Chapter 3 : staying with me

Prem:

I found myself amidst a chaotic scene, surrounded by turmoil. An accident had occurred, and I, along with another person, was frantically helping those in need. The air was thick with tension, screams, and the urgency of the situation. Suddenly, I slipped, losing my footing on the edge of a cliff. Instinctively, the person beside me reached out and grabbed my hand, trying to pull me back.

But as I dangled over the abyss, I felt a strange calm wash over me. I loosened my grip, and despite the other's desperate attempts to hold on, I began to fall. As I looked up, I saw them leap after me without hesitation. Their face wasn't etched with fear or sadness; instead, there was a serene expression of love and happiness. It was as if they were ready to embrace our fate together, unafraid of what awaited us.

Just before the impact, I jolted awake, gasping for air. My heart raced, and my eyes darted around the room, trying to ground myself in reality. Beside me, Zara stirred from sleep. Sensing my distress, she quickly turned on the lights, her eyes filled with concern.

"Again, the same dream?" Zara asked softly, her voice a comforting presence in the dimly lit room.

I was shaken by the intensity of the dream, my body trembling. Zara wrapped her arms around me, trying to comfort me, but I instinctively pushed her away, still gripped by the fear lingering from the nightmare. She handed me a glass of water, and I drank it, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Prem, this is serious," Zara said, concern evident in her voice. "You couldn't even catch your breath. It's time to see a doctor." Her words carried weight, and I couldn't dismiss them easily. This recurring dream had haunted me for over a decade, but this time felt different, more intense. There was something about the person in the dream, their readiness to face death with me, that I couldn't shake off.

Unable to stay inside, I left her room and wandered down to the beach. The cool night air and the rhythmic sound of the waves provided a slight reprieve from my thoughts. As I walked, I suddenly noticed a figure struggling in the water. My heart leaped into my throat, and I sprinted towards them, adrenaline surging through my veins.

I reached the person and grabbed their shirt, pulling them out of the water with all my strength. To my shock, it was Nani. Seeing him like this, unconscious and vulnerable, made my heart clench. Panic set in as I knelt beside him, tears blurring my vision. I tapped his cheeks, trying to wake him up, but he remained unresponsive.

Desperation took over as I remembered CPR. I positioned my hands on his chest and began

pressing, counting the compressions in my head. Water spilled from his mouth, but he was still unconscious. My mind raced as I checked his heartbeat, placing my ear against his chest. It was faint, but there—a slow, fragile beat.

With no time to waste, I tilted his head back, pinched his nose, and breathed air into his lungs. I repeated the process, praying for a miracle. Then, just as I was about to lean in again, his eyes fluttered open. Relief washed over me, and I cradled his face, tears of joy mixing with the saltwater on my cheeks.

Seeing Nani's eyes open brought an immense wave of relief. I took a deep breath and hugged him tightly, holding on as if I could protect him from everything. As I looked up, I noticed Zara standing about ten meters away, watching us with concern. Her presence was a silent reminder of the gravity of the situation.

Nani closed his eyes and seemed to fall asleep. My heart raced with anxiety, fearing he might be slipping away. I gently tapped his cheeks again, trying to keep him conscious. Zara, alarmed by my actions, rushed towards me. "Prem, stop it," she said firmly. "He's fine. I think he's just exhausted. Let's take him to his room."

"No," I insisted, my voice steady but urgent. "I'm taking him to my home. Go get the bike, quickly." Zara nodded and hurried to fetch the bike. Moments later, she returned, and we carefully positioned Nani on the seat behind her. I hopped on the bike as well, holding him securely to ensure he wouldn't fall.

Within minutes, we arrived at my home. As we pulled up, the porch lights flickered on, and Leela emerged from the house, a look of confusion on her face. Her eyes quickly settled on Nani, and she rushed towards us. "What happened to Nani?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry.

"Let's get him inside first," I replied, my tone calm but urgent. Leela nodded, and we all entered the house together. I carried Nani in my arms, bypassing the guest room and heading straight to my bedroom. Despite having another room available, I wanted him close by.

Once inside, I laid him gently on the bed. His clothes were soaked through, so I quickly removed them and covered him with a warm blanket. As I tucked the blanket around him, I felt a mix of relief and anxiety. He was safe for now, but the events of the night had left a lingering unease in the air.

I stepped out of the room and made my way downstairs, where I found Leela and Zara sitting across from each other. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken hostility; neither of them made any attempt to meet the other's gaze. I could sense that any attempt at conversation would likely escalate into a conflict.

Determined to manage the situation, I approached them and addressed Zara. "Can you wait outside for a moment? I need to talk to Leela." Zara nodded, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation, and she quietly left the room.

Once Zara was gone, I turned to Leela. "Leela, a lot has happened today. Let me drop Zara off at her place, and I promise we'll talk when I get back." I could see the turmoil in her eyes as she followed me to the door.

As we stepped outside, Zara suddenly spoke up, her voice cutting through the tension. "Prem, I'll be sending you an invitation to my wedding. Make sure you don't show up, or I might just end up eloping with you."

Her words hit me like a jolt. I was taken aback, struggling to process her declaration. I remembered the incident six months ago on the beach, where Leela had discovered Zara and me sharing a kiss. Leela had confronted us, demanding that we marry, but both Zara and I had no intention of doing so. We had refused her, and as a result, Leela had stopped speaking to me for months.

Zara's threat felt like a final, desperate attempt to communicate her unresolved feelings and the complicated dynamics between us. I watched as Zara walked away, the weight of her words settling heavily in the air.

Leela's voice rang out, sharp and commanding. "Prem, come home early, I need to talk to you." I nodded silently, feeling the weight of her tone. I started the bike, and Zara climbed on behind me, her grip tight around my waist.

As we rode, Zara's voice was hesitant but filled with emotion. "Prem, do you know I'm jealous of that boy?"

I glanced back at her, slightly surprised. "He's not a boy; I think he's around 25."

"See, you even guessed his age," Zara said, a hint of bitterness in her tone. "I just wish it could have been me in his place. I would have been so much closer to you."

"We were closer than anyone," I replied, trying to remind her of our shared history.

"Yes, but today, I saw a different side of you—one I've never seen before," Zara said softly, her voice tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration.

I couldn't deny her feelings; there was truth in her words. I was struggling to understand why I had acted so differently today. The image of Nani's face, filled with sorrow earlier, lingered in my mind. He hadn't even looked at me as he left, and I couldn't shake the feeling of how distant and lost I had felt in that moment.

As the bike continued down the road, I was lost in thought, trying to reconcile my actions and emotions with the tangled relationships surrounding me.

I arrived home, my mind still preoccupied with the events of the evening. Leela was waiting for me at the dining table, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. I approached her, feeling the weight of the day's events.

"Why didn't you put him in the guest room?" Leela asked, her tone a blend of frustration and worry.

"Leela, I couldn't just leave him alone," I explained, trying to calm the tension. "When I left Zara's room for some fresh air, I found Nani deliberately drowning himself."

Leela's eyes widened in shock. "Oh my God, he really tried to commit suicide? I noticed he seemed off today, but I had no idea he was in such distress. Do you have any idea why he would do something like this?"

"I'm not sure," I admitted, feeling a pang of helplessness. "Nani is a private person. He hides his feelings and doesn't want to burden others with his problems. He probably won't open up to us about his reasons. For now, all I can do is stay by his side and be there for him."

Leela nodded, her expression softening with understanding. "You're right. Sometimes people like Nani need time to come to terms with their issues on their own. Just keep being there for him. It's the best we can do until he's ready to talk."

Leela's voice softened with resignation. "Alright, do what you think is best. It's late—go and get some rest. We can talk more in the morning." With that, she headed to her room.

I went to my own room, my mind still racing with the events of the night. I gathered Nani's wet clothes and placed them in a basket. After changing into my own clothes, I put them in the washing machine and hung Nani's clothes on the balcony to dry.

With everything in order, I turned my attention back to Nani. I lay down beside him on the bed, covering us both with a warm blanket. My worry for him was palpable, so I held onto his wrist, a physical reassurance that he was still here and safe. I feared he might attempt to leave in the middle of the night, and this small gesture provided me with some comfort.

I closed my eyes, hoping for rest but unable to shake the unease. The night felt heavy, and my thoughts were filled with concern for Nani and the uncertainty of what the future held.