ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

39. COME KNOW PLUM

ISHAAN'S POV

I hurriedly exited the elevator, my steps quick and purposeful as I headed towards my cabin. Each thud of my feet against the floor echoed the rapid beating of my heart, pounding relentlessly against my rib cage. The nervousness that had started in my chest seemed to crawl upward, tightening its grip as it lodged itself in my throat, making each breath I took feel longer and heavier. My mind raced just as fast as my footsteps, trying to keep pace with the overwhelming sense of unease that filled me.

"It's okay. She didn't notice anything," I tried to reassure myself.

 But my heart refused to settle. I entered my cabin, standing in front of my desk for a few moments, letting the frustration build. Then, in a burst of anger, I slammed my fist down on the table with all my might.

"How could I? How could I lose control like that?!" I berated myself, furious at how easily I'd let things slip. My breath grew heavier, chest rising and falling as the pounding in my heart intensified. I was angry—angry at myself for failing to keep it together when I needed to the most.

FLASHBACK (The day after he yelled at Inaaya) 

I woke up from a restless sleep, worked out, took a cold shower—none of it helped. Nothing could shake the weight of what I did yesterday. I yelled at her. Seriously? Is your self-control that weak, Ishaan? My inner voice taunted me, and with each passing minute, its echo grew louder, pounding in my ears. By the time I left work yesterday, guilt had already consumed me. I thought maybe sleep would ease the burden, but it only made things worse. I shouldn't have lost my temper. It was a mistake, clearly. But my mind, clouded with all the mess surrounding Niraj, made me lash out at her.

It's Sunday today, but I still have a mountain of work to get through. I need to discuss business with Raaj, among other things, so heading to the office is inevitable. After getting ready, instead of going straight to the office, I headed to the storeroom where some old files from the previous CEO's term were stored. I needed to see if there was anything—any deal between the old management and Niraj Agnihotri—that could now be used against us.

I entered the storeroom, the dim light flickering on as I began my search. I sifted through various shelves, but none of the files I was looking for seemed to be here. My eyes landed on a cardboard box tucked away in a corner, slightly worn but catching my attention nonetheless. Maybe it held something important.

Opening the carton, I didn't find any files. Instead, there were countless white envelopes stacked neatly inside. I pulled one out, feeling the unmistakable weight of letters within. As I lifted the others, more envelopes revealed themselves—dozens, if not more. At the bottom of the box lay a diary, its cover partially hidden beneath the letters.

For some unknown reason, the sight of it sent a jolt through me, my heart quickening. I picked it up, feeling its weight in my hands, and noticed it was covered in plum-shaped paper. Scribbled across the front cover were the words, "COME KNOW PLUM."