A tale of love ,
A tale of healing ,
A tale of trust ,
A tale of discoveries ,
Nothing changed, yet she felt the loss,
But you can't lose something that never was yours
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Started - 11th April 2024
1K reads- 3rd...
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The quiet hum of the hospital room wrapped around them, interrupted only by the steady beep of the heart monitor. Shri sat against the pillows, her fingers twisting in the blanket, while Aarav sat beside her, his elbows resting on his knees, watching her carefully.
She could feel the weight of his stare.
"Shri," he said, voice softer now, almost hesitant. "Tu samajh rahi hai na? Jo tu keh rahi hai... woh—"
She cut him off. "Banawati lag raha hai? Paagalpan lag raha hai?" Her voice was tight, raw. "Haan, mujhe bhi lag raha hai, bhaiya. But tell me one thing—agar yeh sab mere dimaag ka khel hota, toh mujhe uska touch kyun yaad hai? Uski awaaz kyun yaad hai? Why am I so utterly in love still?"
Aarav sighed, rubbing his face tiredly. "Mann kuch bhi bana sakta hai, Shri. Jab kisi cheez ka dukh hota hai, jab koi gum itna gehra hota hai ki hum seh nahi sakte, tab dimaag kabhi kabhi apni kahani likh leta hai. Maybe yeh sab Sid se breakup ka impact tha..."
Shri flinched. The mention of Sid felt foreign now, like a life she barely remembered. "Sid... nahi, bhaiya. Yeh Sid se breakup ka natija nahi ho sakta." She shook her head, gripping the sheets tighter. "Breakup ka dukh hota hai, haan. But yeh jo mai mehsoos kar rahi hoon na—yeh dukh nahi hai. Yeh shock hai. Yeh loss ka pain hai. Aise jaise maine apni life ka ek hissa kho diya ho."
Aarav looked at her, his jaw tightening. "Shri, main samajh raha hoon—"
"Samajh rahe ho?" she snapped, looking up at him with bloodshot eyes. "Nahi samajh rahe ho, bhaiya. Kyunki agar tumhari yaadein, tumhare emotions, tumhari poori ek zindagi kisi ek pal mein tumse cheen li jaye, aur tumse kaha jaye ki woh kabhi tha hi nahi—tab tum samjhoge ki main kya keh rahi hoon."
Silence settled between them, heavy and suffocating.
Aarav exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. "Shri, jo bhi hai, mujhe lagta hai tujhe doctor se baat karni chahiye."
Shri’s head snapped up, panic flaring in her eyes. "Nahi!" She grabbed his wrist, her fingers trembling. "Bhaiya, please. Kisi ko mat batao. Kisi ko bhi nahi."
Aarav frowned. "Par Shri—"
"No." Her voice wavered, but her grip on him tightened. "Agar mai kisi se yeh sab kahungi toh woh mujhe pagal samjhenge. They’ll say it’s a psychological response to trauma, they’ll give me medicines, therapy—par bhaiya, mai yeh nahi bhool sakti. Tum samajh rahe ho na? Mujhe yeh yaad rakhna hai."
Aarav swallowed hard. He had never seen her like this—so fragile, so desperate. He wanted to argue, to tell her she needed help, but the fear in her eyes made his resolve crumble. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Theek hai," he muttered. "Main kisi ko nahi bataunga."
Shri’s shoulders sagged with relief. "Promise?"
Aarav hesitated. Then, looking into her pleading eyes, he nodded. "Promise."
