Chapter 29 — Forgotten Pieces

The drive back to the Rathore mansion remained unusually quiet.

Poornima sat beside Veeresh, leaning slightly against the window while absentmindedly rotating the black platinum ring on her finger.

Neither of them spoke for a while.

When the car finally stopped outside the mansion gates, Veeresh turned toward her seriously.

“Poornima.”

She looked at him immediately.

“Pick up my calls.”

Her expression softened slightly.

“And whenever you feel something is wrong,” he continued calmly, “call me immediately.” His eyes darkened slightly. “Never hesitate for even a second.”

Poornima stared at him silently before nodding.

“Okay, Salvatore.”

That name again.

The strange softness in the way she said it affected him more than he liked admitting.

Before leaving the car, Poornima suddenly frowned slightly.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Veeresh waited.

“But…” she whispered in frustration, “I’m not able to remember what exactly I wanted to say.”

His expression changed instantly.

That bothered him.

“I know it’s important,” she continued quietly. “I can feel it.”

Veeresh looked at her carefully before answering softly, “Don’t pressure yourself.”

Poornima looked at him silently.

“Talk to me when you remember.”

She nodded slowly. “Okay, Salvatore.”

Then suddenly her eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“You’re being nice.”

Veeresh raised an eyebrow.

“That means something is fishy.”

For the first time that evening, he smiled faintly.

“Nothing.”

Liar.

Poornima could feel it.

But before she could question him further, Veeresh stepped out of the car.

“I’ll call you later,” he said before leaving.

Poornima watched him walk away silently.

Then she slowly entered the mansion again.

Surprisingly, nobody disturbed her this time.

She reached her room, locked the door, and quietly lay down on the bed, exhaustion finally consuming her body again.

But sleep didn’t come immediately.

Her fingers tightened around the platinum bracelet on her wrist as confusion slowly filled her mind.

Why was she forgetting things?

Why did parts of her past feel blurred?

And why did hearing the name Zoya earlier at the hospital feel painfully familiar somewhere deep inside her heart?