Who are you?

With her in his arms, he ran towards the first familiar face he found and cried for help. Fortunately, his family doctor was the one he’d asked.

A stretcher was quickly arranged and he ran beside her as she was moved. He was pushed back though and asked to fill a form. He denied, he shouted, he pleaded to let him stay with her, but soon he realized – he was only wasting his time.

With a heavy heart and guilty eyes, he walked to the counter – On receiving the form, he started filling it up.

“Describe your relationship with the patient” it read and he paused. She was his girlfriend but it wasn’t good enough for this form, especially when their parents knew nothing about them.

‘Employer’, he writes and submits the form.

He paces up and down, biting his nails. Taking his phone out of his pocket, he dials a number.
Rrng Rrng

“Hello” said a soft cool voice through the phone.

“Hello! Am I speaking to Mrs. Sharma?”

“Yes! Who is this?” asked Mrs. Sharma.

“I’m Vansh Mehta – I’m your daughter’s…..” he started but was cut off by her smooth voice.

“Oh of course I know who you are. How can I help you, Vansh?” asked Mrs. Sharma and he could hear the smile through her voice.

“Ma’am umm… I’ve.. umm…Shreya is in hospital.”

“What? Why? What happened?” she shouted through the phone.

“She fell down and broke her head. She was bleeding. I brought her to the hospital few minutes ago.” He replied monotonously.

“Which hospital?” asked Mrs. Sharma sharply.

“KJM”

“I’m leaving right now. I’ll be there in the next two hours. I know it’s not your job but until I come can you please look after her?”

“Of course aunty”

“Thanks, son” she said and hung up the call.

The clock was ticking slow. After an antagonizing long 30 minutes, the doctor called for him.

“Vansh! Are any of the patients relatives here?” asked the doctor.

“Her mom is on the way. How is she? Is she alright? She didn’t lose a lot of blood right?” queried Vansh.

“Calm down, son. She’s alright. When she fell down, the stitches from a previous accident cracked open. Her stitches are redone. She’ll have to stay in the hospital for the next 24 hours to make sure she doesn’t suffer from any concussion” he said and after a pause added, “Once she is discharged, for the next one week make sure that she doesn’t perform any strenuous activity”

“Okay doctor. Can I see her?” he asked.

“Yeah, she is resting now so please don’t disturb her.”

“Yes. Thanks doctor” he smiled and left towards her room.

She was lying on a bed, a white sheet covering her body and her eyes closed. He smiled and breathed a sigh of relief, only now could he smell the patented sanitized odour of hospitals. The room was white and depressing, but the sight in front of her powered his smile.

He walked towards her and sat down on a stool beside her. He stared at her adoringly, and gently tucked the loose strands of hair behind her ear.

He bent down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“I love you” he murmured, and a small drop of tear rolled down on her forehead.

He sat there for over an hour, simply watching and enjoying her presence. He felt like a creep sitting here staring at her sleeping, major Edward Cullen vibes, but he didn’t have it in him to leave her so stare he did.

A wrinkle in her eye caught his attention, and when she opened her eyes, he gave her his best smile, presenting the complete set of twelve teeth.

She blinked twice and returned a tentative smile.

“How do you feel? Would you like some water?” he asked.

“Um yes” she said. She pushed herself on her elbows and he helped her sit up straight, adjusting the pillow behind her to make sure she was comfortable.

He offered her a glass of water and holding her in both her hands, she asked, “What happened?
Why am I here? Did I meet with an accident?” and took a sip of her water.

“Um…you don’t remember?” he stuttered.

“Not really, I think I was in my car but then I don’t know” she confessed.

“You were not in your car, baby. You were with me. We were in your..” he started saying but she cut him off, and in a high pitch asked, “Baby? I’m not your baby”

She chuckled and added, “Did you hit your head as well doctor? I’m your patient, not your baby”

She drank another sip of her water.

“Don’t fucking joke with me. Don’t you know who I am?”

“I do, you are my doctor, but you are very rude” she pouted.

“Doctor? I’m not your fucking doctor” he shouted and stood up. He ran out of the door and called for a doctor. After a series of shouts, the doctor finally arrived.

“Doctor, she does not remember what happened. You said she was alright. Why doesn't she remember me?” he barked at him.

“What? Let me look” he said, and pushing him aside, hurried inside.

He stared at the doctor from the doorway as he checked her vitals. He asked her some questions which he couldn’t hear, because the bloody doctor decided he was not allowed inside.

After a few minutes, the doctor walked towards him and when he asked about her, he said, “I’m sorry to inform that her memory has been affected. She remembers most of her life, but she doesn’t remember anything after the accident that gave her the stitches. She might just be shaken right now, but period for the recovery of her memory cannot be defined”

He stared at the doctor blankly. He pushed him aside and ran inside the room.

This isn’t true. This is some sick joke.

She can’t forget me.

She loves me. I know she does. I’ll make her remember me.

How can she forget the way she moaned in my arms just hours ago?

How can she forget the way she teased me?

How can she forget the way she laughs with me?

She can’t forget me.

With watery eyes, he went close to her and cradled her face in his hands. He looked at her with all the love in his heart, and when a drop rolled down his cheek, she wiped it off.

“Don’t cry” she whispered and he couldn’t help but chuckle. She cares even when she doesn’t.

“You really don’t remember me, do you?” he whispered and pressing his lips on her forehead, he turned around to wipe his eyes.

“I’m sorry” she muttered just as her mom entered the room.