Chapter - 56
She moved her fingers.
She's trying to take her hand back.
I looked at her—
And for a moment, I couldn't breathe.
She's awake.
My Siya is finally awake.
"Jaan... you woke up. Finally..."
I whispered, my voice choking with emotions I haven't felt in years.
I leaned down and kissed her forehead, gently.
"Thank you, my angel... thank you for waking up."
I cupped her face with both hands—
Just to make sure she was really in front of me, not some dream.
"Are you in pain? Should I call the doctor? Wait, yes—I'll go call him right now."
I turned, already heading to the door—
But then her voice stopped me.
So soft. So unsure.
"H...how... how did I come here?"
I froze.
Her words echoed in my head.
What does she mean by that?
How did she come here?
I slowly turned to look at her—
Her eyes...
They weren't looking at me like always.
They looked distant.
Confused.
Strange.
Like I was a stranger.
No.
No, that's not possible.
She can't forget me.
She can't forget us.
But why... why isn't she looking at me the way she always does?
Why does her gaze feel like it doesn't recognize me?
A knot formed in my chest.
Fear. The kind I never let anyone see.
Before I could say anything—
The door opened.
Dr. Mehra walked in.
He gave a small smile to Siya.
"How are you now, Siya?"
She nodded slowly.
Didn't say a word.
He checked her vitals, glanced at the machines.
Then he looked at me.
"Ranasa, please wait outside for a few minutes. I need to do a basic check-up."
I didn't want to leave.
Not now.
Not when she just woke up.
But I nodded silently and stepped out of the room.
My heart wasn't steady.
Something didn't feel right.
Why did she ask that question?
Why was she looking at me like... like I was just someone?
Am I overthinking?
No, I shouldn't.
But... damn it, I can't help it.
I leaned against the wall outside her room, rubbing my face with my hands.
"You've lost it, Aarav," I muttered to myself. "You've seriously picked up Siya's habit of overthinking."
Maybe... maybe she's just shaken up.
Maybe the trauma has messed with her mind.
She just woke up—of course she's confused.
Still, a voice inside me wouldn't stop whispering:
What if something is wrong?
That's when Dr. Mehra came out.
His face was serious.
"Ranasa, please come with me to my cabin.I need to discuss something important with you."
I nodded and followed him, without saying a word.
But my steps felt heavier with every move.
Like I already knew...
Something was wrong.
I sat in front of Dr. Mehra.
His face was calm, but serious.
"Ranasa," he started, "Ranisa might have trouble remembering everything all at once."
I frowned. He continued,
"The combination of the paralytic and the past amnesia-inducing drugs has affected her brain's memory recall."
My fists tightened.
"What are you saying? You mean... memory loss?" I asked sharply.
My voice was low, but firm. Cold.
Because inside, I was burning.
"Will she not remember me? Or anything?"
Dr. Mehra sighed.
"She will remember, slowly.
But right now, her brain needs time to adjust. She may recall a few things, or forget others.
It depends on how her mind copes."
He looked me in the eyes.
"You need to be patient with her, Ranasa.
Gentle. She is emotionally and mentally fragile right now. "
I was about to respond—
But just then, a nurse rushed in.
"Sir! Ranisa is panicking! She's not letting anyone near her!"
My heart stopped.
I shot up from the chair.
"What?"
We rushed to her room.
And what I saw... shattered me.
Siya was standing near the bed, her face pale and eyes wide with fear. Her hands were trembling.
In her grip—was a scalpel.
She was backing away from everyone.
"Stay away! Don't touch me! You're going to inject me!" she screamed.
A male nurse was standing at a distance, hands raised, trying to calm her.
"Ma'am please, calm down. We're not here to hurt you—"
But she wasn't listening.
She threw the water jug, then the pillow, then the metal tray from the side table.
"Don't... don't come near me! Don't touch me! I... I..."
Her voice cracked. She was breathing fast. Eyes filled with panic and pain.
And then—
She raised the scalpel toward herself.
"If you come near me, then I will—"
"ANGEL!"
My voice boomed through the room.
Everyone stopped.
She froze.
Her hand holding the scalpel stopped mid-air.
Her eyes searched the room, then landed on me.
A breath hitched in her throat.
And in the softest, cracked whisper—
"A... Avi?"
My chest ached.
I rushed forward, gently took the scalpel from her hand and tossed it aside.
I wrapped my arms around her.
Tightly.
Protectively.
"I'm here, baby. I'm right here. No one's going to harm you now. No one."
She gripped my shirt weakly, like she was scared I'd vanish.
But then—
Her body loosened in my arms.
Her grip faded.
She fainted.
"Siya!" I panicked, cupping her face.
"Angel! Look at me—wake up!"
Dr. Mehra was already beside me, checking her vitals.
I didn't care who was in the room.
I held her in my arms like she was my world.
Because she is.
And seeing her like that... afraid... lost... almost forgetting me...
It was killing me from the inside.
The room was quiet again.
Siya was still sleeping—peacefully this time. Because of the medicine, Dr. Mehra had said.
Everyone came and met her after the incident. They spoke softly, smiled, some even cried seeing her safe... and then they all left.
But I didn't move.
I couldn't.
Dr. Mehra's words still echoed in my head—
"After she wakes up again, she might forget more... or maybe she'll remember something new. There's no way to predict it right now."
I sat by her side, holding her hand gently, watching her face.
"Siya baby... why are you doing this to me now?"
My throat burned as I spoke.
"Are you punishing me because I left you alone for seven days?"
I swallowed hard.
"Baby don't do this to me. Please... punish me, hit me, yell at me—anything—but not this silence. Not this."
I leaned closer and kissed her forehead.
Her skin was warm... but her silence was cold.
"I promise... I'll never leave you alone again. Even if I have to travel, I'll take you with me. I swear, Siya. Just... just talk to me. I'm dying to hear your voice. I miss your smile so much."
My voice broke.
My chest felt heavy.
I pressed her hand to my lips.
"I love you, Siya. I love you so much."
A deep breath left me.
"I always loved you... from the beginning. You were always the one in my heart, even before I knew what love felt like."
I let out a sad chuckle.
"I wanted to tell you all this properly... but look at me now. Talking and you're not even hearing me."
I looked at her closed eyes.
"Please get well soon, jaan... I want to say so much. I want you to hear everything."
A small smile touched my lips as I tried to cheer myself.
"Do you know, I bought so many gifts for you? Dresses, books, a payal that sounds just like the one you wore in the temple that day..."
I chuckled again, softer this time.
"So get up fast, okay? I have to show you everything. You have to tell me how's that. You always do."
I ran my fingers through her hair gently, not letting her hand go even for a second.
Just then, Maa entered the room.
She walked in quietly and sat beside me.
"Aarav... beta, go home. Change, eat something. Take rest for a while."
I looked up at her with tired eyes.
"Maa... I told you, I'm not going back home without my Siya."
She smiled and caressed my hair like she used to when I was a child.
"That's why I brought your clothes and essentials here. If you don't want to go home, then at least sleep here for a while.
How will you take care of her if you don't take care of yourself?"
I wanted to protest. But she was right.
I nodded slowly.
"Okay, Maa. But if she wakes up, call me immediately."
She gave me a soft smile. "Of course. Go freshen up. I'm right here with her."
I went to the hospital room's attached bathroom. The cold water from the shower didn't just clean my body—it numbed my thoughts for a little while.
I changed into the fresh clothes Maa brought and returned to the room.
Siya was still sleeping.
I looked at her for a few more seconds, then walked to the small sofa near her bed.
I laid down and closed my eyes.
Even in the silence, my heart kept whispering her name.
Siya... please come back to me.
I'm right here. And I'm not going anywhere.
The soft evening light poured through the window as a woman gently tied a matching light blue bow on her little girl's head.
The little one was already dressed in a beautiful ruffled frock of the same color, looking no less than a tiny princess.
Her big brown eyes sparkled with innocence, and her chubby cheeks were rosy with excitement.
The woman—Priya Rajput, her mother—stepped back to admire her.
"Perfect," she whispered with a loving smile.
Her little angel looked up at her and asked curiously,
"Mom, when will Dad come? He told me he will take us for dinner today."
Priya smiled, brushing a strand of hair behind Siya's ear.
"Baby, have some patience. Your dad is on the way."
Siya wrinkled her nose and tilted her head, placing one finger on her chin.
"What is patience, Mom?"
Priya chuckled softly, her heart full. She bent down and kissed Siya's forehead gently.
"It means waiting, my love. You have to wait for some time."
Before Siya could ask anything more, a voice called from the hallway,
"Princess!"
Her eyes lit up instantly.
"Dadda!" she squealed, running with her small feet as fast as she could.
Jai Rajput entered the room, his face lighting up the moment he saw her. He bent down and caught her in his arms, lifting her high with a warm laugh.
"There's my princess!" he said, planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Let's go, Dadda! Let's go now!" Siya turned to her mom with excited eyes.
Jai chuckled. "Yes, yes, we'll go."
Priya picked up her purse. "Okay, okay. Let's go."
The three of them walked out together, hand in hand, like the perfect picture of happiness. They sat in the car, Siya happily swinging her legs in the backseat and humming a tune.
At the restaurant, they ordered all of Siya's favorite dishes. The dinner was full of laughter and joy. Siya kept asking the funniest questions, and her parents couldn't stop laughing at her innocent expressions and the way she said things.
It felt like a perfect evening. For Jai and Priya, Siya was not just their daughter—she was their whole world. It was as if God had poured all happiness into their life through her.
After dinner, while waiting for dessert, Jai held Siya's little hand and said gently,
"Princess, your mom and I want to tell you something very important. Now you're a big girl, right?"
Siya sat up straight and proudly said, "Yes, Dadda! I'm a big girl now. I can eat my food myself!"
Jai smiled warmly.
"That's why... we think it's time to bring someone special into our life."
Siya's eyes sparkled. "Who?"
"A little brother or sister for you," Priya added, smiling lovingly.
Siya's eyes widened with joy.
"Really? Really Dadda?"
He nodded.
"Yes, really."
She clapped her tiny hands.
"When? When will you bring my brother?"
Priya laughed and asked playfully,
"What if we bring you a little sister instead?"
Siya quickly shook her head. "Noooo! I want a younger brother only!"
Jai raised an eyebrow playfully. "Why only a brother, huh?"
Siya said proudly, "Because my friend Amaira has a younger brother and she bosses him around all day! I will do that too!"
Jai and Priya burst out laughing at her innocent honesty.
Priya teased,
"So you only want a brother to boss him around?"
Siya shook her head quickly.
"No no... I will also play with him. And I will teach him everything—like how to eat food and how to play with toys."
Her eyes were shining with excitement. She truly looked like a wise little soul in a tiny body.
But after a moment of thought, she asked again,
"But when will you bring him?"
Jai replied softly,
"In a few months, princess."
"Why not today?" she asked with a pout.
Jai pulled her close and said,
"Because he's very small right now, Princess. We can't bring him just yet. But after a few months, he'll be ready to come and meet you."
Siya blinked and nodded slowly.
"Okay... but don't forget, okay? You promised."
Priya hugged her from the side, smiling.
"We won't forget, baby. How can we ever forget something our princess wants?"
And just like that, the three of them laughed again—full of dreams, full of love.
It was a night they would all remember forever.
Because this was the calm before the storm life had silently planned.
Which scene hit you the hardest emotionally in this chapter?
Do you think Siya will remember Aarav soon—or will her memory take longer to return?
On a scale of 1 to 10, how intense was this chapter for you?