TO THE STARS THAT LISTEN

CHAPTER 66: Revelations in Recovery

Ira

The next time I wake up, everything feels hazy and sore. Oh, so sore. It's as if I've run a marathon and the adrenaline has drained out, leaving only limp, aching muscles. My throat is dry, like a barren land.

This time, when I open my eyes, it's different. Instead of the dark ICU cubicle with a single light, the room is illuminated by daylight. The ceiling fan spins above me. The white room is decorated with just one fiddle leaf fig plant by a sofa. I'd recognize this room even in my dreams—this is where I first met my in-laws, my real family. They've moved me from the ICU to the private room.

Blinking twice to clear my vision, I turn my head to look at Ahaan, lying on the recliner by the bed. "Hey." He gives me a weak smile.

"Hey." I smile back. The dim lighting and my grogginess from the pain meds prevented me from noticing his aged appearance last night. Dark circles and wrinkles mar his eyes, and his beard has grown wild. It looks like someone has drained the life out of him.

He gets up from his seat and takes a step to close the distance between us. Bending down to my eye level, he brushes a strand of my dirty hair away. "How do you feel now?" he whispers.

"I've been better." I lift my cannula-ridden hand and cup his cheek. "But the real question is, why do you look like you had major surgery instead of me?"

A half-hearted laugh bubbles out of him. "I just haven't slept well, that's all."

His eyes are so stormy with emotion that my heart aches. Sliding my hand down his cheek, I tug at his arm to make him sit beside me. "Ahaan, are you okay?"

He smiles. "That should be my question."

I shake my head. "No. I'm okay because my husband made sure the best surgeons in the country took care of me. But now, as a wife, I want to know if my husband is okay."

"I'll be okay when the doctors give you the all-clear." He starts to move to the door, but I hold his hand.

"No." He looks at me, confused. "I'm okay. Ansh gave me an overall exam last night. I... um... just sit with me, please."

Instead of sitting back down, he pulls his hand out of my grasp. Ouch, that hurts. "Ira, you were in a major car crash. Your spleen was so ruptured that they had to take it out. They had to monitor your brain to ensure the swelling went down. You were unconscious for forty-seven hours, and you've been in and out of consciousness twice in the past twelve hours. I don't trust just one resident here. I need an experienced doctor to give you the all-clear." Ouch, that hurts more. It must show on my face because his face contorts into something resembling regret. "Shit. I'm sorry, Blossom. I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I'm just... I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you." He cups my face.

"No... no. Don't apologize. I'm sorry. This accident must've been hard on you too. It's visible on your face, how tense you are. You're right. Call an attending so they can give the all-clear, and you don't have to worry anymore." I give him a sly smile.

He walks out the door and comes back a minute later with Dr. Ahuja following him.

"Morning, Dr. Mehta. Good to see you awake again." He walks to my side and notes my vitals on his tablet.

"You didn't think I'd quit hogging you this soon, did you?" I smirk.

"Nuh-uh... Not even for a second." He takes out his stethoscope and checks my heart and lungs before using his reflex hammer to test my distal reflexes. "Your reflexes look good. Now follow my finger." He moves his finger sideways at my eye level and then checks my ear. "Good... Everything looks good. Your vitals are strong, and your brain activity is as good as before."