It got very, very quiet. I said nothing. I thought nothing. His eyes searched mine, but I just stared blankly back into his. Once I realized that he wasn't going to do anything until I responded, I opened my mouth and all that came out was a squeaky -
"My husband?" He looked hurt again, but nodded his head slowly and forced a smile.
"Don't you remember me at all, Bani?" I looked from him to the other man, who was staring at me intently as well. I look back to my supposed husband, Hokil. Have I been kidnapped? "Bani, what is the last thing you remember?" He grips my wrist tightly, anxiously waiting for my response.
I wrack my brain frantically, but all that surfaces is panic, confusion, and my head hurts and I don't know what to make of all this so all I can do is shake my head slowly at him. His eyes fill up with tears, but rather than saying anything he leans forward and hugs me. I tense up, and place my hands in front of me so that he can't feel my chest. He takes the hint and releases me, sitting back on the edge of my bed. I avoid eye contact with him.
"I want to see my family," I say. My voice still wavers, but not as much as before. He reaches to touch me again, but stops himself when I lean away.
"Bani, you must be very tired. You just woke up, and you aren't supposed to put too much stress on your body."
"What do you mean I just woke up??" I shouted. The sudden outburst made my head hurt terribly, but I tried to ignore it.
"Just try to calm down," Hokil says, which makes me so angry that I have to look away from him. I study the bird that I first heard when I woke up. It's in a fancy wire cage hanging from the ceiling, and is a beautiful ombre of yellow and green.
"I want to see my family," I repeat.
"Bani-"
"I want to see my Mom," I interrupt him. "I want to see her NOW!"
Suddenly I'm so angry that I'm shaking all over, and the room starts to turn red and Hokil is saying something to me but I can't hear him over my vicious thoughts and then next thing I know there's another man at my side.
"Bani," he says my name while gently nudging me. I glare at him, but he is the first person to talk to me calmly so I decide to hear him out.
"My name is Doctor Phinalstin. I've been taking care of you alongside your husband while you were unconscious, and I'm just going to take your vitals, OK? So I'm going to need you to calm down for me."
My fists are balled so tightly that I dully feel the pain of my fingertips digging into my hands, but I force myself to answer him politely.
"That's not a problem. But in return, I want to talk to my parents." The doctor looks quickly at Hokil and back at me before answering.
"Well, I'm certain that could be arranged. Now please, could I have your arm to take your blood pressure?"
I lift my arm out to my side, but say nothing. He helps me sit up and wraps a strange instrument around my arm. I glare at Hokil the whole time, and his eyes seem to be pleading me to forgive him. I don't. I don't know this man and he is NOT my husband.
Doctor Phinalstin continues to check my vitals as I continue to glare at him with unholy fury. The silence is deafening. Finally the doctor lets out a sigh and sits back.
"Mr. Stenali, her vitals all read as normal. A miracle recovery indeed." Hokil beams with joy as the doctor says this, and I dearly wish I was strong enough to knock him out and run away from here. "Just make sure she rests for the next few weeks and eats well. Physical therapy may be necessary, but we won't know until we gauge her muscle recession. That will be done another day," Doctor Phinalstin states clearly, standing up.
"Of course, doctor, thank you so much." Hokil stands up as well to shake his hand. Then the doctor leaves.
"I did what he said. Now can I see my Mom?" I demand. Hokil smiles at me softly.
"Bani, you are so weak right now. The doctor says you must rest."
"I will rest," I fume, "AFTER I SEE MY FAMILY!!" Hokil flinches and I feel bad, then angry at myself for feeling bad.
"Darling, I promise. You will see them tomorrow. For now, you must sleep."
"I just was asleep!" I protest. "And I can rest later! This is more important!!"
Hokil nods his head at the other man who has been standing here in silence the whole time. He walks towards me intimidatingly, and I begin to panic. "No, no," I whimper.
"I'm sorry, Bani." Hokil says. He looks away.
No, this can't be happening. I'm being held captive by a crazy psycho guy? No, this has to be a nightmare. The man picks me up as if I were a feather. His body feels as rough and toned as a boulder, so I shouldn't be surprised.
"Put me down!" I scream. He ignores me. I struggle to escape his grasp. It doesn't work. In one last attempt, I look at Hokil. "Hokil please," I beg, my voice breaking. "Let me go." He won't move, still won't look at me.
I'm carried out of the room, and for the first time I get to see the rest of the building. He takes me through a very lavish kitchen, huge and fancy, then down a hallway and into a big bedroom with a giant white bed. He lays me down softly, and I immediately try to run away. His expression doesn't change as he grabs me and lies me back down using only one hand.
"This is just to help you sleep," he says.
"Don't-" As soon as I open my mouth, he shoves a liquid in the back of my throat via a syringe and I start to choke violently. He looks concerned and helps me sit up.
"You-" I say between coughs,
"are a fu-"
A few more coughs and gags, and I'm out like a light.