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***Ramya's POV.***

I hear voices around me, which brings back my consciousness. But as I open my eyes, I feel horrible all over. My mouth feels dry as desert, my head feels fuzzy, weirdly my body itches a little and not to forget my head hurts. I feel uncomfortable all over.

I look around to see I am in the hospital bed. How did I get here? The last memory I have is someone kidnapping me and throwing me in the hut. There were three men, and I thought to do something rather than just sit around. So I kicked the knife out of one man's hand, but the other person held my hands behind my back and then they made me drink something. After that, everything else got hazy.

"How do you feel, Ms. Kaur?" A nurse asks.

"Dry." I say and my voice comes out hoarse.

"I will bring some cold water for you." She says and rushes out.

I think it is a general ward because curtains surround my bed. My stomach feels funny. What did they make me drink? Some kind of drug maybe. Ugh! I wanna die rather than feel this way. If only I had stayed in the car with Reyansh.

"Rey..." I say and start coughing.

"Here. Oh, are you not feeling well? Maybe the side effects of drugs. I will call the doctor right away." The nurse says and leaves after giving me water.

I didn't even get the chance of how I got here and where Reyansh is. Is he okay? Was he the one who found me? If so, where is he?

"The patient on a bed no.6 died, sister." I hear a nurse saying.

"Poor guy. He fought hard for his and the girl's life." Another nurse says.

"Really?" She asks.

"Yes. The word is he was trying to save a girl's life who was kidnapped and got shot. He looked like he was from a good family." The nurse says.

"Well, I will inform the ward boy to take him to the mortuary." The voices fade away and my heart clenches.

Kidnapped? Shot? Trying to save? Those words keep coming to me and make me go crazy, and I feel dread in my heart. I slowly get up from the bed and wobble a little but don't stop. I try to find the bed and when I do, every step towards it feels heavy. As I draw the curtain away, I feel the bile rising, but I control it. But as soon as I see the cloth covering the whole body and the clipboard with his name, I feel dizzy.

With the support of bed railings, I walk to his side and, with shaking hands, pull the sheet away from his face. I gasp when I see his closed eyes with pale face and big bandage on his head. Was he shot in the head?

"I... I... I am... sorry." I say and crash down on his chest.

"Ahh!" He screams.

"Ahhh!" I scream, watching him sit up. "Ghost! Ghost!"

I try to run away, but he grabs my hand and says, "I am no ghost. Ghost doesn't cry out in pain when someone crashes down on their chest when they finally get some sleep." Reyansh says as he rubs his chest.

"So... you are... not... dead?" I ask.

"No. But drink some water first. You sound horrible." He says, and I do as he says as I am parched. "Slowly now. We don't want you choking." He says soothingly as I drink the water like I am a small baby. But I like his concern so I say nothing.

"But the nurse said bed no 6's patient died. How are you still alive?" I ask just to be sure.

"It is bed no 9 not 6. Your brain is still not working properly because of the influence of the drug. And what kind of question is that?" He asks with a frown as he pushes my hair back.

"That's a relief." I say and sit down on the ground and burst into tears of joy.

"Hey! Why are you crying? Are you that sad I survived?" He asks and tries to get me up.

"Stop joking." I say and slap his arm hard.

"Sorry. But get up. Sit on the bed." He says and makes me sit on his bed.

"I am so sorry." I say and try to control my emotions, but I can't. The tears just don't stop and I feel so... I don't think twice and hug him tightly.

"Alright, calm down. I am fine, really. But you are still a little weak and crying won't help. So stop it. Shh." He says.

He tries to soothe me again and I stay in his arms to assure myself that he is alive and here with me. I don't care if he scolds me later, but right now I just don't want to part from him. Right now, I just want to feel his warmth around me. I just want him to be near me. And there I fall asleep.

The next time I wake up, I am in my bed again and almost think it was a dream, but then Reyansh enters along with Mum, who is a crying mess. She takes me in her arms as soon as she sees I am awake and well.

"Oh, my baby! Do you know how scared I was when Reyansh told us about what happened last night? My baby almost... Thank God you are well and good now." She says and showers my face with many kisses and hugs me tightly.

"Can't breathe, Mum." I say, and she pulls back with a chuckle. "Actually, I remember nothing of what happened last night. Can someone tell me?" I ask.

"Well, Reyansh knows." Mum says.

"We can talk about this later when we reach the hotel. Dad is seeing the formality. Aunty, why don't you help Ramya get freshened up while I see something important?" He asks.

"Something more important than me?" I ask with a pout.

"No. But I guess you will understand once I tell you the brave story of your savior." He says, and I am confused by the way he is smiling.

"What was he talking about?" I asked as soon as he was gone.

"You will ‌know that later. Let's get you changed first. Okay?" She asks and I nod.

I brush my teeth and freshen up. I don't know what time it is, so I ask Mum as she helps me get ready, as my bones and muscles still feel a little heavy and weak at the same time. So confusing.

"It is 11, my dear. Reyansh called us early in the morning. Your car was pretty bashed up, so he wanted us to pick you guys up. Do you want to eat something?" Mum asks after she finished tying my shoelaces.

"No. I don't feel hungry." I say and rub my stomach.

"Well, the doctor warned me that could happen. But you have to eat something for medicine, dear." She says.

"Khichdi would be a safe option then. But maybe an hour or two later." I say.

"Okay. That's like my little chubby." Mum says and kisses my cheek again.

"Can I come in?" I hear Mr. Verma's voice.

"Yes." I say and smile when he enters with two bottles in hand.

"Fresh juices of mango and orange. Which one would you like?" He asks.

"I like mango but I would go with orange as my health needs it more." I say and take one bottle from him.

"Good choice. Here." He says and gives the other one to Mum.

"I am fine." She says.

"You have eaten nothing since last night. So please. I won't ask you to eat as I know you won't eat until she does, but at least till then drink some juice. You need it so you can look after her better." He says and she sighs.

"Why didn't you eat anything, Mum?" I ask, concerned for her.

"I didn't hear your voice last night and got anxious. I am sorry for forgetting my promise to always take better care of myself, dear." She says.

"Oh, Mum. I am sorry. This was all my fault. I didn't wake up Reyansh and got out of the car alone. If only I had been more cautious..." I say.

Mr. Verma puts his warm hand on my head and looks at me with a serene smile as he says, "The only thing mattered to us was that you are okay, that you were not harmed. I am relieved that you are here and also angry, but at those men, not you. And I know everyone feels just like me. Even Reyansh. So stop feeling guilty and start working on getting well. You are a bride. Be on your best to beat the groom in games. I don't enjoy being on the losing team."

"I will." I say with a chuckle, and he nods.

"So let's cheer." Mum says and I clink my bottle with her, drink the juice.

"Hmm... It is good." I say, as it really works wonders for my sore taste buds.

"Here. I know when I eat nothing, you don't either. So drink up." Mum says to Mr. Verma, and he sighs and takes the bottle.

"Oh ho. Indirect kiss is happening. I should look away." I say.

"You are such a brazen girl." Mum complains and playfully slaps my cheek.

Reyansh enters, and I see he is ready too.

"Feeling better?" He asks me.

"Yes. And you?" I ask.

"Good. Then shall we get going?" He asks, looking at all of us and we nod.

Reyansh holds me close as my balance is still off a little and we walk out of the hospital. I wave at Daksh uncle who takes me in his embrace, then I am passed to Vedant Bhai, who asks me if I am doing well.

"I am fine. Really. But can we just get inside? My head feels fuzzy in this heat." I say.

"Sure." Shaurya Jiju says and opens the jeep door for me.

"Thank you." I say, and he smiles as I sit in the jeep.

I hear a little bark beside me and look to see it is a small golden retriever. If I remember it clearly, Mayra had a beagle breed. Then what is this dog doing here?

"I forgot to introduce you to your hero and the new member of our family. Sniffy." Reyansh says.

"What kind of name is Sniffy?" I ask with a smile.

"Well, he is blind, but he is great at finding people or things just by sniffing the air. I would have named him Barky because he barks a lot. But he is cute. So Sniffy it is." He says.

"Well. Sniffy, it is then. Thank you, Sniffy, for what? I have yet to know that." I say and kiss his head.

He barks, but then snuggles into my lap.

"I am surprised you didn't fight with me for names." He says.

"Well, I love his name. You were right for once." I say and he shakes his head but smiles at me.

Okay, heart, don't jump. But like it would hear me out.