ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

49. DRENCHING INTO OBLIVION

ISHAAN'S POV

I sat on the playground of my old school, a place that once held so much life and familiarity. Now, it felt like I was walking through someone else's memories. I'd seen a picture of this place in the diary, an old photo that told me I used to study here. It was just one more thread to follow as I pieced together a past I couldn't remember. I remember being here recently with Inaaya, just a few months ago, when I was invited as a guest. I remember her looking at me that day, a strange expression in her eyes-something between hurt and longing . I hadn't understood it then, but now, I can see what she felt. She didn't know about my memory loss at that time; she must have thought I remembered everything. I remember her saying she'd had only one friend, and that friend was me. It must have been crushing for her, standing there, talking to someone who looked the same but couldn't recognize her pain, couldn't acknowledge the memories we had shared. Her words feel heavier now, loaded with meaning I couldn't grasp back then. She was in pain, and I didn't know.

I've been trying to visit every place I can think of, every location I see in the photos or read about in that diary. I go there hoping to trigger something-some memory or feeling that might pull back the curtain of my forgotten past. All I have left are these memories, fragments of a life I can't even truly call mine. They're the last link I have to Inaaya, the last connection to who I once was. But it's almost unbearable, knowing that the memories I need to hold onto... are ones I don't even remember.

I looked down at the open diary, the title on the page reading "Sports Day." Beneath the heading were four photos spread across two pages, each one capturing a moment I could only guess at. I picked up the diary, my fingers lingering on the edges of the pages as I focused on the first picture. There we were, sitting on the playground in our school uniforms, a moment frozen in time. Inaaya's hair was tied back in her usual ponytail, her glasses perched on her nose. Her eyes were closed, but her mouth stretched into a wide, joyful smile, radiating the happiness she felt in that moment. I had a gold medal around my neck, biting it playfully, one eye open and the other scrunched shut.

The next photo showed us standing, with two medals hanging around my neck now-one gold, one bronze. I was towering over her, my left arm draped over her shoulder, and she was holding up a peace sign with her right hand. I chuckled softly as I took it in, realizing just how much taller I was than her, even back then. My "plum"-she'd always had that adorable charm. The memory, or what I could piece together from it, tugged at something deep within me. She had always been right there, beaming beside me, filling those moments with her warmth. Looking at these photos, it felt almost as if she were here with me, just like she had been in those memories I couldn't fully grasp but desperately wanted to hold on to.

My chuckle faded, giving way to a silence that felt almost deafening. Reality hit, cold and sharp, dragging me to a darkness I never wanted to face. It wasn't just sadness or regret; it was a gnawing, hollow emptiness that pulled at every corner of my being. The weight of it settled in, so heavy that it felt like I was sinking, sinking into something vast and unrelenting, something I couldn't climb out of.

I didn't know what to do. How could I escape this? The memories I'd been trying to hold onto felt like distant stars, too far to reach, slipping further away as the shadows crept in. The idea of being stuck here, in this emptiness, forever-without her-was unbearable. A lump formed in my throat, tight and aching, as if it was trying to contain every unspoken word, every lost moment I never had the chance to remember. She had been my light, my anchor, even in the moments I'd forgotten. And now, without her, I was just adrift, lost in a darkness that seemed endless.

The sorrow gripping me shifted, heating into a raw, uncontainable rage-every nerve alive with fury toward the man who'd hurt her, my Inaaya. How dare he lay a finger on her. Without wasting another moment, I snatched up my phone, dialing Mr. Suryavanshi, the man I'd assigned to track down Niraj. With years of expertise and a company dedicated to unearthing the most elusive of men, he was my best chance.

After three tense rings, he finally answered.

"Any information, Mr. Suryavanshi?" I said, going straight to the point, as I was impatient.

"My men are looking into it, Mr. Shekhawat. Considering the fact that the car has no number plate, it's not going to be an easy task," he answered.

A surge of frustration tore through me at Mr. Suryavanshi's words. "No number plate? So he planned this...down to the last detail," I muttered, gripping the phone tightly.

"Yes. We're working with every lead we have, including tracking similar vehicle models and scrutinizing security footage in the area. It's just a matter of time," he assured me, though his calmness only fanned the flames of my anger.

"Time," I echoed bitterly. "Every moment that he's out there, breathing free, is an insult to her suffering."

For a fleeting moment, doubt crept in, making me second-guess my decision to entrust Mr. Suryavanshi with the task of finding Niraj, especially given that Niraj was his father-in-law. But then I reminded myself of their relationship; it was anything but amicable. Mr. Suryavanshi despised the man, and that animosity was more than enough reason to believe he wouldn't be aiding him. I needed to focus on the task at hand, trusting that he would do everything in his power to help me locate Niraj and ensure justice for Inaaya.

"We'll get him, Mr. Shekhawat," Suryavanshi replied firmly.

I ended the call without another word, the weight of helplessness pressing heavily on my chest. He hurt her, shattered her spirit. I promised myself, he wouldn't walk away from this.

I lay on the ground, burdened by a heavy heart, and closed my eyes, seeking solace in the stillness. Soon, a droplet from the sky landed on my forehead, quickly followed by another. I opened my eyes to find the sun still shining brightly, creating a rare and beautiful juxtaposition of sunlight and rain. In a hurried motion, I tucked the diary into my pocket, protecting it from the downpour.

As the rain intensified, I remained still, despite my aversion to it. Instead, I surrendered to the moment, allowing the rain to wash over me, each drop a reminder of my sorrow. I closed my eyes again, and memories of her flooded my mind-her laughter, her smile, the way she lit up a room. A tear slipped from my closed eyes, mingling with the rain cascading down my cheeks.

The ache in my heart grew unbearable, and a sob escaped my lips, followed by another. I lost control, letting the weight of my grief pour out in tandem with the rain, each shuddering breath a testament to the pain of her absence. In that moment, I was both vulnerable and free, the storm outside mirroring the tempest within me.

Here is the 49th chapter. I hope you guys liked it.

Oh yes, Niraj has kids, and I am going to write their books. This means you will get Mr. Suryavanshi's book. My series, 'Mohabbat-e-Dilkashi', is about them.

Show some love by voting ,commenting and following me. It motivates me a lot. Do tell me your thoughts on this chapter

Chapter 50 will come out soon <3