Chapter 6

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Two days passed since the incident but that man never came. Riddhima and Pihu have given up the hope on that man.

Waiting and waiting was the only option and this won't work.

They went to the hospital to register patient for there case study.

It was afternoon when they returned and settling out the things for the assignment , they went to the garden for a tea break.

"The case of Mrs. Rene is actually good."

Pihu exclaimed.

Riddhima quietly nodded.

"What do you think....", Pihu tried to distract her.

She looked up and then at Pihu.

".... we needed someone we could heal , she already recovered person and she would be discharged in very few months.................. I thought this assignment to be more than an assignment ............but we have to settle it at this only." She sipped the tea settling the cold down in that warmth.

"Ok don't be sad now................... you tried your best if he don't want help what can we do. " Pihu  tried to cheer her up.

Riddhima nodded , affirming herself to accept what she never wanted.

Some noises were heard outside house. Riddhima and Pihu looked at each other and stood up. They rushed to the door and opened it. As they came out a crowd was gathered a few meters away from there home while a man was lying unconscious on the road. Someone  was calling the ambulance , someone the police station while others stood there looking at him, 'habitually'.

Riddhima and Pihu ran up to him , no wonder he was him only. Blood running down his forehead , frail body and disturbed face.

"God..........." Riddhima sat down  patting his face . " How............ this........".

With the help of the crowd they took him in and laid him on the bed , pressing a cloth to his bleeding head , Riddhima called the doctor while he laid there unconscious in the same coat he had thrown at her that day.

Pihu came following the doctor and with the medical kit. The doctor examined him for a while and dressed his wounds. Noting down the the medicines on a paper , he  checked the drip and slowed it.

Putting the pen to his pocket, he walked up to Pihu and Riddhima.

" The patient was unconscious because of starvation...... and this cold climate was also new to him .......... he needs care for now

Make him eat the food properly and take medicines on time ................ The head injury is not that much its due to  tumbling down on the road , it will get heal........... but ......" The doctor paused for a second...." he has many wounds was he in some accident before........".

Pihu and Riddhima were blank to the question.

"whatever...... check to the drip and make him eat ".

They nodded and the doctor went out . Pihu went to close the door while Riddhima seated beside the bed staring at the man and his wounds.

"Do we actually need to do this."

Pihu spoke standing at the door .

Riddhima nodded.

"He can't understand that he needs us but we do."

Pihu came and sat beside Riddhima.

"What if he walks away when he wake up."

".....that will be his choice but we can't let him die, we don't even know who he is , his family , home , we can't leave him to go back to that abandoned house."

Pihu looked at her and then at the man lying there unconscious. She stood up and went to the kitchen to prepare something for them , while Riddhima remained there looking at the man and his condition.

Looking at his body, one easily say that, he would have been fit and fine but today his condition was nowhere near to that . Fragile would define him better.

His messed up hair , his bandaged forehead , closed eyes and pale face. His face was all in red and blue , red in pain and blue in bruises.

" Was he in some accident before", Riddhima remembered doctor's words.

The drip was flowing in through the needle at the wrist while he laid there buttoned up in his not so favourite coat.

Actually everything started from that coat .Riddhima smiled unknowingly .

Life is a game of luck sometimes , he came to them finally , ops , life threw him to them finally.

"How will he stay here we don't have place for a third person".

Pihu entered and kept the plate on the table sitting beside Riddhima.

" We will manage something."

Pihu covered the meal as he was still asleep.

"Landlord.......... we have to manage him too ."

Pihu stood up while Riddhima held her head in thinking.

"The landlord is not going to allow men to stay here if you are thinking that mother Teresa." Pihu spoke in stress.

Riddhima stood up and walked to the window  locking it she looked at snow , which slowly falled down, darkening the room.

"I know we will arrange something ..........let him wake once."

They walked out of the room and closed it.

"Let me make some arrangement for a bed, he has taken yours but we need to stay somewhere at night......................Hall........." Pihu thought for sometime and walked up to the closet. Taking out the mattress she walked to the side near the fireplace , sliding the chair to one side to make space for the new bed,  finally she was ready with her interior designing.

Laying on it she threw the pillow to one side and strected out the blanket , the thickest blanket , the fireplace was near and this was even more cosy for something like.... girls sleepover.

She looked at Riddhima with proud , offcourse to get some admiration for her hardwork.

Riddhima smiled at her.

" Very good .............. " And as she was about to say more the door banged.

The man came out and looked at both of them with his dizzy eyes.

"What a..m I d..oing.... here......." He said in broken words while a silence proceeded in the hall.

With his trembling steps and blood dripping off his wrist, offcourse he would have pulled out the drip...................., He walked up to the door and opened it.

But the door banged close again and he looked up as Pihu stood before him.

" We brought you here ....................you were lying unconscious on the road on the verge of death, why can't you understand that you need our help what is the problem, if we help you."

He gave her a frustrated look and then went back to open the door.

As his blood soaked handed held the nob again , Pihu closed it once more .

"What do you think of yourself, no, you tell me today ,what do you think, you are suffering , hands wounded, head bandaged,  thin and pale , just look at your condition do you think you will survive the deadly cold outside.................. and acting like some superhero you need our help and we need you, to take it, so quietly take it and don't act so smart before me, you want it or not we will help you..........".

Ignoring her long speech he held the nob again and this was the end. Pihu stood in front of the door.

"What is your problem I just can't understand..........

I Don't want your help .........................why are you pressuring it over me I don't want your help, you both do whatever you want, I don't need your help."

Helding the nob he pulled the door and Pihu trembled in, while he went out ignoring his blood and dizziness.

Riddhima rushed but Pihu held her.

"let him go Riddhi....... let him go............ when he will die on the middle of the road and his family will cry, then he will understand. his life means nothing to him then why should it bother us . We are pressuring him ........... Do one thing go and die and then enjoy seeing the people you left behind crying ok bye..... go ......... "

The man turned and looked up to Pihu and then at the Riddhima standing still with a hope in her eyes.

Riddhima stood there confused between Pihu grip and his eyes......... Looking at Pihu released her hand.................. Turning up to him she  rushed out to him , who was still standing there blank .

"We can understand you have  suffered with something, we won't pressure you................."

He looked at her blinking to wipe his tear.

"....... We just want to help you .... Please , not for yourself then atleast for your family, they need you , you need to get well for them atleast.

You can't live in an abandoned house for years, just become well and return to your home they. Your life is precious..... every life is precious it should not be wasted......."

The falling snow covered there head and Riddhima stood there looking at him .

"I don't know what happened but I can promise that I will mind it................ we will mend it.", Riddhima looked at Pihu and then again at him.

The man looked up , the snow was falling . He tightened his fist and turned to the house and walked in slowly passing from Pihu side , Riddhima walked up the stairs . Pihu looked at him and then at Riddhima.

Probably the fire hasn't faded that much.....

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P.S.-

Mr. Stubborn Vs Miss . Stubborn.

And the winner is ...............