Marked By Darkness

Chapter 70- Curiosity

Ruhan's POV...

We sat down for dinner in the soft glow of the dining room light. The meal I'd made wasn't perfect, but it was enough. I could feel the weight of the silence between us, the unresolved tension that hung in the air. Ruhi picked at her food, her thoughts somewhere far away. I could sense she was still processing everything-the curse, the betrayal, and now, all the things I had been keeping from her. But I didn't know how to break through that wall she had built around herself.

"So, tell me about your friends," she asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

I glanced up from my plate, surprised by the question. I hadn't expected her to be curious about my life, but I guess it was a good way to shift the mood. I leaned back in my chair and thought for a moment.

"I have two friends who've been with me since childhood," I said, trying to keep my tone light. "Elijah and James."

She raised an eyebrow, clearly confused. "How? You told me you left the bungalow... how can they still be your friends?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how much I should say. "Elijah and I studied together abroad. We've known each other for years. As for James, he studied in another city, but we've kept in touch."

Ruhi blinked, processing my words. "So... like us," she said, and I couldn't help but pause at the suddenness of her statement.

I looked at her, slightly taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Ruhi quickly corrected herself, her cheeks turning a little red. "I mean, like me, Esha, and Anshi," she said with a small, awkward laugh. "Your friends are like how we are-close and always there for each other."

"Yeah, maybe," I said, nodding slowly. I could tell she wasn't used to talking about her relationships with people, but she was opening up, even if it was in small pieces.

"Anshi is your childhood friend, right?" I asked.

Ruhi gave a soft nod, her eyes downcast. "Yes. She's been my friend since before the accident. At least, that's what she told me. But... I can't remember anything before the accident. It's like a blank space in my mind."

I felt a pang of sympathy for her. "No problem. Don't push yourself too hard to remember. Sometimes, it's better to let those memories come naturally."

Ruhi shook her head slightly, like she was trying to shrug off the weight of her lost memories.

I leaned in slightly, curious to hear more. "What about Esha?"

"Esha's my college friend. We became close there," she said with a small smile. "She's been there for me through a lot."

I nodded, understanding. "And what about Neil and Arav?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

Ruhi's expression softened as she thought about her friends. "I got to know Neil and Arav through Esha. Neil's really helpful, always there for me."

I was intrigued. "Is Neil like Anshika?" I asked, a little more curious now.

Ruhi's eyes met mine, her gaze steady. "Yes," she said simply. "Neil loves her. Anshi likes him too, but she doesn't show it. She's always told me about her crush, but she's never gone into a relationship with anyone. She always cares about Neil's feelings."

I nodded slowly, feeling a mix of admiration for Anshika and curiosity about their situation. "And what about Arav?"

Ruhi sighed, her expression softening. "Esha and Arav have been in a relationship since college. They keep patching things up after their breakups, but it always happens."