Hold on...Please.

The Touch.

"Mom please hide me somewhere...dad is coming!" I mumbled, " Mom!" I cried. Dad was coming towards me with his leather belt. I had just confessed about my sexuality. I had just told him that I cannot pretend to date the girl. I had just unloaded the heavy trunk of lie from my chest. I called mom knowing she wouldn't come. Knowing she died three years ago in the accident but still I called her. I had the gun which dad  gifted me in my fifteenth birthday. I had not learnt to use it properly yet but I still had to place my finger on the trigger. Bang! I didn't intend to shoot but in a fraction of second it happened. I had pressed the trigger. The gun fell from my hand. My back touched the wall. The bullet hit dad's left leg. Blood from his leg created a pool in the floor. He still stood on the very leg, looking at me as if he would eat me alive. I ran to my room and locked the door from inside. I heard him shout at the guards to not let me go anywhere. I sat  in the corner of the room. Recollecting what I had just done. I shot dad. I shot the Pankaj Dwivedi! I put my face in between my knees and sobbed aloud sitting on the ground. Calling mom again and again. Someone had to save me that day. Someone had to console me that day but there was none. I was alone and I was scared. Anticipating a blackout. But something had me. Wasn't I strong enough to save myself? This thought had haunted me for a long time now. I wanted to prove myself to myself. I gathered my strength, took out my passport, my bag, my sketchbooks and climbed down the tree in the darkness. Though this wasn't a dream but a reality, it felt like a dream now. I could feel a tear drop releasing from my eye and travelling to my ear.

 "Call the doctor!" Someone shouted loudly . I woke up startled by the loud sharp voice only to realize I was holding Ansh's arms tightly and my eyes were wet. I was in a bed. It seemed more like a hospital room with monitors and stuff.  I had a pulse oximeter put on my left index finger, my chest was bare with leads stuck on it and a venous channel on my right hand. I felt my legs with my left hand and was relieved that at least I had my pants on!

 "Where am I?" I loosened  my grip on Ansh and held my neck. "Oh!" I brushed my fingers on my neck. it pained a lot. I remembered how Ansh had pinned me to the wall. My voice was also different to listen to.

 Meanwhile the doctor entered and started examining me. Ansh looked at us from a distance. The doctor took off all the monitors. After the doctor was done, he smiled and asked, "So how are you feeling?"

 So it was a weird question to ask to someone lying on a bed who doesn't even know where he is! Well I felt confused. Was in a lot of pain. I just had a nightmare because my deep seated trauma was triggered. So I just answered, "Fine...I guess!"

 " So, what's wrong?" Ansh asked, looking around .

 " He's fine now. Probably he was having a nightmare. It's common after a trauma. But if the pressure was  even a bit more...the vocal cords could have had a permanent damage or the cartilages could have..."

 "Yeah...I know." Ansh looked at the ground shaking his head. "Did you get anything?"

 "He's clean..." the doctor whispered and signaled Ansh to get out of the room.

 "But I am sure he had drugs like one day ago...how..." Ansh shouted at once.

 "The blood is clear, the trace chemicals are too low to be analyzed. If you are right about the consumption, we could have got something in the urine but.." the doctor stopped when he realized I was listening everything.  "Can we talk outside?"

 "You could have taken a sample at least!"

 "Enough Ansh...He is not in custody remember...I have my ethics and you should too have some morals! You are a good friend that's why I tested the blood but still that's unethical...we can even  face a case if.... " the doctor finally had an outburst. He looked at me, he couldn't hide the guilt.

 "Ethics...For these criminals?" Ansh paused and sighed, "Alright I am sorry doctor and thank you for everything." Ansh went outside the room with the doctor.

 I was shocked. They took my samples! Without asking me! And didn't even bother to talk about it in secrecy! Well I heard all that and I could definitely sue them for doing that! Ansh entered the room after some time.

 "Where's my phone? Does anybody I know , know I am here?" I asked in a hoarse voice. "And why did you examine my sample?

 "Here..." Ansh pulled out a phone from his pockets, "It's filled with weird costumes and photographs of men. Are you sure you are your dad's son?" Ansh smirked, "you provided a good laugh to my investigation team!"

 "Yeah of course!" I uttered.  I don't know why I was even disappointed in Ansh for those disgusting comments. "Why is it not working?" I tried to switch my phone on but the screen just didn't appear.

 "It won't. You need a new one." Ansh casually replied.

 I  tried getting off the bed. I tried walking but after a few steps I trembled and was about to fall when Ansh came running and held me. Ansh's arm encircled my bare body. His handsome face was close to mine. I had been held by many men before but that touch was something else. It was electrifying and calming at the same time. Chills ran down my spine and my rapid breathing started. His warm breath on my lips felt quite ticklish. I felt a strange vulnerability. Ansh made me sit on the sofa.

 "What are you doing?" Ansh yelled.  He too breathed heavily.  He stared at my tattoos for a while which made me uncomfortable.

 "I need to pee..." I replied without making any eye contact with Ansh. "Where is my tee?"

 Ansh went to the cupboard near the door and pulled out my clothes. He threw them on me.

 I put on my clothes and looked at Ansh, "Don't you know why I had photographs of men in my phone?  Yeah, I like men and I don't think anyone has the right to mock my choices "

 "I...I am..."Ansh sighed. His ears went red and he dropped his shoulders loose.

 "So you know still...still you and your learned friends find it funny? Seriously...Aren't you all the brightest minds of the country?" I laughed while my eyes formed a thick tear film. "So I am in custody?"

 "No...you are not. You are free."

 "Why I mean..."

 "We lost all the evidence...you got lucky this time!"

 "So you too sucked at your job today?" I laughed out loud. His sulky face was a treat to my eyes.

Ansh formed a fist and breathed heavily.  He clearly didn't like my laugh but I enjoyed every bit of it.

 "Where's my gun?"

 "It's  a departmental gun. Do you even have a license? If you still claim it as yours..."

 "Drop me to Manny's club."

 "Are you ordering me?"

  "You destroyed my phone and killed me almost! And took my blood samples without my consent! I can file a case you know!" I said in one breath. "I am just asking!"

 "Meet me at the parking lot then...my officer will help you come down." Ansh sighed and stormed out of the room.