Shadows of the Past

Chapter 4 Commitment

Rajesh stared at his phone, Jayanthi's message glowing on the screen. His fingers hovered over the keyboard, uncertain of how to respond. After all the closure they had, why would she be coming back? And why now? The message tugged at him, stirring up emotions he thought he had buried.

Neha noticed his silence as they sat together on their couch. She leaned in, her brows furrowed with concern. "Rajesh? You’ve been quiet for a while. Is everything okay?"

Rajesh sighed and put his phone down, turning to her. “Jayanthi just messaged me. She’s coming back soon. She said she wants to talk.”

Neha’s expression shifted, a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. “I thought she was doing well in London. What does she want to talk about?”

“I don’t know. It just feels... odd. Like there’s something unfinished,” Rajesh admitted, running a hand through his hair. “We said our goodbyes. She seemed ready to move on.”

Neha nodded, her voice gentle but probing. “Do you think you’ve moved on from her?”

Rajesh paused, contemplating the weight of that question. He loved Neha, but Jayanthi’s presence had always lingered in the back of his mind like a shadow. He didn’t want to hurt Neha by admitting that part of him hadn’t completely let go.

“I have, Neha,” he said, choosing his words carefully. “But there’s a part of our history that’s hard to forget. You know how much she struggled with being alone. Maybe she’s just having a rough time.”

Neha studied his face for a moment before nodding slowly. “Just... be careful, Rajesh. We’ve been through a lot, and I don’t want the past to come between us.”

Rajesh reached out and took her hand. “I won’t let that happen. You’re my present, and that’s what matters.”

Neha smiled, though a flicker of doubt remained in her eyes. “Okay. But let me know if anything changes.”

A week passed before Rajesh received another message from Jayanthi, confirming her return. They arranged to meet at the same café where they had once met after college. As Rajesh walked into the familiar space, a wave of nostalgia hit him. He spotted Jayanthi sitting at the corner table, just as she had all those months ago.

“Rajesh!” she called out, waving with a broad smile.

He made his way over, feeling a strange mix of anticipation and apprehension. When he sat down, Jayanthi leaned forward, her face lit with excitement. “I’ve missed India so much. London was great, but there’s nothing like being back home.”

Rajesh smiled, though he couldn’t help but notice the energy radiating from her. She looked different—more confident, more at ease. “You seem good, Jayanthi. What’s going on? You said you wanted to talk.”

She sighed, her playful demeanor giving way to something more serious. “I wanted to tell you in person… I’m moving back here, permanently.”

Rajesh blinked, surprised. “You’re leaving London? Why?”

“I realized something while I was there,” she said softly. “I’ve spent so much of my life running from my fears. I thought moving to another country would help me overcome them, but it didn’t. In fact, it made me realize that I don’t need to keep running. I need to confront my past, and that includes you.”

Rajesh’s stomach tightened. “Me?”

Jayanthi nodded. “Rajesh, I know we parted ways, and I thought I was over everything. But the truth is, I never stopped caring about you. I’ve spent so much time wondering if we made the right choice by letting each other go. I don’t want to live with that regret anymore.”

Rajesh’s mind raced. He hadn’t expected this. He thought Jayanthi was moving on with her life, that she had found her path. Now, here she was, reopening the door to a part of his life he thought was closed.

“I don’t know what to say, Jayanthi,” he admitted, his voice quiet. “We’ve both changed. I’m with Neha now. Things are different.”

“I know,” she said quickly, her eyes pleading. “But I can’t help how I feel. I don’t want to disrupt your life, but I needed to be honest. I’m not asking for anything right now. I just… I just needed you to know.”

Rajesh stared at the table, his thoughts a whirlwind. Jayanthi had always been an important part of his life, but he was with Neha now. How could he reconcile his feelings for Jayanthi with the commitment he had made to Neha?