Chapter 59 When Memory Knocked Back

The meeting finally came to an end.

Files were closed, voices lowered, and one by one the members left the room. Veeresh stayed back for a moment, rubbing his forehead lightly, trying to gather his thoughts.

Just as he reached for his phone…

It rang.

The number flashed from Poornima’s college.

His heart dropped instantly.

He answered without delay.

“Hello?”

“Sir, this is from the college. Poornima fainted.”

For a second, he could not speak.

“What?” his voice came out low, sharp.

“She was fine, but suddenly she collapsed. She is in the medical room. Please come.”

The call ended.

That familiar fear returned.

Stronger.

Faster.

He didn’t wait.

Didn’t think.

He rushed out immediately.

The drive felt unbearable again, his mind racing with thoughts he could not control.

“She was fine in the morning.”

“What happened now?”

When he reached the college, he went straight to the medical room.

Poornima was lying on the bed, her eyes closed, her face pale.

Sleeping.

Unconscious.

But breathing.

That alone gave him a little relief.

“What happened?” he asked, his voice tight.

One of her friends stepped forward.

“Sir, she was alright,” she said. “We were just talking… and suddenly she held her head.”

Veeresh’s expression hardened slightly.

“She said something?” he asked.

The friend nodded.

“She said… she felt like she remembered something.”

A pause.

“And then she fainted.”

Veeresh’s chest tightened.

Memory.

He looked at Poornima again.

Carefully.

As if she might wake up any second.

Without wasting time, he gently lifted her into his arms.

Careful.

Protective.

And carried her to his car.

The entire drive back home, he kept glancing at her.

“Stay okay,” he whispered under his breath.

“Just stay okay.”

When they reached home, the doctor was already called.

Poornima was placed on the bed, and the doctor examined her thoroughly.

Everyone stood around, tense.

Waiting.

After a few minutes, the doctor stepped back.

“There is nothing to panic right now,” he said.

Veeresh looked at him immediately.

“What happened?”

The doctor spoke calmly.

“Her memories are trying to come back.”

The words brought both relief and fear at the same time.

“But it is putting pressure on her brain,” he continued. “That is why she fainted.”

Mrs Qureshi covered her mouth, worried.

“So what should we do?” Veeresh asked, his voice controlled but urgent.

“She needs constant care,” the doctor said. “No stress. No forcing her to remember.”

He paused slightly.

“And do not leave her alone in places like college for now.”

The instruction was clear.

“Let her recover slowly. If memories return, they should come naturally.”

Veeresh nodded slowly.

“I understand.”

The doctor gave a few more instructions and then left.

The room fell silent again.

Veeresh sat beside her, his eyes fixed on her face.

His hand moved gently to hold hers.

“Even your memories are stubborn like you,” he murmured softly.

There was a faint ache in his voice.

“You don’t come slowly… you come all at once.”

He exhaled quietly.

“But this time… we will go slow.”

His thumb brushed lightly over her hand.

“No rushing.”

“No pressure.”

“Just… you.”

Because now, more than ever…

He knew.

Getting her back was not about forcing the past.

It was about protecting her present.