Love's Gentle Embrace

The Diary of Lost Time: Noor's Forgotten Connection

She close the door softly behind her and walked toward the desk where Ruhaan's diary lay, untouched since she'd left. Her fingers trembled slightly as she picked it up again, flipping through the pages with a mix of anticipation and nervousness. The storm outside seemed to mirror the swirl of emotions inside her.

The sound of the rain falling outside was soft but steady, tapping against the glass windows in a familiar rhythm that always brought her peace. Rain had always been her favorite—its gentle whispers of calm wrapping around her like an old friend. But tonight, as she pulled the blanket tighter around herself, the rain wasn't enough to silence the growing questions in her mind.

Ruhaan's brother, Mr. Rashid—why had no one ever spoken about him? And how could she not remember anything about her childhood with Ruhaan.

As Noor settled onto the bed, the pages fell open to the next entry. She hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was really ready to dive deeper into Ruhaan's world. But something within her pushed her forward, the same pull that had brought her to this moment.

She sighed, her mind tangled with thoughts. But instead of waiting for answers to come on their own, Noor flipped open the diary, her heart racing slightly as she found the page where she had left off.

Diary Entry:

"I played with Noor that day, and I remember liking her company more than I thought I would. She was different—gentle but full of energy. I told Dadujaan, her grandfather Mr. Suleman, to bring her more often so we could play together. I never imagined that one incident would take her so far away from me that I wouldn't be able to see her."

Noor's eyes scanned the page faster, her chest tightening as she felt an unease growing. She turned to the next entry.

"One month after my birthday, Noor started coming to visit us occasionally, and we grew close. Every time she arrived, I found myself looking forward to it, like a part of me needed to be near her. Then one day, it rained. I didn't know then how much she loved the rain, but that afternoon, I learned."

"We were playing in the backyard. The swimming pool had been drained for cleaning, so it was completely empty. When the rain started, Noor's face lit up like I had never seen before. She ran through the wet grass, her hair sticking to her face, her laughter echoing in the garden. I remember thinking she looked like a flower blooming in the rain—so delicate, yet full of life. I started chasing her, playing along, both of us soaked and carefree."

"But then it happened."

Noor's fingers trembled slightly as she turned the page, dread creeping into her stomach.

"I slipped near the edge of the pool. It all happened so fast. I tried to steady myself, but I couldn't find my balance. Noor, always so kind, reached out to help me, grabbing my hand to pull me back toward the grass. But in her attempt to save me, her foot slipped. I watched in horror as she fell backward into the empty pool."

"The sound of her head hitting the concrete bottom is something I will never forget. There was so much blood, it felt like the world around me froze. I remember staring down at her from the edge of the pool, too shocked to move. And then, everything went black—I must have fainted."

Noor stopped, her heart pounding. The rain outside felt louder now, as if the storm was building within her. She stared at the page, trying to process what she had just read.

Had this really happened? Had she fallen? That would explain the scar on her head, the one she had always thought came from some accident she couldn't remember. But how could something so important—so traumatic—be completely erased from her memory? She didn't know what to feel—guilt, sadness, confusion.