Chapter 13 The Meeting

Arjun's PoV

It really hurt me where she dashed on me and I lost my cool. I turned to scold her but she was already on the ground and was apologizing to me. I tried to help her and that is when I noticed her, she was crying and panic evident in her face. I helped her stand and she again apologized to me and turned to run. I stopped her and asked what was bothering her. She was struggling to speak out but I made out that something is wrong with her father. She took me to her home and I saw my 'Mama' (father in law) there.

That girl's dad was laying on the floor and with just a look at him I can say that he had a stroke and is now paralyzed. I waited no longer and took him in my arms and ran to my car. My Granny's home is in the next street and my mama and the girl and her mother came along. I drove the car as fast as I could and reached the nearest hospital in the nearest town. After admitting him, I waited outside in the reception room not knowing what the next thing to do was. I called my dad to let him know that I am here.

"Hello dad, I am in the nearby town. Sivaprakasam mama's relative had a stroke and I have brought them to the hospital here."

"Oh, Aju, Is he ok? Where did you meet him?"

"The doctors are looking at him. I saw him in a home on the next street. Have you come back from Coimbatore?" I asked him. He left for Coimbatore after breakfast.

"I am on my way. It is so good travelling by bus. You should try it once." he said.

"Sure, dad. I will be back as soon as possible. Let ammachi and Appuchi know that I am out."

"Will do! How is Sivaprakasam?"

"He is good. We haven't talked yet."

"If everything is fine there, you let them handle it and come back. I don't want you to be involved in anything that includes them."

"Dad!"

"I am telling it for your own good, Aju. We have faced enough problems for our whole life and we don't want to prolong it any longer."

"I understand, dad. But just remember that their loss is more than ours and yet they never blamed me or us for the disappearance of their daughter where if in usual cases I am to be blamed. They graciously gave me freedom from that marriage. They were never a problem. It is not fair to avoid them." I tried to reason with my dad. He is in a way right that my life is ruined because of their daughter but they are not bad people.

"Your wish. But I don't like it." dad said and disconnected the call. I sat on a chair in the reception and just noticed that my clothes were dry now.

"Maapla!" Sivaprakasam mama called me.

"How is he, mama?" I asked him.

"He is paralyzed, maapla. His left hand and left leg will not work. His life is out of danger anyways. That is the biggest thing for now. Looks like he didn't take his pressure medicines yesterday and today. His pressure shot up and this happened."

"How are they holding up?" I asked him. I couldn't imagine their situation now. That poor girl's teary eyes keep flickering in my mind over and over again.

"They are devastated, maapla. He is the only earning man in their family. The girl is yet to finish her degree and the boy is in his school finals." he said.

"That's really sad. Can this be cured? What did the doctor say?"

"You know, this has no cure. Only physiotherapy, that too after his health gets better. At his age, recovery has minimal to no chance."

"Is he your relative, mama?"

"Yes, maapla. Anandhi is my uncle's daughter. My mom's brother's daughter. My uncle is not alive. He is Saravanan, Anandhi's husband."

"Oh, what next, mama? When is the discharge?"

"The doctor said he needs to be in observation for the night. They may discharge him tomorrow."

"Oh, OK!" I said not knowing what else to say.

"I can manage here, maapla. You can leave if you want to." he said. I don't want to leave. I just want to make sure they are fine and well provided with.

"Can I see them, mama?" I asked him, breaking all my inhibitions.

"sure, maapla. I have to make some calls. I will be in shortly. You go and see them." he said and left the hospital. I walked towards the emergency ward and up round the corner I heard a cry. It really churns my heart. Poor them!

"Excuse me!" I called her. She was just there sitting on the bench outside the room and crying. She looked up at me with her tearful eyes and stood up.

"No, please sit down." I asked her to sit and looked inside the room through the door. Her mom is crying over her husband sitting on a chair near the bed. I sat on the other corner of the bench.

"Thank you so much for your timely help. Doctor said it would have been impossible to save him if we came late." she said to me in between her cries.

"Don't mention it. Don't lose hope. He will recover soon." I told her.

"He must, Or else this guilt will kill me!" she said and burst out into tears again. I don't know how to console her or what to tell her to make her feel better.

"Please, Anika. Stay calm. Things happen and it has nothing to do with us. Don't blame yourself." I told her.

"No, this happened because of me. I did this to him!" she cried even more.

"Relax, Anika. You are in no way responsible for this mishap."

"Huh, thanks. You don't know what happened and yet you try to make me feel better. You have done more than enough help for us. I cannot ask for more." she said, looking me in the eye.

"I said don't mention it. After your final exams are done, call me on this number. I will provide you with a job." I gave her my card. She never broke eye contact and got the card from me. I couldn't take in her eyes any longer so I looked away. Her teary eyes are disturbing me more than she knows.

"Thank you, sir! I am waiting for the final round of interviews in two other companies in Chennai. I will surely call you to let you know that I have a good job." She said that literally hurt my heart. She says she doesn't need my help.

"Oh, good for you." I stood up.

"Thanks again for your help, Mr. Arjun!" she said my name looking at the card I gave her. I just nodded at her and turned to leave when someone stopped me.

"Sir, just a minute." I turned to see her mom standing near the door.

"How is he doing? Has he regained consciousness?" I asked her.

"His life is out of danger. He is sedated to expedite his recovery. Thank you so much for your help without which we would have lost him." she said with her hands together.

"Please, don't lose hope. He will recover soon. If you don't mind me asking, do you need any financial help?" I asked her. I can tell with just the looks that they are not from a rich background.

"Oh, we are good. Thank you. We don't need your charity." Anika sprung up from the bench and answered me. How rude!

"Shut up, Anu." her mom shut her up and looked at me with an apology.

"Sorry sir. Don't mind her. Thank you for asking but we are good now. We cannot trouble you more." she said and I nodded my head and left the place avoiding that girl.

I still don't understand why I feel pity on her rather than getting angry at her for her rude behavior!