Chapter 4 : what are the things happening to me.

Prem:

I opened my eyes to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside. Turning my head, I noticed Nani still asleep beside me, his face relaxed and peaceful. It was the first time I had seen him like this—so calm, without the usual tension that seemed to weigh him down. A small sense of relief washed over me.

I quietly got out of bed, careful not to disturb him, and went through my morning routine. After freshening up, I headed downstairs to the bustling kitchen. Leela was already there, managing the busy restaurant as customers filled the space and workers hurried to keep up.

I made my way to the reception area, where I started going over the accounts. One of the staff members brought me a cup of coffee, and I sipped it slowly, feeling the warmth spread through me. As I sat there, Nani's peaceful face flashed in my mind, and I realized I hadn't prepared anything for him yet.

Setting the coffee aside, I went into the kitchen. Amid the hustle, I took a moment to prepare a fresh cup of coffee and some sandwiches. With the tray in hand, I made my way back upstairs to the room.

I quietly opened the door, and my breath caught as I noticed Nani smiling in his sleep. His expression was serene, almost magical, as if he were lost in a peaceful dream. Watching him felt like discovering a hidden treasure in a beautiful, untouched forest—a moment of pure tranquility that I wanted to savor.

I carefully placed the tray on the table and sat down in a nearby chair, unable to take my eyes off him. His peacefulness was a stark contrast to the turmoil of the previous night, and I felt a strange mix of relief and something deeper, something that tugged at my heart.

My phone rang, snapping me out of my reverie. It was Zara. I stepped out onto the balcony to answer the call.

"Prem, I'm leaving the island," Zara said, her voice distant. "Don't bother coming to the airport to see me off."

I acknowledged her words, sensing the finality in her tone, and ended the call. Returning to the room, I placed my phone on the table, noticing the low battery. I plugged it in, but as I did, my hand brushed against a book that had been lying on the table for some time. It tumbled to the floor with a loud thud.

The sudden noise startled Nani awake. He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze darting around the room in confusion. As his awareness returned, he realized he was lying on the bed, naked and vulnerable. Panic flashed across his face, his eyes wide with shock and confusion.

Nani's eyes were wide with shock as he sat up, clutching the bedsheet around himself. "What did you do to me? Why did you take advantage of me? How dare you—"

I held up a hand to stop him, my voice firm but calm. "Enough. Yesterday, you were drowning in the sea. I pulled you out and brought you here because you were unconscious. I wasn't going to leave you alone in your room."

"Then why am I naked on your bed?" Nani's voice was laced with suspicion.

"It was almost midnight. Your clothes were soaking wet, and I didn't want you to catch a fever. I removed them. Nothing more than that."

Nani's expression shifted from shock to irritation. "Oh, I feel so annoyed! You crazy dinosaur…"

I couldn't help but laugh at his choice of words. "So, you feel bad because I saw you naked?"

"Yes," he huffed, still glaring at me.

"Well then," I nodded, pretending to consider his complaint. Without warning, I began to remove my T-shirt, then my pants, and finally my boxers, standing naked in front of him.

Nani's jaw dropped, his face turning beet red. In a flash, he yanked the bedsheet over his head, burying himself in it as if it could shield him from the entire situation. Chuckling, I quickly dressed again and walked out to the balcony to retrieve his clothes, which had dried overnight.

I placed them neatly on the bed. "Here, put these on," I said, heading for the door to give him some privacy.

As I stood outside, scrolling aimlessly through YouTube, I tried to shake off the tension that had settled in the room. After a few minutes, I went back inside.

Nani was dressed but still fuming. "How shameless can you be?"

I shrugged. "What's wrong with being naked?"

"Someone like you… You obviously don't care about anything! You've probably seen countless people naked, and you don't even have basic common sense."

His words hit harder than I expected, and suddenly, I was back in a memory—fragmented images of someone urgently calling for a doctor. The feeling of helplessness and panic rushed over me, but I forced it away.

"I'm leaving now," Nani announced, trying to regain some control over the situation.

I stepped closer, my voice turning firm. "From today, you're staying with me."

His eyes filled with tears, and seeing them broke something inside me. I turned away, unable to face his pain.

"Who are you to stop me?" Nani's voice was strained, caught between anger and sorrow.

"I saved you from drowning. You owe me. You need to listen to what I say."

The moment the words left my mouth, I regretted them. I could see the disappointment in his eyes.

"Then why didn't you just let me die?" he whispered, the weight of his sorrow hanging between us.

"No more talking," I said, my voice rough with emotion. "Just have breakfast and come downstairs." Without looking back at him, I left the room, anger and guilt warring inside me.

Nani:

After Prem left the room, I stood there, feeling a heavy weight settle in my chest. Everything that's happening—it's all because of me. I can't even die without failing. From the day I was born, it's been one exhausting attempt after another to fit into a mold that was never meant for me. It hurts so much, and all I want is for it to stop, just once.

I walked into the washroom, avoiding my reflection at first, but then I caught sight of myself in the mirror. My face, my eyes—they screamed of failure. The biggest failure in the world, that's what I saw staring back at me.

My gaze drifted down to the basin, where a new toothbrush lay. I picked it up, noticing the fresh scent lingering on my clothes. A floral fragrance that wasn't mine, but his. The confusion swirled in my mind. Why would he do this for me? I couldn't understand it.

Prem:

After leaving the room, I headed straight to the beach and sat down in the sand, staring out at the relentless waves. A deep pain gnawed at my heart and mind—not the kind that bruises or breaks bones, but the kind that cuts through your soul. It was emotional, raw, and consuming, like someone had reached inside me and twisted everything around. It felt like the kind of pain that makes you wish you could just disappear.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I fought to keep them at bay, trying to suppress the overwhelming emotions. I didn't know how to handle this. It was the first time I'd ever felt something like this, something so intense that it scared me.

As I turned my head, I saw Nani coming toward me from the gate, holding a water bottle. He walked over, his face a mix of emotions I couldn't quite read. I stood up, grabbed the bottle from him, and took a long drink, feeling the cool water soothe my dry throat. But when I looked at him again, I saw the anger simmering in his eyes.

"We're leaving to your room to bring our things," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nani glared at me, defiance flashing across his face. "Why should I listen to you?"

"I hate it when people talk back to me," I snapped, my voice growing aggressive as I turned and headed inside the restaurant, my emotions still in turmoil.

"Hey, dinosaur! Stop right there!" I heard Nani shout after me, his voice filled with irritation. I couldn't help but smirk, the edge of his voice cutting through the fog in my mind. It was clear, sharp, and in some strange way, it grounded me, even as I kept walking inside.

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At afternoon 2:00 pm,

I grabbed the bike keys and called out to Nani, who was playing with Chotu. He resisted, arguing that he didn't want to leave his room, but before the argument could escalate, Leela stepped in between us. Her calm voice was like a balm, urging us to settle down. She convinced Nani to stay with me, saying that both she and Chotu wanted him close.

Reluctantly, Nani agreed, but as I hopped on the bike, I had this unsettling feeling that someone was watching us. I turned my head to the right, scanning the area, but saw nothing. Nani climbed onto the back, clearly unwilling but without further protest.

We reached his room, quickly packed all his things, and returned to the restaurant.

As soon as we stepped inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. My eyes locked onto a man holding a knife, his face twisted with anger. Leela had bruises all over her body, and Chotu was crying, clutching his head, which was bleeding from a deep cut.

Rage flared up inside me. Without thinking, I charged at the man, grabbing him by the collar. As I dragged him toward the door, Leela hurriedly took Chotu into her room, locking the door behind her in fear.

I didn't stop. I threw a hard punch to his face, feeling the satisfying crunch as his nose bled. The man stumbled back, and I pushed him to the ground, kicking him viciously in the stomach. Each kick fueled by the sight of Leela's bruises and Chotu's blood.

Nani, witnessing the brutality, quickly pulled me aside, his hands gripping my arms tightly, trying to bring me back to my senses. My breath was ragged, heart pounding with fury, but Nani's touch was enough to make me pause, the red haze slowly lifting from my vision.

"Will you stop? How many people are you going to hurt?" Nani's voice cut through the air, laced with a rare aggression.

I stared into his eyes, my own blazing with fury. The intensity of my gaze made him take a couple of steps back. I turned away from him, focusing on the man who had just scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the boats. He hastily untied the rope securing a boat to the dock and started the engine. The boat lurched forward, speeding away.

Without hesitation, I jumped into another boat, desperate to follow him. Nani, despite my sharp command for him to stay back, leaped in beside me. Ignoring my protests, he remained by my side. I started the engine and pursued the man across the water.

For what felt like an eternity—an hour of relentless chase—our boat closed in on his. As we drew near, I made a daring leap onto his boat. Nani's frantic shouts echoed behind me, pleading for me not to hurt the man.

But the man was ready. He whipped out a knife from his pocket, slashing wildly. A sharp pain seared through my bicep as the blade found its mark, and blood quickly soaked my sleeve. Nani, witnessing the wound, panicked, his face draining of color. I could feel his fear as if it were my own, a sensation so intense it blurred the line between us. His terror, his anguish—it all mirrored within me.

The man, sensing victory, took the opportunity to jump from the boat, disappearing into the churning waves. My strength began to wane, my vision blurring as the blood loss took its toll. Nani's cries grew distant as I slumped to the deck, my consciousness slipping away.

As darkness closed in, one thought consumed me: Why am I feeling everything Nani feels? What is happening to me?