Book - 1 in Eternal Series ✨
In the bustling city of Bangalore, a skilled graphic designer and a thriving entrepreneur unexpectedly meet while organizing a significant event. She's ambitious and always ready for a challenge. He's passionate about h...
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• 32 •
Eight months.
That's how long it had been since Arika had moved to Mumbai, throwing herself into a new job, a new city, a new reality. In these eight months, she had made a name for herself at work trying to make her mark in the new city. She started as a junior graphic designer, but after four months of hard work and dedication, she was promoted to lead her own team of five designers. Though there was still someone above her, she was now responsible for some of the company's big projects.
The projects she worked on had all been a success, and her name had spread across the office. Clients were happy with her designs, and her boss often praised her for her commitment. She had earned a strong position in the company, rising faster than anyone expected.
Despite the praise and recognition that came her way, Arika rarely paid attention to it. Her passion for her work drove her to give her all to every project and design. Yet, beneath that dedication lay another reason for her tireless efforts-keeping her mind occupied to avoid thoughts of Shivansh. As long as she stayed immersed in her tasks, the memories remained at bay. But the moment she paused, they surged back, overwhelming her once again.
The evenings were the worst. After leaving the office and returning to her quiet apartment, she found herself lost in thoughts of him. His laughter, his smile, the way he looked at her-it was all still there, playing in her mind like an endless reel.
Every day for the past few months, she had tried to forget, but nothing worked. Even the smallest things brought memories of him rushing back.
Like the time she had stopped at a golgappa stall. She hadn't thought much of it until the first bite took her back to that day in Bangalore, when she had challenged Shivansh to eat the spiciest golgappa. She remembered how he had tried to act brave but ended up coughing, and how they had shared a moment of laughter that quickly turned into something deeper-had left her breathless.
Now, standing alone in Mumbai, the taste of the golgappa only made her feel emptier.
It wasn't just that day. Every time she ate rajma chawal or aloo paratha, she thought of him. Those were his favourite dishes, and she had stopped eating them altogether because of how much they reminded her of him. She couldn't stand the thought of how happy he had been whenever she cooked them for him, and now the memories felt too heavy to carry.
Even at work, where she couldn't avoid office parties, Arika missed him. Watching her colleagues dance reminded her of the moments she and Shivansh had shared on the dance floor-his hand guiding her waist, his breath warm against her ear. At Vedika's birthday party and the party in Ooty, their closeness had felt so real and full of promise. Now, those memories only brought pain.
And yet, Arika kept going. She continued showing up at work, handling every task with the same focus and determination. But every time she found herself alone, the memories crashed over her like relentless waves, and she found herself drowning in them, deeper than before.
