Hopeful Streaks

Chapter 1

The flares of sun were barging in so sincerely and hit my eyes, that i had to c***k my eyes open to meet that day's hustles!

How much i wish that all my worries would vanish when the sun vanishes by this dusk! Unfortunately, i could only wish! Yes, my life was a hustle. I had been clenched to all those dilemma that a twenty four year old, girl would hardly face.

I,Mitha Krishnan a fresh graduate from MMC acquiring my post graduate degree in Family Medicine. I started to search for a job in a well renowned hospital, before two weeks ! Well, i was still hunting. I confined my eyes tight, to seek the strength to vanguard all those stumbled blocks that life had packed and conserved to make me cry out of my life! I sighed and strained myself from the bed, and cleaned myself.

In the next tenth minute, i found myself standing in front of the mirror. I started to scrutinize my face deeply. My chocolate brown eyes, were tired of crying continuously. Sharp nose that was dead straight seem to be pinkish, as the backwash of weeping. The plumps of the cheeks that i had, were no more. The whole of the josh that usually, Mitha used to have is an otherworldly thing. The invisible scars, bruises and the tears were the first ones to get into sight, when i studied my face, on the mirror. All these scars and bruises, taught me a hell lot in this past week, during which i started to lead a life without my father.

My father, Mr.Krishnan a retired teacher got hit by a cocky, arrogant, money minded Ogre's car, last week. All through his life, he had worked hard to make me acquire my dreams. He let me pursue my passion, by immersing himself into debt commitments in and around him. He had been living a lower middle class, life all the way was an understatement. He had been hit by a b****y a*s, and left all alone in the road with scattered blood. All these, came to me by a phone call that shook the s**t out of me. I found my life to be no more without my father nearby. I had no one for me except my dad! I have heard him saying that, my mom expired when i was two years old. I had never asked about my mom, nor he had let me miss my mom. He was something more than a father to me.

Well, the intensity of this father daughter relationship is much more when, the dad is a single dad!

The subsequent two days were the worst days of my life. I was pushed into total darkness with no money, no job, no strength, nothing ! Literally, nothing. Something that i had at that moment was my degree and all i could do with that was to search for a job. I started to hunt for a job, like a dog searching for his Piece of bone! Till today, i have been left jobless.

I had to pay back the debts that my dad had left lone for me and one more deal was to pay back the rent for that petite house, that's been remaining since few months!

Come on, Mitha! You can do this. You're not that broken girl. Garner up your courage and work on it! Probably, these were the lines that i chanted to myself to make me more stronger in the past week.

The invisible tears were rolling down my cheeks, as i stood there in front of the mirror. I let out an exhale and wiped my tears off! Well, i wiped off all the grief and gained back all my consciousness and got ready to continue my job hunt. I noticed that my eyes had turned red due to the lack of sleep, all of my clothes turned to be free with an inch gap from my body. The whole of my face looked pale. I have been in deprivation of food. Do you think, eating all alone is so much easy?

I closed my palms, and sealed them to get back the doggedness attitude. I groomed myself, in a pair of leggings and kurti succeeding ly after picking up my files and certificates and bonafides, i locked up the room and saved the key. I walked to the bus stop aimlessly, slowly to board the bus and sneak in for that day's marked interviews.

Finally, a bus with a board put up 21G, dropped the anchor at the bus stop. I leapt inside the bus and passed on the money to the bus conductor, seeking ticket! But that's when my phone rang on getting hit to a call. The phone blinked and displayed my house owner's name.

My face frowned, on seeing the display name. Well, The mistake was ours. As we were running out of money, in the last few months my dad had asked for allowance, in paying the rent for last three months. But, everyone knows what happened and as of that time,i had no financial support.

Time and again, i sighed and attended the call.

"Hello?",i spoke with a dry throat after clearing so that it would not be a disturbance for me while i speak.

All these days, after dad's death I barely opened my mouth like to the grocery shopkeeper or bus conductor or the auto driver. After all, i actually had no one to speak with except my best friend, Deborah!

"Ms.Mitha! This is Shankar speaking!", My house owner's son spoke, in a really cocky voice.

"Yes,Mr.Shankar!", i replied in a really shaky voice .

"I guess it's been three months since you stopped paying your house rent. This is just a reminder call to make your sick brain realize that, the house you live in is mine and not yours! You get that?", he sizzled out!

"I know Sir! Ermm.. I am sorry !"I apologized! He was a bit rude, yet the mistake was mine. It was really sick that I didn't pay the rent of his house.

"So, when can i get the money?", he asked adding up some more spice to his voice.

"Give me a week's time, sir! I will try my level best to come back and compensate the rent amount!", i said ! Oh no! Why did you say as a week. You're still out of job. Did you forget it? My brain yelled!

"If it's not getting done, then I would not give a second thought to proceed with you legally!"he sizzled.

"No, Sir ! This is a promise!!", i said but all i heard was just a beep that labelled that he already hung up.

How mean?! When i am sitting here, with no money to file a case against that b****y a*s who hit my dad,this guy is threatening me that he would proceed legally with me.

This is how nicely, one's fate could play with them!

I disconnected the call and gawked at my wallpaper, that had a quote over it! I glanced it as it read,

"I am a woman!

What's your super power? "

I have to accept wholly that, the wallpaper of my mobile phone brought back all the strength that i was about to lose because of the phone call that i got, a few minutes ago.

The bus was overloaded and was brimming with huge amount of office goers. I inserted myself into the crowd swiftly and crawled to the front portion and got ready to de board the bus. I got down aptly and strode towards the tall building that was so visible from the bus stop.

I steered myself into the building and headed towards the reception.

"Excuse me! I am Mitha Krishnan! Heard that you're searching for family medicine graduates! I am here for the interview.", i said giving my branded smile, trying not to show the tiredness on my face and voice.

"Please, wait till we call you Miss!", the counter person answered lethargically, taking her time. I nodded my head and gave out a dry smile that i had to force on my face. I decided to sit back and wait for them to call.

I waited there for four more hours, without any interrogations. The hospital was already having enough on it's plate. People were busy bustling in and out, whilst i picked up a corner of the hall to sit and glance at them all, vaguely having thousands of thoughts shaking me up. My stomach was begging me to feed it up. I guess, it's been a day since i stopped taking my meal. I decided to sit back until i meet the authorities for my job. I ended up in convincing myself that i would eat while going back home.

Time sprang upon. And the sky inaugurated to darken and obfuscate itself. I had gone to the receptionist, for the supreme most tenth time by now since this morning yet her response was the same, asking me to wait. And the way of responding started to tone down. At last, when the clock hit 7.30 in the night, i was finally allowed to meet the chief doctor of that hospital.

I regained, myself. Come on, Mitha! Stuff yourself with enthusiasm. Do not let the counter person know that you're struggling to move with your life. Take a deep breath and give it a shot! I had always been my own encourager.

I took up my bag and entered the room, broadcasting my smile, i said,"Good evening, Sir!"

"Good evening Miss! You may take your seat!", a man of about 45 Years of age, probably was sitting in the foreground.

"Thank you!", i said gently.

"So, you're here seeking for a job! May i know about your post graduation degree?", he asked.

"I have my degree in Family medicine, Sir!Just passed out with a decent score from MMC!", i said handing over the files to him.

He got all the papers from my hand and neatly examined those and let a hush out and said,"So, Mitha Krishnan! "

I became attentive giving him an inspection.

"I guess, your scores are good but as of now we're in need of experienced hands! "He said and my lips flattened.

"But sir, I haven't been in a scope to work.Give me chance to prove myself!!", i asked beggingly.

"You Can't prove that with our patient's life, Miss!", his voice stiffened and his gaze become narrowed.

Damn,Mitha Krishnan!!

Once again, from morning i sighed and my heart started to stab itself, inwardly.

My face scowled immediately. I, impulsively got up from the chair grabbing my files and certificates back and said,"Thank you sir!"

"I wish you all the best!", he said and leaned back to his chair.

I have been sick of interviews, recently! How could someone prove without getting a chance? I shook my head, being worn out. I came out of the hospital. My stomach was literally making sounds and shrilling at me, that alarmed me to grab some food. I decided to go to some restaurant, and eat that day's food.

I went into some random restaurant that became visible to my sight after walking for sometime, and ordered for a plate of Dosa*. I started to gobble up my food and decided to end that day's dinner with a cup of coffee. The misery and vexation of being without gaining an employment, was crunching me into bits as the essence of coffee started to invade my mouth and mind. On finishing my coffee, i paid the bill of one fifty bucks.

When i swiveled and looked at my watch, it showed that the time was 10.00 at night. I started to walk back home. With no running thoughts, actually with nothing shaking me up. Yes, i was left blank. And that was not the first time for me to go blank after a tiring day. To go nuts about my employment and to go blank, within the next moment has been my routine since recent few days.

I walked back home, hugging my tote. But then i stopped nearby a petty store, to shop for milk packet.

"Anna*, one half litre milk packet!", i asked to the shopkeeper, showing him the currency note.

"The chick seems to be hot!", a voice hit my ears from my behind followed by the smoke that was ejected from the filthy mouth.

Fuck my life! One day and so many things to worry about.

"Dude, she appears to be lustrous!",the other one murmured clasping the reefer between his sick lips. I got the milk packets and turned to give out a don't even try kind of look and started to walk as fast as possible. When i was about few streets, to reach my home i heard footsteps behind me that added a bit more darkness to my anxiety at that time.

I felt like falling down being blacked out. I held back all those strength, tightly. My hands clutched my bag, firmly and pressed it against my front.

Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. Gear up and walk fast!

I uttered to myself and started to walk fast. The footsteps didn't seem to pause. I stopped there, as i wheezed heavily as the backlash of walking fast. I was already dying out of tiredness. Suddenly, the presences of someone else hit me so hard abreast me. After sensing so, I couldn't help myself but turn. There, stood those bilges who did talk about me, when i was buying milk packet. They neared and laughed evilly with a semi lit reefer, in the corner of one's mouth.

One of them smirked at me. I literally, felt like I should've died. The situation made me felt like death would be better than what was happening at that moment. One of them came forward and clutched my hand, i tried to remove my hand from his grip yet, i felt too weak. My knees went so weak, that i was about to fall. Somehow, i managed to stand there still but tried heavily to bring my hands off his grip. The other one, went a little away on getting a call, and this guy who was holding my hand started to talk,"Come on! You sprout!"

"Leave my hand, you bastard !", i yelled at him, wrinkling my face, leaving out a disgusting reaction and tried to unbuckle his giant like fingers that had almost made red marks around my wrist.

The whole of the sky, seemed to crash on the top of my head. Something inside me screeched at me to give him a blow and run away. The determination held me so firmly, that i took one of my legs and stamped his legs forcefully. He screamed in pain, that he had to leave me out from his grip, audaciously i kicked him between his legs that he fell down, impulsively. I picked my bag up and started to run, but by seeing this the other one who was on the phone, neared me and started to chase me again.

Oh god! Again?

Time and again, i held my life tightly and ran as fast as i could. The place was only two streets away from my home, but even after running miles from there, I didn't seem to reach my place. With totally exhausted face, i stood holding my knees but when the man who was chasing came in front of me, and then i had to run again.

I ran straightly and entered the beach, that was straightly visible from the place i was standing, so that i could get help from someone. I ran in and started to look around for someone to help me. There was no one in and around the area. After running for few more steps, my knees went too feeble that I couldn't hold back myself in the position, and i had to fall down to the beach sand. The debauchee who was chasing me, found out that i went on my knees and neared me.

Save me, god! Why am i so fragile that I couldn't fight back ? Because you're a girl, stupid! my mind lamented. My heart was heavily screaming for someone to come and save me.

Someone! Anyone!! Who could save me from this worst situation.

The guy's guise, neared me more. Being annoyed, i closed my eyes tight and shut my ears. Soon after, i felt someone in line to me. The fact that held me so tight that the one who was chasing me, is standing opposite to me. I decided not to open my eyes. Tears started to roll down. I cursed myself so much, with no reasons.

The sky started to darken more. As if it was about to share my tears and grief, the clouds started to drip their drops. It started to rain heavily, within the spur of the moment. But then suddenly, the noise i heard made me to open my confined eyes, that were almost paining that hurt my eye balls because of which the sight was not clear when i had to see what was happening. The blurred image of two men fighting, was all i caught when i got consciousness back.

Oh, that was not a fight! A mysterious guy was hitting that debauchee so hard, that he was on the floor. The guy who was hitting him, seemed to be more stronger from his back. The scene cemented my a*s to the sand more firmly. I froze there, by seeing something miraculous happening in front of me like in a movie. So cinematic it was to have someone to save you when you're ardently seeking someone to save you. I even rubbed my eyes to make it clear that it was the reality. After, hitting the chaser the cryptic guy turned around and walked towards me.

He was a tall guy,must be of 6'2"; with well maintained body and biceps. His broad shoulders, narrower chest and abdomen, and his muscle hugging tee, that got drenched in the rain clearly embossed his eight packs! The lad had a neatly done hair style and coarse of nicely trimmed mustache and stubble. He appeared like he was my savior. His cloudy, sloe dusty eyes were too crystal clear in holding the responsibility to save me.

He walked towards me as the blurred vision became clear to me. As i said before, the attitude that was shown by the guy, clearly flashed that he wanted to protect me. Oh, what's this? Any one who is a real man would do the same, for any girl in this situation! Don't overthink !!

His swag made me more weaker, i was still the same sitting there, hugging my bag tight. As i was wet throughly, my bag and my certificates went moist too. The guy came towards me and stretched his hands towards me, for me to get up and regain my moral sense. I stretched my hand up to him and touched his long fingers!

That's it! Something inside me sparkled like the early bright bask! Heart attack!!

The touch on his fingers echoed everywhere in my body. Oh my goodness! Damn you! Get up and thank him for saving you. My mind screamed.

I regained myself, and stood up, taking my bag in my arms.

"Thank you so much! I don't know what would've happened....", i started and he didn't let me complete.

He gestured me to stop by showing his long fingers in front of me. I sealed my lips, by seeing what he did. Oh my!This guy's eyes!!, seems to be a crotchety lad! Hmpf!

"Where's your place ?", his steel like strong voice hit me. He, totally remembered me of an efficacious griffin. Man, Invincible you!

"AB block, eleventh street!", i said being amused by his peevish attitude. He then started to walk, asking me to walk with him. I walked behind him. Ok, he is going to come with you till you reach home. How grumpy, this guy is! I opened my mouth to thank him, but then he was just stopping me from being grateful. So mean!

The streets were filled, with deadly silence with only street lights flickering then and there. The guy walked front and i followed his shadow beside him. Once, after walking for ten minutes, on reaching my street he turned towards me,"which one is your home ?"he asked, with eye brows still!

"The third one from last!", i said pointing out my house that stood there with a whole of silence.

He then proceeded his walk, with his brandish swag. Rain, had stopped by that moment, we reached home. I went forward to unlock my home, and looked at him gratefully to submit my thanks and invite him for a cup of coffee. Hey, do not judge me. Only i know, that he had saved me, my life from a p*****t! And that was a just a token of appreciation and devotion.

"Come in for a...", i started and he talked,"Go in and stay safe! Don't let every guy, walk home with you!", he sizzled.

What? I am letting everyone to walk to my home. This is too much!

"You're not letting me speak, Mr!", i furrowed my eye brows,

"You don't have to speak! Go on!", he said and turned back immediately and started to walk away from me.

"Did i ask you to walk home with me?", i shouted at him. He turned and gave a stare at me.

"I thought of inviting you for a cup of coffee, out of gratefulness that you saved me ! Don't judge a girl as you see !", i shouted again entering my doorstep. This time he didn't even turn back to see me.

"You're a grumpy tom! I pity on your girlfriend!", i sizzled again with my eye balls popping out and entered my home wholly. Yeah, he must probably have a girlfriend!

I entered home and dropped my bag over the little sofa, murmuring and scolding the guy. Though, he saved me how tight-fisted his reaction towards my thank you was! I then restrained myself, into the restroom to give myself a shower.

My body, mind and heart seemed to be free after the shower! I came out and carried off my bonafides that were wet due to the downpour. I came out and scattered all my certificates down on the floor to make them dry. My head started to rotate like an earth when i had to think of facing an interview, with the wet documents. Life is a s**t! Well, mine is a real s**t!!

I then took out my phone, to check for calls and messages. Ok, there was no one for me to call or message except my dad and the other one, who is supposed to be my best friend Deborah! Being done with that day, i felt that it would be better to talk to her to make myself okay.

She has been a good friend of mine, since my childhood. We did our schooling together and after that my dad being a teacher and being able to gather money for my medicine studies, he let me go after my dreams but it was the other way around at her house. Her dad went sick and the responsibility of saving, her family was laid on her head. Being the first child of the family, she was the one who had to take care of her parents and her younger twin sisters. She, being a strong girl started working for a cafeteria that also bakes. She finished her catering degree in correspondence, and became a cooking artist in the same cafeteria alias bakery or whatever. Though she had an earning, that was not really enough for five people to eat their food and that's why Deb couldn't help me out financially. She would often feel sorry for it. Deb, has always been my one and only best friend! No matter what , she would always stand by my side. She is such a sweetheart.

I called Deb,immediately! She picked up the call in few rings.

"Hey,Bon-Bon!", she freaked out on seeing my call! Yeah, she calls me that since our fifth grade. Reason? God, knows!

"Deborah!", i sighed. Whenever i call her Deborah and not Deb, she would know that i am pissed off.

She caught me right!"There is a tomorrow, Bon-Bon! Come on! "She cheered me .

"Well, today's was a totally different tale! You know?", i asked .

"Seriously ? Well,here too!"she said in a different tone.

"What's that?", i cheered up by folding in my legs.

"Well, Math proposed to me!", she said with an overwhelming voice .

Math, as she calls but Alex Mathews wholly, has been Deb's childhood sweetheart. They meet regularly during their prayer time at the church, where both of their families worship in. Though, Deb had always been in love with Math, i was actually worried that he would not come after her because he was of a different level. Mathews, was a big businessman. And how on the earth, would he come and fall for her? I didn't want Deb, to become a broken girl so i had never given her false hopes on her love. But, then this matter that slipped out of her tongue brought back all the joy that i had lost since my father's death.

"Deb, i am really very happy for you! I am sure you're flying now.", i giggled .

"Of course, Bon-Bon!", she cackled.

"And mark this! I am coming to your home tomorrow! Tomorrow is gonna be our day." She heehawed.

"Deb, please to come!" I said and she knew how much i was in pain and grief.

"I am hanging up now, meet you tomorrow! Good night bon-bon!", she recited .

"Happy night, Deb!", I said with big fat smile on my face.

"Hey, wait! You have to tell me today's story when i come there tomorrow! Deal?", she demanded .

"Deal dude!", i assured. And we hung up.

Though, today had totally stirred me up, the minimal conversation with Deb, made me forget my worries and i leaned back to sleep for that night. Getting lost into sleep, was not that easy when i was already half last to the mysterious guy, who wanted to safeguard me, deeply but didn't give damn to authorize my thanks or coffee invite. Who cares? Shut your sick thoughts, close your eyes,sleep.

But why did the guy come to save me? From where did he come? Damn you Mitha! Damn you; the man of necromancy!!

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