Enchanted Salvation

1. Business Meet

Adrika's POV

The clock strikes 3 am in the stillness of the night, and I am jolted awake by the
same haunting nightmare that has plagued my sleep for sixteen long years.

My heart races as I lay here, knowing sleep won't come again tonight, not after reliving that horror once more.

In desperation, I reach for my phone, seeking solace in distraction. The wallpaper greets me with a poignant reminder of happier times—a photo of me with my dadu, dadi, and my beloved
bhai.

They are no longer here, but their presence in the picture speaks volumes of the love we shared, now painfully distant.

My mind floods with memories, each one a bittersweet dagger to my soul. I remember the laughter of my brother and me echoing through our home, his mischievous smile as he snuck chocolates for me from our mom.

After his untimely departure, it was my dadu who stepped in, playing games with me tirelessly, filling the void left by my brother so I wouldn't ache so much.

And dadi, oh, how she cared for me! Whenever illness struck, her kadha was a magic potion brewed with love.

Stubborn as ever, I would refuse to drink it, only for dadu to join my rebellion, a united front against dadi's insistence.

Her scolding would follow, but soon laughter would erupt, and I'd find myself sipping the bitter remedy amidst shared chuckles and loving admonishments.

Tonight, tears spill freely down my cheeks, mingling with memories too precious and painful to bear. I long to hear their voices again, to feel their warmth around me, but all I have are these fading recollections etched deep within my heart.

Without much thought, I mindlessly open Instagram and begin scrolling. As I lazily flick through the posts, one picture stops me dead in my tracks: my colleague, beaming beside his radiant
wife.

They look wonderful together, perfectly matched, their joy almost palpable through the screen. But instead of being touched, I laugh. Not because they seem out of place together—no, they look splendid.

But because they have been entwined in a five-year relationship that has now blossomed into marriage.

“How,” I wonder, “do people find the courage to commit their lives to another person? How do they discover true love?

Here I am, struggling even to find genuine friendship.” I toy with the
idea of commenting something kind, but decide against it, letting my fingers hesitate above the screen.

Time seems to dissolve as I continue my aimless scrolling, and before I know it, dawn has broken.

The first light of day filters into my room, and I realize it’s already 6 in the morning.

I reluctantly pull myself out of bed and freshen up, feeling the weight of the night pressing down on my weary eyes.

Desperate for a breath of fresh air, I grab my phone and head towards the
terrace.

Just as I am about to step outside, my phone buzzes with a WhatsApp notification. It’smy boss. TOTALLY JALKUKDI!! (Jealousy Bitch).

I sigh and open the message, expecting some urgent task or reminder. Instead, it informs me of a leave for the day, reminding me of the business meeting I have to attend in the evening.

I already knew about the meeting; the message is nothing more than a formality, devoid of any surprise for me.

With a mix of relief and resignation, I step out onto the terrace. The morning air is cool, a stark contrast to the warm screen that had held my attention all night.