paused, then started babbling.
"Unless, of course, you have someone else in your life now. I would totally understand if you do. I mean, it has been so many years now. It is okay if you don't want me back.
Shushing her, Rishab hugged her tight. "Oh! Ira! How could you possibly think I might have someone else? There is no one else. You are the one for me. You have always been. I was waiting for this day. I knew one day your memories would come back. I am so happy that you remember me. Finally!"
Taking her hands in his, he continued.
"Promise me. Promise me you will never leave me alone ever again. These past two years have been the worst without you. I have never felt so alone. You were within reach, but I couldn't come near you. It was so hard. But now that I've got you back, I am never letting you go. Never!"
"Never! I promise."
"Let's make new memories now, shall we?"
"Let's!"
___________________________________________
Author's Note:
Hello there!
Another day. Another story.
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Thanks for reading!
- Mitali
