Part: 15

After talking to Mr. stranger, before going back to my bedroom, I went to check dad if he is fine or not. The door of his room is ajar, I peeked into the room and found him sleeping, hugging mom. I smiled slightly, seeing them and closed the door properly without making any sound. I strolled back to my room and lay down on my bed before pulling the comforter over me after turning on the AC and started thinking about Mr. stranger. He's really a genuine person, but why he's keeping his identity hidden. I really want to know. I want to meet him. I feel something in my heart whenever I talk to him and feel a strong connection between us. I neither cried in front of anybody before nor did I share my pain with anybody, but today I cried my heart aloud over the phone and shared my all inner pain with him. I'm so relieved after this. I feel so connected to him, but why and what is it?

I fell asleep and woke up after a few hours. I picked up my phone from the table to check the time. "What, I slept for four hours?" I instantly sat up on the bed as I saw the time. I have never slept for four hours before in the evening.

After getting fresh, I sauntered into the kitchen because I'm starving. Dad is preparing dinner. I inhaled as the smell reached my nostrils.

"How're you?" I asked, strolling to him.

He looked at me and gave a faint smile. "I'm fine." He blinked his eyes. I smiled back at him.

"Dinner is getting ready. Until then you please have some fruits because you haven't eaten anything since afternoon." My caring Daddy. I gave him a nod. I started munching an apple after taking it out from the refrigerator. After that, I helped him with dinner.

I strolled into my room after having dinner. I called Mr. stranger, wandering across the balcony of my room and staring at the sky full of the star.

"Hello, Princess. How're you now?" I just smiled automatically, hearing his pleasant voice. What is happening to me?

"I'm great. I slept for four hours." I told him.

"That's good. You know, you're really a great person. I mean, I never thought that you would be hiding so much pain inside you. After all this, you smile, you spread happiness all around. Just hats off to you, really." I chuckled because he's overpraising me now.

"You know, sometimes it hurts a lot, but I distract my mind instantly because I don't want to waste my time crying all the time. I want to live this one life to the fullest. We have limited time in this world and I want to enjoy every second." I told him cheerily.

"You're saying absolutely right. Now I've also stopped stressing and crying over my problems. If you can live happily, then why can't I, right?" As he spoke, a broad smile flashed on my face.

I'm so happy to see the drastic change in him.

"Anybody can live happily. But you know what, today I felt so great after sharing everything with you. I'm feeling so light after so many months." I told him, smiling blissfully.

"Since the day I started talking to you, I've been feeling just like this. You're filled with positivity. I'm glad you shared your inner pain with me. I realised that anybody could live happily." He's sounding so happy, even I'm happy too.

"Could we meet now? I want to know, who're you Mr. stranger?" I know his answer will be no like always. I pouted disappointedly.

"You know princess, I can't reveal my identity. Try to understand." He answered after a few seconds of silence, my lips drawn down.

"But we're now friends. Promise, I'll never break our friendship. Please, tell me." I implored because this suspense is killing.

Then next moment, I flinched as I heard a very loud sound over my phone and the phone got disconnected. I didn't understand what it was but now I'm scared. I'm calling him constantly but he's not answering my phone. I'm marching across the balcony, utterly stressed. I don't know, what just happened suddenly? I'm extremely anxious about him. There is the bread of sweat over my forehead and I'm breathing heavily. I clenched the railing and sighed deeply, closing my eyes to calm down myself. I just hope, he's fine. A lone tear trickled down my cheek.

After long twenty minutes which were like twenty hours for me, he called me back. I just picked up the phone without thinking anything. I opened my mouth to speak something but instantly closed my mouth, listening to a female voice from the other side. "I'm talking from lifeline hospital. The person whose phone is this, he has been admitted into the hospital. Come fast." I just became utterly numb after knowing this and felt like my heart stopped beating.

"Hello, mam. Are you listening to me?" As she asked, I came back to my senses.

"I'm coming," I answered and cut the phone.

I rushed out of my room. I beat the door of my parents' room, sweating, my heartbeat racing, nearly exploding and I'm feeling profound pain in my chest. I can't lose him. I can't again bear the pain of losing someone very important. I just can't.

"What happened, Inaya?" As dad opened the door, he asked concernedly, placing the hand over my shoulder after seeing my condition.

"Dad, my friend" I almost choked up, he squeezed my shoulder. "He met with the accident. I need to go. I want your car's keys." Tears trickled down my eyes mechanically as I told him.

"He would be fine, Inaya. First, just calm down." He squeezed my both shoulders slightly. I'm so afraid to lose him.

"Dad, I can't lose him. I don't want to. I can't bear this pain again." I cried, hugging him tightly. I'm feeling extreme pain in my chest.

"Inaya, he would be fine, don't worry." He's trying to console me, stroking my back. I'm whimpering in his arms, scared and anxious.

"I need to go," I uttered after breaking the hug suddenly and wiping my tears. I need to be strong, I can't fall weak. Dad rushed into the room and came back with the car's key.

"In which hospital, he has been admitted?" Dad asked, giving me the keys.

"Lifeline hospital," I told him, taking the keys. The hospital is three hours away from our house.

"Drive save and don't take any stress, he will be fine." He reassured me, I gave him a slight nod and dashed out of the house.

I'm on the way to the hospital and just praying to God to keep him safe and fine. My body is literally trembling because of the fear, my heart is racing and I'm sweating. My phone started ringing which is kept in the front passenger seat. I glanced at the phone screen. I instantly applied the brake and moved forward as I saw, Mr. stranger's name flashing on my phone screen.

"Hello." I instantly answered the call, placing the phone over my ear, gripping it tightly. I'm panting and my heart is beating rapidly.

"Hello, Princess." As I heard his voice, I closed my eyes and sighed deeply, resting my head against the seat. I'm so relieved. Thank god, he's fine.

"I know, you must got so scared after knowing about my accident, but don't worry it was a mirror accident, I'm fine now and going back home." He told me that he is fine, but still, I want to meet him and see him fine with my eyes.

"I want to meet you, please." I pleaded, my voice filled with pain.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. Go back home, It's too late." As he ignored my words, I shut my eyes dejectedly. Why can't I meet him? Why? I want to know badly.

"Why can't I meet you? I'm worried about you. You don't even know what was my condition when I got to know that you met with the accident." I got furious suddenly and shouted.

"I'm sorry but you can't meet me." He answered guiltily.

"You're not understanding me. I'm worried about you. I just want to see that you're fine or not, please." I implored with a hope that he will get ready to meet me.

He uttered after a few seconds of utter silence. "I'm fine, Inaya. Go back home." I closed my eyes, disheartened.

"Bye." I just hung up and threw the phone on the passenger seat, fuming in anger. I sighed deeply, clenching the steering before starting the car's engine. "I won't talk to him." I raised one corner of my mouth in anger.

**

I reached back home in an hour, still angry.

I'm sitting on the sofa, Dad has gone to bring a glass of water from the kitchen. He gave me the water.

I sipped down the water and placed the glass on the table. I looked at him. "Dad, he's fine now. I'll meet him at my college tomorrow." I told him that he's my college friend. I can't tell him about Mr. stranger. How can I tell him that I have a friend who doesn't want to reveal his identity?

"Thank god." He sighed with relief. "Now it's too late, you should sleep." As he said, I stood up after nodding at him.

"Good night, dad." I walked to my room after wishing him good night. It was really a long day today. I just slumped down on my bed and fell asleep without thinking anything.