I have been silent since the day she left the place making a permanent tattoo. After that incident, I was never the same as I did. Harini handled my pain in her arms too and spent days and nights with me in the hospital. I refused to see my mother right after her post-mortem, and I didn't want to see her in that situation because that could've changed an image of her in my eyes. My tears stopped themselves from coming out as each droplet would shred a portion of her image. Happiness was just a matter of time to put me into the midst of sadness, where sadness was my only option to survive.
Harini and I were in the Hospital's canteen having a coffee, she was having a sandwich. She had the same face since that day like I did. By seeing her, I stopped showing my pain on face. I got huge moral support from her that I couldn't even thank her enough. Whenever my eyes fell onto her, she would give me a big smile with closed eyes, and it reminds me of Prachi's last smile.
"So, what's next?" Harini asked taking a bite of a sandwich.
I sipped coffee and asked, "What do you mean by next?"
"I mean, your writings, Ragh."
"Oh! That?" I said as I kept the cup on the table.
"It's going well, I guess."
"I've not heard anything from the publicist since Prachi's accident," I added.
She took a silent for a while nodding and asked, "Would you mind if I ask you one personal question?"
"Go ahead."
"How much do you love Prachi?" she asked.
I found a curiosity in her voice; I hummed.
"As you loved me limitless, do you love her like that?" she added.
There was no chance that I could ignore her question.
"Eat your sandwich, flies are all over," I said as I pointed on her plate.
"Don't ignore my question," she said.
Her phone ranged before she force me to answer that.
I saw fear in her eyes when she looked at the call. As I called her to know who that is, she asked me to wait and went away. We were still in sight. Her face was panicked and yelling about something which I couldn't hear. All were staring at her.
"Who might be on the other side?" I questioned myself.
I completed my coffee, and she was still on call. So, I gestured her to come back to Prachi's room and walked to the door.
Prachi was still in the unconscious state, and the doctor said that she should be fine within a week, otherwise there no option other than waiting for her eyes to see the world again; to see me and most importantly her parents. I entered the room and took a seat in front of her; I held her fingers kissing one by one. It was possible because her parents were out for their job, and they gave me the responsibility to take care of her.
"Prachi," I called, smoothly.
"I have some things to share," I sighed.
"Could you please talk to me, Prachi?" I yelled.
"My mom is... dead."
"See, I'm not crying,' I said with a smile of tears.
"You like me with a smile, Prachi. Am I right?" I asked.
"Prachi! Get up and look at my smile."
I put my head on her hand and sobered, "Mom is dead, Prachi!"
"She's no more with us."
I kissed her palm and requested, "Please, you don't leave me."
When I looked at her, I saw her tears wetting the pillow. I wiped my tears and told her not to cry anymore.
My lips touched her forehead and whispered, "Baby, you complete me now."
Suddenly, I heard someone knocking on the door. When I looked back, it was Harini. As I opened the door, she shouldered and walked towards Prachi. With a big smile, she called Prachi and took my place. I told her to get up but, she denied to leave. Harini started gossiping with her. While I was staring at her, she looked at me and blushed.
"Why are you blushing, idiot?" I asked.
"Don't look at me like the way you do at Prachi," she said.
I rolled my eyes and taunted, "Prachi's mine."
She took Prachi's arms in hers and mumbled something.
"I didn't get you," I said.
"Excuse me," a nurse from the door.
The way we looked at her, startled her.
"The visiting hours are completed. Now, I'd like any one of them to stay here for the patient," she hurried and walked next door.
Harini asked me to come along with her as she had some work. I asked Prachi to wait alone until I come.
Harini heard me and said, "Now, this is more than enough."
I laughed and told her to not to say anything for now. We walked out of the door and stood outside of the hospital.
"Okay, Bye! Harini," I waved.
She came to me and gently moved her fingers on my face. At that moment, I didn't understand what was happening to me.
She lowered her voice and said, "There's dirt all over your face. Wash it, okay Ragh?"
I saw her lips tempting me as we were so close to each other. Her eyes looked at my lips.
"Bye, Ragh," she said.
"B-Bye!" I faltered.
She left without looking back, and as I walked inside the hospital, Prachi's phone ranged. It was from her mother. I lifted the call and greeted.
"Good afternoon! Aunt."
"Good afternoon! Son."
"Aunt is calling me son, then that means I'm her brother?" I talked to myself.
"No way!" I yelled.
"Raghav? Are you fine?" she asked.
"No! No! I'm fine, Aunt," I clarified.
I sighed and said, "She's absolutely okay, Aunt."
"Is she responding to you?"
"A while ago, she cried after hearing about my mother," I said.
"That's good to hear, Raghav. Thank you for whatever you are doing," she thanked.
"No! No! She's speeding up her mental stability, Aunt."
"Raghav," She called.
"Yes, tell me, Aunt."
"I want you to attend your college from tomorrow as her father will be there to look after her. Now, you've to concentrate on your studies to make my Prachi happy," she said.
"Now stop blushing, Raghav," she added.
"Ok, Aunt. Bye!" I cut the call.
As my wings started lifting me up, somebody in the hospital called me.
"Mister two girls' boyfriend."