ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

50. YOU SCARED ME PLUM

Happy Diwali, everyone! Enjoy to the fullest, but please stay safe. Let's celebrate responsibly and make sure no street animals are harmed.

One month later~

INAAYA'S POV

As I stepped into the office, a wave of nervousness washed over me, much like the feeling I had on my first day here. I couldn't pinpoint why, but a strange unease settled in, stirring up thoughts and emotions I wasn't prepared for.

That morning was overwhelming. I woke to find my entire family surrounding me, each of them reacting in their own way to my recovery.

FLASHBACK

As I slowly opened my eyes, a wave of unease swept over me. A bitter taste settled on my tongue, and a nauseating feeling crept up from the pit of my stomach, making it hard to breathe. My vision was hazy, unable to make out the shapes around me, and my head pounded as if I were trapped in a fog.

The last memory I could summon was of water-surrounding me, pulling me down. Everything beyond that was a blank. I tried to piece it together, but my mind felt like it was moving through sand, every detail just out of reach. Gradually, my vision cleared, and the first thing I noticed was a soft, rhythmic beeping echoing in my ears. I squinted, trying to adjust to the brightness of the room, the sterile white walls coming into focus as I blinked away the last of the blur.

"Inaaya beta," a faint but familiar voice reached my ears, cutting through the fog. That voice... it was filled with so much warmth and relief that, for a brief moment, everything else faded into the background.

As my gaze shifted downward, I saw my entire family gathered around my bed, their faces etched with worry and relief. My mother bent down, grasping my hand in hers, her fingers trembling as tears spilled over her cheeks. She tried to muffle her sobs, but the emotions were too overwhelming, spilling out with each shuddering breath.

"Inaaya, is it hurting somewhere?"

"Are you having trouble breathing?"

"Does your head ache?"

"Tell me, how do you feel?"

Idhant Bhaiya, standing close by, peppered me with questions, his worry spilling over in an endless stream. I barely had a chance to respond before another question came, his concern so intense it was almost tangible. Bhabi gently placed her hand on his arm, her calming presence urging him to pause and let me process everything. The beeping of the monitors, the sterile scent of the hospital, the warmth of their faces-it was overwhelming, but it was comfort.

My father stepped forward, his face full of emotion, and leaned in to place a soft kiss on my forehead.

"Dada," I whispered, my voice weak but full of gratitude for his strength.

"Ohh, mera baccha," he murmured, his words coming out as a whisper. He tried to keep himself composed, but his breath hitched, revealing the weight of his worry.

Then, I looked over at Ishaani. She stood quietly, her lips curving into a gentle, reassuring smile, but her glistening eyes gave her away. She was holding back tears with all her might, offering me the strength she knew I needed right now.

PRESENT

As I stepped out of the elevator, I took a long, steadying breath, bracing myself for what was to come. My heart ached just thinking about it. During the days I was in the hospital, Raghav visited without fail. I had countless video calls with Tanvi, and even people from the company-people I hardly ever spoke to-came by at least once. But he never did.

The absence left a sting I couldn't ignore, like an unspoken wound that hadn't healed. I had spent days wondering why, replaying our last few interactions, hoping for an answer that made sense. And yet, somewhere deep down, I knew why. He wasn't the Ishaan I once knew. He wasn't the boy from high school with the easy laugh and caring eyes. The Ishaan I'd known back then wouldn't have left me feeling so alone.

I tried to tell myself that I'd accepted it-that he was a different person now, shaped by years I wasn't part of. But the hurt lingered, that quiet pain of realizing how much someone could change and how much it hurt to feel like a stranger to someone you once knew so well.

I made my way to my office, but as I reached it, my steps slowed. Through the small window of his door, I saw him hunched over his desk, completely absorbed in his work. Something pulled me toward his cabin-an unspoken need to bridge the chasm that had grown between us. I took a moment to compose myself, steeling my expression, forcing a professional smile to mask the whirlwind of emotions within.

With a deep breath, I knocked on his door.

"Come in," he called out, his voice carrying an edge of indifference. It struck me, sharp and cold, as if I'd walked back into our very first meeting at the office. Gone was the subtle warmth, the softened tone I'd come to notice in our recent conversations. The distance, once carefully bridged, now yawned between us again, vast and unreachable.

I stepped inside, keeping my composure intact, hoping my mask wouldn't slip, that he wouldn't catch a glimpse of how deeply his absence had cut.

"Good morning, sir," I greeted, my voice steady, betraying none of the turmoil within.

He looked up, his gaze locking onto mine. For a moment, his usual composure crumbled, and his eyes widened in what seemed like disbelief. I couldn't place it exactly, but his expression held something-a mix of sadness, longing, perhaps even relief. He sat frozen, his hands still, his mouth parted slightly as if words lingered there, unspoken.

I stood there, equally still, feeling the weight of his gaze settle over me. There was an intensity in his eyes, something that suggested he missed me-missed us. But it didn't make sense. He hadn't come to see me in the hospital, hadn't called, hadn't even let on that he cared. The look in his eyes now only confused me more, stirring up questions I wasn't sure I wanted answers to. Why was he looking at me like this, like I mattered, when his actions had made it so clear that I didn't?

It was as if something clicked in his mind, a shift in his gaze, then in a swift, fluid motion, he was in front of me, his hand gripping mine tightly. Before I could register what was happening, he pulled me close, wrapping me in his arms with a force that left no space between us. His strong arm circled my waist while his other hand cradled my head, pressing me against him as if he couldn't bear to let go. I could feel his heartbeat thundering against my own cheek, wild and desperate, beating at a pace that mirrored my own shock and confusion.

"You scared me, Plum," he whispered in my ear.

Here is the 50th chapter. I hope you guys liked it.

Yes, Inaaya is safe! You all threatened me with chocolate maggie and jam pizza-being a foodie, I didn't want to face that nightmare of a dish, haha.

Maybe Ishaan just needed a push to actually let Inaaya know he's into her, so the accident became that push, hehe.

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

Chapter 51 will come out soon <3