Stumped By Love │ Rahul Dravid

Rahul 🏟️

"I don't wanna die babe,
Unless you aren't by my side babe"

🏟️

As the door closed behind Anjali, Aarohi let out a long, shaky breath. She sat down on her bed, the events of the night replaying in her mind. The room felt colder, emptier without Rahul's presence, and she couldn't shake off the lingering sensation of his touch. She rubbed her arms absently, where his fingers had brushed her skin, and her thoughts wandered back to the way he'd looked at her, the softness in his eyes, the regret in his voice.

She glanced around her room, trying to find some semblance of normalcy. As she moved towards her dresser to get ready for bed, something on the table caught her eye. It was Rahul's wallet, left behind in the rush of his departure. She hesitated, her fingers hovering over it.

Flashback: The Wallet Incident

Rahul had always been forgetful with his wallet. She recalled a time during one of their trips when he had misplaced it at a small café. He had been so engrossed in taking a candid photo of her, capturing her laughing at something silly, that he'd left his wallet on the table. The photo had turned out beautifully, capturing a side of her she rarely showed—carefree and full of joy. He had always said it was his favorite picture of her, a moment of pure happiness. He must have unintentionally forgotten the wallet again, just as he did then.

Back in the present, Aarohi picked up the wallet, curiosity getting the better of her. She opened it carefully, feeling a pang of nostalgia. Inside, she found the same photo from their trip, neatly tucked away behind his cards. It was slightly worn around the edges, a sign that he had carried it for a long time. Her eyes softened as she looked at the picture, memories flooding back.

🏟️

The next morning, the Tendulkar residence was abuzz with activity. The lawyers and police had arrived to take Aarohi's statement about the kidnapping, as she was finally stable enough to recount the events. Aarohi sat in the living room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Anjali sat beside her, a comforting presence, while Sara hovered nearby, her face pale with worry.

Aarohi took a deep breath and began to recount everything, from the car crash to the harrowing experience with Vijeta and Rajeshwari. She spoke of the beating, the fear, and the helplessness she felt. Anjali's eyes welled up with tears, and she clutched Aarohi's hand tightly, her own heart breaking at the thought of what Aarohi had endured. Sara placed a reassuring hand on Aarohi's shoulder, her expression one of quiet support.

When she finished, the room was silent, the gravity of her words hanging heavy in the air. The police thanked her for her cooperation and assured her that they would do everything in their power to bring the perpetrators to justice.

Later that day, Aarohi decided to go to her office for the first time in a long while. She needed a distraction, something to take her mind off the chaos of recent events. As she walked into the building, her colleagues greeted her warmly, their faces lighting up with smiles. They were all under the impression that she had been away due to an illness, unaware of the real reason behind her absence. They wished her well and expressed their relief at seeing her back.

Aarohi forced a smile, thanking them for their concern. She made her way to her office, feeling a strange mix of comfort and dissonance. The normalcy of the workplace was a stark contrast to the turmoil she had been through, and it was both a relief and a burden to be back.