"THE FORGOTTEN ONES"

Unforgettable moments of past

November 14, 2021

Noida, Sector 78—Society: The Heaven

Time: 08:30 AM

The alarm clock blared, pulling a young man from his slumber. He sluggishly rose from the bed, rubbing the remnants of sleep from his eyes, and made his way to the kitchen. There, his wife was already at work, preparing breakfast.

The woman, with a practiced ease, turned her neck slightly to glance at him and teased, "Late for work again, Mr. Future Special Director?"

The man chuckled softly, his tone playful yet tinged with doubt. "Ah, it's not like those old men are going to promote me anytime soon, but I like the sound of it when you say it."

Prisha Singhania, a 29 -year-old woman who had been working in an IT firm for the past two years, was now married to her long-time love, Vivaan Singhania. Their story was one that had been written in the stars; they had been friends since their school days, where Vivaan had been her senior. People often remarked how Vivaan, once known for his carefree, nonchalant attitude, had transformed after Prisha entered his life. The boy who once despised schedules and discipline now embraced routines and good habits, much to everyone's surprise.

Their families believed they were destined for each other. Vivaan, the rebellious one who never heeded anyone's advice, and Prisha, the disciplined and loving girl who followed the righteous path to success, seemed to balance each other perfectly.

"So, where are you headed today?" Prisha asked, her voice light but curious.

"Nothing special, I guess. Just the same old office and the same faces hanging around me all day," he replied with a hint of weariness.

"That's not a nice thing to say, Vivaan. They're your colleagues," Prisha gently reprimanded him, her tone carrying that familiar warmth with a touch of seriousness.

"Don't start this early, babe. I'll be on my best behavior today. Will that be enough to skip today's lecture?" he asked, trying to coax a smile out of her.

"Oh, so now my talks are just lectures, huh?" Prisha shot back, her eyebrows arching in mock offense.

"No, I didn't mean it like that..." Vivaan started to explain, but she cut him off, her voice playful but with a tinge of hurt. "No, you just said I lecture you. Am I that bad?"

"Prisha, I was just..." he tried again, but she interrupted once more. "You meant it, Vivaan. I know you did. You said it loud and clear that I lecture you," she said, turning back to the stove, her hands busy with the breakfast she was preparing.

Vivaan stood there, a bit taken aback, and then quietly moved closer to her, intending to catch her off guard. Prisha, still focused on her cooking, continued to talk, unaware of his approach.

"Hmph, I'm not going to talk to you for a while," Prisha huffed, her tone a mix of teasing and frustration. "Not that I can't live without you—I mean, yeah, that's true—but don't get the wrong idea. And it's not like I'll be spying on you either... well, maybe a little, but don't misunderstand. I just want you to take care of yourself, and others too, and..." She was about to continue when Vivaan wrapped his arms around her from behind, holding her hands gently.

"And then what do you want me to do?" he whispered into her ear, his voice soft and affectionate.

Prisha's breath hitched, and she murmured, "Stop it, Vivaan. Someone could walk into the kitchen any time."

"No one's home today, Ms. Workaholic," Vivaan reminded her with a playful smirk. "Mom and Dad went to Varanasi last night."

"Oh, I knew that!" Prisha retorted in a mock defensive tone. "Don't get any wrong ideas—I've got a sharper memory than you!" She tried to sound serious, but her voice carried a cute, funny lilt as she continued cooking.