Chapter 121: chapter 121

SRUTHI“Good morning,” I murmur, opening my eyes to find my husband gazing at me with an expression of pure affection. I snuggle closer to him, and he wraps his arms tightly around me. It’s Wednesday morning, and the sky is still dark, the sun yet to rise. We're still at the getaway house, far from the capital, and I’m savoring every moment of this peace and solitude.Spending time with Madhav has been nothing short of amazing, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of it. We’ve shared such beautiful quality time—cooking, watching movies, and talking about everything under the sun. Last night, we laughed until our stomachs ached, swapping childhood stories.Yesterday, we walked to the nearby village and, by some stroke of luck, found a mechanic. Though, if I’m being honest, I think Madhav used the car trouble as an excuse to extend our stay for another day. And truthfully, I was happy to play along. I’ve been living in a dreamy bubble for the past few days, and this place feels like an escape from reality.“Ready to get back to the chaos?” Madhav asks, his voice carrying a mix of curiosity and playfulness.I sigh, “I don’t want to.”Madhav’s lips curl into a mischievous grin. “Then how about we stay here for just one more day?”I shake my head, smiling but firm. “No. We’re heading back.”“Oh, come on. One more day wouldn’t hurt,” he insists, leaning in to plant a soft kiss on my jaw.“No way. We. Are. Going. Back. Today,” I say, my tone playful but resolute, determined not to let his closeness weaken my decision.“Okay,” Madhav agrees, but not without a pout. As adorable as he looks, I can’t afford to be irresponsible and take another day off.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“Oh my, what happened to you?” a voice calls out behind me. I turn to find Neetu’s grandmother, her expression full of concern. We returned from the getaway house earlier this morning, and I made it to school just in time to start the day.“Where were you these past two days?”“I wasn’t feeling well, madam,” I say, repeating the same excuse I gave the principal this morning. Thankfully, he didn’t lecture me, though he did remind me that I’ve already exhausted my leave quota for the year and need to be more regular at work.“Are you feeling better now?” she asks, her grey eyes soft with concern. For a fleeting moment, those eyes remind me of Madhav’s.“Yeah, I’m fine now,” I say, studying her with new curiosity. Draped in a sari, she looks like every woman her age, carrying herself with the wisdom that comes from a life well-lived. She must be in her sixties. I imagine she was quite striking in her youth, but it’s those grey eyes that linger with me—so familiar, so much like the man I love.“Glad to know that,” she says with a kind smile, patting my shoulder gently. That’s when I notice the tattoo on her hand.AnandThe name feels familiar. It’s a common enough name, but I can’t shake the sense that I’ve heard it recently. Where? I’m caught staring at her hand when she notices my gaze. Embarrassed, I ask, “Is that your husband’s name, madam? Sorry for being curious.”She glances at the tattoo, her expression growing distant. “No,” she replies with a sigh. “My husband’s name is Mani. This… this is the name of someone I don’t want to forget, no matter where I go or how I change. He helped me through the darkest times of my life and stood by me when everyone else turned their backs. He did things no one else would’ve done, and I was foolish enough to push him away in anger. I regret it every single day.”Her voice is laced with sadness and regret, and I’m at a loss for words. The warmth she radiated earlier feels like a mask now, hiding a heart weighed down by memories.“I’m sorry if I brought up painful memories,” I say softly, guilt stirring in my chest.She shakes her head. “No, don’t apologize. I tattooed his name on my hand for a reason—so I could tell people about the man who stood by me so bravely, even when I put him through hell. There’s no one like him. I wish, with all my heart, that I could meet him again before I die, just to apologize for everything.”“I’ll pray that you get that chance,” I say sincerely. She smiles, a hopeful glimmer lighting up her face, before walking away with Neetu.As they leave the empty classroom, I shake my head, marveling at how strange life can be. She might appear carefree and well-off, but beneath the surface, she carries burdens like everyone else.Drrr… drrr… drrrrr…The vibration of my phone pulls me from my thoughts. Glancing at the screen, I see the name of the caller.Bestie“Hey, how are you doing?” I say as the line connects.“I’m doing great,” Gabe replies. “Can we meet today?”“You mean like right now?” I glance at my watch. It’s just past two in the afternoon.“Yeah, I’m leaving the capital the day after tomorrow and wanted to say goodbye. I know your shift ends by one, so I thought now would be a good time. I didn’t want to disturb your evening with Madhav.”At the mention of Madhav, I try not to blush. It’s thoughtful of her to consider that.“Alright! Meet you at the Purple Café?”“No, not there,” Gabe says quickly. “Come to my house. I have one last gift for you before I leave.”“Hmm, okay,” I agree, though something about her tone feels... off.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥I pay the cab driver and walk to her house. It’s a small home left to her by her late parents. They died in an accident during her final year of college, and after earning her medical degree, she started traveling to provide healthcare in underserved areas.I press the doorbell, and she opens it almost instantly, as though she had been waiting for me. The house is dimly lit, its sparse furnishings covered in shadows. It’s been years since I’ve been here, and it feels eerily unfamiliar.“Are you okay?” I ask, sitting on the couch. “I mean, the poisoning. Any side effects?”She smiles, but it’s not the friendly warmth I know. There’s something else there—something I can’t name.“I’m fine. No side effects.”“Was it Madhav who dropped you here?” she asks, disappearing into the kitchen.“No,” I answer, glancing around the room with nostalgia. This house holds so many memories from our childhood. “He’s busy at his shop right now. I took a cab.”“Oh... okay,” she says, emerging from the kitchen with a glass of water.She hands it to me, and I drink it down in one go. But something tastes off. I look at Gabe, only to find her watching me with a malicious grin.I clutch my pendant and gasp, “Where’s my farewell gift?”“I can’t give it to you here. You’ll have to come with me to a special place for it.”Her words sound distant as my vision blurs. My limbs grow heavy, and panic grips me. “What did you mix in the water? Poison?”“Not yet,” Gabe says, stepping closer as my body goes numb. “Just a little something to put you to sleep.”The world tilts, and the last thing I see is her cold, calculating smile before everything goes dark.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥