Journey of Hope

CHAPTER:- 17

Ishaan's Pov

"Ashia!" I whispered. Seeing her lying unconscious shook my world.

The scenario from the time, the accident had occured, replayed in my mind. This time, it seemed to be more dangerous, imagining the girl to be Ashia. I shook my head vigorously denying the truth.

"Ishaan! Ishaan!" Prati shook my shoulder. I just looked at her without any expression. "We have to take her to hospital.", she said hurriedly.

I just nodded and took Ashia on my arms from the car bonnet. Opening the back door, I sat inside and made Ashia lay on the seat. I kept her head on my lap. When, I closed the car door, my gaze moved on Prati, who was standing there looking at me in amazement.

"What are you waiting for? An auspicious moment?" I shouted. Shaking her head, Prati sat inside and start the car. "Drive carefully. Don't pull your stunts again. If anything happens to her, I won't leave you. Trust me, even your rich father can't save you from me." I warned.

Prati didn't say anything and drove the car to the nearby hospital. I didn't speak a single word on the way. I saw Prati breaking the signal too. I ignored the running traffic police behind me and kept caressing Ashia's hair.

Soon we reached in a nearby hospital and I ran holding Ashia in bridal style. By God's grace, we met a doctor at the hospital gate only. He saw Ashia's unconsciousness and immediately admitted her, without doing any formality.

After admitting Ashia, I stood outside the ward, eagerly waiting for the doctor's response. Prati came soon, parking the car. She sat in the bench.

I saw Prati. She was totally expressionless. For a moment, I felt bad for her. But then, Ashia's unconscious body came into my mind and I lost it again. Controlling my anger, I turned my face away. I didn't want to burst my anger on Prati. But, Ashia's face was coming in my mind again and again. And it had a strange effect on me. It was hard to imagine her pain.

At that time, doctor came out. My anger for Prati was vanished by worry for Ashia.

"Doctor, How's Ashia?" Prati asked, before I could say something.

"She is fine. Nothing serious. There are just little scratches. And Thank to God that she had no more internal or external injuries." The doctor said.

"But Doctor, She was unconscious." I worriedly said.

"She is claustrophobic. That's why." The doctor eyed the nurse and she forwarded the prescription to us. "Bring this medicines. I have given her glucose solution. She will be conscious in few minutes. Then you can take her home. Now please, Excuse us. We have other patients to attend too." I nodded and the doctor left with the nurse.

"I will bring these medicines and clear the bill. You stay with Ashia." I said, not looking at Prati and moved without hearing her reply.

I was confused with my own behaviour. I was feeling a kind of connection with Ashia. The connection was so deep. Her eyes, Yes, her eyes - they were different. No.. No.. They were similar to someone, very close to me. I couldn't identify her. Or maybe I was just overthinking. Thinking about my messed up feelings, I reached near the medicine shop and brought the medicines. While returning, I stopped at hospital reception to pay fees.

"Excuse me." I called the receptionist, who was busy with some paper work.

"Yes, Sir! How can I help you?" She professionally asked.

"I am here to clear the bill. My friend is admitted here."

"Oh, What's her name?" She asked, checking the register to find Ashia's name.

"Ashia..." I stopped abruptly not knowing her surname. "Actually I don't know her surname. Can you please do the process with this only?"

"Sorry, Sir. But I can't violate the rules. It's important to maintain a clear record. And how can I allow you to take a girl, whose surname is not known to you. What is the proof that she is your friend? Wait.. What if you are a fraud?" The receptionist continued to irritate me.

"Hello Madam. Stop your express there only. She is my college-mate. I admitted her now only. Confirm this with your doctor only." I said in irritation.

"Who is your doctor?" She asked like a nursery teacher.

"I don't remember." I said, shrugging my shoulder.

"You don't remember the patient's surname. Her name is not registered here. And now you don't even know the doctor's name. Do you even know your own name to continue the discharge procedure?" She said, folding her hands.

"Ishaan Samantray." I said, throwing my college ID on the receptionists' table. "Now is this enough to trust me and discharge my friend?"

"Rules are rules, Sir. It won't change with you being any Ishaan Samantray." She said in a disinterested tone. And, my level of patience end there.

"Hey... Listen. I'm taking my friend from this stupid hospital of yours."

"Sorry Sir. It's not about money but responsibility. Our patients are our responsibility. I can't allow you to take her from here." She said and got busy among those office papers.

"What the hell? You don't know me Miss..." I read the name on her uniform. "Miss Tanisha, It won't take me a single second to shut this stupid hospital of yours." I said, throwing the papers in air.

The matter had come to my ego. I was angry. I would have called Mom or Pratik Uncle and taught that girl a lesson, but a voice interrupted me.

"Ashia!" I turned around to find Ashia and Prati coming towards us. Seeing her conscious, my anger melted. She looked at me in a different manner and moved towards the receptionist. "I am Ashia. Well, that's my identity. Here's the proof." She kept her college ID on the reception desk. "Dr. Roy has treated me. He advised for the prescription and my discharge. And I know this gentleman here."

"Thanks for the cooperation, Mam. Don't mind. We are just concerned about your security." The receptionist said with a smile. She typed something on her computer and gave a bill to Ashia. "Thank You, Mam. Have a good day."

"Well, thanks for such well maintained service." Ashia said and pulled me outside holding my wrist.

"Why are you pulling me? Wait, Prati is inside too." I said, struggling to free my hand from Ashia's hold.

"She is here. Just behind you." She said, without turning around. I turned around to find Prati behind me.

"What, How? I mean she was inside a few minutes ago." I said defending myself.

"Hospital is not our home to stay for all day. And she is enough mature to know this. But you are the child here. So I have to pull you." Ashia said, with a tight lipped smile.

"You are calling me a child?" I asked in a warning tone.

"Not at all. How can I call a 6 ft tall man child? But yeah, your acts are definitely childish." Ashia said and left my hand.

"What?" I said in confusion.

"What, What?" Ashia said in anger. "You are Ishaan Samantray, So you won't follow the rules?"

"Arey, it's nothing like that. They are stupid. They asked me to prove that you are my friend. Like really?" I said carelessly.

"You know, which hospital is these?" She said folding her hands in front of her chest.

"Hope to Shine." I read the name plate.

"Yes, and this comes under 'HOPE' NGO. That NGO has branch all over the India. And Hospitals are another way of social service. And everyone works here with value and integrity. It's their duty to ensure the patients security. The doctor treated me without asking about any identity information, because me being a patient was enough for him to treat me with his knowledge. And the receptionist has the responsibility of my security. Now a days, there are examples and examples about girls being molested and assaulted. They care for their patients as their own. That's why, she denied you to take me out of the hospital. You being Ishaan Samantray is not giving you the right to demand my discharge. You should have request her to move along till our ward. There, we would have cleared her doubts. But no, you have to be the Ishaan Samantray - arrogant and egoist jerk." She said all in one go and marched towards the parking space.

I was shocked with Ashia's sudden outburst. She just blasted on me for saying bad about a hospital. Strange!

I followed Prati, who was silently moving towards the parking area. I was happy and relaxed as nothing serious happened as it was only Ashia who went senseless of being a claustrophobic in nature but thanks to God. May be we escaped from some other big issues with this minority.

But this coincidence will never leave my mind. Like Everything was going well, Prati was driving, and to God's plan We met with Ashia that too escaping from an accident.

Life is so uncertain. And life is all about uncertainty, And the uncertain feeling I had started feeling for Ashia. I was not aware of the feeling, the new occurings in my life, Ashia, this accident things, But there must be some speciality in Ashia. Yes, her eyes, her hairs! Not only about beauty the limit stayed, but her nature, her fearlessness that have some impact on me.

I came back to the present. And the moment felt special with Ashia. But amidst all these, I forgot about Prati who was just silent. I felt sorry for being rude to her because of the accident. Even though it was her fault, but she didn't try to give excuses. She silently listened to my rudeness. But now when everything seems good, I must say a sorry to her.

"Prati... " Slowly called her name touching her shoulder. "I... I am sorry! I know I shouldn't have scolded you, but I was just tensed, and I'm really sorry..." I said with moving forward.

Prati faked a smile on her face to my words "It's okay, it was my fault only. Like you see, I was too excited, and lost my concentration, I went too fast to explore the outside world and this..."

Her words held the feeling of guilty. But i was sure, my behavior has hurt her.

"And I'm really sorry, Ashia. For me only, this all happened." Prati held Ashia's palm, and in a soft voice she said.

"It's okay, now everything's okay, what's more? Now leave, chill!" Ashia caressed Prati's hair, and showed love like a sister to Prati.

Compared to the first day meeting with Ashia, and Prati, I was more happy seeing both of them, and their friendship. In the short span of time, they both had formed a lovely bond between them.

Ashia interrupted with her sudden voice "Guys! So only drop me in the middle, I have some important works to do and you go to the college."

"Why? Where? How can we leave you in this situation!" I said showing care towards Ashia and Prati Joined me too "Are you mad? You need rest, we should drop you to your home only."

"Come on, I am fine. No need to worry now. Just find a cab for me. I will be fine." Ashia said.

"You sure?" Prati asked, patting her shoulder.

"What sure? Have you gone mad?" I scolded both of them. "No more arguments now. Sit inside. We will drop you in your home."

I said in anger and sat on the driving seat. Prati silently sat on the backseat, as she was afraid of my anger. While Ashia kept glaring me. She didn't move an inch from her place.

"Ashia, Come on. Please." Prati requested. Ashia came and sit beside her in the back seat. She closed the car door with a thud, showing that she was angry. And this girl said that I was childish!

Shaking my head, I started the car engine. For the first time, it was me, Ashia and Prati travelling in one car. But it was not feeling like first time.

And here our journey began...