𝓢𝙏𝙔𝙇𝙀, shubman gill

19. remembering

One afternoon, Naina walked into the living room and found Shubman sitting on the couch, his face a storm of emotions. His fists were clenched, and his jaw was set in a way that told her something was deeply troubling him.

"Shubman, what's wrong?" Naina asked, her voice trembling with concern as she approached him cautiously.

Shubman looked up, his eyes flashing with anger and hurt. "I remembered everything, Naina," he said, his voice tight with emotion. "I remembered our school days, the humiliation I felt when you threw those flowers on the ground and embarrassed me in front of everyone."

Naina's heart skipped a beat, a wave of panic washing over her. "Shubman, I—" she began, but he cut her off.

"All this time, you knew, didn't you?" he continued, his voice rising. "You knew I didn't remember, and you never said anything. You just pretended like it didn't happen."

Naina's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to him, but he pulled away. "Shubman, I was scared," she admitted, her voice breaking. "I was afraid that if you remembered, you would hate me. I didn't know how to tell you without losing you."

Shubman stood up, pacing the room as he tried to process his emotions. "You should have told me the truth, Naina," he said, his voice softer but still laced with pain. "We've shared so much together since the accident. I thought we were building something real, something honest."

Naina stepped closer, her heart aching at the sight of his turmoil. "We are, Shubman," she pleaded. "What we have now is real. I've changed, and so have you. Please, let's talk about this, work through it together."

He paused, his back to her, taking a deep breath. "I need some time to think, Naina," he said finally, his voice heavy with emotion. "I just need some space to sort this out."

Naina nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Take all the time you need, Shubman," she whispered. "I'll be here, waiting for you."

As Shubman walked out of the room, Naina sank onto the couch, her heart heavy with the weight of the past and the uncertainty of their future. She knew that their love was being tested, and all she could do was hope that they would find a way to heal and move forward together.

In the days that followed, the distance between Shubman and Naina grew, an invisible barrier that neither knew how to breach. Shubman became increasingly withdrawn, spending hours alone, lost in thought. The laughter and easy companionship that had marked their early days together seemed like a distant memory, replaced by a tense silence that hung heavy in the air.

Naina tried to reach out, her heart aching with the desire to mend the rift between them. She would find him sitting alone, staring out the window or absorbed in his thoughts, but each time she approached, he would pull away, his eyes reflecting a mix of anger and pain.

One evening, Naina mustered the courage to speak to him, determined to break the silence. She found him in the living room, sitting on the couch with a book in his hands, though his eyes were unfocused.

"Shubman," she began softly, her voice trembling, "can we talk?"

Shubman looked up, his expression guarded. He closed the book and set it aside, nodding slowly. "Alright, Naina. Let's talk."

Naina took a deep breath, her heart pounding. "I know you're still angry with me, and I understand why. I should have told you the truth about our past. I was scared of losing you, scared that you wouldn't forgive me."

Shubman's gaze softened slightly, but the hurt remained in his eyes. "Naina, it's not just about the past. It's about trust. I thought we were building something real, something based on honesty. But now I feel like I don't know what's true anymore."

Naina's eyes filled with tears. "I know I broke your trust, Shubman, and I'm so sorry. I can't change what happened, but I want to make things right. I love you, and I believe in what we have. Please, give us a chance to heal, to rebuild our trust."

Shubman sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not easy, Naina. Every time I look at you, I see that day, and it hurts. But I also see the woman I've fallen in love with, the one who has been by my side through everything."

He paused, his voice softening. "I need time, Naina. Time to process everything, to figure out how we move forward from here."

Naina nodded, her heart heavy but hopeful. "Take all the time you need, Shubman. I'll be here, waiting, and hoping that we can find our way back to each other."

As Shubman retreated once more into his thoughts, Naina resolved to be patient, to give him the space he needed while holding onto the hope that their love would endure this trial and emerge stronger on the other side.

Naina woke up the next morning, feeling the cold emptiness of the bed beside her. She reached out instinctively, but her hand met only rumpled sheets. With a sinking feeling, she grabbed her phone from the bedside table and saw a message notification. Her heart pounded as she unlocked the phone and read Shubman's text.

"Good morning, Naina. I need some space to think things through, so I'm staying with Abhishek for a while. Please understand. - Shubman."

Tears welled up in Naina's eyes as she read the message. She sat up in bed, clutching the phone tightly, her mind racing with emotions. She couldn't bear the thought of Shubman being away from her, but she knew she had to respect his need for space.

After a few moments of sitting in silence, she took a deep breath and decided to call Abhishek. The phone rang a few times before he picked up.

"Hey, Naina," Abhishek's voice came through the line, concerned. "What's up?"

"Hi, Abhishek," Naina replied, trying to keep her voice steady. "I got Shubman's message. Is he okay?"

Abhishek sighed. "He's here with me. He's... well, he's struggling, but he's safe. He just needs some time to sort out his feelings. He'll be back soon."

Naina nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "I understand. Can you just... keep an eye on him for me? Make sure he's okay?"

"Of course, Naina," Abhishek assured her. "I'll take care of him. Just give him the space he needs. He'll come around."

"Thanks, Abhishek," Naina said, her voice breaking slightly. "I appreciate it."

After hanging up, Naina sat on the edge of the bed, feeling a mix of sadness and hope. She knew this was a difficult time for both of them, but she was determined to give Shubman the space he needed while holding onto the hope that they would find their way back to each other.

As the day went on, Naina tried to keep herself busy, immersing herself in work and chores around the house. Every so often, her thoughts would drift to Shubman, wondering how he was doing and hoping that he would find the clarity he needed. She resolved to be patient, to wait for him, and to believe in the strength of their love.

Days passed into weeks, and weeks turned into months. It had been three months since Shubman had left to stay with Abhishek. During this time, Naina remained in their house, alone. The once vibrant and lively home felt empty and quiet, each room a silent reminder of Shubman's absence. Naina went about her daily routines, her heart heavy with the weight of uncertainty and longing, hoping for the day when Shubman would return and they could begin to heal together.