Memories

13

Shivani
Today, we were out shopping for Fhanna's wedding, and I could feel the tension building already. Karthik had never fully remembered me, not even after all our attempts to jog his memory, and Sonu—ever vigilant—was ready to exploit this.

As soon as we stepped into the first boutique, Sonu was already in full swing. She lingered near Karthik, brushing her hand against his arm with exaggerated playfulness. "Oh Kar! Look at this one! Isn't it gorgeous? You'd look amazing in this colour," she gushed, waving a bright, neon-green kurta.

I clenched my jaw, keeping my voice steady. "Kar, maybe you'd like something softer? Something that really complements your style," I said, holding up a pastel pink kurta.

Karthik glanced from me to Sonu, hesitation flickering in his eyes. Sonu, sensing a shift, tilted her head and pouted. "Softer? Nah, you want to stand out, right? Trust me, this one will get everyone's attention!" She leaned even closer, brushing his shoulder, whispering something that made him chuckle.

I forced a polite smile, refusing to let her antics unnerve me. "Kar, it's your choice. Not hers," I said, trying to sound light, but firm.

Sonu, of course, wasn't done. She started commenting on everything I picked up. "Oh, this one's boring... Kar, look at this, don't listen to her," she teased, tugging at his sleeve. "You know you like bright colours, right? Go bold!"

I gritted my teeth and ignored her, turning back to Karthik. "Just look at what makes you feel good," I murmured.

Karthik's eyes darted between us again, unsure. His hand hovered over the pastel kurta I had picked. Sonu noticed and smirked. "Oh, going with soft pink? Really, Kar? That's so... ordinary," she said in a teasing tone, nudging him slightly. "You want something exciting, right? You don't want to look dull at Fhanna's wedding."

I took a deep breath, holding my patience. "Kar, this is about you, not Sonu. Pick what you like. Please."

For a moment, Karthik looked genuinely conflicted. I could see the small spark of recognition flicker—he didn't remember the memories, but somehow, my presence felt safe and grounding. Sonu, sensing my influence, tried one last tactic. She leaned close to him and said softly, "Don't you want me to pick it for you? I know what looks good on you."

I felt my heart tighten, a rush of irritation and sadness, but I refused to react. Karthik looked at me, and for the first time in this shopping trip, I saw him pause, really look.

"Soft pink... this one?" he murmured quietly, touching the fabric of the kurta I had picked.

Sonu's jaw tightened. "Uh... sure, if you want," she said through gritted teeth, clearly shocked that he wasn't following her lead. She subtly rolled her eyes and tried to distract him with another flashy outfit, but he shook his head firmly.

"Yes, this one," he confirmed, turning to me with a small, almost shy smile. "I... I like this one."

Relief flooded me in an instant, though I hid it behind a composed expression. He had listened to me, despite Sonu's constant manipulations. My heart fluttered at the small victory, a reminder that even without full memories, the bond we had formed was still influencing him.

Sonu, realizing her attempts had failed, backed away slightly, though she didn't leave entirely. She hovered at the edge of the boutique, making quiet, passive-aggressive remarks about the colours, but Karthik didn't respond. He only looked at me, holding the kurta with a gentle, thoughtful expression.

"Good choice, Kar," I whispered, keeping my tone soft and encouraging. "You'll look amazing in that."

He nodded and walked over to the counter to get it, his confidence slowly returning with each step. Even though he didn't remember the memories tied to the kurta, he was beginning to trust my guidance—and that gave me hope that, bit by bit, he would remember more.

Karthik

As I held the kurta Shivani had picked, something inside me stirred. I didn't remember the countless times she had helped me choose outfits before, or the little debates we had about colours and styles, but I felt... calm. Safe. Comfortable. Her choice resonated in a way I couldn't fully explain.

Sonu's voice tried to pierce through my focus, but I ignored it. My attention was entirely on Shivani, her presence grounding me in ways I didn't understand. The flashes of pain and confusion that usually accompanied my attempts to remember her seemed to soften.

"Yeah... this one," I said again, more firmly this time, handing it over to the cashier.

Granny, standing nearby, beamed at me with pride. "Good choice, my child," she murmured, stroking my hair.

After helping Karthik, Granny gently took my hand and led me to a separate section of the store. "Let's find something lovely for you, Shivani," she said, her eyes twinkling. "I think today we need something festive, something that will make Kar see you as the girl he already likes—even if he doesn't remember all the details yet."

We went through rack after rack of kurtas and lehengas, Granny giving gentle advice and teasing me about colours and styles. "This one, my dear, will match his kurta perfectly," she said, holding up a turquoise-blue embroidered kurta. I tried it on, looking at myself in the mirror. The fabric was soft, flowing, and comfortable, and the embroidery picked up hints of the black-and-white colours of Karthik's outfit.

"I love it," I said, smiling. Granny beamed. "Perfect. And I think Kar will love it too. Even if he doesn't remember everything, he'll know it's you."

On the way home, Karthik kept glancing at me, a soft smile on his face. "Thanks for helping me pick this kurta," he said quietly. "It's... comfortable. I like it."

I smiled back, keeping my tone casual. "I'm glad you like it. You'll look amazing at the wedding."

Granny, sitting beside him, squeezed his hand. "And you'll remember more soon, my child. Be patient. Your heart knows what your mind is still learning."

Even with the stress of Sonu's interference, I felt a sense of relief. Karthik was responding to me, slowly but surely, and that was all I needed. We had made progress today, and I was determined to continue helping him regain his memories—one kurta, one accessory, one moment at a time.

As we pulled into the driveway, I glanced at Karthik. Despite the flashes of pain and confusion that still lingered, there was a spark of recognition in his eyes. And for the first time in weeks, I allowed myself to hope.