Misha and Naman were busy flirting with each other, while I discussed the do's and don'ts with the nurse. And also the procedure to follow if something like that happened again.

"He is okay for now, but it will be best to keep him here for observation. Please make a wise decision," the nurse said, when she found out we were preparing for a discharge.

"Yeah, I also think he should stay here for at least two more days," Misha said. She was still baffled to see him doing okay all of a sudden.

"The sudden switches in his condition aren't normal and it is best if a professional is overlooking these changes. Besides, Naman looks sexy in this hospital attire," she said, winking at him at the end.

An arrogant smirk formed on his face as he leaned back and posed like an actor. "I know I am irresistible in these clothes, but they cannot compare to what's beneath."

"Cheap bastard," I muttered under my breath, while Misha giggled at his corny chatter.

"If you guys are done, let me know what your decision is- discharge or no discharge?" I asked, breaking their giggling feat. "FYI, I don't have money for more than a day. So decide accordingly," I added as an afterthought.

Hospital bills were expensive. Two days was a stretch, making it hard to afford it. She would if it was absolutely necessary, but if there was an option, Swara was all about leaving from here.  Between Vriha and Naman, her pockets were about to run dry.

"Who asked you to foot the bills?" Naman snorted at her 'money for a day' comment.

"Then who else?" Swara questioned back, her eyebrows furrowed in question.

"Are you my girlfriend?"

"Excuse me?"

"Or a relative?" Naman added hurriedly, seeing Swara was about to explode in anger.

"What are you saying?" Swara asked at last, heaving a sigh.

"I am asking, why do you think it is your responsibility to pay for me?" Naman shook his head at the caring idiot, before turning towards Misha.

"Can you get me my wallet?" He requested, gesturing towards the table where the pile of his clothes and accessories were kept.

"There should be enough inside to pay for today's visit. Please go and pay, I will change in the meantime."

"Are you not staying? The doctor suggested that you stay for observation," Misha asked.

"That's all I can afford right now," Naman answered honestly, before commenting, "Pretty boy ain't that rich."

His insurance was already used up during the operation. And he was already putting a dent on his savings by constantly falling ill.

"We can pay for today," Misha offered, although a bit hesitantly as she didn't want to overstep the boundaries.

Naman smiled gratefully but refused politely. "I am fine, don't worry. There's no need to waste money. And I promise to run here at the first sign of distress."

"And I really don't like this stiff bed. I will sleep better at home," he added, speaking dramatically, making Misha laugh. A small smile appeared on Swara's face as well.

"Are you going to watch me change?" Naman raised his eyebrow, looking at Swara with a teasing smirk, when he noticed she was still standing in the room, while Misha had already left.

"Do you have someone to look after you?" Swara asked instead, not bothering to respond to his teasing.

"Although not a professional, there should be someone keeping an eye on you. These switches can be fatal if not acted upon fast," she said, looking over him concernedly.

'Maybe she shouldn't have made that comment about money. Staying here would have been better,' she thought to herself.

"You tell me," Naman said, interrupting her train of thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You created me. So out of all people, you should be aware whether I have someone to take care of me or not," Naman said, sounding a bit bitter.

Swara scratched her head, looking here and there in guilt.

"The thing is..."

"Uh-huh." Naman folded his hands, looking at her squirm in discomfort.

"Forget it," Naman said, with a shake of his head, relieving her from the stress of making excuses.

He turned around to pick up his clothes. He was thinking of going to the washroom to change as the lady beside him didn't look like she was leaving anytime soon. However, before he could take a step ahead, he heard the huge intake of breath. He stopped, waiting for her to gather courage.

"I haven't found you in my notes yet." Swara told him the truth, looking at him sheepishly. "I must have written it somewhere, but—"

"But you don't remember it now," Naman finished  her sentence, as he turned back to face her.

Swara nodded, looking at him with guilt.

"However, you did write it right?" Naman asked, "Or is there a chance that the family situation is real and not related to the book?"

"I am sorry...," Swara apologized, instead of answering.

She looked down at her fidgeting hands, not wanting to face him. She couldn't tell him the answer. She wasn't completely sure but there was a huge chance that it might have been his own real family situation and not her fiction. He was an extra. She might not have thought about his family situation at all. It wasn't needed for the story. But she couldn't tell him this.

At least not when he was sick and had no one to take care of him. His sarcastic question was enough to let her know that he had no one to care for him. His body was already in pain, there was no need for him to feel the heart ache as well.

She would let him believe that she was the main culprit. Just like Selena's curse, whatever was wrong in his family was because of her writing, and not their own choice. She would let him have that peace, for now.

"Let's go to the library for now. Selena and I will keep an eye on you," Swara said, finally looking up.

"You don't have to. I will be fine on my own."

"Please. Something can happen. What if you can't call for help in time?"

"Why worry? No matter what happens I will come back to deliver the books," Naman shrugged nonchalantly.

"Don't act so casually. You cannot play with your life like that," Swara scolded. "You cannot depend on the books. Anything can happen at any time."

Swara didn't trust the diary at all. If the diary could strike through her thoughts, there was a chance that it could also make up things. The main lead's entry was long overdue. To bring him in the story, if the diary accelerated things...Swara didn't want to imagine what would happen.

This was probably just her overthinking, but she didn't want to take any risk.

"Can you just humour me for today and let me take care of you? Please," Swara pleaded.

"Alright, alright. Let's go to the library," Naman agreed. It was hard to say no to those eyes. "But only till your shift ends. Then you can go to your other job and I will go home," he added, putting his foot down.

"But—"

"It is anyway useless to stay in the library after you leave. If something does happen to me, Selena won't be able to call for help. Phones don't work and she cannot get out of the library," Naman said, interrupting her protest.

"Then I will take you to my home," Swara said abruptly. "Vriha can easily detect if something goes wrong. Heck, she will know it faster than you would notice."

"How? Is she a doctor?" Naman asked sarcastically.

"No, but she is an experienced patient," Swara deadpanned.

"She knows the signs."

Naman whistled at that, before wiggling his eyebrows at her. "Do you trust me enough to leave me with your sister?"

"I will erase you from the diary if you dare attempt anything," She warned. "Now hurry and change the clothes. We need to leave," Swara said, hurriedly leaving, before he questioned her further.

The truth was that she trusted him, way more than she should have. However, she couldn't tell him that. Naman wouldn't let her live peacefully if she said what was in her mind.

Swara shuddered by just imagining the amount of teasing she would have to get through.