25-09-2025, 09:26 PM
She showered and dressed quickly in a professional high-waisted pencil skirt, a flowy blouse tucked neatly beneath a tailored blazer.
In the kitchen, she grabbed her water bottle, hesitating before adding a few more drops of the memory-erasing potion, almost empty now. "Just in case," she thought, her fingers trembling as she sealed the cap.
As she packed her handbag, a voice startled her from behind. “Morning, aunty,” Ishaan drawled, leaning against the counter. Madhuri spun around, her eyes instinctively dropping to avoid his piercing gaze.
“I… I have to go to work,” she said, her voice unsteady.
Ishaan tilted his head, a Rubik’s cube in his hands, his fingers twisting the colored squares with casual ease.
“I had a weird dream last night,” he said, his tone teasing, almost probing. “You and Uncle were in that. Felt so real.” He stepped closer, the cube’s clicks echoing like a taunt.
“We both were playing chess in your room, and Uncle’s monitoring us.” He said, with a sly grin, “And you looked just as beautiful as you do now.”
Madhuri’s breath caught, “Did he have the same dream as me?” her eyes flicking up to meet his, a nervous flutter in her chest.
She forced a smile, her voice tight. “That sounds nice, Ishaan. Maybe we’ll play chess when Ramesh is back. But, I’ve to leave now.” She grabbed her water bottle, shoving it into her handbag, and brushed past him, her heart pounding as she fled to her car.