chapter 4

The next day, as Aditya sat on his bed in the ward room, Uncle Roy paid him a visit. With a playful tone.Uncle Roy: Can I come in, Aditya? I hope you won't bombard me with questions like last time?"Aditya: Oh, not at all, doctor. Please come in. (Aditya chuckled and replied)Uncle Roy: Hmm, looking at you, I can tell that you're much better than yesterday. Am I right? (Uncle Roy observed Aditya and remarked) Aditya: Yes, doctor. You're right. All thanks to Aashi. She managed to change my thoughts. Uncle Roy smiled hearing Adityas reply Uncle Roy: Ah, Aashi. That girl is such a loving and caring person. She always wants to see everyone happy. I don't know the reason behind your attempt to commit suicide, but I do know one thing - Aashi has the power to take away the darkest thoughts from your mind. Aditya: i guess your right doctor. by the way, She told me that she would come to meet me again. Uncle Roy: Oh, really? She told you that she will come back to meet you? She only says that to very few people. If she said this to you, then that means you are now a part of her happy world. As Uncle Roy was having this conversation with Aditya, Aashi entered the room with a smile. Aashi: Is someone talking about me? (she questioned playfully)Uncle Roy grinned and replied...Uncle Roy: Heyyyy, there you are! Yes, Aashi beta, we were talking about you."Aashi: So, what were you guys talking about me? (Aashi asked with curosity) Uncle Roy chuckled hearing Aashi's questionUncle Roy: Nothing much. Aditya was telling me that you had promised to visit him again...Aashi nodded and turned towards Aditya. Aashi: So, how are you, Aditya?"Aditya: Yes, am... am fine (Aditya replied with a smile)  Uncle Roy: Alright then...you guys carry on...I'll take a leave. Uncle Roy excused himself, leaving Aashi and Aditya alone. Aashi went and sat beside Aditya Aaahi: So, all set? Ready to restart your life again, Mr. Aditya? Aditya nodded and said, "Yes, I am. And I'm doing all this because of your selflessness. You sacrificed your sleep for my sake. Aashi: Whatever the reason, the important thing is that you've decided to restart your life. That's enough for me. (Aashi smiled warmly as she replied) Aditya too smiled back...but suddenly all of a sudden something came up in Adityas mind. Aditya: By the way, doing my treatment in such a renowned hospital might cost me a lot. isn't it? after hearing Adityas question, Aashi reassured him Aashi: Chill chill dude. It will cost you zero rupees Aditya was taken aback after hearing it Aditya: Wait what? Zero rupees? What are you even saying?"Aashi: Uff, you start worrying too fast. I know Uncle Roy from years, and for my sake, he has treated many people free of cost, just like you."Aditya was surprised hearimg it Aditya: People like me? How many more people have you saved ? Aashi brushed off the questionAashi: uff...forget all that dude, The good thing is, today you will be getting discharged by the evening, you will be back at your home. As evening approached, Aashi and Aditya found themselves sitting in Uncle Roy's cabin, accompanied by Uncle Roy himself. Uncle Roy confirmed that Aditya was now completely fine and expressed his hope that Aditya would leave behind the pain of his past and move forward.Aditya assured him, saying, "Yes, doctor, I will. Aashi: And even if by any chance he somehow forgets his resolve to restart his life, then I'll be there to give him a perfect pep talk. Everyone laughed, and Uncle Roy turned to Aditya, extending his hand for a handshake. Uncle Roy: Alright, Aditya. I wish you all the best for your new life."Aditya shook his hand and replied, "Thank you, doctor."Finally, Aditya was discharged from the hospital. Aashi accompanied him as they walked out from the hospital.  Aashi: So, where will you go now?Aditya smiled Aditya: Nowhere, just back to my home." Aashi: Would you like to take me to your house? hearing Aashis question, Aditya's smile widened, and he responded. Aditya: Would you like to come? Aashi: If you are ready to take me, then yes, I would love to come. (Aashi's face lit up with joy as she replied) With that, they set off towards Aditya's house. Aditya, out of habit, suggested calling a taxi, but Aashi surprised him by revealing that she had her own car. They hopped into Aashi's car, and within a few minutes, they arrived at Aditya's house.As they entered, Aashi noticed that it was a very small house, just like a small room. Aditya was observing Aashi.  Aashi: I know it's a very small house."Aashi smiled warmly Aashi: But it's nice. Sizes don't make a house; it's the people who stay in it that make it a home."Aditya felt a surge of gratitude towards Aashi for accepting his humble abode. He gestured her towards a small bed Aditya: Come, have a seat. Aashi settled on the bed, and Aditya took a seat on a chair nearby. Aditya couldn't help but notice that Aashi hadn't asked him the reason behind his suicide attempt, so he decided to bring it up.Aditya: I was waiting for you to ask me one specific question, but surprisingly, you didn't ask. Aashi: What question? Aditya: You didn't ask me the reason behind me trying to commit suicide.  Aashi: It's because I don't believe in the past. I believe in the present and the future. It doesn't matter to me what has happened in your past. What matters to me is how you shape your life from now on. That's all that matters to me. But yes, if you find relief by sharing your painful past, then yes, I would like to listen to it. ( Aashi's eyes softened as she spoke) Aditya felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he began to share his story. Aditya: am originally from Delhi and had experienced a childhood filled with pain. my parents use to fight all the time in the house without even giving a thought of what kind of impact their fight would leave upon me. my mom had an affair with her colleague at the office. one day she left me and my dad and went away with that guy. her betrayal shocked my dad so much that he started drinking day and night. one day his both kidneys got spoiled due to excessive drinking of Alcohol, he died. at the age of 15 I was left all alone, but my dad's brother, Uncle Vivek decided to take me to his home. for the first time in my life I felt like as if someome cared for me, but I was all wrong. Uncle Vivek had taken me at his house for his own benefit. he treated me like a servant there. I use to do all the housework of the house. his kids use to make fun of me...years passed, I couldn't handle this any longer...one day i ran away from that house and came here in Chawanpur. here I got a job at a cafe.  Time passed, and I met a girl named Sakshi. We fell in love with each other. Sakshi belonged to a good middle-class family, but I had almost no background. On the other hand, I was also not doing well financially. To ask Sakshi's hand from her parents, I wanted to become financially stable. I decided to work hard, so that I can become a deserving enough to marry her. In the daytime, I worked at the cafe, and at night, I took up a part-time job at a store. Since New Year's was approaching, a huge party was being hosted by a wealthy businessman at the town's open ground. They were looking to hire people to serve food and beverages to the attendees. I decided to give my name for the job, I got hired for that one-night party, but little did I know that it would end up giving me a shock. At the party, I caught Sakshi red-handed in Dipesh's arms. Dipesh was the son of Mr. Johar, the owner of the same cafe where I worked."Aashi listened intently, her eyes filled with empathy. Aashi: So, how did Sakshi react when she realized that she had been caught? (Aashi asked with curosity) Aditya: Her reaction was unexpected. She didn't have any regret for cheating on me. She told me that no girl would ever want to be in a relationship with a guy like me. She said I was nothing but a loser, she told me that every girl dreams of a guy like Dipesh, who can not only give them love but also a lavish life. She even admitted that she had been looking for an opportunity to break up with me for a long time. Aditya's emotions overwhelmed him, and tears welled up in his eyes. Aditya: This incident disturbed me emotionally. I felt unwanted, like nobody cared for me or loved me. I felt like I was a burden on this earth. That's when I decided to take my own life. I took sleeping pills and decided to end it all. But I guess, destiny had something else in store for me, I got saved by you, and now, here I am.... alive. Aditya nodded, his tears flowing freely. Aashi too had became emotional, her heart was aching for the pain Aditya had endured. Aashi: Never call yourself unwanted ever again Aditya. Unwanted are those people who didn't value you in their life, whether they are your parents, your uncle, or that girl Sakshi. They are the ones who are a burden on this world, not you. with Sakshis betrayal, you got so much hurt that you even forgot to recognise the positive part of this incident. Aditya:  positive part? what is it? (Aditya questioned with curosity) Aashi: whenever something bad happens in our life ...people need to understand that it happens for our own good. in your case ....this incident brought up the true face of Sakshi infront of you. what would have happened if you had somehow married a girl like her and later in your life you would come to know about her true nature, wouldn't that have given you more pain? we as humans always get hurt when something bad happens with us...but we fail to notice the positive side of it. there's positivity in everything Aditya...we just need to find itAditya looked at Aashi, his eyes filled with gratitude. Aditya: From where have you come Aashi? You make every situation look so positive and normal. (Aditya replied with a smile forming on his face) Aashi: Well dude, that's Aashi for you. (Aashi smiled and blinked her right eye playfully while replying) Aditya smiled, feeling a glimmer of hope in his heart. Aditya: By the way, I have one more question, At the hospital, you said that Doctor Roy had treated many people free for you, What does that mean?"Aashi hesitated for a moment hearing the question. Aashi: oh no no no....now no more questions dude....I need to go now Aditya: hey come on Aashi...it's just one last question...Aashi: no Aditya...it's really getting late...I need to go now. Aditya: please Aashi...I noticed that you ignored this question even at the hospital...but not anymore....Aashi: try to understand Aditya...I really need to go...i have some work. Aditya felt a pang of disappointment, but he respected Aashi's need to leave. Aditya: okay fine. If you really have some work, then I won't force you. You can leave. (he replied, trying to hide his disappointment) As Aashi walked towards the door, Aditya couldn't help but follow her. She turned towards him, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. Aashi: before I leave, I want to tell you something. (she said softly, her voice filled with sincerity) If you ever feel unwanted, trust me, you do have a person now who cares for you. (Aashi gently placed her right hand on Aditya's cheek, caressing it with tenderness) And I really mean what I say. (she added, her eyes locked with his) With those words, Aashi left, leaving Aditya standing there, his heart filled with a newfound sense of hope and belonging. He kept watching at her, feeling grateful for the unexpected bond he had formed with her. to be continued in next chapter.