- Chapter 4 -
It took him a moment to stabilize himself.
What was she saying?
What did she mean she didn't remember anything? How was it possible?
He gazed at her, with utmost shock in his brown irises.
Her hand flew to her head, in a frantic attempt to remember her past. Tears flooded down her red eyes, scarring her pink cheeks with their presense.
And then he knew.
He knew that for her sake, he would have to remain calm. He would have to pretend that nothing was wrong. That she was perfectly fine.
"Well... of course you don't remember anything!"
He began. She paused briefly, looking at him pleadingly for the answers that he didn't have.
"I mean, after an accident like that, it's only natural..."
He sputtered, feeling thankful for fishing out a half logical answer.
"You're tired. Plus, with all the medications the doctors have given you, you can't possibly be expected to remember anything straightaway."
He forced a smile on his lips and neared her. "Give it some time..." He said while helping her to lie down. "Just watch, you'll be perfectly fine by tomorrow morning!"
His explanation seemed to have worked. The imminent worry that was once in her eyes had morphed into a relaxed exhaustion.
She closed her eyes, a slow smile forming on her lips. He gave a sigh of relief before proceeding to the door. Just as he was about to leave the room, he heard her voice call out.
"Uh, th-thank you..." She whispered. "But... wh-who are you...?" His heart stopped. Who was he? He was Arnav Singh Raizada, of course. But who was he to her? He had just told her moments ago that she did not know him. Then... what excuse could he give?
"I...I..." He was frozen. What could he say?
"I saw the accident happen. So.. um... I... I brought you here." She was silent. He closed his eyes, praying that she would believe the lie.
"Accident..." She rolled the word around her tongue. "What happened to me?"
Another question that he wanted to avoid.
"We... We'll talk tomorrow. When you feel better."
He rushed out the door. The relief of being away from her was overwhelming. For some reason, he couldn't bear to see her in such a state. He couldn't bear to lie to her... She was too innocent.
He sank down, onto the floor of the hospital, wishing to drown in his own tears. He had hurt her so much... He had killed her from within. She couldn't remember anything now. She couldn't even remember herself... And she was so young. He had ruined her life.
The guilt was destroying him with every passing moment.
But what had happened to her? How had she lost her memory?
He sat up straight. He had to know. He had to help her. He had to save her.
And he would do so at any cost.
***
"Retrograde Amnesia."
Declared the doctor, reefing through the scans.
"What?"
"She's suffered retrograde amnesia." He repeated. "It means that she's lost all memory prior to her accident."
Arnav's heart sank. "But... but how is that possible...?"
The doctor nodded. "Take a look at these scans. The accident has caused a lot of trauma in the brain. And from what you've told me about her, she's clearly facing retrograde amnesia."
His heart was thumping in his chest and he could feel himself growing hot as he asked the next question.
"Will she...Will she ever regain her memory...?"
The doctor shrugged.
"It's possible. But there is no way to be sure. She could get her memory back in the next instant, in the next week, month, or year. But there's also a good chance that she may never regain her memory at all."
Arnav felt himself crumbling. How had it come to this...? How had all this happened...? If only he had listened to Kiran. If only he hadn't driven out in the raging storm. If only he hadn't been drunk. If only...
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