The Man Who Left | ✔

15 | doshee.

D O S H E E

[hindi, urdu → guilty] 

"After the accident, he wasn't the Nathan you knew—he was someone else," Tahira started, her voice soft.

"Someone else? What do you mean?"

Tahira sighed, leaning in closer. "After the crash, Nathan was hospitalised—he was badly injured,"

"I know—I was there," Maya closed her eyes, memories of the aftermath of the crash flashing in her mind. All she saw was blood—blood everywhere. "I—I saw it all,"

Nodding, Tahira continued. "His head was severely injured and he suffered too much blood loss. He was weak, very weak." Tahira took a deep breath, dark half-moons showing clearly under her eyes. She looked extremely tired, her cheeks sulky. "You were there, holding his hand—praying and hoping that Nathan would live."

Maya nodded slowly, her eyes watery.

"—and he died," Tahira turned to look at Maya. Swallowing hard, Maya looked up at her with tears trailing down her cheeks.

"Bu—but, Nathan is alive," Maya sobbed, "I saw him with you that day—he's alive! How is that even possible?"

"His heart stopped beating for five minutes and you thought that he was dead. So you—,"

Maya cut her off, "I ran away." Her lips trembled, her heart beating so fast and hard that it made her chest etching with pain. She felt stupid, so stupid. Why did she even ran away? What was she thinking? She should've stayed by him and all she felt now was guilt.

Guilt, guilt and guilt.

"I ran away," she repeated. "He died right in front of me—what do you think I'll do other than running away? Stay with him? What about the ring on my finger? What will happen to that?" Tahira approached Maya, her hand landing on Maya's back. She patted, and patted as if it would calm her down. "It will never be the same without him. It never will be,"

"He didn't die Maya—he had a sudden heart attack, a cardiac arrest I must say. He didn't die—it was just temporary." Tahira bit her lip. "But after he regained consciousness, he wasn't the same Nathan you knew anymore,"

"What are you trying to tell me?" Maya looked at her in confusion.

"He had all his memories wiped out of him, Maya," Tahira said. "He doesn't remember who he is, nor did he had memories of anyone else that was close with him—even you, Maya. He doesn't know who you are,"