Chapter 10

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Vansh eyes were close when Riddhima opened the curtain and the warm sunlight felled on his face.

His blue cheeks reddened calming down the cold of the long night.

His eyebrows struggled to save his eyes from the sudden light and he turned his face.

"Vansh...... Get up....", A sweet voice broke his sleep and he turned and looked at Riddhima, hurrying round the room to the collect the stuffs .

He slowly got seated and looked at her. This was the first time he noticed her, Running around the room in a black dress blooming on her skin, hair messed up , her red cheeks and the flickering eyes. There deep brown color reflected how her heart was full of life. She tucked the hair behind her ear to stop them from disturbing her. Medium height and highly cute , her face reflected that she would be highly carefree too. But she ......... No matter the carefree looks of her , one word from her and her care surpasses everything . She is filled with the rarest and the most beautiful quality ever kindness........ And kindness and a little more.

"Vansh .....", Vansh came out of his thoughts.

"Get ready ......". He walked out of the bed and stood. He slowly passed from her side and went to the door. Her fragnance has mingled the room to her flavor. Tucking the hair once again she took a last look at the cleaned out room.

She came out and kept the food bucket on the table, Pihu was busy in her phone.

"Pihu.....",

"Hmm",

"Have you arranged the breakfast.",

"Hmm",

Riddhima went to the kitchen.

"Where?",

"Hmm",

"Pihu....",she shouted.

"What man....."

"Breakfast"

"It's here", Pihu said pointing to the table beside her.

"Can't you tell me before."

Riddhima came out and arranged the plate .

"How much time will you take Mr. Unknown."Pihu shouted and kept her phone aside to take up the plate.

"Atleast wait for him.", Riddhima held her hand.

"What wait.... I am hungry you wait for your dear Vansh." She took the plate and started eating.

Vansh came out and they left the house after having the breakfast.

They climbed up the hill and finally there was it ' The high point ' .You can see entire Shimla from here. Those snow covered mountains to the green streched valley . The fluttering clouds to the cold mist , this was the his second therapy station, if you could name the first.

"So ..... How is it."

He nodded.

"Let's get seated no .." they all went and sat at the bench.

"So......."

Riddhima looked at Vansh.

"Tell us....................... your favorite flower."

He was silent.

"Let it be .......... He pays tax for speaking." Pihu exclaimed in frustration.

Riddhima gave her a look .

"Those white petals with fog laid on them at night." Vansh smiled as if he could feel it before his eyes.

"Why ...they are your favorite."

Vansh looked at Riddhima.

"They are sinless , only good......"

"Nothing is sinless" she smiled.

"You are sinless."

"I am Riddhima."

Pihu stood up,"and I am Pihu."

Riddhima smiled and looked at Vansh.

This was something different.

"And you are Vansh.", Riddhima raised her eyebrow.

The snow started falling and Vansh stared in her eyes.

"Oh no ....." Pihu lifted the bucket.

"Let's go in the shade."

They all went under it while the snow felled. The cold sent chills to there body but the vast laid diversity in front of there eyes was the fruit of this discomfort.

"Riddhima.....",He spoke.

It was the first time he took her name.

"I am sorry."

Riddhima remained quiet.

The snow receded and they came out the green streches were now sprinkling white.

"We should return..."

"Yes ....", They slowly came down and walked down to there home.

Riddhima and Pihu were discussing the assignment while Vansh was walked behind them.

"You are Vansh " her words were echoing in his head.

They walked past the tea stall when they saw a woman struggling with her baby and her wounded leg.They ran to her.

Riddhima lifted the baby and handed it to Vansh while Pihu took out the medical kit for the first aid. They were bandaging her while Vansh stood there breathless.

Breathless with that little life smiling in his palms. The hands so small. The face , his palm could cover more than half of its body. This was the smallest life he ever held, his hands were shaking. My god , what if she slips. Why is she moving so much.

Riddhima and Pihu supported the woman and Vansh walked behind them holding the baby .

Sometime inching her eyes, something calculating his future moments. It was tough job altogether. They reached the place and the lady went in with her child .

Vansh looked at his hand which still had the warmth of the creature which just left. He smiled unknowingly.

"I have a family you know....."

Riddhima and Pihu turned to him . This was sudden. They were avoiding this question but he himself admitted ; he was healing.

They walked up to the house and walked in to finally listen the most awaited tale.

"Who all are there in your family.", Riddhima asked.

Vansh smiled.

"There ar....... were many people."

And there was no more of it , smile they call it.

"Why did you left them?",Pihu asked opening the lawn gate of the house , unknowingly to the answer he spoke.

Vansh looked at them in horror. His expression changed ,the calm, everything vanished as if it was never there.

He went inside and filled the water in a glass. His trembling hands spread the water but his mind was at higher chaos. Riddhima held his hand, taking the bottle , she filled the glass and handed it to him.

"Don't panic." Vansh looked at her ,

his eyes filled with the unknown tears a society would called weakness of a "man".

Pihu came and stood before him.

"Mr. Unknown, why so sad come we will watch the television."

She took him to the couch and Riddhima went to the kitchen.

It was night , and the cold estimated that tommorow morning would be snowy for sure .

Riddhima sat on the couch with her plate while Vansh was sitting beside him and Pihu as always leading the crowd sitting exactly in front of the television.

"Pihu will you allow other to see,..."

"Riddhi wait this scene is important......"

"What important you have watched it a thousandth time ..."

Pihu ignored her, biting her lips as the climax of the movie started.

Riddhima searched for the remote and changed the channel.

Pihu was totally into the TV when suddenly the thriller changed to the horror and 'Annabelle' turned .

She gave a loud scream and jump from her place and landed between Riddhima and Vansh.

"..... Someone change the channel."Pihu shouted.

In the sudden shock of the dear Annabelle, Riddhima threw the remote closing her eyes.

"Vansh change the channel", she said .

" Vansh",

And he.... with his face deep into the pillow, ok probably Annabelle wasn't his favorite too.

"Vansh do it." Pihu snatched the pillow from his hand.

"Riddhima you do it."

Vansh snatched it back, ok never snatch a pillow.......... It hurts.

"Someone do it." Riddhima closed her eyes when suddenly the advertisement came up.

All three opened there eyes .

There was deep silence , they looked at each other and slowly stood up. Pihu calmed her heart and Vansh threw the pillow he cuddled so tightly.

Riddhima looked at them .

"Who changed it."

"God....", Pihu took a deep breath looking up.

Vansh looked at them and smiled. Riddhima also smiled .

And the three of them broke into laughter and laughed till they were in need of breath.

"This was not this funny."Pihu said supreessing her laughter.

"No no ............. taking off and landing are not at all funny." Riddhima smiled.

Vansh giggled and Pihu bugged him.

"Funny no...."

He nodded.

Pihu threw a pillow at his face.

And the moon smiled looking at the most unique bond it witnessed under it's light.

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P.S.

Smile- she can make you do anything.

So did you smiled.

Yay or nay??