Chapter 4: Living the Dream

Getting the chance to live with Isha was like a dream come true. It was something I had never even dared to imagine. Back in school, I had admired her from afar, never brave enough to confess my feelings. And even when life took us on separate paths, I had never truly let go of her.

Now, after all these years, fate had brought us together again—but in a way I had never expected. Isha was not the same vibrant girl I once knew. She was fragile, lost in the maze of her own mind, battling a rare illness that blurred the lines between reality and illusion.

I should have been worried about the medical complexities of her condition. Instead, all I could think about was the fact that I would be by her side, even if only for a short while.

I packed my things quickly, my excitement barely contained. When I told my parents, they were surprised at first. But when I mentioned Isha’s name, my mother’s eyes softened.

“At least now, because of your work, you’ll finally get to know a girl,” she said, half-teasing, half-hopeful.

I didn’t tell her that I had already known Isha—long before my career, long before my success. And that deep down, I had always longed for her.

The next morning, I arrived at Kapoor Mansion, a grand estate that spoke of luxury and success. Yet, despite its beauty, there was a heaviness in the air—a silent grief that lingered over the family. Mr. and Mrs. Kapoor greeted me at the entrance, their eyes filled with desperation and hope.

And then, I saw her.

She stood at the top of the staircase, her long, dark waves falling gracefully over her shoulders. Her striking eyes, once full of life, now carried a distant sadness. But despite the years and the pain, she was still the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.

For a moment, she simply stared at me, as if searching her mind for a memory she couldn’t quite grasp. Then, to my utter shock, she spoke.

“Devil…”

I froze.

It was my nickname in school—the one she had given me when we were just kids.

A flood of emotions crashed over me. Hope. Confusion. Heartache.

Her parents looked at her, their faces filled with disbelief. Since her illness began, she had failed to recognize even those closest to her. And yet, here she was, calling me by the same name she had used years ago.

I took a cautious step forward. “Isha… do you remember me?”

She blinked, her expression unreadable. Then, she smiled softly and said, “You’ll be late for class, Devil.”

The air was sucked from my lungs.

She wasn’t recognizing me as Dr. Aarav Mehta—she was hallucinating that we were still in school. She was trapped in a time long past, reliving the moments when I had first fallen for her.

Was this destiny giving me another chance? Or was it just a cruel twist of her illness?

Her mother’s voice broke through my thoughts. “Doctor, you’re the only one she’s remembered. Please… save her.”

I looked at Isha, the girl I had once known, the woman she had become, and the fragile soul she was now.

Back in school, I had been too scared to tell her how I felt.

Now, I would fight for her with everything I had.

This time, I wouldn’t let her go.

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