Chapter 48 I Cannot Lose You Like This

Veeresh sat on the floor, his back against the wall, his hands trembling as he tried to breathe through the weight crushing his chest.

“Begum jaan…” his voice broke as he whispered into the empty room.

There was no answer.

Only silence.

The same silence that now followed him everywhere.

“I can’t…” he said again, shaking his head slowly.

“I can’t do this.”

His eyes closed tightly, tears slipping down without control.

“How do I live like this?” he asked, his voice barely audible.

“You are there… but you are not mine anymore.”

His fingers curled into fists.

“You are breathing… you are alive… but you don’t remember me.”

That truth felt unbearable.

Worse than losing her.

Because she was still there.

Just not his.

“I was your husband,” he whispered, his voice cracking deeply.

“You used to call me Mr Qureshi… with that attitude… with that smile…”

A broken laugh escaped him, filled with pain.

“You used to fight with me for everything.”

His mind replayed everything again, but this time it hurt more.

Sharper.

Because now he knew she didn’t remember any of it.

“You slapped me the first day,” he said, tears falling faster. “You held my collar and shouted at me… you told me your dreams… your pain…”

His breathing became uneven.

“And I just stood there… listening… because I knew I deserved it.”

He wiped his tears roughly, but they didn’t stop.

“You made that salty tea,” he continued, his voice shaking. “And I still drank it.”

A faint, painful smile appeared.

“You tried to kill me with spicy food,” he added weakly. “And then…”

His expression broke completely.

“You kissed me.”

He covered his face for a moment.

“Our first kiss… under the shower… because you felt bad.”

His shoulders trembled.

“You hugged me that day… apologized… and I felt like something changed.”

He leaned his head back, staring at nothing.

“You asked me to bring you a gift… and you smiled like it meant everything.”

His voice softened painfully.

“You said you will still take revenge… but you never really hurt me.”

His chest tightened again.

“You trusted me,” he whispered. “Even when I didn’t deserve it.”

His mind moved to that moment.

“You asked me about that boy… you waited for my answer…”

He let out a broken breath.

“And I hurt you.”

Tears streamed down again.

“But you still stayed.”

His voice dropped lower.

“You took me shopping… ordered me around… made me cook for you…”

A tearful smile appeared and faded instantly.

“You waited for me during elections… prayed for me… held me when I lost…”

His hand pressed against his chest.

“You said I am still your CM…”

He shook his head slowly.

“You made everything feel okay.”

His voice trembled deeper now.

“You didn’t know how to wear a saree… and you warned me not to laugh…”

A small, broken laugh escaped.

“You stood for me in that party… played for me… fought for my respect…”

His eyes filled again.

“You said my money is enough because I earn honestly…”

His voice almost disappeared.

“You were proud of me…”

That hurt the most.

Because she didn’t remember any of it.

“You said I am your home,” he whispered.

His entire body stilled.

“And I believed you.”

A tear rolled down slowly.

“I told you… I am happy I didn’t say no to this marriage…”

He looked down at his hands.

“You believed me that day.”

His breathing grew heavier.

“You ran behind me when your parents doubted me… you hugged me… you said you trust me…”

His voice broke completely now.

“You said you believe me…”

Silence filled the room again.

But this time, it felt suffocating.

He looked up slowly, his eyes red, filled with raw pain.

“And now…”

A pause.

Long.

Heavy.

“You don’t even know who I am.”

The words shattered him.

“I am standing there… in front of you… and you look at me like I am nothing.”

His voice turned desperate.

“How do I accept that?”

“How do I stand there and introduce myself to the girl who said I am her life?”

His breathing became uneven again.

“I cannot lose you like this, begum jaan.”

His voice dropped into a whisper.

“I cannot be a stranger in your life.”

Tears kept falling, unstoppable.

“I remember everything.”

“And you…”

He closed his eyes tightly, unable to complete it again.

Because saying it out loud made it too real.

Too final.

After a long moment, he whispered softly,

“You said I will remember for both of us…”

His lips trembled.

“But I don’t know how to remember… when you are not there with me anymore.”

And in that silence…

His pain remained.

Raw.

Unfiltered.

And unbearably real.