Lost

Chapter 37:

Post your reactions as you read ^^ This is a long chapter, as it is the last one before I take a  writing break for a few weeks. Enjoy!

Asim's P.O.V.

The weeks in which Salma slowly recovered from her coma were almost as agonizing for her family as when she was lost or unconscious. Though her blank expressions and unfocused glances were gradually became more focused and sharp, it still scared the life out of Asim when she stared without seeing, and cried and laughed for no reason.

It was hard for all of them, but it was hardest for her father - who came home to see his daughter looking gaunt and lying still on a hospital bed, not uttering a word. From the day he arrived, he refused to spend a minute away from her room. Only when Salma regained enough cognition to say 'dad', did he relax and took a break to go home.

Her passing through various stages of regaining her consciousness was sometimes really scary.

"Where . . . am I, bro?" she had suddenly asked Asim once, looking utterly confused.

Asim smiled upon hearing the word 'bro'. As Salma became more focused, she showed intelligent signs of remembering him. It was exhilarating, to say the least.

"You're in the hospi-

"Asim!" she suddenly gasped, interrupting him. "You're Asim!"

"Err . . . Yeah?" Asim replied uncertainly, feeling uneasy with her unblinking stare fixed on him.

"You're dead . . ." she whispered, her eyes becoming saucers full of fear. "In the bus, you died! My brother is - Asim is --"

"Hey, hey, hey, relax," Asim quickly got to her side, and laid her down gently.

"My little brother - he's --"

"Fine," Asim interrupted. "He's fine. He's me. See? I'm fine."

Salma's eyes ran over his features at a dizzying speed.

"Asim?"

"That's me," he confirmed.

"No . . . Zayn?"

Asim froze, not sure what to make of her mentioning Zayn. Her expressions darkened into an angry scowl.

"That hungry, rude, disrespectful --"

Asim gasped when she cursed him. It was hard trying to restrain her, and suppress the sudden fit of laughter that took over him at the same time.

"Chill, sis!"

"I'm going to kill him!" she seethed. "How dare he?! The bee! He tried to kiss the bee!"

"Okay . . .?" Asim said, bewildered. "I mean, that's really - uh - really bad. I agree. He shouldn't kiss bees at all,"

"I know!" Salma cried her enthusiastic agreement.

Plopping back against her pillows, Salma went back to her silent staring. Asim blinked at her sudden outburst and nonsensical words. This was the longest, most intelligent and yet the most messed up conversation he had had with her, since she had woken up a week ago.

"Salma?" he called her. "Salma, can you hear me?"

Her eyes shifted towards him, and realization dawned on her face. She opened her mouth to reply but then confusion clouded her eyes again, and she went back to staring blankly.

Asim sighed, rubbing the sore muscles of his neck.

"Right, I'm going to take a break," he said. "Stay in bed, okay?"