Chapter 6 Reflection

• Deen didn't rush, as his steps were so delicate and quiet, yet with total intent. Each step he took brought him closer to the girl who had taken up all the space in his thoughts, even without saying a word. As he approached her side, he slowed down by taking shorter steps as he walked just a breath away.
• “Hello”, he said softly.
• Zara jolted as she snapped out of her deep and distant haze as she turned sharply with her eyes wide open. Noticing who had greeted her, her gaze softened and melted like wax, as shock briefly caressed her face before leaving her face to settle with an unreadable expression. Even as she felt a bit shocked and warmth from his aura, just like it was in her trance, she still kept a cautious shield in her face.
• “I didn’t notice I was being followed,” Zara whispered as she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
• “I hope I did not startle you,” Deen said as he offered a faint smile that seemed brighter than the sun in his eyes.
• They stood still for a moment, in silence, neither of them in a haste to fill the quiet. As if it was some sort of unspoken agreement, they turned their back to the hospital, as if rejecting it. They began walking side by side each other, making their steps synchronise naturally.
• “What are you doing out here? And alone. You shouldn’t be out here alone.” Deen said as he glanced at her with his side eyes.
• “I didn’t plan to walk far, though; I just wanted to walk, clear my mind and kind of reflect a bit.” She replied.
• “Understandable… as it seems, a lot has happened.” He said with an affirming nod.
• Following the words from his mouth, Zara paused for a brief moment as her fingers brushed down the edge of her gown. “That is one way to put it.”
• “I have been asking myself, are all these even real, from meeting you, the accident, the healing, to the dreams? I cannot seem to make sense out of anything.” Zara said as she lowered her voice.
• Not waiting for a response from Deen, she continued to speak. “Who are you, Deen? Like, what really are you?” After a split moment of reflection, she continues. “We both aren't going to act like we are not seeing the sign and connection between everything. I mean, I suddenly met you, then I had an accident later, and now you miraculously end up in the same hotel as me. The doctor said I was in a critical condition, and yet here I am, standing and talking to you. Not just talking to you, and your face happened to be the first I see when I wake up. If this doesn’t seem connected to you, then tell me what does.” Zara blurted out.
• Caught in awe, Deen blinked, trying to muster up the words to say. After a brief moment of silence, he seemed to have had a thought pop into his head and decided to speak. “First of all, you wouldn’t believe me if I said it was a coincidence I happened to be in this hospital a few days after your accident, which was on the day Michael found you here, and that is because the hospital belongs to my childhood and best friend Daniel; Daniel is the chief doctor who has been attending to you. Also, I had to attend the launching at the art gallery because I couldn’t turn down the special invite of a really good buddy.” Deep in his heart, Deen knew he owed her no explanation, yet he couldn’t help but explain to her. Not because of anything, but for the fact that he was led by his gut.
• “I know this sounds crazy, but things are beginning to feel like an unending thread. I don't really want to say it is fate, because I believe no such thing really exists," Zara said.
• “I don’t think it is crazy,” Deen said, as he turned to her, steadily holding onto the gaze. Intently but not cold.
• Attempting to process more thoughts and meaning to everything in her head, Deen smiled as he shook his head gently as if brushing off something so deep in his thought. “Don’t crack yourself up for now; you don’t need such mental stress considering the capacity of what you just came out from. Calm your nerves.” Deen said as he patted her arms. “What is your favourite meal? What do you do for fun? Just tell me the basic things you love.” He blurted out.
• She frantically blinked at the sudden shift as a reluctant smile attempted to tug her lips. “Are you being real?” Zara asked as she motioned towards a fine wooden handcrafted chair placed at the edge of an artificial garden placed at the side of the car park.
• “Of course I am. If I have to drag you out of your head to make you feel at ease and breathe, then I would.” Deen said as they both sat on the chair, side by side, staring into the beautiful garden.
• “Well, I do like potatoes and scrambled eggs… it’s safe to say I am weirdly obsessed with it.” She said as she let out a light laugh.
• “Boiled, fried, or roasted?” He butted in.
• “Honestly potato itself is really my favourite, and I think my mood also counts when I’m deciding on how I want it. But my go-to is the fried; I like it golden brown with a crisp edge.” She said with genuine excitement in her eyes.
• “Not a bad choice, though. I would be documenting that in your mystery file.” Deen said with a wide grin on his face. “And your hobby?”
• “Well, I spend most of my time painting and drawing; I do love art,” Zara responded.
• “Oh, I see now. That explains why you were at the art gallery on the day we met; you have a deep love for art,” Deen said.
• Zara chuckled lightly as her face relaxed for the first time in days since she woke up. The strong tension her eyes carried melted, and something about her posture became uncoiled and at ease. The aura around them had changed into a calm one; even Deen felt it too; he felt the strange calm. The kind of calmness only felt when one was at the right place and at the right time.
• Back inside the hospital, Daniel sat, finalising Zara’s discharge documents. Everything was almost ready, and he was just going through the final part, which was to authorise the document by his signature. Zara had passed every test; she had defied all scientific odds and was now due to be released. As he penned down his signature on the edge of the first page of her file, he thought about how she was when she came and how he had gotten to the point of signing her release document.
• In the large marble-laced mansion on the hills, across town, Michael stood by one of the tall windows as he looked over at the driveway. Despite the ongoing preparations going on in the mansion for Zara’s arrival, everywhere seemed oddly quiet. The staff moved about as they intently put things down in order; despite being occupied with work, they noticed the aura emanating from Michael was down. And this created a high inflammation of their curiosity.
• “I have never seen them this calm before; this is strange,” one of the housekeepers whispered to the other.
• “I don’t think it is the ma’am we know about, because he always seemed excited whenever she was coming.” The other housekeeper replied.
• Micheal watched the wind stir the trees with an empty gaze as he sipped a dark liquid from a glass. Whatever emotions he felt about the whole incident, till Zara’s return, were deeply buried inside him, in layers of control.
• Back at the hospital, Deen and Zara walked side by side as they entered the reception. Unbeknownst to them, the answers which they desperately sought would soon begin to unveil themselves to the surface.