Aap Koun Hai? PT 1

Hospitalised

I hear before I see.

The beeping of monitors and gadgets, the rolling of trollies back and forth, the wails bursting out on the other side of the room.

And then I smell the distinct metallic air spray and realize I am in the hospital.

I open my eyes only to find my father sitting on the side of my bed.His hand masking his mouth, his eyes bloodshot, and he nearly topples over seeing me awake.

My hands attempt to reach him, I'm not sure why , he has never been my comfort support before. But my movements are restricted by the plastic tubes poking into my wrist.

Instead his hands take in mine "I'll call the nurse" he whispers and I swear I see him tugg a smile
As he scutters away, in a flash it all returns to me.

Vihaan, The Gunshots, Mr.Leela, Ahaan-Kabir

"Shit." I mutter under my breath "Shit shit shit shit"

What the hell did I do?

What happened?
What about Vihaan is he okay?
And the article? Did I publish the article?
How long was I in the hospital? Was I in a coma?

My fingers twist around the blue bed sheets, my eyes bulging out , by the time my father arrives with the nurse.

My chest is like a stone brick, heavy, as I heave in and out, each breathe a brutal battle . And it's as if I might run out of air. The nurse runs over, pressing onto my wrist, instructing me to take in and exhale deep breaths, and although my vision blurs as I try to calm myself, there is one figure that has my attention through all this-Mr.Mehra, rooted in the corner of the room, his hands stiffly folded, his nose flared as he tries to maintain himself composed and poised.

I gasp in one last breathe, while staring right into his eyes.

Look at what you've done

I wanted to say, but collapsed right into my bed.

********

"You should not have saved him" he says after I become stable. I rest my back against the bedframe of the hospital bed, my eyes stuck onto my lap.
His words pierce my ears like a thinblade dagger.

"Where is he now?" I ask instead, ignoring his statement.

Saving him was the very least I could have done, especially after I published the article.

His face after being betrayed, seeps into my memory, like poison hardening into a crack.

"Rajasthan" he answers, taking a step back, locking his hands together, his head held high.

My heart cracks at his answer.

"Rajasthan"

I utter, gazing off.

Far far away

"After your article-"

Father starts to explain, but his voice hitches after three words.

However I understood " After my article, the fame was too much for him, he couldn't go to school anymore without being run down by the paparazzi. So he had to go back home"

I receive a nod of confirmation from him

Exhaling a deep breath, my fingers fidget with the bedsheets as a distraction. But the memory rewinds in my head again-of the gun shots.

I remember diving at the last minute to save Vihaan. I remember the metal bullet flying right at me. I remember the pain. And at that moment my chest aches throbbing in agony-that is where I got shot.