"Sona please listen to me."

"No maa, please do not compel me. You have to understand my situation too...." Sona said monotonously. For once in her life, she wasn't crying. She was just talking normally, expressing her thoughts in the most decent way possible.

"Sona, I understand what you are thinking. But right now, we really need you. Enough of all this separation. It's high time you should get this sorted out. Dev doesn't recognise Simi at all.... Don't you think we all need you guys back? I really can't endure this anymore. Please Sona...." Asha pleaded and Sona's eyes softened.

"B-but he doesn't recognise me." She argued.

"Well, if you stay further, then there would be no improvements either. It's better if we all sit together and slowly help him." She spoke and Sona nodded in understanding.

"I know........but-"

"Look Sona. I know how hurt you are right now. I am not even asking for your forgiveness, because I don't think I deserve any. I am your culprit here. I was responsible for the entire marriage fiasco and I can't even imagine what you must have gone through... Dev's done a lot of bad things in anger and hurt..... And I know I can't justify it. He did it when he was at his weakest. But there's one difference between you and Dev." She spoke and Sona looked at her cautiously.

"You always listen to others around you when you are hurt.... whereas he doesn't. He just does what he thinks it's right. That's why I have high hopes on you when I ask you something.... Please return back to our house, Sona. Please....." she held Sona's hands tightly.

Sona felt helpless. She looked down at her hands and felt her chest tightening in fear. Streaming tears cleansed Asha's red cheeks while Sona stared at her. Sona felt scary that her heart was wasn't feeling anything. Not happy nor sad.

Asha had been more than a mother to her at many times. She had cared for Sona better than anyone else did for her. Being with Asha always made Sona feel the warmth of home. How could she reject her at her hardest times?

She knew that if she went back to Dev's house, all she would get in return is hurt. She couldn't expect anything more at this state.... But at this point of time, there was nothing left in her to lose.

"Okay" her lips uttered on their own.

-------------------

"Dude, shut the fuck up!" Arjun grunted and poured the orange juice angrily in the Styrofoam cup.

"What? I am just asking.... When did you get married? That too without informing me? You idiotic traitor." Dev frowned and muttered under his breath. If he was in his normal self, he would have thrown the nearest garbage on Arjun's head.

"Traitor? Me? You're lucky that you in bed-ridden. If you were walking, I would have thrown this juice on your face. Which idiot would forget your own child?" Arjun closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He really needed to attend yoga classes!

"Who's child?" Dev's eyes enlarged and he felt his words stuck in the middle of the throat.

He felt the frustration tears pricking near his eyes. His mind exploded when Arjun dropped every bomb one by one. He had slowly started accepting that he had forgotten some of his memories....but as minutes passed, it was getting scarier. The amount of memory he had lost couldn't even be compiled into a novel.

He was frightened of people who loved him, talked to him as if they knew him and read his emotions like a clear glass. He simply couldn't deal with the intensity of other's sympathy. It was making him furious and anxious at the same time. He felt like crying out loud in defeat.

How could he forget such huge memories? Arjun got married? He got married? And wait...child? A real child? How could he forget a child? It was just too much for him.

He couldn't get rid of Lina from his mind till today.... How did he accept another girl in his life?

"Where's Sasha?" he suddenly blurted, making Arjun inhale sharply.

"Sorry what?"

"Sasha!" Dev said in an obvious tone. Arjun glanced at Dev continuously and blinked a few times. He couldn't really register which year he was in... Out of all the people, he remembered Sasha? Really?

Arjun composed himself and placed the cup on the table.

"Wait wait.... You still remember Sasha?" Arjun asked cautiously and Dev's eyes brightened.

"Um yea... I was getting to know Sasha after my ugly break-up" he answered right away. Arjun was gobsmacked. If he remembered Sasha, then he should have known Sona too, right?

"Don't you remember meeting Sona then?"

"Who's that?" Dev asked and Arjun sighed tiredly.

"Okay nevermind. Do you remember what we worked as? Don't lie to me that you only remember the hotels." Arjun grunted.

"Of course, I remember. We are still working under Jordon, right?" Dev asked doubtfully and Arjun stilled. He felt like his muscles froze when the question was thrown out of Dev.

Sighing heaving, he decided to lie for that moment. "Ummm..... yes."

Arjun was so done with all the questions. Now that Dev had started talking, he felt like it was more than enough for him. They almost thought that they were going to lose Dev. It was a miracle that he survived through such a brutal phase.

Thankfully, he only forgot a few years of memory instead of his entire life. Dev surviving the attack was already good enough. Arjun could sense the desperation and agitation in Dev's voice. He was trying hard to recollect his memories, but it was hard. He didn't want to put more pressure on his poor friend.

Arjun was in deep thoughts when Tara entered the room. She looked at Dev carefully and slowly walked near him. Dev was clueless on how to react. Although Arjun had introduced his wife to him a few minutes ago, he couldn't get used to that feel yet. Arjun and marriage sounded like two different seasons...

"Hey.... how are you feeling now?" Tara asked and Dev looked at her blankly.

"Um... Good, I guess...." Dev answered, making Arjun roll his eyes. But Tara smiled and sat on the chair next to his bed.

"The doctor said that you can be discharged tomorrow.... But you have to be completely on bedrest. No driving, no working and strictly no washing of hair for one week." She said, making Dev scrunch his face in disgust.

He could never imagine himself not washing his hair for so many days.

"Is that the doctor's saying or yours?" he raised an eyebrow and Tara chuckled.

"If I had to give you advices, the list would prolong and you would never see an end to it. Anyways, I am a doctor too.... So, behave okay?" She mumbled and Dev's eyes widened.

"You're a doctor too?" he gasped and she just nodded casually.

"Yes, you have three doctors in our family now. Your mum, your wife and me." She counted with her fingers and Dev cringed further.

The word wife seemed like a vulgarity from everyone's mouth. Why couldn't he recall anything about his own wife. He desperately wanted to catch the sight of his so-called wife again. She just came in once and vanished like a lightening. He didn't even get to see her face properly the first time..... Or maybe he was just too indulged in seeing her dark eyes that he didn't see other features properly.

He wanted to ask whether it was an arranged marriage or a love marriage. He wanted to know how their relationship was.?.... And wait, they even had a child. Goodness gracious....

He mentally rolled his eyes. He was so annoyed that everyone knew his wife better than him. He wanted to ask something about her, and not sound like a fool. But he was afraid that they would make fun of him. So, he just decided to keep quiet.

"Dev, your juice." Arjun gave it to him and lifted up the bed to a sitting position. Dev reluctantly drank it. Anything that slipped through his mouth, burnt his throat. The juice wasn't as appetizing like what he had seen in the movies. It was bitter and it tasted like poison. He lost his appetite and turned his face away.

"I can't drink this poison...." He sulked and Tara gave him an appalled look.

"Why not?" she asked and he just frowned.

"I want to see maa. Could you call her, please?" He answered, not wanting to talk to anyone else. He was devastated and he just wanted to see his mother back again.

He wasn't used to gaining attention like this. Receiving care made him feel weak and vulnerable. He totally hated this feeling and all he could think of, was to rely on his mother's shoulders. He wanted to have a heart to heart conversation with her. He truly believed that talking to his mum would be his last option in order to gain back his lost confidence.

"Can I see maa now. Please." He repeated again.

"She's talking to the doctor, Dev...." Tara answered, seeing him agitated. This reaction was somehow expected from a patient who had been through a brain surgery. They would either feel too emotional or they would be devastated with the changes they see in reality. Seeing Dev there, made Tara feel extremely depressed.

"Just a little while Dev.... She will be here." Arjun spoke softly. Looking at their helpless faces, Dev just slumped back on the recliner and closed his eyes angrily. He just felt so frustrated and vulnerable.

"May I come in?" a sudden voice, made his eyebrows knit in confusion. He still didn't open his eyes. The melodious voice brought him too many emotions. But he couldn't really place a finger on the exact memory. He just felt like he heard it so many times before....

He decided to keep his eyes closed and listened to what happened around him.

"Is he asleep?" the feminine voice enquired and he heard the hushed whispers from the other side. Dev controlled his urge to roll his eyes. Why couldn't they just speak loudly?

"Yes, looks like the drugs is working wonders on your husband." Tara giggled and Dev gritted his teeth. Husband?

Dev didn't understand what was so funny? Didn't they have anything else to talk other than him being the main topic? Like why do they always have to rub it on her face that he was her husband? Was she the one having amnesia?

"Did he have the juice?" that melodious voice spoke again. Oh, so the sour poison was her idea... Not a good start.

"Barely.... He said it tasted like poison." Arjun muttered and Dev sensed the scoff in that tone. Seriously, what's Arjun problem now? Did he really have to say about that poison part?

"Well, it's medicine...." The voice spoke again. Dev could feel like smile behind those words.... He felt the hurricane of emotions twirling around him with just that voice.

"Okay Sona.... I think I will go and call maa here. Till then, you stay here with him, okay?" Dev heard Tara speaking and he held his breath, wishing everyone would leave him alone.

"And Arjun, could you follow me, please." He heard Tara speaking again. Dev held his breath strongly..... Shit, were they planning to leave him alone with her?

"No, I have some........ Ouuuhhhhh, okay. I will come." Arjun's voice gave away how bad of an actor he was. Dev was already murdering Arjun on his dreams.

Dev swore he heard a silent giggle behind. He was so irritated that he mentally made a note of punching Arjun once he was back to normal.

Once everyone left, Dev made sure he resembled a dead man. He didn't even release a single breath to show her that he wasn't sleeping. More than anyone he was really frightened to face her. He didn't know what he should speak. He did not want to come off as rude or arrogant.

Like saying 'Are you my wife?' would sound extremely absurd and hurting. He didn't want to hurt her.... Not when she was his doctor too.

He waited for a while...

"I know that you're awake." Her voice truly surprised him. His eyes jolted open and he gaped at her widely.

That's when his eyes took their time to leisurely analyse her. She had a warm brunette coloured hair and pastel white skin which made her beautiful pink lips stand out. Unlike the previous day, she didn't wear the doctor coat on top. Instead she wore a beautiful pastel pink outfit which almost wrapped her entire body. She was slightly taller than what he had expected. Her fluttery eyes made his heart jump out of his chest dangerously. She had the most common black eyes that people had. But they surprisingly added lots of seduction to her features. Each one held a coruscate gleam that enhanced their beauty.

At the same time, her beauty was tainted by her weariness. She still had dark eye bags and the redness in her eyes, indicated her lack of sleep. She looked too tired to be standing there and doing any work. She also had a few bandages on her neck and wrists, making him curious about it.

When he looked at her again, he noticed that her eyes held more seriousness than normal. She didn't smile like he expected. She didn't blush or stutter like the girls whom he usually dated. She looked void of emotions, almost like a robot. Her eyes flickered to the ECG machine more often while she checked the fluid level on his IV bag.

However, even with those flaws she was really a beauty to hold on to..... But he felt that she was too naive for him. He just couldn't believe that he would choose an innocent and timid girl to be his wife. He felt stupid... He knew that a life like that would only be messed up. A soft, innocent girl would never be able to survive with him!

Every time she gazed at him, she would slightly tilt her head and brush back a few strands of invisible hair behind her ears. At that moment, she looked exactly like how 'Mystery' would look like.

She wore the skin of innocence, but had the look of fire in her.

The more he looked at her, the more she enticed him.

"How did you know I was awake?" his voice came out raspier than he expected.

"Well, it's easy to find..... when you're awake." That was all she said. He expected her to be more sportive or humorous, but she tried her best to end the conversation as soon as possible. Her voice fell flat and it no longer felt melodious to his ears.

Dev didn't know how to extend the conversation either. He looked at her and realised that her legs were too fidgety. If he didn't know better, he would say that she was as confused as him. Maybe she wanted to speak to him too......

There were so many things he wanted to tell her, or rather ask her. But he ran out of ideas to initiate the chat. Maybe she was angry that he forgot her, he thought.

But it was only fair for her to be upset. If Lina had forgotten him, he would have reacted this way too.... Ewww, he didn't understand why Lina even came inside the picture. He tried to push back his old thoughts and focus only on the lady infront of him.

"Are you upset?" he asked, and this time he got a priceless reaction from her. Her legs stopped shaking and her hands clenched together on its own. Okay, so the answer must be a yes.

She stopped whatever she was doing and just gazed at him with uncertainty. It was almost as if she was fighting an internal war within her. He saw the storm brewing in her dark orbs. Dev didn't know why, but he felt like he needed to hold her and tell her that it was okay......but he couldn't move.

Why the hell do I get so involved? She's just another girl. He thought to himself. He brushed away that unusual feelings, saying that it was just his usual concern he had for others. But something else was pumping inside him.

His unusual heartbeat. It was just too painful to feel.

Sonakshi looked at the ECG monitor and her eyes filled up with unknown sadness. Dev looked at it, but he had no idea what the machine was showing up, until she decided to speak.

"No."

"Huh?" Dev squinted his eyes.

"I am not upset with anyone..... I am just worried." She tried her best to smile, but failed miserably. Dev saw her shoulders sagging in defeat and her eyes losing its usual confidence.

"But-" before he could say anything, she interrupted him.

"Dev...... Your heartbeat is unstable.... You should not be thinking too much right now. Rest is exactly what you need. Please don't strain yourself and don't try to recall anything. If your memory is meant to return, it will come back one day. And avoid head movements, especially turning side-ways. We will inject you with painkillers every six hours, but you have to drink this juice and have those medicines without tantrums, okay?" she spoke like she was speaking to a child.

Dev didn't know why, but he obediently nodded like a school student. He just felt like listening to her, almost as if they had been doing it for years.

"But I want....." he gulped down his dry throat. "I want to talk to you."

Sonakshi looked at him and blinked a few times. This time, her eyes reflected her soul and Dev couldn't even blink away. Her eyes gleamed with shine and he noticed that she was being very calculative with every movement she did.

There was an unknown fear lingering on her face. Probably she was even being careful with the words she chose to tell him. He couldn't tell whether it was part of her character or it was just an emotion she developed recently.

He didn't know why, but he did not like that. He didn't like how distant she made him feel. They were not a compatible couple. He just felt the dislike slowly developing inside him. Maybe he was judging her too fast, but he couldn't help it. She was behaving so weird. Too abnormal for his liking....

He expected more... Maybe he couldn't tolerate the fact that his dream wife and reality wife didn't match at all.

"What's our child's name?" he suddenly asked and this time, her face really ghosted.

"Simran Sharma" she covered her own anxiety and handed him the juice that was untouched in the table. The name still rung inside his ears as his lips parted on his own. Sona placed the glass tip on his lips and saw the drink disappearing inside his mouth. That drink no longer tasted like poison now.

Dev was distracted by deep thoughts as he swallowed the bitter drink. The name Simran was so old...Why did he name his child such an old-fashioned name? Was he drunk? Or did that name have any back story? Usually he was someone who would think of naming something stylish like Jenny, Laila or Reena. What's with Simran?

"Who named her?" he parted his lips away from the glass and asked with curiosity.

"You did." Sona said and breathed a heavy sigh. She could already imagine the question marks running wild on his head.

Before he could proceed with his questioning quest, Asha entered the room, making Sona sigh in relief. Asha's entry felt like a huge rock was lifted off Sona's chest.

Sona didn't know why she was so nervous. After all there was nothing left for her to be worried about. But she was still scared. Scared of answering his questions, because he wasn't the same Dev who was present a week ago. He was totally a new person and he didn't even remember a single thing about their relationship.

Possibilities would be, he may not even fall in love with her anymore.

"Dev, did you call for me?" Asha stepped in and walked near her son's bed.

"Um...yea. Well....." Dev hesitated and Sona quickly walked out. She felt like she needed to give them their privacy.

Dev looked at Sona's retreating figure and frowned deeply. He felt so agitated. He felt like he married someone from a different planet. Usually he wasn't known as a person who judged, but from her looks and behaviour it was odd for him to put two and two together.

"Is she really my wife?" he asked his mum, making Asha stumble a little. His looks told her that the news of Sona being his wife, didn't really sit well with him.

"W-what?"

"I asked, is she really my wife or are you all pranking me?" he asked with so much seriousness that almost made Asha fear her decisions.

"Yes Dev. She's really your wife and we play no pranks here. Everyone's worried and nobody would lie about such things. You know that, right?" She spoke softly, placing her hands on top of forehead.

"Ouhh.... Um yea." Asha sensed the disappointment in his tone. His eyes dulled and she could tell that he was under pressure. He definitely did not like what he was hearing.

"Dev..." she called him, "Aren't you happy about them? Do you think that Sona and Simran should stay away till you-"

"No..no" he was quick to answer. His face paled as he looked at Asha unbelievably. Why would she say something like that?

Well, yes. He wasn't really in acceptance mode about his wife yet. But he had responsibilities towards his child. No matter what happens.... the fact that Simran was his child, wasn't going to change. He already loved the idea of having a child.... Moreover, a daughter was his dream. Staying away from them seemed like a crime which was worth going behind bars.

"I don't have any objections in them staying there. Why would they go away? I mean......... I am not that bad, am I?" he tried laughing, but it came out forced.

Asha could see his confused state and felt pity on him.

"No Dev... See, we are not forcing you to accept your new relations. I know it's difficult and Sona knows it too. That's why she didn't really ask you anything. We all understand that it takes time and we are more than willing to give you that time now. After all there's nothing more to lose now..." Asha said the last sentence in barely a whisper.

Dev looked at his mother in confusion and tried sitting up. His mother wasn't the same person he remembered any longer. She had aged and there was deep worry-lines formed on her forehead. He had never seen his mother being stressed in a long time. She had always been the coolest mum he ever known.

He didn't know what caused this change. Even the way she spoke was different. Did his accident cause this change?

"Maa.... Am I making you sad?" he asked, taking her palms in his. Asha looked at him and slowly brought her hands up his cheeks. Caressing his face lovingly, she felt a tear rolling down her cheeks.

"You never made me sad..... Never then. Never now.... Never in future too" She said, making him smile.

Soon Asha had to leave, to take care of Simi at home. She told Dev that Simi unfortunately fell sick too. Poor child had been frightened the past few days and she started crying till she had wheezing. Her fever shot up due to that and Sona had to divide her time between hospital and home without rest.

Sona's state wasn't the best either. She still didn't recover fully from Karthik's attack. Although physically she could overcome the pain, mentally she was still under trauma. She was trying her best to distract herself with work. Moreover, Simi falling sick made her devastated. Her sleep reduced from little to literally nothing and her body was becoming too fatigue.

Dev on the other hand, wasn't convinced with all explanations. No matter how many times everyone told him to rest, he couldn't close his eyes for more than ten minutes. He kept waking up every now and then with sudden black and white images. He didn't want to face the reality. Suddenly the pressure of being a married man, made him nervous. He never imagined himself as a married. Never so soon at least....

It was out of his character. He still remembered how he would brush the topic of marriage everytime his mother spoke to him about it. He always was into dating and clubbing.... Now he was married and he couldn't do any of that? It felt unfair.

He gritted his teeth in anger and felt too unreasonable. He wanted his memory back! The more he contemplated, the more he felt his head throbbing. Confusion, anger and exhaustion took a toll over him, making his heart rate unstable.

"AAAAAAAAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhhh" he screamed loudly in resentment. He hated living like a vegetable, although it was only a week longer.

He was accustomed to working hard without taking breaks. He did not even remember a single day where he rested on his bed. Not even when he was sick... For him to be laid on the bed for one whole day was like hell. He didn't like it. He rather preferred himself to be dead than to be useless.

The nurses ran in and called for the doctor when they saw his pressure shooting high. When the doctor came in, he shook his head and looked at Dev with distress.

"Hey young man..... You know that you shouldn't be stressing too much, right? Your wounds are still fresh and you have so many stitches in your body. If you keep moving and straining your body, some wounds may open up." He spoke apologetically.

"I can't help it. I want to go home. I can sit still like this!!!" Dev spoke stubbornly and the doctor sighed.

"I can understand your state. But it's not possible..... you will be only discharged if we deem you as fit. If your heartrate doesn't become normal, then I am sorry to say that your stay may be prolonged here." The doctor spoke seriously and Dev's face hardened.

"Well, don't you think I know all that. I can take care of myself. Staying in this room will only make me insane! Got it?" he screamed, making the doctor's eyes widen.

"Um.... Okay. Let me handle the procedures while you get some sleep." The doctor spoke kindly and Dev just clicked his tongue in annoyance. He felt so horrible and insecure.

Soon Arjun was called to the hospital. Once he heard the entire chaos, he rushed there and walked inside the room, only to see Dev staring at him angrily.

"Arjun, I need to go home. I don't care what you do or how you do it... I have to go home right now." He shouted and Arjun's face turned into worry.

"But-"

"I WILL GET BETTER. I need to go home to get better.... I will never improve if I am sitting here like a corpse. You get it?" Dev exclaimed.

"Okay... relax will you. I am not saying you can't go home.... The doctors don't advice you to go home so early because of two reasons. First is, your surgeries are all major... So, they need to make sure you do not suffer any extreme side-effects. Second, your body is very weak and it needs sufficient glucose before you start walking like a healthy human being."

"Did the doctor guy tell you all this?"

"No. I am telling you because I know." Arjun folded his arms and glared at Dev. He was back to being that stubborn grumpy dude that scared every single person around him.

"Why the fuck do you all think that I am unfit?" Dev screamed.

"BECAUSE WHEN I BROUGHT YOU TO THIS HOSPITAL.... YOU WERE HALF DEAD!!!" Arjun yelled, successfully shutting Dev up. That's the first time Dev saw a flared-up Arjun.

He had never seen Arjun getting so worked up over a long time. Or maybe he just forgot it... but now, seeing Arjun like this made him edgy.

"See Dev... I tried to be patient. But when it concerns your health, I am not taking any chances. Not even if you insist! It's only one week and trust me, you won't be alone. I will be here tonight, maa will be here tomorrow and so on. Just bear with it yaar" Arjun sighed and slumped on the chair.

Arjun looked like he was woken up after a war. Dev felt bad looking at him.... Was he bothering everyone around him? He started feeling like a burden there.

"Okay" Dev said after a long pause. Arjun looked at him at smiled sadly.

"Dev.... I am really sorry. I know you aren't well and you feel paranoid here. But we have no choice. It's just a week more and it will all be fine after that, okay?" Arjun asked and Dev just nodded helplessly.

---------------

Dev tried to sleep after that and honestly, he felt horrible. Time was passing slowly and he wished he slept another seven days continuously. Finally, when sleep invaded him, he felt relieved.

After a few hours, he stirred in his place again, only to feel a hand resting on his palms. His forced his heavy eyelids to open and inhaled a deep breath when he spotted his doctor sleeping there. Wait doctor? Wait..no... That's his wife, right? Whatever. Both!

He didn't make any move to take his hands away as he analysed her face carefully. She rested her head next to his hand while her fingers were weaved with his. He felt her warm skin making his entire body feel warm. Dev couldn't move his head too much as his neck muscles pained him. But from whatever he could see, he felt surreal.

He studied her as she slept. Her hair was splayed on the bed while her head sunk into the mattress next to his leg. From whatever he could see without tilting his neck, he got a good look of her beautiful eye lashes.

In his work life, he had always met woman who wore heavy make-up and caked up into several layers. Seeing someone so simple, amused him. Her eye lashes really got his attention as they were long, thick, and dark without any makeup. They weren't caked in that black paint that woman brushed with everyday, to make it look unnatural.

Instead they were smooth and wavy, urging him to run his fingers over those lashes. He could bet that they were soft...silky and...gosh what are you thinking Dev?

He quickly diverted his attention away from her and tried distracting himself. He didn't know how long she had been there, but her face expressed her weariness. She must have been working too long. He couldn't help but admit that he felt good to see her there. It could only mean that she cared.

A small smile lit up his lips. But as soon as few seconds passed, he realised that he unknowingly stretched his palms wider in reflex like he did all the time. That action of his, made Sona stir in her place. Dev's eyes enlarged and he quickly pretended like he was sleeping again.

Closing his eyes, he felt her fingers slowly parting away from his. A small ray of disappointment hit his heart when he lost the warmth of her palms. He internally sulked. But he was taken aback when he felt her hands taking his hands in hers' again.

The next thing he knew, he felt a pair of lips on the back of his palms. His heart stopped and he tried his best not to flinch. Everything she did was unexpected. He was glad that he pretended to sleep. At least he knew what she was intending to do. Maybe she would not have even spoken if he was awake.

But his happiness was short lived.

"I know you're awake." He heard her say and this time, he was genuinely shocked. What the hell? He acted his best!!!

He slowly opened his eyes and saw her eyes already glued on him. For a change, her pursued lips were now slowly stretched in a lazy smile as she watched him open his eyes leisurely.

"Um.... I just woke up actually." He said and saw her lips turning into a wide grin. Okay Dev, stop covering your stupidity. The damage is done.

"Uhmm...." She hummed, still not making any initiative to peel her hands away from his. Dev felt thankful for that.

He actually loved the feel of her hands on him. It felt comforting.

"So..." she decided to break the silence. "I heard that there was an argument with Dr James? Arjun told me" she said and Dev internally cringed. Can't Arjun keep anything to himself? He should quit his job and become a news reporter.

"Well, yes..." his thumb unconsciously rubbed around knuckles. He saw her jerking upright with that small movement, however she covered it up with a slow cough.

"Um.... What went wrong just now?" her eyes slowly gazed up at him. But it didn't last long as she flickered her gaze back to their intertwined fingers.

"Oh that.... I don't really like staying here for another one week. I feel sick and it makes me claustrophobic. I feel my muscles tightening up and I hate feeling so useless....... I just want to walk. Or at least get some fresh air... I told this to the doctor but he's not understanding me. They plug me to this tubes and make me feel like a dead man." He blabbered, not caring whether she was listening or not.

Sonakshi noticed his uneasiness. One thing that she could strongly point out was Dev's unordinary behaviour. He was so different from the person whom she interacted days ago. This Dev in front of her was stiffer and crazier. He was so talkative and he seldom took note of his surroundings. He wasn't the serious guy whom she knew anymore.

"I can..." she coughed when his hold unknowingly got tighter on her hands. She felt a strong explosion inside her when he unknowingly clenched his fingers together.

Dev looked at her and raised a brow.

"I can try talking to the dean.....and get you discharged tomorrow morning?" She spoke and his eyes instantly brightened. He couldn't believe that they could actually do that.

"You would?" he gasped and Sona smiled faintly. To see him smile, she felt like she could do anything.

"Only if that's what you want." She said frankly. Her other hand came and fully enveloped his palms inside hers.

"Of course, I want to get out of here. Please... Will you be able to take me out of here?" he gave his puppy-eyes and she sighed heavily. His state was really bad and helping him only meant that she would have to bear all the risks.

"Yes I will. But your reports have to come out fine. I will run another set of x-rays and tests tonight. If everything is okay, then I will talk to the dean and get you discharged tomorrow morning. Okay?" she said positively, making Dev smile like an idiot.

He felt his body coming back to life. Okay....she wasn't as bad as he thought.

"Thank you Dr......ummm.... How do I call you?" he scrunched his eyes apologetically. Sona smiled and finally parted her hands away from his.

"Sonakshi" she spoke and his eyes filled with the same happiness again.

"Thank you Sonakshi."

***************

I know the track of memory loss is cliche. But I wanted to try it because I think it's time to show some of Sona's and Dev's Character when they are put into some real screwed-up situations.

Let's experiment whether they would stick together if life really gave them another chance!

https://youtu.be/FAA6wAx1xUI