Love Came After Memories Chapter 4 - Trying to Lead New Life

  We saw Leena and Prabhakaran watching television in the living hall. At that moment, Vijay entered the living hall. He noticed that Prabhakaran, engrossed in the cartoon playing on the screen, barely acknowledged Vijay's presence. Silently, he signalled for Leena to come out of the living hall. Leena silently complied, and Vijay then led her to the kitchen.

  As they reached the kitchen, Leena asked, “Why did you ask me to come here?” Vijay responded, “First, take a seat. I have a surprise for you.” Leena responded, “What’s that?” Vijay said, “Take a seat first.” Leena took a seat and asked, “Now tell me what the surprise is?” Vijay handed over the phone to her and said, “Your mom is on the video call. Attend it.”

  As Leena took the phone from Vijay, she felt a surge of emotion knowing that her mother was on the other end of the video call. Her hands were trembling; Vijay noticed that. “Leena, don’t be afraid. I will be in the living hall, don’t worry.” Leena nodded in response, and Vijay left the kitchen. With trembling hands, she tapped the screen to accept the call, her heart pounding with anticipation.

  A moment later, her mother's familiar face appeared on the screen, her eyes lighting up with joy at the sight of her daughter. “Leena, my dear, how are you?” her mother exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and affection.

  Tears welled up in Leena's eyes as she gazed at her mother's smiling face. “Mom, I'm doing okay,” she replied, her voice choked with emotion. “I badly want to talk to you.”

  Her mother's expression softened with concern as she noticed the tears in Leena's eyes. “Oh Leena, I know what you are going through,” she said, her voice laced with worry. Leena took a deep breath, trying to compose herself before speaking. “Mom, there's just been a lot going on lately,” she explained, her voice trembling slightly. “But I'm trying to stay strong.”

  Her mother's eyes filled with empathy as she listened to Leena's words. She said gently, “I understand, sweetheart, but remember, no matter what happens, I'm always here for you. Vijay told me everything. I am happy that memories came back, but because of that, you didn’t know what happened in your life after that accident.”

 Leena nodded, feeling a sense of reassurance wash over her, "Thank you, Mom.” Leena’s mom then asked, “Hmm, then how about Vijay and Prabha? Did they disturb you in any way?” Leena responded with a warm smile, “That’s a misinterpreted statement. Actually, whether I disturbed them or not is the question. Vijay is a nice guy. Even though I don’t remember the day I loved him, I know the reason why. And Prabha, having a child like him is totally a blessing. The way he speaks, his caring nature, and moreover, he looks like me. I thought I was better after that accident only.”

  Leena’s mom laughed at her response. Leena's voice went low as she said, “Mom, dad?” Leena's mother's smile faded slightly as Leena mentioned her father. There was a moment of silence on the video call, the weight of Leena's question hanging in the air. Finally, her mother took a deep breath before responding, her voice filled with sadness, “I know, my dear. It's been incredibly difficult for all of us. But your father would want us to stay strong and support each other, just like we always have. Also, you have been there till her last breath. So don’t worry.”

  They both overcame that then Leena’s mom started sharing some major events that happened in their family. As they were sharing, Prabhakaran also entered the video call. The video call went through a mixed range of emotions. After the video call arrived at the end part, during which Leena’s mom said, “Leena, understand, whatever happened in the past, we can’t undo it, but we can make changes in the present to create a new future.”

  As the call came to an end, Leena felt a renewed sense of hope stirring within her. She knew that despite the challenges she faced, she had the love and support of her family to guide her through. She decided to embark on a new life from this call.

  The next day, the soft light of dawn gently filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow in the living hall where Vijay lay sleeping. As he stirred from his slumber, he blinked his eyes open, momentarily disoriented before the events of the previous day came flooding back to him. With a stretch and a yawn, Vijay sat up, feeling a sense of calm settle over him. As he sat up, he heard a sound from the kitchen.

  Vijay was perplexed as to who it could be. He initially thought it might be Prabhakaran, but as he walked into the kitchen, he saw Leena, and he was shocked. He called out to her, “Leena.” Leena turned around and saw him, greeting him with a warm smile, “Good morning.” Vijay, with a confused mind, responded, “Good morning. What are you doing here?”

  Leena responded, “Don’t you see, I'm making breakfast.” Vijay felt a mixed reaction upon hearing that statement. He was about to encourage her, but considering her health, he said, “I am happy that you are returning to your life, but you need to rest. I will handle it.” Leena gave him a look and said, “Vijay, I know you're saying this out of concern for me, but I can handle myself. I want to restart my life. I've planned many things, like resuming my career, spending time with both of you, and so on. So, for that, this will be the first step.”

  Vijay about to give his response but Leena stared at him. That stare only gave full stop to Vijay words. After that, Leena handover a cup of tea made by her to Vijay. Vijay drank that and said it was nice. Then he went to freshen up. In the meantime, Leena was busy making breakfast and preparing Prabhakaran for his school.

  It was quite difficult but she somehow managed. The aroma of breakfast filled the kitchen as Leena skillfully prepared the meal, her mind filled with a mix of emotions. She glanced at the clock from time to time, ensuring that Prabhakaran wouldn't be late for school. With each passing moment, her confidence grew, and she found herself feeling more determined than ever to embrace her new beginning.

  After freshening up, Vijay joined Leena in the kitchen, offering to help with the final touches for breakfast. Leena, appreciative of his gesture, accepted his assistance gracefully. Together, they set the table, each lost in their thoughts yet united in their shared commitment to moving forward.

  After that, Leena boarded Prabhakaran onto his school bus. Ensuring that he was safely on board, she waved goodbye with a sense of pride and accomplishment. Watching the bus drive away, she felt a surge of determination to make the most of this fresh start.

  Then, as Vijay was about to leave for the office, he said to Leena, “Leena, take care. If you need anything, kindly call me or call Lalita ma’am. She will help you.” Leena agreed to that and then asked, “Vijay, do we have any albums or videos of our marriage?” Vijay thought for a moment and said, “They are in the upstairs bedroom closets. There is a blue box in which both the album and videos are kept.”

 Then Vijay waved goodbye to her and left the home. After he left, Leena went to the upstairs bedroom. She began searching for the blue box. Within a few moments, she found it.

  She took the box onto the bed and opened it. Inside, she found a marriage album, a folded paper, and one pen drive. She ignored the paper; her eyes were captured by the two other items. She started going through the marriage album first.

  Leena flipped through the pages of the marriage album, each photograph evoking memories from a time she struggled to recall. She saw images of herself and Vijay, their smiles radiant, their eyes filled with love. As she turned the pages, snippets of forgotten moments came rushing back to her, filling her heart with a bittersweet longing.

  Amidst the laughter and joy captured in the photographs, Leena found herself feeling a sense of loss for the memories she couldn't fully grasp. Yet, there was also a glimmer of hope, knowing that each image held a piece of her past, waiting to be rediscovered.

 Then her eyes were drawn to the pen drive. In order to see what was inside the pen drive, she needed a laptop. She got the laptop by calling Vijay. She inserted the pen drive into her laptop and saw there were two folders: personal and marriage. Her whole concentration was on seeing the marriage videos, so she clicked on the marriage file. A series of videos appeared on the screen, each one a glimpse into her life before the accident.

  As she watched the videos, Leena was transported back in time, reliving the moments she had forgotten. She saw herself and Vijay exchanging vows, their families gathered around them, sharing in their happiness. Tears welled up in her eyes as she witnessed the love and support that surrounded her on that day.

  In those videos, Leena saw glimpses of the person she used to be – confident, vibrant, and full of life. Yet, she also saw the uncertainty in her eyes, the subtle signs of the challenges that lay ahead. Despite the pain of remembering, there was a sense of comfort in reconnecting with her past self.

  As the videos came to an end, Leena felt a mixture of emotions washing over her – sadness for all she had lost, but also gratitude for the chance to remember. With renewed determination, she closed the video player and then returned to the pen drive folder. Her eyes noticed the personal folder, intriguing her to check what was inside.

  She hears a doorbell ringing. Quickly noticing the time was 3 p.m., she recognized it could only be Prabhakaran. She shut down the laptop and hurried to welcome him. Greeting him with a warm smile, she took his school bag as he began narrating his school events. Leena silently listened to his narration like a small child.  

   They both had lunch together. Following that, Leena decided to spend more time with Prabhakaran. So they decided to play some games; she tried snake and ladder and carom. However, Prabhakaran quickly got bored of them due to their age and his impatience. Seeing his reaction, Leena gave some thought to what game they should play next.

  After a few moments, she came up with the hide-and-seek game. Prabhakaran got excited after hearing this. Leena took on the role of seeker, and Prabhakaran decided to hide. As they began their game of hide-and-seek, Prabhakaran dashed off to find the perfect hiding spot, his laughter echoing through the house. Leena counted aloud, giving him time to find his hiding place.

  Once she finished counting, she began her search, her heart light with joy as she navigated through the familiar rooms of their home. Leena checked each room carefully, calling out Prabhakaran's name as she searched. She looked under beds, inside closets, and behind curtains, her excitement growing with each potential hiding spot she discovered. After searching for a while, she couldn’t able to find him.

  Leena called his name, “Prabha, where are you? I give up. I can’t find you.” But Prabhakaran didn’t come out of his hiding spot. She searched for him in each and every spot, but the results were negative. Leena called his name again, but Prabhakaran didn’t come out. This made her frightened.

  She tried to find him in every corner of the house, her voice echoing throughout the house calling Prabhakaran's name. Unable to find him, tears started welling in her eyes. She wondered where he could be hiding. Then, her mind struck; she hadn't checked the upstairs room. She quickly dashed to the room and searched for him. During the search, she opened the closets and saw that Prabhakaran was unconscious.

  Seeing him in such a state, she became totally scared. She tried to wake him up, but he remained unconscious. Fear gripped Leena as she frantically tried to assess the situation. She checked his pulse and breathing, relieved to find that he was still alive. She quickly called for emergency assistance and admitted him to the nearby hospital.

  Later we see Vijay rushing into the hospital. Vijay's heart pounded with fear as he rushed into the hospital, his mind swirling with worry for Prabhakaran and Leena. He navigated through the bustling corridors, his footsteps echoing against the sterile walls as he desperately searched for any sign of them.

  Finally, he spotted Leena and Lalita sitting in the waiting area, her eyes filled with tears and her hands clasped tightly together in anguish. Without hesitation, Vijay rushed to her side, his heart breaking at the sight of her distress, “Leena, what happened? Where's Prabhakaran?”

  Vijay's voice trembled with concern as he gently took her hand in his, seeking comfort in their shared worry. Leena looked up at him, her eyes filled with fear and uncertainty. “Vijay, I don't know... He was playing hide-and-seek, and... and I couldn't find him. When I finally checked the upstairs room, I found him unconscious in the closet,” she explained, her voice choked with emotion.

  As soon as he hears this, Vijay is filled with anger. He says in an angry tone, “Leena, are you mad or what? Don’t you know he is a 5-year-old child? You have to be careful.” Leena, in tears, tries to say, “Vijay, I am sorry. We were just playing.” Vijay furiously says, “Leena, due to playing, he is here now. Try to act like a mother.”

  After hearing that statement, Leena was stunned. She didn’t try to say anything after that. In this hustle, Lalita barged in and said, “Vijay, calm yourself down. Prabha is already out of danger. It was an accident; no one is to blame here. Leena was already in a frightened state; you are making things worse. You go and check on Prabha first.”

 Vijay, with that anger, went to see Prabhakaran. As he entered the ward, he saw Prabhakaran in a conscious state. Seeing him, his anger dissipated. He silently took a place nearby, tears slowly sliding from his eyes. Seeing his father's silence, Prabhakaran said, “Sorry, Dad, I shouldn’t have hidden in the closet.” Vijay responded, “Why did you hide there? Couldn’t you play something easier?” Prabhakaran said, “It’s my fault, but as soon as I entered the closet, the door locked. When I woke up, Mom was crying. She was totally scared.”

  Feeling a pang of guilt and remorse wash over him, Vijay realized the gravity of the situation and the impact of his words on Leena. He took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within him. Approaching Prabhakaran's bed, Vijay knelt down beside him, his voice gentle yet filled with concern, “Prabha, it's okay, son. You didn't do anything wrong. We're just glad you're safe,” he said, his eyes reflecting a mixture of relief and regret. Prabhakaran looked up at his father, his young face etched with worry, “But I scared mom, dad. I didn't mean to,” he whispered, his voice tinged with sadness.

  Vijay's heart ached at his son's words, realizing the impact of the situation on Prabhakaran as well. He reached out to gently ruffle his son's hair, offering him a reassuring smile, “I know, Prabha. But sometimes accidents happen, and what's important is that we learn from them. I will back in a minute. You remain here,” he explained, his words carrying a sense of wisdom beyond his years.

  Prabhakaran nodded to that, and Vijay left the ward. As he came out, Lalita approached him, saying, “Now you're happy. Why can’t you calm yourself, Vijay? It was an accident. Shouting at Leena isn’t going to change anything. She was already disturbed, and you're making her even more frightened. Try to act mature.” Vijay bowed his head, saying, “I am sorry, Lalita ma’am.” Lalita responded, “Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to Leena. Till then, I will be with Prabhakaran.”

  Lalita then entered the ward, leaving Leena and Vijay alone in the corridor. Leena was crying and didn’t say a word. Vijay's words echoed in her mind, the same ones that were repeating in Vijay's mind too. Vijay's heart was slightly heavier, and he silently took his place beside her.

  He swallowed hard, feeling a lump in his throat, and placed his hand upon Leena’s. With patience, Vijay began, “Sorry, Leena. I completely lost my temper with you. I should have been more patient, especially considering it involves Prabha, our son. I completely lost control, and I realize now that I only made things worse for you. I'm truly sorry, Leena.” Leena didn't respond immediately. After a moment, she said, “Vijay, let's separate.”

  Vijay's heart sank as if the ground had been pulled from beneath him. “Leena, what are you saying?” he asked. Leena responded, “I know, Vijay. Due to this memory thing, I'm totally in a confused state. My past life feels like a dream to me. I thought of living the dream with a new boost today. But what happened... I literally lost it when I saw Prabha in an unconscious state. I feel like I failed as a mother.”

  Vijay tried to calm her by saying, “Leena, that was an accident.” Leena said in a loud voice, “We could have lost him, Vijay. I'm making things worse day by day. Try to understand, please leave me, Vijay.”

  As the weight of Leena's words sank in, Vijay felt a sense of deep sadness and realization wash over him. He could see the pain and uncertainty in her eyes, and it tore at his heart. With a heavy heart, Vijay nodded silently, his own emotions swirling inside him. He knew that sometimes, despite all efforts, love wasn't always enough to heal wounds or bridge gaps. Leena needed time to find herself, to come to terms with her past and chart a path forward.