"Promise me that you will always stay with me."

.

"When you cry, I feel like I'm drowning."

.

"Don't leave me alone in the darkness. I'm scared."

.

"You are my life and my everything."

.

"I need you... please, don't leave me."

I heard someone whispering these words. Some images flashed in my mind, though they were not clear. There were two people in every scene, but I couldn't see their faces. The same pain started hitting my head again, and I screamed. Then, I felt a needle prick my hand, making me open my eyes. I saw blurry figures surrounding me. I guess I'm lying in the same bed again. Someone whispered in my ear, "Relax, everything will be fine. Just relax." I tried, but I couldn't see the person. As if waiting for those words, a sense of relaxation spread through my mind. This time, I closed my eyes peacefully.

_____________________

I slowly opened my eyes, again in the same place. Sighing, I turned my head to the left. There, I saw a girl close to me. I was scared to death. She was staring at me. I gulped, and she smiled. Oh! I can ask her for help. After all, she is not that scary. I was just not expecting to see anyone.

I tried to sit up in the bed, and she held my hand and said, "Please relax. Don't worry about anything." I frowned, not understanding a bit of what the girl was saying. The loud sound of the door drew my attention. A lady came into the room. She also smiled, and I was again confused.

"Good that you woke up! How are you feeling now?" asked the lady.

I voiced my thoughts, "Hum.. hum kuch nahi jaante, ye bhi nahi ke hum kaun hain? Aap log kaun hain? Aur ye sab..." (I.. I don't know anything, not even who I am. Who are you people? And all this...) I pointed to the same wires in my hand, and silent tears escaped my eyes.

"Kya? Tumhe kuch bhi yaad nahi hai? Matlab..." (What? You don't remember anything? That means...) The lady and the girl both seemed shocked.

The lady (understanding): "Means she has lost her memory...!!!" She paused for a moment, then saw me and asked, "Kya tumhe apna naam bhi yaad nahi hai...?" (Don't you even remember your name...?)

In reply, I just shook my head as no and asked with tears, "Do you know my name...?"

The lady hopelessly looked at the girl, who in return blinked her eyes at the lady and said to me, "Ummm... don't worry... I know your name, and I am your friend, Lavanya."

I hesitated and asked, "Is... is my name Lavanya...?"

The girl: "Uhhh!! No... no... my name is Lavanya... and your name is... Khushi."

Someone from behind whispered in my ear, "Khushi." Horrified, I instantly turned around and was shocked to find no one there. I started breathing heavily.

Lavanya: "What happened, Khushi..? Are you okay...?"

I was so shocked I couldn't react, but my tears were flowing continuously. They even turned into soft sobs, and I managed to say, "I heard my name..." I pointed to the spot where I heard the whisper.

The lady and Lavanya exchanged looks and held me from both sides. I think they thought I was lying. I cried, "I'm telling the truth, believe me... please."

The lady sat near me and said, "Yeah... I believe you... after all, I am your doctor... in fact, I also heard your name from behind... because when Lavanya told your name, it echoed another time."

I wiped my tears, and the doctor patted my head.

She then gave me some medicine and made me lie down properly in the bed. Then she said, "Rest for some time... we will talk later." Lavanya also nodded her head, and I tried to sleep.

..................................

**Doctor's Cabin**

Lavanya: "Doctor... why is she acting weird..? I mean, that echo and all... I didn't hear any echo of my sound...! Does she have any other problems?"

Doctor: "Lavanya, she was unconscious for almost one week now... I think it's the same effect... and I lied to her about the echo thing just to calm her."

Lavanya: "She has lost her memory...! What will I say if she asks me about herself... I don't know anything about her..."

Doctor: "Calm down, tell me how much you know about her... and you said her name is 'Khushi'... is that true?"

Lavanya: "Yes, her name is Khushi... she herself told me before the accident occurred... and about knowing her... I met her one week ago, on the same day of the accident."

**Flashback Starts**

Before one week

Lavanya was driving the newly gifted car from her brother. She smiled thinking about her brother, how he didn't allow her to drive the car by herself.

"Lavanya, when there are so many drivers here, what is the need to drive the car by yourself?" he had asked.

She replied, "Please, Bhai... this is your gift for my results in college. I want to drive this car... for once." She finally made him agree. He blinked his eyes and nodded yes, and before he could say anything more, she had run out to drive. But she heard him saying, "Be careful, Lavanya!"

She took a turn, and there a girl came before her car... screeeeech...!!! Oh my!!! She applied the brake on time... if she had been a second late, that girl would have been... ufff! ... Lavanya hurriedly came out of the car and checked the girl, who had her eyes tightly shut. Lavanya kept her hand on her shoulder, and she opened her eyes fully.

Lavanya: "Are you okay?"

Girl: "Ji... hum bilkul theek hain... dhanyavaad, hamari jaan bachane ke liye..." (Yes, I am absolutely fine... thank you for saving my life.)

Lavanya stared at her as if she had seen an alien because she was the one who was thinking about her brother and didn't notice this girl in front of her and needed to ask her "sorry." But here, this girl is saying "thanks" to her. Lavanya smiled at her and asked, "May I know how I saved your life?"

Girl: "Ohho! Agar aap sahi waqt pe gaadi nahi rokti, toh hum toh Devi Maiyya ko pyaare ho jaate na..." (Ohho! If you hadn't stopped the car on time, I would have died, right?)

Lavanya instantly liked this girl. She was so sweet, innocent, and childish. If any other person had been in her place, they would have fought with her for this deadly mistake.

Lavanya: "By the way... I am Lavanya. And you?"

Girl: "Hum Khushi hain... accha Lavanyaji, ab hum chalte hain. Humein der ho rahi hai." (I am Khushi... okay, Lavanyaji, I have to go now. It's getting late.)

Lavanya: "Khushi, if you don't mind... can I drop you?"

Khushi: "But..."

Lavanya (pouting): "Please, don't say no! It'll lessen my guilt..."

Khushi (smilingly): "Hmm... okay!"

They both sat in the car, and Lavanya asked her where she was going. Khushi told her she was going to the shop to buy some sweets and other items because a family was coming to see her sister for marriage. Lavanya suggested a shop which was a little far away. She also told Khushi she would drop her back home. Khushi couldn't deny her, as she was now traveling by car and not walking. So, a little delay would be fine. In this short time, they both became friends. Lavanya said not to call her "Lavanyaji," just "Lavanya" would be fine, and Khushi hesitantly agreed. Khushi was talking non-stop about how happy she was for her sister. Lavanya said she had just finished college and now would join her family business. Khushi only talked about her sister, whom she mentioned as "Jiji," and their bond with each other. They reached the shop, and Lavanya helped her buy things. Then they both started for home. After a few minutes, they were on the main road.

Lavanya (turning to Khushi): "So, where do you live? I mean, your address?"

Khushi: "I live in..." She looked ahead and was shocked to see a truck coming from the other side. She then screamed, "Lavanya...!!!"

Lavanya was waiting for her answer when she saw her expression change and then heard her scream. She followed her gaze and saw a truck coming towards them. She shockingly turned the car. In haste, she turned it in the wrong direction, and the car hit a tree on its left side, where Khushi was sitting. Khushi got heavily injured on her head, whereas Lavanya got minor injuries.

Lavanya was shocked at the sudden happenings. She hurriedly brought unconscious Khushi out of the car and asked for help from the people surrounding them.

A few men helped her to sit in a taxi with Khushi. She was scared about Khushi's condition. She directed the taxi driver to take them to the City Hospital where their family doctor works. When they reached there, she hurriedly admitted her to the emergency ward and informed their family doctor to treat her friend. After the treatment, the doctor said she was physically fine, though a little weak, but couldn't say anything about her mental state. For that, they had to wait until she regained consciousness. The wait lasted for one week.

**Flashback ends**

Doctor: Oh! So you don't know about her past life?

Lavanya (sadly): No, Doctor. She is indeed my friend, but I only know her name and that she has a sister who is a bride-to-be.

Doctor: Hmm, I see. Does your family know about her? I mean, do they know you come here daily to see her?

Lavanya: No, they think I was alone in the car when the accident occurred, and they have restricted me from driving. I told them my friend is admitted in the hospital, and they let me come here with the driver.

Doctor: Okay. What have you thought about telling her now? And if you are planning to tell the truth, let me warn you, don't say anything that might make her more depressed. It will lead to more problems. Make her feel protected with you.

Lavanya: I have no idea what I will tell her, but I definitely don't want to make the situation worse.

The doctor placed her hand on Lavanya's shoulder and said: Don't worry. Everything will be fine.

Lavanya: I hope so. I have decided I am taking her to my home.

Doctor: Good. You can take her tomorrow morning. Okay, dear, now I have other appointments. If you need any help, just give me a call, okay?

Lavanya nodded and sighed. The doctor went out of the cabin, and Lavanya went to meet her friend.

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To be Continued