Invitation

"Catch me if you can!" 

She made her way, dashing through the maze without looking forward, making him more worried.

"You, stop right there!" 

"Nope, as if it's that easy, eh? You'll have to catch me first! Or else I won't stop."

"How old do you think you are, Minnie?! Stop right there, I am not mad."

"No! I know you are going to tickle me to death if I stop, so I'm definitely not going to yield! You will need to catch me first." Saying this, she chuckled as she sped up further.

"No you silly, just stop right there." 

"No! No! No!"

"Watch out!"

Arjun yelled out and fastened his pace to cover up the distance and catch her before she fell into the ditch.

"Look, this is what happens when you don't look ahead while running! Now, enough with your silly games; let's go for lunch, or else the recess will be over."

"Okay, okay, I'll go!" Manya replied, knowing that she had caused enough shenanigans for the day, and there was no scope for mercy if she went for yet another one.

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Arjun looked at Manya, who was still somehow in a daze and thought that she must have been startled due to the sudden encounter.

He asked, holding her by her shoulders "Are you okay?" 

"Please don't tickle me! Juno, I won't be running again." Manya replied quickly, shrinking her body and stiffening up in anticipation of an incoming tickle attack.

Arjun smiled at the reply as the incident came to the forefront of his mind, clear as day. 

*So she was really gaining her memories back, and that too at such a fast speed! It was a really good sign, he had to inform Doctor Maheshwari about this. The thought made him smile once again; but just as quickly, he remembered the incident from last night. He needed to be more careful; if the person involved in the accident was alive, then he must have been quiet so far, due to the fact that Manya didn't remember anything. Now that she was regaining her memories, she must be in need of protection more than ever. 

How in the world would he initiate this crucial topic with her when she didn't even want to talk to him! He didn't trust anybody other than himself, when it came to her safety. But it was not like he could be with her all the time, because she didn't want him to! 

It seemed to be such an easy job to any outsider- if you want to protect the girl you are so desperately in love with, you simply hire someone you trust, or find a way to keep her away from danger. And if she asks why, you explain that her life is worth more to you than anything else in the world! Easy peasy! But which outsider would be kind enough to consider not only the history they had shared over the past twenty-six years of their life- including the half of it spent together and the other half spent apart? Heck, it was a tough job even if they let go of all those years and focused only on the rollercoaster ride that the last month had been! How could he, then, be expected to follow this generic advice when nothing about their lives, or their relationship was normal?!

How could somebody's life be so miserable that the major problems in his life were the smallest problems for others? He was able to deal with the entire industry and business world, but he was not able to deal with his own emotions. His own mind was struggling, ripped into two contradicting halves, taking two different sides, offering two different opinions with unwavering confidence that the other was wrong?*

Ishaan had entered the room barely a few moments after Arjun had, with Vendy in tow. They noticed that he had been holding Manya by her shoulder for quite a while now, as both of them seemed to be lost in another world. What they didn't know, was that they were lost in completely different worlds, oblivious to each other and everyone else in the room!

He had been trying to suppress his reaction to tear Arjun's hand away from her shoulder, but he had reached his limit. He stepped forward and grabbed Arjun's hand, jerking it away from Manya's shoulder and saying, "I think Manya is okay now! Uh, here! Please take this. It is the invitation for my engagement. It is scheduled for the day after the launch, I hope you will come." He then put on his best puppy face and spoke, "Please Manya, I know that I was wrong. But apart from you, I don't have a lot of people I want to share my happiness with! And even if everyone else was there, it wouldn't be complete without you. Please!" Ishaan tried once more, while handing a beautiful silver envelope to Manya.

Vendy also stepped forward to support his statement, and said "I am sorry for yesterday Manya, I really didn't mean that. I think I was wrapped up in my own selfishness and just told you those things without thinking. All I wanted to do, was to make you realise that sometimes we can also be on the wrong foot, so I hope-"

Manya tried her best to avoid looking at Ishaan, looking at Vendy pointedly and spoke, making eye contact with her. "I know that anyone can be on the wrong footing sometimes. But in this scenario, I must disagree with you- I was definitely not in the wrong. I was the one who had lost her memory, not the specific person we are talking about. And if he cared about me like he loves to claim, he should have told me. The least he could have done, was to save us both from further embarrassment and let me know that he was not the one whom I had been associating my memories with! But no, he just chose to keep quiet and relish in my suffering, by hiding the truth from me. And I am sorry, I am not so great that I will forgive him for this mistake so simply. As you said yesterday and he also mentioned, that we once used to be good friends, and I have made many beautiful memories with you two that I don't want to be tainted. I apologise, but I don't think I will be able to forgive him just yet."

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"Oh,so it is true that the little princess is gaining her memories! Should I need to be scared, or do you still love me the way you used to love me in your childhood- as one of the members of your perfect little family, baby?"

The person let out a loud devilish laugh as he finished his statement, turning back the pages of the diary he was holding. He continued, "You know what, you could easily be my 51st- no, 50th target?! But no, I still need your brain to remain functional for me, because the mission I wanted to complete won't be completed without you. You are indeed brilliant, but I don't know why people used to praise your Massi so much- she was nothing compared to you! Claiming oneself to be a perfectionist doesn't make you one, especially when you are not even able to distinguish your real admirer from a person who is just pretending to love you!" He then looked towards the ceiling and spoke, "The poor thing had died, just to save you, and still, you hadn't even recognised him! See, this is what happens when you cross the limit of overconfidence in your perfection, and close your eyes. Then you can't even see the obstacles right in front of you! But anyway, I have sent one more of your rivals to you, I hope you can settle the records now. And one more thing,this is my gift to you, my love- Happy anniversary!"

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