75. Lost

Namaskar! Hello!

✮

The morning sun peeked through the curtains as Amrita stretched, a small smile tugging at her lips.

It had been a long time since she’d woken up feeling this… light.

After freshening up, she stepped out of the bathroom, running a towel through her damp hair.

Aaryansh, still lounging in bed, watched her with half-lidded eyes, his usual smirk playing on his lips.

“Did you drink water?” he asked, his voice teasing but gentle.

She blinked at him before smiling and reaching for the glass on the nightstand.

Without a word, she took a few sips, setting it back down.

Aaryansh tilted his head. “Since when did you become so obedient?”

She chuckled, sitting beside him. “Dadi told me something yesterday.”

His brows lifted in curiosity.

“She said that my dad was always after me to drink water. He’d constantly remind me, ‘Ammu, have you had water?’ I… I don’t really remember it, but when you asked me last night, it felt like… like I could hear him.”

Aaryansh sat up, his expression softening. He cupped her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing against her cheeks.

“I’m glad,” he murmured, “that I reminded you of him.”

Her heart swelled at his words. A warmth spread through her chest, and without thinking, she grinned—bright and radiant.

Aaryansh stilled.

That smile.

It was different from all the ones he had seen before. It was genuine, full of emotion, full of something… precious.

Before he could react, she leaned in and pressed a quick, feather-light kiss on his cheek.

He froze.

Amrita giggled at his stunned expression, her eyes twinkling mischievously.

Before he could recover, she slipped away, stepping toward the door.

“I’m going to meet Dadi,” she announced, throwing him a playful glance over her shoulder.

And then she was gone.

Aaryansh sat there, his hand subconsciously reaching up to touch the spot where her lips had been.

His heartbeat had kicked up, his mind replaying the moment over and over again.

For the first time in his life, Aaryansh Raghuwanshi was left completely, utterly flustered.

✮

As Amrita made her way downstairs, lost in her thoughts about her father, she suddenly bumped into someone.

“Oof!”

She stumbled back slightly, only to find Ananya standing before her, equally surprised.

“You?” Ananya blinked.

Amrita arched a brow. “You?”

For a second, they just looked at each other before realizing they were heading in the same direction.

Sharing a small smirk, they walked together, neither needing to ask where the other was going.

✮

Meanwhile, in another room, Divya stirred awake, her brows furrowing as her hand instinctively reached out beside her—only to find the spot empty.

She frowned, rubbing her sleepy eyes before slowly sitting up. Just then, she felt the bed dip beside her, and a familiar voice greeted her.

“Good morning, Honeypie.”

“Good morning, Aksh,” she murmured without thinking, her voice laced with sleep.

And then she froze.

Her eyes snapped open as the realization hit her. She had just called him ‘Aksh.’

Daksh’s smile widened, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Say that again.”

Divya blinked, still groggy. “Huh?”

He leaned in slightly, his tone teasing. “You just called me something. Say it again.”

Her lips parted in confusion before she hesitantly muttered, “Aksh?”

Daksh chuckled. “I like it.”

A soft giggle escaped her, and soon, they were both laughing at the unexpected nickname.

With a swift move, Daksh scooped her up in his arms, making her yelp in surprise. “Aksh, put me down!”

He ignored her protests and carried her toward the bathroom. Setting her down at the door, he leaned in, his voice dropping to a husky whisper.

“We could bathe together, you know…”

Divya’s eyes widened, heat rushing to her face in an instant. “Aksh!” she gasped, smacking his arm.

He let out a deep chuckle, winking at her before stepping back. “Just a suggestion, Honeypie.”

With that, he walked out, leaving a very red-faced Divya staring after him.

Shaking her head, she huffed and quickly went inside to freshen up.

✮

The morning sun filtered through the windows of Neelima's room, casting golden rays.

The old wooden clock on the wall ticked rhythmically, marking the beginning of a new day—yet, within the walls of this home, time was about to stand still.

Amrita and Ananya stepped into their grandmother’s room, a soft smile on their faces.

They found her still curled up under the blankets, her silver hair peeking from beneath them.

“She’s still asleep,” Ananya whispered, tilting her head.

Amrita chuckled lightly and sat beside her on the bed, while Ananya mirrored her on the other side.

“Dadi, wake up,” Amrita called softly, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

There was no response.

Ananya smirked. “Dadi, if you don’t wake up, we’re going to tell Rukmini Ma that you didn’t drink your morning tea.”

Silence.

Amrita frowned slightly. “Dadi, come on, stop being lazy. It’s morning,” she coaxed, shaking her a little.

Still nothing.

A slight unease settled in Ananya’s chest. “Dadi?” Her voice was softer this time.

Amrita’s frown deepened as she shook Neelima’s arm a bit harder. “Dadi, wake up,” she urged, but the older woman remained motionless.

Just then, Rukmini entered the room, adjusting her saree. Seeing the two girls seated beside Neelima, she arched a brow. “What are you two doing?”

Ananya turned to her with a confused expression. “Dadi’s not waking up.”

Rukmini’s expression faltered for a second. She walked towards them, her forehead creasing. “That’s odd. She’s usually up by now.”

She reached out, placing a hand on Neelima’s shoulder. “Ma, wake up.” She gave a gentle nudge, then another.

Her body was stiff. Unmoving.

A cold shiver ran down Rukmini’s spine. Her heart pounded violently against her ribcage as she stumbled back, eyes wide with horror.

“Shravan!” she screamed, her breath hitching, her hand clutching her saree as if to steady herself.

Amrita and Ananya turned to her in confusion. “What happened, Maasi?” Amrita asked.

Rukmini’s eyes never left Neelima’s still face. Her lips quivered. “No… no… this can’t be…”

Shravan, hearing the urgency in her voice, rushed into the room, followed by the rest of the family.

“What happened?” he asked breathlessly.

Rukmini pointed at Neelima, her hands shaking.

Shravan’s face turned pale as he hurriedly stepped forward, pressing two fingers against Neelima’s neck, searching. The silence in the room grew deafening.

A moment later, he pulled his hand back, his body going rigid. His eyes slowly lifted, locking onto his older brother, Ishwar. He shook his head.

Rukmini broke into sobs. Geeta let out a strangled cry.

Ishwar clenched his jaw, blinking rapidly, trying to keep his own tears at bay. Shravan turned his face away, his shoulders tense, his hands trembling slightly.

Ananya and Amrita sat frozen. Their minds couldn’t comprehend what was happening.

“What…?” Ananya whispered.

Aditya, who had just entered, immediately moved towards her. Without a word, he gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Ananya shook her head. “No,” she muttered, again and again, her breath growing uneven. "No no no no no no.."

Amrita’s gaze darted across the room. She saw the grief, the tears streaming down everyone’s faces. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears.

"Someone tell me what happened!” she suddenly shouted, making everyone flinch.

Ishika stepped forward, kneeling beside Amrita. Her voice was soft but carried the weight of reality. “She left us.”

Silence.

Amrita’s body stiffened.

She turned to look at Neelima again, her grandmother’s face peaceful as if she were simply in a deep sleep.

Her head shook slowly. “No…”

Ishika lowered her gaze, her own eyes moist.

“No, no, no, Mayya… No.” Amrita muttered.

Her hands reached out, shaking Neelima once more, this time with more force. “Dadi, wake up. Stop playing games.”

No response.

A lump formed in her throat.

Her voice cracked. “Dadi… wake up.”

The room was silent except for the occasional sobs.

Ananya was still in Aditya’s hold, crying into his chest, her body trembling.

Amrita’s breathing became shallow. She looked around—everyone was crying.

Ananya was crying. Ishwar, Shravan were crying. Dadi’s daughters-in-law were crying. Even Aaryansh, Daksh, Rishi, Aarush had red-rimmed eyes.

Even Mahima who had just reached the mansion, was crying silently.

But not Rudraksh.

And not her.

She looked back at Neelima and gave a small chuckle, shaking her head. “You’re pranking us, right, Dadi? You love doing this. Making us all panic and then laughing about it.”

No movement.

She gripped her grandmother’s arm tighter. “Dadi, wake up! You’re making everyone cry!”

Nothing.

“Enough, Dadi. Wake up!” she screamed, her voice laced with desperation as she shook Neelima’s lifeless body again.

Aaryansh stepped forward, kneeling before her. His hands came up, gently cupping her face, forcing her to look at him. His voice was low, steady, but heartbreakingly real.

“She’s gone.”

Amrita stilled.

She blinked. Once. Twice.

Then she shook her head. “No, she isn’t.”

Aaryansh’s throat tightened. “She is.”

“No, she’s not!” Amrita pushed his hands away harshly.

“She was fine last night. She was looking at photo albums, she was smiling, she was perfectly fine. She’s fine. She is fine!” Amrita’s voice rose, almost as if shouting would make it true.

Aaryansh exhaled shakily. His vision blurred with unshed tears. “Buttercup…”

She took a step back. Her eyes darted around again, seeing everyone mourning, seeing the reality she refused to accept.

Then, finally, she stopped fighting.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides. Her breathing slowed.

A part of her understood now.

But she didn’t cry.

Amrita never cried.

Instead, she turned around and walked out of the room.

“Buttercup!” Aaryansh called, stepping forward.

She didn’t stop.

She stormed down the hallway, grabbed her car keys, and walked out of the mansion.

Before anyone could reach her, she slid into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove off.

Aaryansh stood at the entrance, watching her car disappear into the distance, his heart clenching.

A single tear slipped from his eye, trailing down his cheek.

And then, silence once again engulfed the Raghuwanshi mansion.

✮

What do you guys think?

She was gone, leaving only echoes of her love behind...💔🥀