33. Flora

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A few more days passed, and Ovie's restlessness grew by the hour. She was desperate to leave, to fly back abroad where she could bury her feelings and her confusion in the hustle and chaos of her work. Every part of her wanted to escape from this place that was filled with memories and reminders of the things she couldn't face. But Sumbul was still recovering, her health delicate, and Ovie couldn't abandon her sister, no matter how much she wanted to run away.

Ovie knew that Rudr wouldn't support her decision to leave either. He was wholly focused on Sumbul's recovery, his commitment to her unwavering. Ovie could see the concern in his eyes, the silent promise he made to be there for Sumbul in every possible way. There was no way he'd let Ovie leave when Sumbul still needed them both.

So, Ovie stayed. She stayed because she had no other choice. But the days felt long and heavy, like she was merely surviving rather than living. Her heart wasn't in this place anymore. She felt trapped in a cycle of unending thoughts and unanswered questions, constantly haunted by Amyardh's indifferent gaze at the Gurudwara, by the way he had walked past her as if she didn't exist.

She spent her days in silence, moving through her routines like a ghost in her own home. She would sit by Sumbul's side, smile when necessary, talk when prompted, but her mind was miles away. Every time she glanced at her phone, she fought the urge to book a flight, to leave everything behind and run to a place where she could forget how Amyardh's eyes had looked right through her, how he'd walked away without a single word.

Ovie would find herself in her room late at night, staring out at the moon, her constant companion in these sleepless hours. She wondered if things would ever go back to the way they were, if she'd ever be able to look at Amyardh without feeling that sharp sting of regret and longing. She wondered if she'd ever stop replaying the memories of that night when they'd been so close, only for him to now act like it meant nothing.

Her nights were filled with restless dreams, where Amyardh's face would flicker in and out, his eyes cold and distant. She would wake up feeling empty, her chest aching with a hollow pain that she couldn't shake off. No matter how much she tried to convince herself that she was over it, that she didn't care anymore, the truth was, she did. She cared too much, and that was what hurt the most.

The only time Ovie found a semblance of peace was when she was with Sumbul. Even in her pain, Ovie couldn't deny how her sister's smile lit up her world, how seeing Sumbul laugh with Rudr gave her a flicker of hope that things could get better. Watching them together was the only thing that made Ovie's days bearable.

One evening, as she sat in the garden watching Rudr and Sumbul from a distance, she saw something that made her chest tighten. Rudr reached out and gently held Sumbul's hand as they talked, his thumb brushing over her knuckles.

Ovie felt a strange mixture of joy and sorrow. She couldn't help but feel a pang of loneliness. She envied the way Rudr looked at Sumbul, the way his entire world seemed to revolve around her. And as she watched them, Ovie couldn't help but think of Amyardh. The more she tried to convince herself that it didn't matter, that she was better off without him, the more she realized that she was lying to herself.

The days dragged on, each one blending into the next, filled with the same hollow routine. Ovie's heart wasn't in it, but she forced herself to smile for Sumbul's sake, to be present for Rudr, to pretend like she was okay when, in reality, she was anything but. She kept her pain locked away, hidden behind a mask of indifference, not letting anyone see the turmoil that raged within her.

Despite the turmoil in her heart, Ovie gave her best to her work. She knew that even if her personal life felt like it was in shambles, she couldn't afford to let it affect her professional life. She threw herself into her shooting contracts and ad campaigns. Her face remained composed, her smile unwavering, as she delivered her best on camera, moving through each scene with the grace and poise that had made her a star.

The industry had welcomed her back with open arms, and her fame had skyrocketed to a level she hadn't anticipated. Every project she touched seemed to turn to gold. Her name was on everyone's lips-magazines featured her on their covers, brands competed to have her as their ambassador, and the media buzzed with stories of her triumphant return.

But no matter how busy her schedule became, no matter how many accolades she received, there was still a hollow feeling inside her that all the fame in the world couldn't fill. The cameras might have captured her flawless smile, but they could never see the sadness that lingered in her eyes, the loneliness that shadowed her every move.

Yet, there was one thing that brought a genuine smile to Ovie's face amidst the chaos-those flowers. From the moment she had landed in Mumbai, she had been receiving them, day after day, without fail. A fresh bouquet of the most beautiful flowers, delivered to her doorstep without a note or a sender's name.

Ovie didn't know who the anonymous sender was, but the gesture touched her deeply. Those flowers became a small but significant reminder that someone out there was thinking of her, acknowledging her in a way that was both tender and thoughtful. In a world where everyone seemed to demand something from her, these flowers felt like a gift given without any expectations.

Each time she saw the bouquet waiting for her, her heart would lift just a little, a warmth spreading through her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time

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Each time she saw the bouquet waiting for her, her heart would lift just a little, a warmth spreading through her chest that she hadn't felt in a long time. She would gently run her fingers over the soft petals, breathing in the subtle fragrance, wondering who could be behind such a gesture. Sometimes, in her quieter moments, she allowed herself to imagine that it was Amyardh-imagined that maybe he cared enough to send her these silent tokens of affection, even if he couldn't face her in person.

But then reality would hit, and she would remind herself that Amyardh had walked away from her in the Gurudwara. He didn't look back, didn't acknowledge her presence. The thought was bittersweet, but Ovie clung to the hope that whoever was sending these flowers saw her for who she was, not just as a star but as a person with all her vulnerabilities.

Ovie's days became a mix of grueling work schedules and quiet evenings spent wondering about the anonymous sender. The bouquets continued to arrive like clockwork, each one just as beautiful as the last. The simple act of receiving them was enough to make her feel less alone.

Sometimes, she would sit in her living room late at night, the flowers in a vase on the table beside her, their fragrance filling the air. She'd stare at them, letting their beauty soothe her mind, thinking about the mystery person who seemed to understand her unspoken need for a little joy in her life. She would smile to herself, the kind of smile that didn't reach her eyes but was genuine in its own way-a smile that was grateful, even if tinged with a bit of sadness.

As the days passed, Ovie began to realize that these flowers were not just gifts; they were a reminder that she mattered to someone, that her existence wasn't lost in the world's chaos. She found a sliver of solace in knowing that at least one person out there saw her, cared for her, and wanted to brighten her day, no matter how anonymously. She felt like she was worth the effort, worth the love.

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A very very happy new year 🎊 reader's.

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