CHAPTER 4

My head feels heavy and fuzzy and my throat is dry. I open my eyes, finding myself in the same white room just like the previous day except that I am alone right now. I take a moment to adjust to the sunlight seeping across my room. I slowly lift myself on my elbows and just enjoy the morning warmth. I feel vibrant and calm like it was all just a bad dream.

Just then the door opens revealing the chirpy nurse from the previous day. Well, not a dream after all I guess. She has a tray in her hand with a glass of water and juice. Oh thank god, I could drink a gallon right now.

"Good morning sweetie," she says with a big smile and hands me the glass. I just nod while I gulp away the water.

"It's a big day dear, you will be discharged today. We have kept track of your vitals all night, they seem to be going well." She says as she takes away the empty glass from my hand and hands me the juice. The day just keeps getting better and better, I can't wait to get out of this hospital.

People come to the hospital when they are sick, but for me, it's the other way round, I feel sick and edgy whenever I step into one. As I finish my juice I have a pressing urge to pee. So I try getting up, I feel weak but better than yesterday. The nurse helps me to the washroom and closes the door behind me.

After I have emptied my bladder, I walk over to the sink to wash my face. I look into the small face mirror hanging upon the sink.

I can see the difference. My face looks more mature, the last time I remember I was still a kid with short blunt hair, and extremely healthy may I add.

Even though my hair is all messy and filled with knots, I see that my hair is styled pretty well. I have fringes. I had always wanted fringes.

I finally wash my face and turn to open the door.

As I walk out of the washroom, I see him. The brown-eyed mystery man. He looks different, more energetic. There are no more bags under his eyes, his hair is neatly combed with gel, and he is wearing a crisp blue shirt with jeans.

I on the other hand look like a beast. I am standing in this large green hospital gown, with wild hair and a bandaged head. I feel self-conscious as I walk towards my bed. He smiles when he sees me and sets down the bag in his hand.

"Good morning," he says with that smile that makes my insides squirm. "Morning," I say awkwardly and sit on the bed.

"How are you feeling? ".

"Better."

"Good. I brought you breakfast. I hope you are hungry."

Honestly, I am not all that hungry, but he is already setting everything out in front of me.

"I made your favorite, aloo ka paratha, and aloo ki kheer." He says as he hands me the plate.

"Aloo ki kheer?" I ask it's the 1st time I have heard something like that.

"Yes. Try it, it's your favorite" he says and hands me the spoon. The smell and look of it are making my mouth water. I taste it, damn it's delicious. I start gobbling up, that's when I realize how hungry I am.

"What about you? " I ask as I almost finish mine.

"I already ate," he says as he takes my now empty plate and sets it down.

"Uhh... I got you a change of clothes. Get dressed. By then I will sign your discharge papers. And we can leave." He hands me the bag and gets up to leave.

Wait... I am leaving with him?

"Wait! But.. where are my parents? Why haven't they come to get me yet? " I ask as I do not want to just walk out with this stranger.

"They are not here baby, you stay with me," he says as he looks more uncomfortable than I feel.

"What do you mean I stay with you? Why on earth would I live with you?" he is about to speak when I cut him again.." And no don't tell me again that everything is going to be fine or that you will explain to me later. I want my answers now! Who are you? Why do you care so much about me?" I realize that I am shouting by now.

" I am your fiancè," he says just above a whisper.

The world stops around me. I feel all the blood rush out of my face. Fiancè. I have a fiancè. I don't know what to say. The last time I remember I was a kid, deciding which college I would want to go to. And now I am a 23-year-old engaged woman.

" We met 3 years back." He says as he sits down beside me. "We never really got along at first. We fought. A lot. But I don't know how, somewhere along the way we fell in love with each other ..while fighting. As they say, opposites attract. We are a living walking proof for that statement." He chuckles as he says.

I can't believe I am with this man for 3 years. No wonder he looks so familiar. He feels so familiar. "You will remember everything baby, I promise. I will help you through every step. You are not alone. All you have to do is trust me. Can you do that for me? " he asks as he takes my hand in his. I see how small my hand is compared to his. I look up into his eyes and all I see is honesty and love in them. Love for me.

And before I realize, I am nodding and I say yes.

I can see the happiness seep across his face. He brings my hand to his mouth and kisses it gently.

"Thank you. I know how hard this is for you, but thank you for trusting me. You will not regret it." I can see tears glistening in the corner of his eyes.

"I will go fill the discharge papers. Get dressed. I will come to get you in 5 minutes. " he says as he fondly puts a strand of hair behind my ear and gets up to leave.

"Wait!!" I call out to him as he opens the door to leave.

"What is your name?"

"Siddharth". He says with a wink and walks out.

As the door closed behind me, I just sat there. Siddharth Nishaam. I was getting a feeling of deja vu. Like I have heard or called this name a million times.

I close my eyes and try to picture as to where? It's very hard, my head hurts, but I can't help myself. I take a few deep breaths and try to focus.

"Siddharth, Siddharth!!

Siddharth, Siddharth!!

Siddharth, Siddharth!!"

I can hear or more like see the crowd around me, cheering, I see myself cheering aloud. I am wearing a gorgeous black dress, good enough to walk the red carpet. I am sitting down beside a man, who looks very similar to Siddharth. He is cheering aloud too.

I see Siddharth walk towards the stage as the crowd cheers. He is in a black tux, looking confident and smart.

I feel like I have never been this proud, I see myself shedding the tears of happiness.

Bang!

The door opens, and I am brought back to the present world. My eyes open with a jerk.

Oh my! What was that? A dream? A real memory? It felt so real like I have lived through the moment. I try to think more but my head starts throbbing.

I am trying to focus and get more but I get nothing. It's frustrating. I am sure it wasn't a dream or imagination. It felt really like I have lived it.

But it didn't make sense. Why would we be at a place like that?

Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks.

I shake off the feeling when I see the nurse walk in.

"Hi dear. Come on, let's get you dressed" she says as she takes out my clothes. I get up from the bed and take the t-shirt and jeans she hands me.

"Once you change and come, I need to dress your head and put a new bandage on. You will have to come back for your next sitting after 2 days."

"Okay," I say as my mind keeps diverting back to the images I just had.

I unfold the t-shirt and jeans to check it out, both look way too expensive.

Definitely, not my type.

As I walk towards the washroom to change, I realize that the t-shirt is in 'S' size. What the...!

This won't fit me!! Great. Just great.

How can he get the wrong size?

I mean, look at me. I am easily an 'XL', if not at least an 'L'.

Damn! What am I going to wear now?!

I turn around and walk back towards the bed.

"What's wrong dear? Do you need help?" the nurse asks me patiently.

She's thrown off guard when I throw the clothes on the bed.

I don't know why I am getting so pissed off, but I am.

"Yes, I need help! I need a new set of clothes. These won't fit me!" I exclaim.

I am a first-rate bitch when I am frustrated. And my head is throbbing. Which isn't helping my temper.

"What's wrong?" I turn around to see him walk in. He's back. He comes in and is looking at me worriedly.

As I look at him I remember the images I just had. I don't know if I should ask him about it. But it doesn't make sense, why would we be in an award function?

So I decide it's better not to say anything as I feel it's just my stupid brain playing tricks.

"You got me the wrong set of clothes. They won't fit me." I say a little embarrassed that I am not perfect enough to fit in them.

I see him relax as he realizes it's nothing serious.

How did he even fall for me? He's so perfect, beyond perfect.

And I am this stupid, silly fat girl prying over clothes.

"They are from your very own wardrobe baby. They fit you. Just go try. If anything, it's going to be loose, as you have easily lost 5 to 6 pounds in these past few days. "

He says and hands me the clothes.

What is he talking about? I am annoyed now. I know myself better.

"Fine, I will try. But if these don't fit you will have to bring me another set. Of My Size." I say irritatedly. He is acting as if he knows me better than I know myself.

"Deal." He says as he chuckles.

I find nothing so amusing in this situation. But he looks as if he is trying hard not to laugh.

I take the clothes and walk back into the washroom. As I try on my clothes I realize that they fit me. Perfectly.

If anything the jeans is a little loose.

Wow.

When did my waist size change from 32 to 26?!

As I walk out of the washroom I see him smiling at me. I bet the shock is evident on my face.

I walk towards the full-length mirror in the room to get a look.

My eyes pop out as I look at myself for the 1st time. It's like I am staring at a completely different woman.

"You look beautiful," he says from behind me. I can feel his breath on my neck.

As our eyes meet in the mirror he gives me his heart-melting smile.

I can't help but smile back shyly.

Damn. This man has the ability to steal my breath with just a smile. How does he do that?

Later on, after I have brushed my wild hair and make it look somewhat presentable and the nurse has redressed my head and bandaged it we walk out of the room.

As we near the exit of the hospital, I can hear huge chaos outside. I feel Siddharth tense beside me.

He immediately digs inside the bad he was carrying and fishes out a denim jacket and sunglasses and hands them to me.

I wear the jacket he hands me, and refuse the glasses.

I have never been comfortable wearing them.

"You will want to wear it, baby. Trust me. " he insists and puts one himself.

So I wear them and as we head outside I see why.

There is a huge crowd.

Looks like the whole media is here. I am shell-shocked.

Why are all these people here?

I feel a wave of nausea hit me when they all start pointing their mikes at me and start taking pictures of me.

As we walk through them they start asking me and Siddharth all kinds of questions.

Why are they so interested in me?

Why do they want to know about my condition?

The security guards help us walk through the crowd.

Siddharth just wraps a hand around my shoulder and takes me past the crowd.

As we pass the crowd he turns back and says one final statement.

"I am sorry I can't answer all your questions at the moment. We would like to keep all this low for now. But all you guys need to know is she is perfectly fine now. Thank you. "

With that, we turn around and walk towards the parking lot. As we walk inside I can feel the chaos outside die down.

Why are all those people so interested to know about me?

And then it clicks.

Oh my god. He is a celebrity.

No wonder why people are so interested in knowing what's wrong with me. As I am his fiancè.

Now it all makes sense. The images I had earlier, it was real. I had a memory of him receiving an award.

But why didn't he tell me about this?

"You are a celebrity?" I ask as we near the car. He looks at me and nods.

"That's why all those people want to know about me. Because I am your fiancè! " I say as we continue to walk.

He stops walking and turns towards me.

"No baby. They want to know all about you because you are a celebrity."