Incomplete Love

The Memory of Preethi

The house was filled with a heavy silence, broken only by the occasional clink of the whiskey bottle against the glass. Arjun sat slouched on the couch, lost in thought, the memories of Preethi washing over him like a tide he couldn’t escape.

Flashback:

It was Arjun’s third year in medical college, and the new batch had just arrived. His reputation as the hot-headed, brilliant senior had already spread, and no one dared to mess with him. He had no patience for trivial things, but his friend Shiva dragged him to the auditorium to witness the initiation of the freshers.

As Arjun scanned the crowd of nervous first-year students, his eyes fell on a girl standing at the edge of the line, looking down. Her silence and shyness caught his attention immediately. She was different from the rest—there was something about her stillness that intrigued him.

"What’s your name?" Arjun asked, walking up to her.

She hesitated, barely lifting her eyes to meet his. "Preethi," she whispered.

"Preethi," Arjun repeated, feeling the name roll off his tongue. "You don’t have to be scared. Stick with me, and no one will bother you."

Preethi nodded slightly, her gaze returning to the ground. There was something about her quiet demeanor that drew Arjun in. He didn’t need words to understand her, and she didn’t need to speak to earn his protection.

Days passed, and Preethi became a part of Arjun’s world. He made sure she was always near him, protecting her from the typical ragging and keeping her out of harm’s way. But it wasn’t just about protection—there was an unspoken bond between them that grew stronger with each moment they spent together.

Arjun was sitting with Shiva one afternoon, casually flipping through a medical textbook when his phone rang. He glanced at the screen and saw his father’s name flashing.

"Arjun," his father’s deep voice came through as he answered. "How’s everything going at college?"

"Fine, Appa," Arjun replied, not particularly interested in small talk.

"I have a request," his father said, his tone serious. "You know our manager, Mr. Shankar, right? His relative’s daughter has joined your college this year. I want you to keep an eye on her, make sure she’s safe. Her name is Ishita."

Arjun sighed, already feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him. "Appa, I’m already dealing with a lot. Why do I have to babysit someone else now?"

"Because I’m asking you to," his father said firmly. "She’s from a good family, and I’ve given my word that you’ll look out for her. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate, but this is important."

Arjun rubbed his forehead, frustration bubbling inside him. "Fine, I’ll see what I can do."

"Thank you, Arjun. Just keep her out of trouble. That’s all I’m asking."

After ending the call, Arjun leaned back and exhaled. The last thing he needed was another responsibility. He already had Preethi to protect, and now there was this new girl, Ishita. He didn’t want to get involved, but his father’s word meant something, and he couldn’t simply ignore it.

Shiva, noticing Arjun’s change in mood, leaned over. "What happened, bro?"

"My father wants me to protect some other girl now," Arjun muttered. "Ishita. She’s the relative of our manager or something."

Shiva raised an eyebrow. "Another one? You’re really getting popular with the juniors."

Arjun shook his head, irritated. "This isn’t a joke, Shiva. I already have enough to deal with. I don’t have time for this."

Shiva laughed. "Just introduce her to Preethi. Let her take care of it. You don’t have to do everything yourself, man."

Arjun paused for a moment, considering the suggestion. But the thought of involving Preethi in this didn’t sit right with him. Preethi was someone special, someone he wanted to protect personally. Ishita, on the other hand, was just another task his father had assigned to him.

"No," Arjun said after a moment. "Preethi stays out of this. I’ll figure it out."

That evening, as Arjun walked Preethi back to her hostel, his mind was still swirling with thoughts of the new girl he had to watch over. Preethi, as always, was silent beside him, her presence calming him in a way no one else’s could.

"Preethi," Arjun said suddenly, stopping in his tracks. She turned to look at him, her wide eyes questioning.

"Why are you always so quiet?" he asked, his tone softer than usual.

Preethi shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "I don’t have much to say."

Arjun chuckled, shaking his head. "You don’t need to. I like it that way."

He looked at her, and for a moment, everything else faded—Ishita, the pressure from his father, the chaos of college life. All that mattered was the girl standing in front of him, the girl he had come to care for more than he ever thought possible.

"Just stay by my side, Preethi," Arjun said, his voice serious. "No matter what happens."

Preethi didn’t reply, but her eyes said everything. She would stay. And that was all Arjun needed to know.

Back in the present, Arjun’s thoughts swirled as he took another swig of whiskey. The memory of Preethi, the silent connection they had shared, filled him with an overwhelming sense of loss. No one else—not Ishita, not anyone—could ever take her place.

His father’s words echoed in his mind. Protect her. Keep her safe.

But how could he protect someone else when he couldn’t even protect himself from his own demons?