Chapter One Hundred Two: The Plan
Three days had passed since they brought Shreya home.
She was settling in slowly. Awkwardly. She didn't remember the mansion, but something about it felt... safe. The others gave her space while hovering close, always near, always watching.
Mithun hadn't left her side.
He slept on a chair in her room. She'd woken up the first night, seen him there, and felt something warm in her chest. She didn't know why. But it felt right.
Akshi brought her food. Chethan made her laugh. Keiran visited with Rex and Ganesha, telling her stories about "when Auntie Shreya used to play with us."
She didn't remember.
But she liked hearing about it.
---
Tonight, Shreya was asleep.
Exhausted from the day. From the faces. From the feelings she couldn't name.
The family gathered in the living room.
All of them.
Jay stood at the center. "We need to do something."
Akshi nodded. "She's not remembering. It's been days."
"Trauma like that takes time," C.N. said quietly. "Memory loss from head injuries can be unpredictable."
"We don't have time," Akshi whispered. "She's here but she's not. She doesn't know us."
Mithun spoke. "Then we make her know us. Again."
"How?"
He looked at Jay. "Take her back."
---
"Back where?"
"Karnataka. India. Where we all met. Where she was happy. Where she was... her."
The room went quiet.
Percy was the first to speak. "THAT'S BRILLIANT!"
Honey pulled him back. "Percy, inside voice."
"INSIDE VOICE CAN'T CONTAIN BRILLIANCE!"
Jay looked at Keifer. He squeezed her hand.
"It could work," Keifer said. "Being in familiar places. Seeing familiar things. It might trigger something."
C.N. nodded. "Sensory memory is powerful. Smells, sights, sounds—they can unlock things the conscious mind can't access."
---
Akshi grabbed Chethan's arm. "We have to go. We HAVE to."
Chethan nodded. "I'm in."
Mithun stood. "I'll pay for everything. Flights, hotels, whatever it takes."
Jay shook her head. "We all pay. Together. That's what family does."
Percy raised his hand. "I'M COMING! HONEY'S COMING! WE'RE ALL COMING!"
Honey sighed. "I guess we're coming."
Aries and Ella exchanged looks. "We'll help organize."
Felix and Bridget nodded. "We're in."
David pumped his fist. "ROAD TRIP! AIRPLANE TRIP! INDIA TRIP!"
Freya patted his arm. "Calm down, babe."
"CAN'T CALM DOWN! ADVENTURE!"
Mica bounced. "I've always wanted to go back!"
Calix grabbed her. "We just came from there."
"SO? IT'S WORTH GOING AGAIN!"
---
C.N. pulled out his laptop. "I'll coordinate logistics. Flights, accommodations, itinerary."
Rakii raised her camera. "I'll document everything. For when she remembers."
Yuri nodded. "I'll help. More angles."
Keigan appeared in the doorway. "I'll stay with Keiran. Someone has to."
Jay hugged him. "Thank you."
He shrugged, but he was smiling. "Someone has to keep Rex and Ganesha in line."
---
The plan came together quickly.
Two weeks in Karnataka.
Same places. Same experiences. Same chaos.
Starting from the beginning.
Where they first met Shreya.
Where she was happy.
Where she was hers elf.
---
They told Shreya the next morning.
She sat at the kitchen table, coffee in hand, confused.
"India?"
"Karnataka. Where you're from."
"I don't remember it."
"We know. That's why we're going."
She looked at Mithun. He was watching her with those eyes—warm, patient, full of love she couldn't remember but could feel.
"You're coming?"
"I'm not leaving your side. Ever."
She didn't know why, but she believed him.
---
That night, the house was chaos.
Packing. Planning. Percy running around yelling "INDIA! INDIA! INDIA!"
Honey chasing him with a suitcase.
Akshi and Chethan arguing about what to pack.
C.N. on three devices simultaneously.
Rakii photographing everything.
David trying to fit seventeen things into one bag. Freya repacking it properly.
Felix and Bridget calmly folding clothes.
Mica bouncing. Calix trying to contain her.
Aries and Ella making lists.
Yuri filming everything, occasionally narrating.
Keigan already on Keiran duty, reading him a story.
Rex and Ganesha supervising.
---
Jay escaped to the balcony.
Needed air. Needed space.
Keifer found her there.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Overwhelmed?"
"Happy overwhelmed. There's a difference."
He wrapped his arms around her. "We're really doing this."
"We're really doing this."
"Taking her back. Trying to help her remember."
"Whatever it takes."
---
He turned her around. Faced her.
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"You know that, right? Even when everything is chaos?"
"Especially when everything is chaos."
He kissed her.
Soft. Sweet. Full of years of love.
The chaos continued inside.
But on the balcony, just for a moment—
There was peace.
---
End of Chapter One Hundred Two