The Decision to Return
710 Words
She didn’t understand everything.
Not yet.
But she understood one thing clearly—
something in her life was missing.
And someone… was being hidden.
Ivara stood on her balcony in Saint John’s, the cold wind brushing past her face, but for the first time—
she didn’t feel calm.
She felt restless.
“You forgot me… again.”
The voice echoed in her mind.
Not like a memory.
Like a truth.
Her grip tightened on the railing.
“I can’t stay here like this,” she whispered.
Because running away from confusion was easy.
But living with it?
Impossible.
And that’s when the decision came.
Not dramatic.
Not sudden.
Just… certain.
“I’m going back.”
—
Two days later—
she stood at the airport.
A one-way ticket in her hand.
Destination:
India.
Jaipur.
The place she once called home.
The place where everything began.
And maybe—
the place where everything ended.
—
The journey felt longer than usual.
Not because of distance.
But because of thoughts.
What if nothing is there?
What if I’m wrong?
What if they’re right?
And then—
another thought came.
What if they’re lying?
Her heart skipped.
Because deep down—
she already knew the answer.
—
Jaipur.
The moment she stepped out, the air felt different.
Warmer.
Familiar.
Alive.
And for a second—
her lips curved into a small smile.
“I’m home…”
The word felt strange.
Yet comforting.
—
Her house stood exactly the same.
The same gate.
The same walls.
The same memories—
that she couldn’t remember.
She took a deep breath and walked in.
“Mumma!”
Her voice echoed through the house.
Her mother appeared almost instantly.
“Ivara?!”
Shock.
Then—
pure happiness.
“My baby!”
She rushed forward, pulling her into a tight hug.
And for a moment—
everything felt normal.
Safe.
Real.
“I missed you,” her mother whispered.
“I missed you too…” Ivara said softly.
And she meant it.
Because no matter what—
this was her family.
Her home.
Her roots.
Her father stepped forward, a soft smile on his face.
“Suddenly yaad aa gaya ghar?” he said lightly.
She smiled faintly.
“Thoda sa…”
Arohi came next.
Her sister.
Her safe place.
“Ivara…” she said, hugging her tightly.
This hug felt different.
Warmer.
But also…
a little tight.
As if she didn’t want to let go.
“I’m glad you came,” Arohi whispered.
And for a moment—
Ivara forgot everything.
The questions.
The fear.
The voice.
Because this—
this love—
was real.
—
Dinner felt normal.
Almost too normal.
Laughter.
Small talks.
Familiar comfort.
But beneath it—
something felt off.
Something unspoken.
Ivara watched them quietly.
Her family.
The people she loved the most.
The people who loved her.
And yet—
were hiding something from her.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
She couldn’t ignore it anymore.
“I need to ask you something.”
The room went silent.
Just like that.
Her father looked up.
“What is it?”
Ivara’s eyes moved between them.
One by one.
“I know about the accident.”
Arohi stiffened.
Her mother’s smile faded.
“And I know I lost my memory.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Tense.
“But what I don’t know…”
Her voice slowed.
“…is what you didn’t tell me.”
No one spoke.
No one denied it.
Because they couldn’t.
Her heart started beating faster.
“Five years, right?”
Her father’s expression changed.
“How do you—”
“So it’s true.”
Her voice dropped.
“You let me forget five years of my life.”
No answer.
Her eyes filled slowly.
“My college…”
A pause.
“My friends…”
And then—
the hardest part—
“…my love?”
The word hung in the air.
Unavoidable.
Unspoken.
Real.
Arohi looked down.
Her mother closed her eyes.
Her father remained still.
And in that moment—
Ivara understood everything.
They didn’t need to say it.
Because their silence said enough.
She wasn’t just missing memories.
She was missing a life.
A whole life.
And someone—
who mattered enough…
to be erased.
- Writer
