"Ghar chalein?" Armaan asked, his voice soft but tinged with hesitation.
"Abhi?" Abhira looked at him, puzzled. "Weren't we supposed to stay a little longer?"
Armaan sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Well, that was the plan, but something urgent has come up. I need to be at the hospital tomorrow." The guilt in his eyes was unmistakable, as though he feared he had let her down.
Abhira reached across the table, gently placing her hand over his. Her touch was warm and reassuring. "It's okay," she said with a smile. "Besides, I think we should go home anyway. Hume papa se baat karni hogi, right?"
"Baat?" Armaan asked, tilting his head, a hint of confusion flickering in his gaze.
She rolled her eyes playfully. "Don’t tell me you’re backing out from shadi now! I’ve been humming 'Main toh kabse hoon ready taiyaar' for days, and here you are, acting all clueless? Such a bad doctor, Dr. Sahab!" Her teasing tone brought a faint blush to his cheeks.
He chuckled, standing up and extending a hand toward her. "Well, in that case, we absolutely have to go home. Ready for this new adventure?"
"Always and forever, partner," she replied without hesitation, slipping her hand into his.
As they walked hand in hand toward the car, a comforting silence enveloped them. The weight of the past, the uncertainty of the present, and the promise of a future together were all held in that single clasp—a silent vow of trust, love, and partnership.
The car ride back to the city was quiet at first, the rhythmic hum of the engine and the faint patter of rain on the windshield filling the air. Armaan stole occasional glances at Abhira, who sat beside him, her face turned toward the window.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked gently, his voice breaking the silence.
She turned to him, her lips curving into a small smile. “I was just thinking about… us. Everything feels so new, yet so familiar. It’s strange.”
Armaan nodded, his hands tightening around the steering wheel. “It is. But maybe that’s what makes it special. A fresh start, but with the same people.”
Abhira tilted her head, studying him for a moment. “Do you ever wish things were different? That I could remember everything?”
He exhaled deeply, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. “I used to,” he admitted. “I used to think if you got your memories back, we could just pick up where we left off. But now… I realize it’s not about going back. It’s about moving forward. Together.”
Her heart swelled at his words, and she reached out, intertwining her fingers with his. “You always know exactly what to say, don’t you?”
He chuckled, squeezing her hand. “Not always. But when it comes to you, I try my best.”
The rest of the drive passed in comfortable companionship. By the time they reached home, the rain had stopped, leaving the streets glistening under the soft sunlight.
As Abhira pressed the doorbell, the sound echoed faintly inside. Within moments, the door swung open to reveal Abhimanyu, his face lighting up with a wide smile at the sight of them.
“Oh, you two are here! Perfect timing,” he said warmly. “Come in. Make yourselves comfortable; I’ll be back in five minutes.” Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed his keys and left, his smile still intact.
Abhira and Armaan stepped inside, the familiar warmth of home wrapping around them. As they settled in, Abhira turned to Armaan.
“I’ll go change quickly,” she said. “And I’ll find something for you to wear—maybe one of Abhir’s shirts should fit you.”
