Forget Me Not

Chapter 3: Riding into the unknown

The morning light streamed through the curtains, warming the small room that had become my temporary sanctuary. Every day, I woke up in this house full of people I barely knew, and yet, there was something oddly comforting about it. There was no chaos, no rush to remember anything—just quiet moments and kind faces.

That dreadful night which has made me feel like a stranger to myself. I am really thankful to Mr Mishra to help me or else I don't know what would I have done. His family is also very nice, even though I can see some scepticism about me in Mrs Mithra's eyes and then comes Mahira who is the definition of innocence. Her childlike laughter her attempts to make me smile so that I don't get depressed makes my heart flutter. I don't know what to name this feeling whatever it is it makes me feel nice.

I sat at the dining table, a cup of tea in front of me, but my thoughts were elsewhere. As much as I tried to push it away, the void inside my head haunted me. Every second that ticked by was a reminder that my life before this house was a blank slate. I didn't even know what I had lost.

"Ved, beta?" Shekhar uncle's voice broke into my thoughts. I looked up to see him standing by the door, already dressed for work, his office bag slung over his shoulder.

"Yes, uncle?"

He smiled at the word "uncle," the way I addressed him, though we both knew I had no idea what to call him. His kindness had been overwhelming since the moment he found me, and I was still trying to repay it in some way.

"I have a small favor to ask," he said, stepping closer. "Mahira... she usually goes to college by bus, but today the bus service is disrupted because of a strike. Could you take her on the bike?"

I blinked, a little taken aback. *Me? Take her to college?* suddenly I felt excited but masking my expression I appeared to be nonchalant about it

then I saw Mahira appear behind her father, her eyes wide with excitement. Her face lit up as soon as Shekhar uncle mentioned the bike.

"Papa!" she gasped, looking like she had just been offered a trip to the moon. "You mean *he*—Ved—will drop me?"

Shekhar chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Yes, beta, that's what I said. If Ved doesn't mind, of course."

"Of course, I don't mind," I said controlling my emotion because I don't want appear desperate.

"Yay!" Mahira clapped her hands together, her excitement bubbling over and then soon realised what she did making her eyes go widen.

She quickly darted off to grab her bag, her footsteps echoing through the house.

Shekhar gave me an amused look. "Don't let her chatter distract you while driving."

I chuckled nervously. "I'll do my best."

***

Minutes later, I found myself standing by the bike parked just outside the house, Mahira bounding toward me with her backpack slung over her shoulder.

"This is going to be so fun!" she chirped, hopping onto the bike behind me. "It was my dream to ride a bike while my boyfriend drives it."

"So am I your boyfriend?" I asked in a teasing tone

"Umm no umm I didn't mean that ... oh Ved I am getting late come one drop me off to college quickly " she said while blushing profusely and trying to change the topic

She is so cute!! My heart screamed

As I strapped on the helmet Shekhar had given me, I felt the weight of Mahira's presence behind me. Her hands gripped the sides of the seat, and she shifted a little as if trying to get comfortable.

"Hold on tight," I said over my shoulder, feeling a bit awkward.

"Don't worry, I've got this!" she replied, sounding like she was about to embark on an adventure.

I started the bike, and the engine roared to life beneath us. My hands gripped the handles a little tighter as I pulled away from the house and into the busy streets of the city. The wind rushed past us, and for a moment, it felt like I was floating. The world moved around me, but I was still.

I could feel Mahira shift behind me, her fingers brushing my sides as she tried to steady herself on the bike. The contact was so light, but somehow, it made me hyper-aware of her presence. I glanced in the mirror and caught her smiling, her eyes wide with wonder.

"This is amazing!" she shouted over the wind, her voice carrying an undeniable joy. "You're really good at this, Ved!"

I didn't reply, too focused on navigating through the traffic, but her words did something to me. They made me feel... capable. It was strange, but for the first time since I had woken up in that hospital bed, I felt like I was in control of something—even if it was just this bike ride.

We reached a stretch of road where the traffic thinned out, and Mahira leaned forward slightly, her head closer to mine. "So, Ved," she began, her voice more playful now, "do you remember anything yet? Like, maybe you were a professional biker in your past life or something?"

I laughed softly, shaking my head. "No, nothing like that. I don't think I was anything special."

"Don't say that," she replied, her voice suddenly softer. "You might not remember who you were, but that doesn't mean you weren't someone important."

I didn't know how to respond to that. She had a way of speaking as if she believed in me more than I believed in myself. It was disarming, to say the least.

"Thanks," I muttered, feeling a bit awkward but grateful for her words.

We pulled up to the college gates, and Mahira slid off the bike with a graceful hop. I turned off the engine and removed my helmet, running a hand through my hair. She stood in front of me, her face glowing with excitement, as if this simple bike ride had made her entire week.

"Thank you, Ved! You're officially my new favorite chauffeur!" she teased, adjusting her backpack on her shoulder.

I raised an eyebrow. "Chauffeur, huh?"

She winked. "Yup! And guess what? I'm telling all my friends about how cool you are. They're going to be *so* jealous."

I chuckled, shaking my head at her antics. "Well, as long as it makes you happy."

She grinned, her happiness almost tangible. "It does. You have no idea."

Then, with a quick wave, she turned and disappeared into the throng of students rushing into the building.

I watched her go, feeling something stir inside me. Something unfamiliar, yet comforting. Maybe it was her kindness, or maybe it was just the warmth of being around someone like her—someone who seemed to see the good in everything, even in a guy who didn't know his own past.

As I turned the bike around and headed back toward the house, I couldn't shake the feeling that, for the first time in weeks, I wasn't just drifting through a world of strangers. Mahira's world... this world... it was starting to feel a little bit like mine, too.

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