Desperation

Ishan pushed open the creaky door, entering his humble home. The small living room, cluttered with hand-me-down furniture, led to a narrow corridor connecting the two bedrooms, kitchen, and bathroom. Faded photographs adorned the walls, telling stories of happier times.

His mother, Sushma, opened the door, eyes widening in alarm.

"What happened? Why are your clothes burned?" she exclaimed, taking in Ishan's singed shirt and soot-stained pants.

"Long story, Ma... first, can you get me some ice? My hands are burning," Ishan requested, handing her his bag.

Sushma gasped, "Haye Ram!" as she examined his burned hands. Rohan, Ishan's younger brother, rushed out of their shared bedroom. "What happened, bhaiya?"

"Nothing, yaar. I'm fine. Let me have some water, and I'll share every detail," Ishan reassured, wincing as he sat down.

After quenching his thirst, Ishan recounted the events: the burning car, saving the old man and driver, and his heroic actions. A mix of pride and exhaustion reflected on his face.

Baba, Ishan's frail father, lay on his bed, his body weakened by cancer. "But why did you have to jump in to save them? Was there nobody around?" he asked, concern etched on his face.

Ishan's irritation flared. "Can we please not do this today? I'm tired and burned..." He glanced at Rohan. "Did you get the toothpaste I needed? Something cold for my hands..."

Rohan nodded and handed Ishan the toothpaste.

As they sat down for dinner, Ishan attempted to pick up a chapati, but his burned hands protested. He winced, unable to grasp the delicate flatbread.

"Let me help, beta," Sushma offered, concern etched on her face.

"I'm fine, Ma," Ishan insisted, trying again. But the pain shot through his hands, and he couldn't manage.

"Please, Ishan, let me feed you," Sushma coaxed.

Ishan hesitated, feeling embarrassed. "No, Ma, I can do it."

But hunger got the better of him. "Okay, fine," he relented.

Sushma smiled, gently taking a piece of chapati, dipping it in the curry, and feeding it to Ishan. He savored the flavors, grateful for her care.

As she fed him, Sushma's expression turned serious. "Ishan, beta, why did you have to jump into that burning car? You could've gotten hurt... or worse."

Ishan looked down, anticipating her worry. But then she whispered:

"But I'm so proud of you, beta. You saved someone's life today. That takes courage."

Tears welled up in Ishan's eyes, touched by his mother's words. "Thanks, Ma."

Ishan entered their cramped bedroom, where Rohan was buried under a mountain of books, his face illuminated only by the faint desk lamp. Diagrams of human body parts covered the walls, a testament to Rohan's unwavering dedication. Ishan sat beside him, his palm wrapped in bandages.

"Hey, future doctor sahab, how was your coaching today?" Ishan asked, his eyes shining with pride and affection.

Rohan's hands trembled as he put down his pen. He avoided Ishan's gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "I... I can't go back there again."

Ishan enquired his voice filled with concern, "Why, Rohan? What happened?"

Rohan's eyes welled up with tears as he faced Ishan. "The management... they mocked me for not paying the tuition fee on time. They called me a freeloader." His voice cracked, and Ishan's heart ached.

Ishan's anger flared, but he kept his tone gentle. "Aren't you top of your batch? They said they'd sponsor your tuition fee if you're top of the class."

Rohan's face twisted in frustration. "They already have a poster girl ready. They want her to top because her face would bring more students." Tears streamed down his cheeks.

Ishan's sigh was laced with sadness. "Pretty privilege does exist in the world." He paused, his eyes locked on Rohan's. "How much money do we need to pay?"

Rohan sniffled. "Eighty-five thousand before the end of the month."

Ishan's grip on his bandaged hand tightened, a surge of determination coursing through him.

Rohan's voice trembled. "That's why I'm thinking of dropping out of coaching and finding a job to help you out, bhaiya."

Ishan's face darkened, memories of his own struggles flooding back. "No, Rohan! Don't even think about it!" His voice rose, laced with desperation. "I'll arrange something soon. You just focus on your studies. You're going to be a brilliant doctor, and I won't let anything get in the way."

Ishan pulled Rohan into a tight hug, his bandaged hand pressing against his brother's back. Rohan's tears soaked into Ishan's shoulder.

"Okay, bhaiya, I will," Rohan whispered, his voice muffled against Ishan's chest.

Ishan sprinted towards the moving bus, determined not to waste 15 precious minutes waiting for the next one.

He finally reached the office, panting, and stood before the entrance. As he fumbled with his bandaged hands to unzip his bag and retrieve his ID card, his mind muttered, "Come on, fingers, cooperate."

But as he rummaged through his bag, his heart sank. "FUCCCCCKKK...!" he exclaimed, realizing he must have dropped his ID card while saving the old man.

"Great, just great. Saved a life, lost my ID," Ishan thought wryly.

He called his manager, explaining the situation, and received the devastating news: "Company servers are down, new ID card won't be issued today. Take an unpaid leave."

Ishan's frustration boiled over. "Unpaid leave? Are you kidding me? I just saved two lives, and now I'm being punished?"

As he trudged back home, wasting another hour, Ishan's inner monologue turned sarcastic. "Yeah, saving lives really pays off. I mean, who needs a paycheck when you've got a heroic story to tell?"

He flopped onto his bed, cursing his luck. "Why me, God? What's the penalty for being a good Samaritan?"

Ishan's exhaustion consumed him, and he succumbed to sleep, escaping the frustrations of his morning.

Hours later, he woke with a start, disoriented. As he reached for his phone, his heart sank. 15 missed calls from his manager flashed on the screen.

"Oh no, what now?" Ishan's mind raced,he tried to dial up the number again but before he could do it he heard someone called his name from outside his house..

"Ishan Chaudhary.. We need to talk!!"