- Chapter 3 -
"Where is she?"
His heart thumped violently in his chest, threatening to break free.
Was she hurt? Had he killed her?
He suddenly felt nauseous. It was as if someone had ground a knife through his skin. He rushed forward, clutching the doctor by his arms.
"Answer me damnit!!!"
The man looked petrified. "B-Behave yourself sir. Sh-she's two doors over."
Arnav quickly released his hold and made his way, as quickly as he could, out the door.
"But you can't see her yet!" Called the doctor after him. "She's serious!"
His heart sank. It felt as if he had died a thousand deaths. If something happened to her... whoever she was... because of him, he knew he would never be able to forgive himself.
The door to her room, sure enough, was closed. Hesitantly, he limped forward, peering through the round glass window, hoping to catch a glimpse of her.
The room appeared much like his own. The decor was a blinding white. Colourless and bland. Large machines snaked around the room, connected, here and there to plug points.
Suddenly, he saw her.
The girl he had very nearly killed.
She looked so frail. Childlike. Innocent. And in so much pain. He winced.
If only I could take it away... He thought to himself. If only I could heal your wounds. He thought, as he gazed helplessly at the bedridden figure in front of him.
He wasn't sure why he felt so strongly for a girl who was nothing but a stranger to him. But everytime his eyes fell on her form, he felt a strange pull at the strings of his heart. A yearning.
He closed his eyes as he backed away from the window, all the while consoling himself that it was just the guilt taking effect.
He took a seat on the bench, waiting for the doctor to deliver the news. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest. She had to be alright. She had to come back. He didn't know why. But she had to.
There was a need. A desperation in his heart that he hadn't felt in years.
It was as if there was some sort of connection between them. He sighed, resting his head against the wall behind him.
A wave of pain coursed through him.
It's nothing compared to the pain you've given the girl in there.
If something happened to her... If she died... He knew he would kill himself the very next instant. He wouldn't be able to live, knowing that he had been reponsible for her death.
He closed his eyes.
Her angelic face was haunting. In the one instant he had peered through the window, he seemed to have gone crazy.The eyes... there was so much innocence... Her face... controrted with pain.
So much so that his pain seemed minute in comparison.
I deserve worse than this. I deserve to be in that hospital bed. She shouldn't even be here.
A lone tear rolled down his eyes. He felt scared. As if something precious was leaving him forever. It's the guilt. I'm probably just feeling responsible for her state.
As much as he tried to persuade himself to believe it, he knew it was a lie. There was more to it than that. But he was too exhausted to analyze his emotions any further.
It's probably nothing.
He concluded.
Suddenly, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. He sat up immediately, startled.
Another doctor.
"Are you a relative of the patient?"
He hesitated a moment before replying that he was. "How is she, doctor?"
The doctor nodded. "She's better. Much better actually. But of course, she's still weak. We've been giving her medicines, but after an accident like that, she's bound to be a little shaken up."
"Can I... Can I see her?"
The doctor shook his head. "Not yet."
"Please doctor." He begged. He felt desperate. He had to see her. To ensure that she was alright.
The doctor sighed. "Are you going to die this very moment if you don't see her?"
Arnav knew he was being sarcastic, but he replied with utmost honesty, "I won't die, but I'll get pretty close to it."
He frowned, scanning Arnav's form with curiousity. "Well... we don't normally allow this sir... But I'll make an exception this once. Five minutes."
Saying so, he walked away, reefing through a bundle of files along the way.
Blinking back the tears, Arnav rushed into the room, wanting, simply, for a moment's view of the perfect stranger.
He felt his heart stop at the sight he witnessed.
She was beautiful to say the least.
Despite the scars on her forehead, her skin seemed to glow. Her round brown eyes grew wider as they fell on Arnav. She was thin but not unhealthy. With every movement she made, her hair flowed behind her, grazing her waist tenderly. As he made his way towards her, he noticed her chest heave with nervousness.
She was perfect.
She sat up slowly... Suddenly, the colour from her face began to fade. She closed her eyes, clutching her head as she let out an agonizing scream.
Her lips were quivering with fright and hot tears rolled down her eyes.
Seeing her in such a state sent a searing pain through his heart.
"It hurts!!!!" She wailed. "It hurts so much!"
He knew she needed help. But his mind felt frozen. What should he do? Should he try and comfort her? He wanted, so badly, to simply rush to her side and take her in his arms.
But the more alert part of his mind willed him to call the doctor.
She needed help.
He rushed outside, in a hysterical attempt to find a doctor.
She needed help.
***
...Ten minutes later...
The orders were flying. Nurses were pinning the girl to the bed, trying to gain control of her. Machines whirred around him. Doctors were swarming around the girl, some holding down her arm and surpressing her screams with injections and others flipping through medical records.
She was frightened. Her eyes flew across the room, never lingering for a moment too long on any object. She seemed confused.
At last she turned to me.
His breath caught in his throught.
For a moment, it felt as if nothing existed. As if the world was no longer the same. All the pain in his limbs were melting away...simply by looking at the girl in front of him.
But the feeling lasted only for a brief moment.
Her eyes quickly changed from a look of confusion to helplessness. It was as if she was pleading. Begging him to rescue her. To save her.
He died a thousand deaths.
"Let her go..."
He whispered. But his voice escaped as an inaudible sigh.
"Let her go." This time, he sounded more confident. But the bustle of doctors were too busy examining their patient to even toss a fleeting glance in his direction.
"I SAID, LET HER GO DAMNIT!!!!"
Pindrop silence.
The crowd of people in the room turned towards him, shocked. "Excuse me, sir. But it would be better if you didn't advise us on how to do our job properly. Now, do us all a favour and please leave the room."
"How much money do you want?"
He hadn't even meant to say it. He didn't know why he said it. All he knew, was that he would go to any extent to help this girl. He didn't know why. He didn't care, frankly.
"How much money do you want to leave her alone?"
There was no reply. An uncomfortable silence lingered in the room.
"You realize, sir, that your behaviour is extremely inappropriate..."
It was a murmured response.
"You don't know the kind of power that I have..."
Arnav whispered, dangerously.
"Didn't you hear what she said? She doesn't want you to touch her. Dare you even place a finger on her, and I swear, I'll make your life HELL. And trust me. I'm a man true to my words."
Hesitantly, the doctors shuffled their way out of the room, leaving Arnav alone with the girl.
She was beautiful. Everytime he looked at her, he felt all his worries cease to exist.
He gave her a small smile before sauntering to her side.
"Hi."
He began. It felt awkward. But at the same time, it felt so right. She looked at him. Her eyes were a mixture of emotions. She was lost... confused... scared.
"I-I don't remember anything..."
It was the first time he had heard her speak. He closed his eyes, shivering. The velvety tone to her voice was soothing...angelic.
"You don't remember me because you don't know me." Chuckled Arnav, softly. She shook her head. Her hands flew to her head, holding it with desperation.
"No... I - I don't remember anything..." her voice was shaky. Slow tears made their way down her cheek. "Wh-where is my family..? D-Do I have a family...? Wh-where am I from..? What's...what's my name...? Who am I?!"
She began to grow hysterical. She was rocking back and forth on the bed, holding her head, trying to remember. "I don't r-remember anything! I... I don't know... I don't remember... I need to remember! I need to know! How is this possible? How can I not know?"
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