08

Advik's POV;

Ria.

I attended the party solely because of her; otherwise, I wouldn't have come here. I had more important work to do than to spend my time at such a useless place.

I have known Ria since she was thirteen. Her father and mine were business partners. I still remember the day I met her.

Flashback

It was a party hosted by my father. I never liked these parties, but my father forcefully made me attend this one. I rolled my eyes as I saw those irritating people again. The people from the business world who only come for their own benefit. The fake people.

"Hey, advik. You didn't reply to my messages." Myra asked in her high-pitched irritating voice. I tried to fake a smile at her but ended up in a frown. She is annoying.

Myra was the daughter of one of the investors of my father's company.

Before the party started, my dad gave me a strict warning by saying, "I don't want to hear any complaints about you. Behave properly with guests and with that girl-What was her name? Yeah, Myra."

I never liked this girl. She is not a bad person but sometimes she just irritates me too much.

She was around my age, and the sad thing was that we went to the same school. She thinks she is in love with me.

She isn't in love with me. She is in love with the wealth and fame that come with me.

She even tried confessing her feelings to me but ended up getting rejected.

"Yeah. I was busy." I said in a very impolite manner so she could leave me alone. But she didn't budge and started talking about school and herself making me let out an exaggerated sigh.

I looked around, and my eyes landed on a certain girl who stood with her parents. She was looking a few years younger than me. Her parents were talking with my father. But she looked least interested in the conversation. Her eyes were on someone else or something.

I followed her sight and smiled when I noticed she was staring at the food.

"And, then the teacher suspended me for two weeks just because I told her that she is a bitch........Advik. Are you even listening?" Myra asked me, waving her hand in front of my face and I diverted my attention from that girl.

"Yeah. Good." I nodded absentmindedly. My eyes searched for the girl who had disappeared from that place in a second.

"Excuse me." Ignoring Myra, I walked and started searching for that girl. I didn't even know why I was searching for her. Perhaps I was drawn to learn more about her. She stood out from the other girls at the party. There was a force pulling me towards her, a curiosity to know her better.

I found her at the most expected spot.

Food.

She was going to pick the piece of a chocolate cake, but I interrupted her.

"What do you think you are doing, cheriè?" Leaning against the wall, I observed as she turned with a frown growing on her face.

She was undeniably beautiful. Her innocent brown eyes met mine as she crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Don't call me by names. My name is Ria. Ria Mehra."

I laughed softly, gazing into her eyes, which were full of life.

"Do you even know what 'cheriè' means?" I asked, standing before her. Unlike others, she wore minimal makeup. Her brown hair flowed freely, enhancing her cuteness.

"Yes, it's the name of a fruit, cherry," she said confidently, lifting her head with pride. I couldn't help but chuckle at her expression.

"You don't think about anything other than food, do you?" I asked, my arms crossed. Unfazed, she unfolded her arms and began to eat the cake shrugging her shoulder.

"You know food is life." She admitted, smiling cheekily at me and offering me some cake from her plate, which I politely denied.

I looked around and noticed that the hall had become crowded.

"How can you say no to food? I am sure. You are alien." She spoke in the most adorable way, finishing her cake and wiping her mouth. I laughed softly, and she responded with a small smile.

However, her smile vanished in an instant, and she began to sway, clutching her head. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

"Ria, what's wrong?" I inquired, bewildered.

"I want to go outside," she said. I nodded, took her hand in mine, and together we stepped out of the house into the garden.

Once we were outside, I guided her to a bench and sat next to her. I handed her some water I had brought along, watching as she took a sip and let out a sigh. A comfortable silence enveloped us.

"I have social anxiety," she said, breaking the silence after a while. I looked at her, puzzled. She gazed at the sky and went on, "I always feel dizzy when I'm in crowded places. My parents usually don't bring me along to social events. However, I was getting bored staying at home, so I insisted they take me with them."

"I'm glad you came," I said, offering a half-smile.

She looked at me and responded, "I would have fainted if you hadn't brought me out here."

I nodded my head in understanding. I didn't know what to do or say.

The silence felt comfortable.

After that amazing party, Ria and I became the best of friends. Our bond grew stronger as we started spending more and more time together, becoming inseparable.

But after that night, everything changed.

The night of the accident.

Which took her away from me.

Flashback ends

I know about her social anxiety.

I watched Ria make her way up the stairs with a man. I recognized him; he was one of our company's shareholders, known for his playboy reputation. Concerned for her, I immediately followed them upstairs. It seemed like he was forcing her to walk. My blood boiled seeing it and my fist clenched.

How dare he?

How could he touch her without her permission?

As the door to one of the rooms swung open by him, Ria collapsed. I rushed to her side to hold her and fixed the man with a stern glare who ran away in the opposite direction after seeing me. I took a mental note to remove him from the company tomorrow and cut all the bounds. I caught Ria just as she was about to fall and held her tightly in my arms. Lifting her in my arms, I made my way outside.

Once I reached my car, I made her sit in the passenger seat and started driving. I tried splashing water on her face, but she didn't open her eyes.

I stopped my car as I reached the destination.

Her house.

I glanced at her. She was looking so peaceful. Her hair strands fell on her closed eyes, hiding her pretty face from me. I gulped and hesitantly tucked it behind her hair, retrieving my hand back instantly.

I stared at her; it's been 5 long years since I last saw her. It was in the hospital when she woke up after the accident. She doesn't remember anything. She doesn't remember me. Everyone tried to make her remember all those years, but it was all in vain. She started having seizures making her condition worsen. All this left me with no option but to let her go. For her. I had to do that.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Only if I had taken her with me that day, things might have turned out to be different. She would not have lost her memory. And forget everything that happened.

She wouldn't have forgotten me.