I Fall For Him Twice

The Past Lingers

I made my way home, lost in my thoughts, feeling a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, I was thrilled about my new job. It was everything I had been hoping for. But on the other hand, I couldn’t stop thinking about Roshan. He was going to be my boss, and the idea of being so close to him again felt surreal.

I wanted to jump for joy, knowing I’d be working with him, but confusion crept in. He didn’t recognize me at all during the interview. There was no hint of recognition, not even a flicker in his eyes. I was nothing but a stranger to him. Yet here I was, about to share an office with the man who once meant the world to me. The man who, whether he remembered or not, still held a piece of my heart.

As soon as I walked through the door, I collapsed on my bed, trying to make sense of everything. My thoughts raced, and I couldn't keep up with them. Should I try to make Roshan remember me? Would it be too painful if he never did? How would I act around him? A million questions ran through my mind, but there were no answers in sight.

I was deep in thought, trying to form a plan for my first day, when a loud knock on the door interrupted me. I sighed, sitting up.

“Come in!”

Before I could even register who it was, my younger brother, Ricky, barged in, grinning from ear to ear.

“Come on! You have to see this!” he exclaimed, grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the room.

Confused but curious, I followed him into the living room, where I was met with the sight of balloons, streamers, and a big banner that read, "Congratulations, Emma!" My parents stood there, smiling proudly.

“Surprise!” they shouted together.

I couldn’t help but laugh. The sight of them, their excitement and pride, melted away the tension that had been building inside me all day. I felt a rush of warmth and gratitude. Despite everything happening in my mind, this moment reminded me how much I had to be thankful for.

We spent the night celebrating, laughing, and eating dinner together. It was exactly what I needed to take my mind off Roshan. My family’s happiness was contagious, and for a few hours, I allowed myself to bask in their joy.

But then, as we settled in for the night, we realized we had forgotten to grab some late-night snacks. My mom was about to send Ricky, but I quickly volunteered. I needed some fresh air, a moment to collect my thoughts before they spiraled out of control again.

“I’ll go grab them,” I said, pulling on my coat. “Be right back.”

---

The cool night air felt refreshing as I walked down the street toward the food court. My thoughts, though, quickly returned to Roshan. His face had been haunting me ever since the interview, and the idea of working under him felt overwhelming.

When I reached the food court, my attention was immediately drawn to a sleek car parked just outside. My breath caught in my throat. It was Roshan’s. I would recognize that car anywhere.

My heart started racing as I spotted him inside, standing at the counter, placing an order. But what really threw me off was what he was ordering. It was our food. The same food we always used to get during our college days.

Is he… remembering? The thought sent a jolt through me.

I quickly ducked behind a pillar, hoping he wouldn’t see me. I wasn’t ready to face him, not here, not now. Not when my emotions were so raw. I peeked around the corner, watching as he waited for his order. He looked so much like the Roshan I remembered—calm, composed, a little distant—but there was something else. He looked like he was searching for something. Or someone.

As I watched, the waiter came over with Roshan’s food, and then, to my surprise, a conversation started.

“Sir, it’s been a long time! How are you? Didn’t ma’am come with you tonight?” the waiter asked.

Roshan looked puzzled. “Ma’am?”

“Your girlfriend, sir,” the waiter explained with a smile. “You used to come here with her all the time. You always ordered the same thing.”

My heart pounded in my chest. The waiter remembered us. Roshan and me. Did Roshan?

Roshan’s expression darkened slightly, but his curiosity was piqued. “You knew her?” he asked, his voice low.

The waiter nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, sir! You two were regulars. We even took a picture of you both for the wall. It’s probably stored away somewhere now, though. It’s been a while.”

Roshan leaned in, his tone becoming more urgent. “Do you still have that picture?”

The waiter looked uncertain. “I’m not sure, sir. It’s been over a year. It might be in storage, but I could try to find it. Why do you need it, though? I mean, she was your girlfriend, right?”

“I’ll pay you ten thousand bucks if you find it,” Roshan said, his voice tight. “I need that photo.”

The waiter stammered, clearly caught off guard. “I’ll look for it, but no promises. I’ll let you know if I find it.”

Roshan handed the waiter his business card, and I felt my heart sink. He was desperate to find that photo, desperate to know something about his past, about me. But he still didn’t remember. Not yet.

I watched as he walked out, passing by me without noticing. My pulse was racing, and I held my breath until he was gone. Part of me was relieved that he hadn’t seen me. Another part of me felt crushed. I was right there, and yet he had no idea.

I picked up my order and headed home, my mind buzzing with what I had overheard. At least now I knew Roshan was searching for answers, even if he didn’t fully understand what he was looking for. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to remember.

---

That night, I barely slept. My mind was racing with thoughts of Roshan, the food court, the waiter’s words. The idea of Roshan trying to piece together his memories filled me with equal parts hope and fear. What if he remembered? What if he didn’t?

Morning came far too soon, and I found myself standing at the bus stop, anxiety swirling in my stomach. My first day at the office was here, and I couldn’t shake the nerves. I was about to walk into a building where Roshan would be my boss, and I had no idea how I was going to handle it.

As I stood there, lost in my thoughts, a car pulled up in front of me. I looked up, surprised, to see Jack—one of the managers from the company, the one who had been so kind during the interview.

“Emma! Heading to work?” he called out with a friendly smile.

I nodded, trying to hide my nervousness. “Yeah, just waiting for the bus.”

He gestured to the passenger seat. “Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”

I hesitated. “Oh, no, that’s okay. I don’t want to trouble you.”

“Trouble? Don’t be silly. Come on, it’s your first day! Let me help you out,” he insisted.

His smile was so genuine, and he seemed so eager to help that I found myself agreeing. I slid into the passenger seat, trying to push aside my discomfort. The last thing I wanted was to make a bad impression on my first day, but getting a ride from Jack felt... odd. Like I was doing something wrong.

As we pulled into the office parking lot, my heart nearly stopped. Roshan was getting out of his car just as we arrived. My stomach dropped, and I quickly looked away, hoping he wouldn’t notice me.

Did he see me? Did he care? I had no idea.

I followed Jack inside, trying to stay calm, but my nerves were shot. My hands were shaking, and my heart was pounding. I could feel Roshan’s presence, even though I hadn’t even seen him yet.

Once inside, I received my employee ID, and the receptionist showed me to my desk. My colleagues greeted me warmly, but I could barely focus on them. I was too distracted, too aware of the fact that somewhere in this building, Roshan was walking around, possibly remembering pieces of our past.

Just then, the phone on my desk rang. I picked it up, my voice trembling slightly.

“Emma Collins, please come to my office.”

It was Roshan.

My heart dropped into my stomach. He sounded... tense. Nervous.

I stood up, my legs weak beneath me, and started making my way to his office.

This was it. The moment I had been both dreading and longing for.