My Safe Haven

Chapter : 7: 'Mumbai here I come'

Warning:- Hypnosis and memory manipulation, brief mention of drugging and vulnerability, emotional distress and self-doubt, mild violence and self-defense discussion, emotional distress and anxiety, brief mention of injury and wound healing. Reader discretion is advised. ⚠

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Thoughts are in italic...

In New York:

Saras's POV

Saras was happy; he would finally be able to see his family again. However, as expected, he was nervous but excited at the same time. His Uncle Neet (Bhavneet insisted on being called that), told him to wait while he made arrangements.

Gauri sat beside him, the only person he felt genuinely comfortable with and could make small talk. He was also starting to like Bhavneet, as both of them seemed nice and genuinely caring. He hoped his family would be like that too, and that 'shadow'...

Ugh, that shadow! God, Saras, how could you be so careless?!

He couldn't help but scold himself. He immediately decided to ask Gauri.

"Gauri di," he said.

"Hmm?" she replied.

"I want to ask you something," Saras said.

"Go ahead, I'm all ears." Gauri smiled encouragingly.

Saras relaxed a bit. "About my dream... you said those were memory fragments, right? And the shadow you saw in my dream was probably someone I know, right?" He finished, feeling more unsure the more he spoke.

Why can't I remember him? It's like he was from a completely different world.

"Then why don't I have any impression of him?" He asked, trying his best not to sound desperate.

Gauri's smile soothed his restlessness a little. "He was not just anyone, Suru. He is a very significant person in your life."

If Saras was restless and curious before, now he was just plain confused. "Significant? Then why can't I remember him?" He voiced his thoughts.

Gauri nodded, looking as if she was ready to explain. Saras couldn't wait.

"Suru, do not freak out, okay?" Saras tensed but nodded at her to continue.

"I suspect that your memory loss is not natural, and before you freak out, let me clarify that it's just a hunch. I've contacted a friend; he's a professional. Only he can help us further here, but if my hunch is correct, then you might regain your memories faster than I've anticipated." Gauri said.

Saras was... happy. Don't get him wrong, he was happy that he might regain his memories soon, but... something about the information unsettled him.

He gingerly asked, "Di, what did you suspect? Please tell me." His tone was just shy of begging.

He saw pain flash through Gauri's eyes, although she did her best to hide it. Nevertheless, he steeled himself for the worst.

"I... I just think they may have done something to your memories. Don't panic... they may have hypnotized you." And everything went blank after that. He couldn't process it; how was that even possible? If he was being hypnotized, then why couldn't he remember it?

His questions must have shown on his face because Gauri's face morphed into realization.

"Do you used to get extremely tired or not being able to move your limbs much sometimes?"