CHAPTER 1

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I hear an annoying beeping noise. It seems to be getting louder every second. My head is pounding, and every beep feels like a hammer-struck. I try opening my eyes, blazing light strikes my eyes making me close them immediately.

God... my head hurts. I slowly try opening them again, all I can see is white.

Wait.. am I dead?

As I turn my head towards my left, I see loads of bouquets and cards and I realize I am in a hospital.

The beeping gets louder, I turn towards my right to see where it's coming from. I see a person sitting on a chair beside my bed, holding onto my hand so tight like his life depends on it. I wonder how I didn't feel it before. He is lying down with his head on his arms crossed on the bed. I try to take my hand from his strong grip.

The slight movement of my hand wakes him and he bolts right up. I look at his face, for the first time. I am dumbstruck. He is gorgeous. He has the most alluring brown eyes I have ever seen and the silkiest hair. He seems familiar although I have never met him.

He is looking at me with those gorgeous brown eyes, I can see a lot of emotions pass through his face. I see the shock, surprise, and happiness seep across his face.

"You are awake?". I can see him beaming with happiness. "Oh my god. You are awake!" He exclaims. "Are you alright? Do you feel any pain? Wait baby let me get the doctor. Stay right where you are. Don't move," he says hurriedly and rushes out to get the doctor.

As soon as he is out I recover, from his charming face. I then try remembering how did I get here. And who is this brown-eyed guy? Why is he here? And wait, did he just call me baby? As I am wondering where are my parents the door opens and the brown-eyed guy walks in with what I assume is the doctor and the nurse.

"Well look who's awake!" Says the doctor as he enters.

They start doing their regular check-ups.

"What happened to me? Why am I here?" I manage to ask finally.

"Dear, you might feel a little confused right now because of the trauma, but you will be fine soon. Don't worry." says the doctor.

And asks me to take a rest as he leaves. All this while the brown-eyed guy was standing in the corner and just observing. He seemed to be listening to every word the doctor said. He now comes close and sits on the chair he was previously sitting on. He holds my hand and once again and asks if I feel any pain and says he's so happy to see me awake.

I can't help myself and finally, ask "But... who are you?"

I finally manage to ask the one question, that's been eating me since I woke up. Who is this guy? I have never seen him. Not that I remember.

Why is he so nice to me? Even though I have never met him, why does he seem so familiar? When he looks at me, why do I feel as though he is reading me like an open book?

"Who are you?" as I ask him again he recovers from what I surmise is shock?

He is looking at me as though I have just kicked a puppy.

"You... don't know me?" he finally asks.

"Am I suppose to?" I ask as I cannot recall where I might have met him. His face is not something I would forget that easily. But his behavior towards me is telling me that he does know me too well.

"What's going on? " I demand as he looks shell-shocked. He abruptly gets up and rushes out the door.

I don't understand what seems to be going on. Before I have any time to think, the doors open. I see the same doctor solemnly. Something seems to be wrong. All this is terrifying me to no end. Where are my parents and why haven't they come to get me? This is all very confusing.

"Dear, I am going to ask you a few quick questions and I want you to think properly and answer them. Okay?" Says the doctor. I nod as I do not know what else to say.

"There is nothing to worry about dear. Just a few simple questions. Okay?" I nod again. My anxiety getting the best of me.

"What is your name?"

"Maahi Shranal" I answer immediately.

"Where are you from?"

"The place where we are right now," I say stating the obvious. "Bangalore."

I see a jolt of shock pass through their face. The Brown-eyed guy is standing more or less like a statue. He hasn't moved since he stepped in. His brown eyes are no longer visible as they are filled with tears.

Why?

The doctor now looks very uncomfortable and distressed.

"One last question Maahi. Which year are we in?".

"2011".