Enjoy reading 🤗.

Author's POV-

The air around her turned heavier with every passing second.

Ekakshi’s breath came in ragged pulls as she stood frozen in the corridor, her eyes still wide from what she had just witnessed. Her heartbeat, which had already been thundering inside her chest, now echoed in her ears. The mole… the mole on Rivaan’s hand. It was the exact same spot, the same shape—an anchor to a forgotten memory. And just like that, the fragile illusion of normalcy began to crack around her.

She turned and ran, footsteps barely registering on the marble flooring as her trembling legs carried her to her room. Slamming the door shut behind her, she leaned against it, chest heaving. Her fingers shook uncontrollably as she tore open cupboards, flung open drawers, scattering clothes, books, and trinkets in her frantic desperation. Her room, once pristine, now resembled the chaos inside her mind.

“Where is it… it has to be here!” she muttered under her breath.

Her breath caught as another realization hit her. She wasn’t in Delhi. She wasn’t in Sikar. This was Jaipur.

Her eyes darted towards her bag. She rushed to it, pulling out her laptop, fingers clumsily punching in her password. The familiar desktop screen blinked alive, and she instantly navigated to the old folder - titled “DHUNDLI YAADEIN”

She had nearly forgotten that it existed. Pictures from her teenage days. Faint, blurry snapshots of moments that she had forgotten long ago.

The folder opened.

Dozens of pictures flashed across the screen—some of her playing with her brothers, some with ananya, some solo shots of her dancing, and some blurred captures from school functions.

But then… she stopped.

A picture.

HER.

On a bike.

Sitting behind a guy wearing a helmet. Her arms loosely circled around his waist, and they both looked… happy. Radiantly happy.

And there it was.

THE MOLE.

On his hand, clearly visible where the shirt sleeve had rolled up.

'Ruhh and Aan' written at the bottom of the picture.

Her hand flew to her mouth, stifling a sob that escaped.

Tears rolled down her cheeks, hot and unrelenting. Her body shook with the force of memories she couldn’t grasp, of emotions she couldn’t explain.

She clutched the laptop to her chest for a moment, then stood up, determination carving its way through the fog of confusion.

She needed answers.

And there was only one person who could give them.

🥀

Ronav was sprawled across his bed, earphones in, idly flipping through his phone when his door burst open. He sat upright instantly.

“Ekakshi?” he asked, alarmed.

Her eyes were bloodshot, lips quivering, hair a mess, and her entire body trembling.

“What happened? Are you okay?” he rushed to her.

She didn’t answer.

Instead, she pushed the laptop into his hands, opened to that one photograph. Her voice cracked as she asked:

“Do I know Rivaan from before?”

Ronav froze.

His throat ran dry. His mind began to race.

"Is he the same one to whom I see in my dreams referred as Aan?" She asked again but didn't get any answers in return.

"Is he the same who unknowingly heal me from those nightmares?"

“Ekakshi… listen—”

"ANSWER ME!” she shouted, her voice full of pain, of hurt, of confusion.

Ronav closed his eyes, inhaled deeply. “Yes,” he finally said. “You do.”

Her knees buckled slightly but she steadied herself.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

He stepped forward, trying to calm her, but she stepped back.

“You knew, bhai. You knew and you kept this from me.”

“I didn’t want to hide it from you,” he said quickly, “but I couldn’t tell you either.”

“Why?” she asked, almost pleading now. “Why didn’t you think I deserved to know?”

Ronav ran a hand through his hair, overwhelmed.

“Because I promised him I wouldn’t,” he said softly.

Ekakshi blinked. “Promised who?”

“Rivaan.”

Her lips parted in disbelief.

“He knew?”

Ronav nodded slowly.

“When we first arrived in Jaipur, and he saw you… he panicked as the same as you are doing right now. He asked why you left her despite of those promises. I told him. I told him everything. About your accident. The coma. The memory loss. And that you didn’t remember anything about your time with him.”

She stared at him, numb.

“But why didn’t he…?”

“Because he didn’t want to force you to remember,” Ronav said gently. “He wanted you to fall in love with him again. Not because of the past. But for who he is now. For who you are now.”

A sharp gasp escaped her lips.

“He said… he said he didn’t want to burden you with a love that only he remembered. He wanted to start fresh, Ekakshi. A clean slate. With you.”

Tears streamed down her cheeks again.

“He waited all these years for you,” Ronav continued, his voice now heavy with emotion. “He tried to find you. He searched for you madly. In the UK. In Rajasthan. He didn’t even know you were a princess or that you were recovering in a coma.”

Ekakshi crumbled to the floor, unable to hold the storm inside any longer.

“I didn’t know… I didn’t know why I was so drawn to him,” she whispered. “Why every time he looked at me, my heart skipped. Why his voice sounded like a forgotten song.”

“Because your soul remembered,” Ronav said, sitting beside her. “Even if your mind didn’t.”

She looked at him, anguish swirling in her gaze.

“I feel like I’ve wronged him…”

“No,” Ronav said immediately. “You haven’t. He never expected anything from you. In fact, he was scared he’d ruin what you both were slowly building. But I saw it, Ekakshi. The way you look at him. That spark. That confusion… it wasn’t just yours. He was just as overwhelmed. Just as scared.”

“He’s in love with me?” she whispered.

“He never stopped,” Ronav replied.

Ekakshi closed her eyes, the weight of years crashing down on her shoulders. The past, the present, the memories—both known and forgotten—weaved a tapestry of heartbreak, healing, and hope.

“Thank you,” she whispered after a long pause, her voice barely audible. “For telling me.”

Ronav smiled faintly. “I wanted to. Every time I saw you with him, laughing, fighting, smiling, I wanted to scream it out. But Rivaan’s eyes... they held too much fear. Too much hope. He wasn’t ready to lose you again.”

A long silence followed.

Then Ekakshi stood, slowly, wiping her tears.

“I need to see him,” she said.

Ronav nodded, his voice thick with emotion. “Go. And maybe… let your heart speak now. Let it remember the love it once knew.”

The moment Ronav’s words echoed in her mind—*“He is your love, Ekakshi... your Rivaan loved you madly, still does”—*something within her shifted. Her pulse roared in her ears as her heart pounded against her ribcage, louder than anything around her. The warmth of Ronav’s truth had collided with the cold confusion that had been clouding her for weeks.

She didn’t wait another second. Tears still wetting her cheeks, she stumbled out of his room, not even knowing where she was heading but her feet moved on instinct alone—she needed to see Rivaan. Now.

As she reached the hallway, slightly breathless, she stopped and turned to a passing helper—her voice urgent but shaking, “Rivaan... ka room... please?”

The elderly worker looked at her concerned but nodded, and led her towards his room.

Her heartbeat increased with every step she took.

🥀

Rivaan was pacing the floor, phone pressed to his ear, voice laced with frustration.

“No, damn it! I said I don’t want any interference right now, I’ll handle it on my own. This isn’t about business for once. It’s personal!”

He cut the call sharply, running a hand through his hair in exasperation, chest rising and falling with the weight of emotions he was trying to contain.

And then—he felt it.

The door creaked open gently, the softest whisper of movement. He turned, ready to tell whoever it was to give him a moment. But the words died on his tongue.

Ekakshi.

And not the confident, witty drama queen he’d fallen in love with all over again—but a trembling, broken girl standing at his threshold, her cheeks red and streaked with tears, her breath shallow and body swaying with overwhelming emotions.

“Ekakshi?” he rushed forward, panic rising.

His hands gently cupped her face, fingers trembling. “What happened? Are you hurt? Did someone say something? Should I call the doctor?”

She shook her head, her eyes locking into his with a depth he hadn’t seen before. And then—she whispered, voice cracking:

"Aan..."

His entire body stiffened. The world stopped.

He pulled away slightly, his voice hesitant. “W–What did you say?”

Her lips quivered. “That’s what I used to call you... right? Aan...”

"Bhai told me everything about you and our relationship."

His legs gave out.

He sank to his knees in front of her, arms wrapping tightly around her legs as he pressed his forehead to her stomach. A sob tore through his throat, and he gasped like a man who had finally found air after drowning.

“Ruhh... oh God, Ruhh...” he choked.

She knelt too, collapsing into his arms, holding onto him like her life depended on it. Their tears mingled as they clutched one another, speaking not through words, but heartbeats.

“I don’t remember anything,” she whispered against his chest. “But I felt it... the way you made me feel, Rivaan. It was always different. And today, when I saw the mole, everything crashed in.”

His hand went to her hair, pressing her closer. “I knew, Ekakshi. I knew... but I didn’t want to force your memories. I just... wanted to love you all over again, from the start.”

She looked up at him. “You knew what?”

He nodded, guilt flickering in his eyes. “Ronav told me... just after we came to Jaipur. I recognised you instantly... your mannerisms, your smile, your drama. It was you, my Ruhh. But I didn’t want to confuse you. I wanted you to fall in love with me again—not because of memories... but because of what we are now.”

Her tears began afresh, and she kissed his forehead, his nose, his cheek. “You stupid, stubborn, beautiful man...”

"Iam not beautiful..."

"Ohh yes... You are my sundari. SUNDARIIII !" She giggled, squeezing his cheeks.

"How do you remember that?" He asked. Stunned.

"Bhai told me that I used to tease you with this word." She said. Proud of her words.

"I swear I'll kill him someday with my bare hands." He muttered angrily.

"Oh please, don't start again." She said.

His eyes softened. He cupped her face again, “I love you, Ruhh. Always have. Always will.”

They stayed like that for several long moments—kneeling, tangled together on the floor of his room as if time had paused just for them. When they finally stood up, their hands were still intertwined.

But they didn’t pull away. Instead, their foreheads touched, breath mingling.

Rivaan broke the silence first.

“Tumne akela, shirtless, bechara, abla mard dekha aur faayda uthaane aa gayi? Sharam naam ki cheez hai ki nahi? Hai ram, kaise kaise log hain iss duniya me.” he fake cried with the most dramatic pout ever.

(You saw a shirtless, innocent, helpless man alone and came here to take advantage? Do you have any shame or not? Oh god, what kind of people live in this world.)

Ekakshi’s eyes widened. It was only now that she truly noticed.

Her cheeks turned the deepest shade of crimson as she quickly turned away. “OH MY GOD! I...I didn’t notice! Main bas... I mean... I—”

He laughed and gently held her chin, turning her back to him. His eyes sparkled mischievously. “Someone’s shy hmmm?”

“Shut up!” she said, face red, burying it in his shoulder.

“Naah... not happening.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding her like the rarest treasure. “You’re stuck with me now, princess.”

“Forever?” she whispered.

“Forever,” he promised, pressing a kiss on her forehead.

They stayed like that for a while. Until he whispered, “You should rest now, Ruhh. You’ve had an emotional day.”

She nodded, not letting go of him. “Will you walk me back to my room?”

“Always.”

He gently walked her back, hand not leaving hers for even a second. When they reached her door, she turned around, looking at him silently.

He leaned down and kissed her forehead again—this time with reverence, with devotion, with the love of years lost and found again.

As she stepped inside and closed the door, he lingered outside. Leaning his back to it, he let out a long breath.

A deep, content sigh.

"Finally... my Ruhh is back.”

❣️(⁠◠⁠‿⁠◕⁠)❣️

I hope you like this chapter.

Please make sure to Like and drop atleast one Comment so that I keep motivated to write further.

Did you like their confession?

I know some of you must be thinking that it's too early and you are right too. I just don't want to drag the story because it's not even a begining. So I am trying my best to complete this phase and start the actual story with twist.

What do you want to say about the love between them?

Are you excited to witness their love without any confusion?

Let's go then.

Byeeeeeee ☺️.