Page 15 of You Had Me At Annyeong!
‘Haan, bro!Paryeh bata, how did I get here? Are you guys okay? Were we not together?’
Bhaskar and Alice look quizzically at each other and then expectantly at the doctor who kindly explains that since Timira had had a concussion, her recent memories might have gotten a little muddled. ‘None of her core memories, don’t worry. Only the last couple of days, or maybe even less. You might only have a few hours’ gap in your memories. And those will come back, too. Just try to stay relaxed and don’t force yourself to remember,’ he smiles.
‘Thank God! Imagine if I were to forget how awesome I am,’ Timira sniggers. Seeing as her rotten sense of humour is entirely undamaged, Bhaskar and Alice heave a sigh of relief.
‘Doctor, could you share the details of the person who brought my friend here? We’d like to thank them.’
Someone brought me here? Who? Argh, why do I always get into trouble?
‘You can check with the admissions department. I’m afraid I don’t know much else.’
Frowning as much as her bandaged head would allow, Timira looks expectantly at Bhaskar, who promptly disappoints her by not pressing any further. She cusses under her breath but keeps quiet. Bhaskar enquires if Timira can be discharged right away.
‘I see no reason for her to stay here any longer. Make sure to have her stitches removed in a week, here or elsewhere. No monkey business until then!’ The doctor grins at Timira, a sage-like smile spread across his wrinkled, weathered face.
Before she knows it, Timira is out of the Digene-pink hospital pyjamas and in her trusty cargos and tee.‘Thank God this happened AFTER the wedding. Can’t imagine turning up at a party looking like this!’ Timira is feeling the bandage with a sour expression on her face which quickly changes to a grin when Alice puts an arm around her and gently squeezes her shoulder.
‘Alice, you and Tim head out. I’ll settle the bills and catch up in a sec,’ Bhaskar tells them sweetly, but the girls are already out of earshot, yapping excitedly like little schoolgirls.
Timira suggests they go to the cafeteria and grab some juice.
‘Tim, aren’t you curious?’
‘About what?’
‘About what? Seriously? Don’t you want to know how you got here? Aren’t you at all curious to find out what happened?’
Of course, I want to know who saved this damsel in distress!But she decides against wanting to seem too eager. Part of her is also worried that learning their identity might be anti-climactic givenmy sodding luck!
Timira wants to lie but knows she can’t. Because Alice will definitely see through it. So, she decides to go with a half-truth.
‘I’m safe, isn’t that what matters?’
‘You have stitches on your head! You call that being safe?’
Feeling her bandaged forehead, she suddenly recalls the dream from the previous night and groans.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I saw a dream last night. Well, a nightmare, really. I was at the beach and a flying saucer hit me. And, Rod saved me. Yuck! Ally, it couldn’t have been him, right?’
‘It was just a dream, Tee. He’s busy with SoBo socialites and Bolly starlets, I’m sure.’
Even the thought of Rodrigo makes Timira want to either break something or bawl her eyes out.
‘It’s all your fault. Yours and Bhaskar’s. You didn’t take good care of me. Bad, bad friends I have, tch!’
She sticks her tongue out at Alice and attempts to skip away, but Alice grabs her by the collar and doesn’t let her move even an inch.
‘You are right. We shouldn’t have let you escape last evening, you loony. You aren’t going out of my sight for even a moment for the rest of this trip!’
Alice has been gripped with guilt since the phone call from the hospital. They had made plans to explore a bar they’d learnt about on IG and then shop at the night market. Timira told them she was running late for their table booking and that she’d catch up at the bar which was only a ten-minute walk from their hotel. Alice and Bhaskar did not think much of it, given Timira’s history of terrible time management in her personal life. No sooner had they reached the bar did they realize that they’d been duped. The hostess, a gorgeous local woman with skin so clear that Alice was tempted to enquire about her skincare regime, led them to a candlelit table in a secluded area. The sun was yet to set and the yellow of the candle flames was weaving magic with the orange of the sun. Creamy mimosas were brought out. A singer, long-haired and tan like Nuno Bettencourt, appeared out of nowhere, holding a guitar, and sat himself down near their table.
‘Timira,’ Alice had smiled.
The singer started off with Magic!’s ‘Rude’. And both Bhaskar and Alice’s phones dinged. A text from Timira.
‘Guys, aren’t you sick of babysitting? I know I’m tired of being babysat (hold up, is that a word?). I know, I know, I’m a lot of fun. But you should learn how to have fun without me! I need to share my fun with the rest of the world, too. The planet needs meeee! So, have fun (or, don’t. Bore each other to death idc).Main chalito heal the world, make it a better place …’
