Ruhi’s POV
I couldn’t stop staring at the photo.The words echoed again and again in my head. You remembered faster than I expected.
Who was he?
And why did it feel like I had torn something out of my own past?
Then the smell hit me.
Damp. Cold. Metallic.
My stomach twisted violently.
Before I could stop myself, I ran toward the bathroom. I could hear my family calling my name behind me, their voices overlapping, worried but they felt far away.
I gripped the edge of the sink, breathing hard, my reflection pale and unfamiliar.
And then
The image came without warning.
A wall. Grey. Cracked.
I was small.
So small that my feet didn’t touch the ground when I sat.
Didn't cry.
The words didn’t echo in my head.
They echoed in my bones.
“Ruuh?”
Aayansh’s voice pulled me back to the present.
I shook my head frantically, tears blurring my vision. “I…I don’t remember,” I whispered. “I swear I don’t.”
He didn’t push. He didn’t question. He simply guided me out of the bathroom and made me sit on the sofa.
Everyone was there.
Watching me with the same fear I felt clawing through my chest.
Badi maa came forward quietly and placed a glass of water in my hands. I gulped it down, my fingers shaking so badly some of it spilled.
Rishabh bhai sat beside me and rested his hand gently on my head.
“Don’t stress yourself,” he said softly. “The doctor said to rest. Don’t force your mind.”
But my hands wouldn’t stop trembling.
I couldn’t distract myself.The images kept replaying.
Everything.
I pressed my palms over my ears. “Stop,” I begged. “Please… stop.”
Another flash.
A shadow near the door.Not the woman.Someone else.
Someone kneeling beside me.
Whispering.
Stay quiet. I’ll come back.
I gasped sharply.
“There was someone,” I breathed, my voice barely audible. “I… I wasn’t always alone.”
Aayansh didn’t say a word.
He just pulled me closer, holding me tighter.
And somewhere deep inside my mind
Something unlocked.
Pain exploded through my head. I clutched my ears harder, trying to block out the noise, the memories, but it only got worse.
“Ruhi, stop, don't force it,” Rishabh bhai said urgently.
Aayansh held me from the other side. “Calm down, Ruuh. Please.”
But I couldn’t.I was already gone.
A boy stood in front of me.A little older than I was.
“Doll,” he said softly, crouching down to my level. “Don’t worry. I’ll take you away from here.”
My chest tightened painfully.
“You and I will always stay together,” he promised. “Just wait for me.”
My head felt like it was splitting open.
The room around me blurred. Voices overlapped, fading in and out, like I was underwater.
“Ruhi… Ruuh… look at me.”
Hands held me from both sides warm, grounding.
Aayansh. Rishabh bhai.
But I wasn’t there anymore.
I was back in that place.
The boy wasn’t a shadow now.Not a blur.
He was real.
Taller than me, but his eyes were gentle. Worried.
“Doll,” he said again.
That word made my chest ache.
He wiped my face with the corner of his sleeve. “Don’t cry. Please. If they hear you”
He stopped, swallowing hard.
“I’ll take you away from here,” he whispered urgently. “Okay? Just wait for me.”
Little me shook her head, sobbing. “They’ll lock me again.”
Something dark flashed across his face, not anger at me, but at the world.
“No one is touching you again,” he said fiercely. “I swear.”
“I’ll come back,” he promised again. “No matter what.”
The memory cracked.
Pain tore through my skull and I screamed, clutching my head.
“STOP!” My voice broke between past and present.
The image shattered.
I collapsed forward, gasping for breath.
“Ruhi!”
Aayansh caught me instantly, wrapping his arms around me, pulling my head against his chest.
“You’re here,” he said urgently. “You’re safe. Look at me.”
Rishabh bhai knelt in front of me, his eyes filled with fear and something worse.
Regret.
“Ruhi,” he asked hoarsely, “what did you see?”
Tears streamed down my face.
“There was a boy,” I whispered. “He… he tried to save me.”
The room went completely silent.
“He called me a doll,” I continued, shaking. “He promised he’d come back.”
My fingers curled into Aayansh’s shirt like my life depended on it.
“I forgot him,” I sobbed. “I forgot the only person who didn’t hurt me.”
Aayansh held me tighter.
“You didn’t forget,” he said softly. “You survived.”
Bade papa stood slowly.
His face had gone pale, almost haunted.
“There was someone,” he murmured. “Back then… Baba mentioned a boy. Someone who tried to interfere.”
My heart skipped violently.
“What?” I whispered.
Before anyone could answer
My phone buzzed.
Once.I didn’t need to look.I already knew.
UNKNOWN:
You remembered me.
My blood ran cold.
UNKNOWN:
Took you long enough, doll.
I stared at the screen, my hands shaking.
And for the first time I wasn’t just scared.
I was angry.Because deep down, I knew He hadn’t broken his promise.
He had been watching all along.
Another vibration.
My phone buzzed again in my trembling hand.
UNKNOWN:
So you remember me, doll.
Then let’s meet.
This time I’ll come to the same place.
I’ll wait for you.
Don’t disappoint me again.
5 PM.
My heartbeat thundered in my ears.
Without letting myself think too much, I typed back
Me:
Okay.
The moment I lowered my phone, I realized everyone was staring at me.
Concern. Fear. Questions they were scared to ask.
“Ruhi,” Rishabh bhai said carefully, stepping closer. “You don’t have to go if you’re not ready.”
I shook my head slowly. “It’s fine, bhai. I need to go.”
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
“I need to thank him,” I said honestly. “For helping me back then. And…” my voice faltered for a second, “…I need answers. About Papa.”
Rishabh bhai held my gaze for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. But remember whatever happens, we’re all with you.”
“Hm,” I nodded.
Then my eyes found Aayansh.
He was standing slightly away from everyone, his face calm but I knew him too well. His jaw was tight. His shoulders are stiff. He wanted to say something. A hundred things.He just didn’t know how.
I walked toward him and took his hand, squeezing it gently.
“I’ll go rest for a bit,” I told everyone.
Chachi immediately said, “I’ll send something to eat to your room.”
Everyone agreed, though no one looked relieved.
Aayansh didn’t let go of my hand as we walked upstairs.
In My Room
He made me sit on the bed, careful, like I was made of glass. Then he sat beside me.
Silence settled between us.
Not awkward. Just heavy.
I could feel his thoughts screaming even though his lips stayed shut.
“Ansh,” I called softly.
He looked at me instantly.
“Will you come with me today?” I asked. “To meet him.”
He blinked. “Me?” He pointed at himself, surprised.
I nodded. “Yes.”
His expression cracked just a little.
“I love you, Aansh,” I added quietly. “Don’t overthink, okay?”
A faint smile tugged at his lips small, but real. He pulled me into his arms without a word, holding me tightly, like he was afraid letting go might change everything.
After a moment, he pulled back slightly and said softly, “How do you always know what’s going on in my head?”
I smiled faintly. “You can lie to the world. You can put on that blank, cold face for everyone else,” I said, touching his cheek. “But not with me. I can tell even from your silence.”
His eyes softened.
“I just want to thank him,” I continued. “And… say sorry. For not remembering him. Even if I don’t remember everything yet.”
I swallowed. “But one thing I know for sure I’m not leaving you. Ever.”
That did it.He smiled fully this time.
“I love you, Ruuh,” he said, his voice steady but full of emotion.
Then, after a beat, he added, “I’ll come with you.”
I looked at him.
“I need to thank him too,” Aayansh said quietly. “For being there for you… when I wasn’t.”
I leaned into his shoulder, closing my eyes.
Whatever waited for us at 5 PM
I wouldn’t face it alone.
And neither would he.
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