Memories

8

Karthik

Two weeks.

That was how long I'd been away from her. Two weeks of video calls, late-night FaceTime, and sending silly selfies just to make her smile. Switzerland had been a whirlwind—meetings, script discussions, endless formal dinners—but through it all, one thing kept me going: the thought of Shivani 's face the moment I returned.

Tonight was the night.

My flight had landed close to midnight, so I hadn't messaged her. Instead, I wanted to surprise her. The thought of her shocked face, her running into my arms—I could already imagine it, like one of those scenes from our favourite films.

As soon as I reached home, I quickly showered, threw on my grey sweats, and grabbed my car keys. Rahul was half-asleep on the couch, scrolling his phone lazily.

"Where are you going at this hour?" he mumbled.

"To meet Shivani," I whispered with a grin.

He raised an eyebrow. "You just landed and you're running off again?"

"I can't wait till morning," I said.

He just shook his head with a small smile. "Hopeless."

Grinning, I slipped out. The night was quiet, the highway lit only by scattered streetlights. As the cool wind rushed through the half-open window, my thoughts drifted back to the past six months—our stolen kisses, our long walks, the secret moments in crowded festivals, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed.

I pressed harder on the accelerator, eager to see her.

That's when it happened.

A blinding light pierced my eyes, forcing me to squint. It was coming fast—too fast. A truck. Huge. Barrelling straight toward me.

Panic shot through me. I slammed my foot down on the brake—hard. Nothing. The pedal sank uselessly, the brakes not responding.

"Come on, come on!" I muttered desperately, jerking the wheel.

The truck's horn blared, deafening.

A second later, the world exploded. Metal crunched. Glass shattered. My car spun, the force slamming me forward. My head hit the steering wheel, and then the cold, hard road.

Pain seared through me, sharp and merciless. My vision blurred.

Through the haze, I saw them. Two figures. Standing in front of me. I tried to focus, but their faces swam like shadows. I couldn't tell who they were.

My chest heaved, blood trickling into my eyes. My body screamed for relief.

And in that moment, one image filled my mind—Shivani. Her smile. Her laugh. Her warmth. "I'll see you soon..." I whispered, before the darkness pulled me under.

Shivani

I woke up drenched in sweat. My breaths came fast, uneven. My heart pounded so hard I could hear it echo in my ears.

I sat up, wiping my forehead with shaky hands.

It had been a dream. A horrid, terrifying dream. Kar. Blood. Shattered glass. A truck.

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to shake it off. It's just a dream, Shivani. Just a dream.

But the dread clung to me like a shadow.

Reaching for my phone, I checked the time. 2:10 AM. Against every logical thought, I dialled Kar.

It rang. Once. Twice. Then: The number you are trying to reach is not available.

Not reachable.

My chest tightened. I tried again. Same result.

"No, no, no..." I muttered, biting my lip.

Inwardly cursing, I quickly scrolled to Rahul's number and hit call.

He answered groggily. "Shivani? Do you know what time it is?"

"Rahul—where's Kar?" My voice came out sharp, desperate.

"What do you mean?"

"He's not picking up. Where is he?"

"Uh—" Rahul hesitated. "He left to come see you. Said he couldn't wait till morning."

The phone nearly slipped from my hands. My heart plummeted. "What? He hasn't reached here yet!"

Rahul's tone shifted instantly. "Stay calm. I'll find out where he is. Don't panic, okay?"

But how could I not panic?

Pacing my small hostel room, I clutched the phone tight, my fingers trembling. The dread from my dream pulsed stronger now.

Anjali stirred in her bed. "What's going on? Why are you—" She blinked at me, sleepy but concerned. "Shivani? You look like you've seen a ghost."

I turned, tears already brimming in my eyes. "Anjali... I had this dream. Kar... he was in an accident. It felt so real. And now Rahul says he left to meet me but he hasn't reached yet."

Her eyes widened. She sat up quickly. "Hey, hey. Calm down. It's probably nothing. He might have stopped somewhere."

Before I could answer, my phone buzzed again. Rahul.

I snatched it up. "Rahul? Did you find him?"

His voice was low, careful, as if each word weighed a ton. "Shivani, I need you to listen. Don't panic."

My stomach twisted. "Rahul. Tell me."

"There's been... an accident. Karthik's car crashed. He's been admitted to Renai Hospital."

The world tilted. My knees nearly buckled. "What? No. No, no, no." My voice cracked. "I want to see him. Please, Rahul. Please let me see him!"

"Okay," he said gently. "But you'll have to come by the back entrance. Too many reporters are already gathering. Hurry."

My phone slipped slightly in my hand as my breath came out in gasps.

"What happened?" Anjali asked, rushing to my side.

"Karthik's been in an accident," I choked out, my voice trembling. "He's in the hospital. Anjali, I told you... that dream, it felt real. And now—oh my god, it was real."

"Shh," she whispered, pulling me into a hug. "Don't break down now. We'll go. I'll come with you. He's strong, Shivani. He'll be okay."

Her words tried to soothe me, but my mind screamed with fear.

Minutes later, we were in a cab, speeding through the nearly empty streets. The city lights blurred past the window, but all I could see was Karthik's face, pale and broken, just like in my dream.

I clasped my hands together, whispering silent prayers to every god I could think of. "Please. Please keep him safe. Don't take him away from me."

Anjali held my hand tight, her thumb rubbing circles on my skin. "He's going to be fine. He has to be."

But deep inside, fear coiled tighter with every passing second.

And as the hospital's glowing sign came into view, my heart knew—life as I knew it was about to change.