Pocket Full of Lies

21- Silent Words

No matter how great a plan is, it is useless without the most important items.

My Oh So Great plan of gaining his trust went down the drain when I noticed the half empty fridge. And the other half wasn't edible either. The milk had gone bad and so were a few vegetables. Let's not even talk about the condition of fruits that were lying on the side of the counter.

In short, there weren't any ingredients to prepare a simple dish, let alone a birthday feast.

Sighing, I came out of the kitchen to see him wandering slowly around his house.

"Rest for a while or else your head's going to spin," I warned him. He had just returned from the hospital and had already gone through too much trouble, for him to try and remember anything now.

He turned towards me, looking like he was about to argue. But then his eyes fell on me or precisely the hand bag I was holding, and he immediately went into an anxious mode.

"Are...are you going somewhere?" He asked hesitantly, his eyes pleading me to not go.

"Just across the street, don't worry," I assured him. "We are out of groceries. I will be back in a few."

"Just order in. You need rest too. We can figure everything else out later," he said, before walking towards the couch and taking a seat.

Wow! I seriously can't believe this is the jerk I knew from so many years.

'Was he the same person who made me run for every small thing that was missing? I had to make trips multiple times a day, because this jerk couldn't order everything at once. And now when there's literally nothing in the house, he wants me to not worry about it,' I thought in my mind. The difference between the old and new Rehaan baffling the hell out of me.

"Back to Earth, Muskaan!" He waved his palm, before my face, startling the hell out of me by his sudden closeness.

He stepped back a bit after noticing my reaction, but didn't comment on it. "Where were you so lost?"

I cleared my throat, before answering, "Nothing."

"Anyways I don't think eating from outside would be good for your health," I said, still hoping for my plan to work. I really wanted to throw all his suspicions out of the window.

"I have a head wound. My stomach's fine. I am sure a meal from outside won't do much harm. And if you are that concerned, we can order something healthy," he said, hell bent on destroying my oh-so-awesome plan.

"But—"

"No buts. You seriously need to calm down a bit. Just relax." He ended all my protests with his stern gaze, before mumbling in a not so quiet voice, "If I leave her be, then she would even start deep cleaning the house, saying the little dust gathered in these 2-3 days would affect my health."

"I heard that."

"You were meant to," he retorted, sticking his tongue out at me. "Seriously just go and rest. You have been overworking these days," he said, while pushing me slightly towards his room.

"Wait a minute," I said, planting my feet firmly on the floor to stop.

"What?" He asked, perturbed by my sudden action.

"How do you know that your room is on that side?" I asked, slightly hopeful that he had another one of his memories back.

"Huh? I didn't really know...," he trailed off, looking as confused as I was.

"There are two other doors, but you pushed me towards the bedroom. So obviously you recalled something, right?"

He shook his head apologetically, crushing my hopes.

"Then how?" I asked, being bummed out.

"Instincts, maybe," he offered.

"Maybe." I agreed.

"Anyways," shaking off the disappointment, I pushed him towards the room instead. "You go and rest in your room. I will just lie down on the couch."

"Please don't tell me that you weren't allowed inside the bedroom," he said, exasperated.

"I was allowed inside."

To clean.

English words used to have silent letters, but in my case I have silent words. The words that are hanging between my lies and the actual truth.

"Then? Why aren't you..."

"I can't really make a patient sleep on the bed, can I?" I raised my eyebrows at him, before wiggling them, "Or were you hoping to share the bed?"

If looks could kill...

"Stop teasing please. I really can't take it right now."

"Okay, okay, sorry." I raised my hands in surrender. Teasing him was fun but he did seem too tired.

"I won't tease you again," I said, before cheekily adding, "at least for today."

He narrowed his eyes at me first, but then he too started chuckling, shaking his head at my antics.

"Now go and rest for a while." I ushered him inside.

"What about you?"

"I will just order food and then lay down."

"Order something tasty for yourself."

"Huh?"

"You don't have to eat the patient's food anymore," he said, with a gentle smile on his face.

"What are you—

"I never saw you eating anything tasty in the hospital. You always ate the same bland food like me. There's no need for such sacrifice," he explained, looking sad and guilty.

"That wasn't a sacrifice," I huffed, making a face. "It's just a basic courtesy to not tempt a patient with something they aren't allowed to eat or do."

Too much concern was bad for my health.

He shook his head, chuckling a bit at my expressions, before saying, "Then there's no need for that courtesy anymore. Please order what you enjoy.

"I am not a kid. I think I can handle at least that much temptation."

"Are you sure?" I asked, giving him a chance to back off.

"I thought you hated that question." He raised his eyebrows.

"Only when it is directed at me." I winked in humour.

"Hypocrite much?"

"I never said I was perfect." I shrugged, admitting to my flaws.

He snorted, shaking his head. "So it's settled then. Order something plain and healthy for me and something delicious for you."

"You are going to regret it." I warned, knowing well that he wouldn't be able to fight off the aroma.

After all, food was his weakness. The only weakness I was aware of.

Alas! He didn't remember his weakness. Or else he wouldn't have ever dreamt of making such a stupid claim.