IN LOVE WITH YOU [SLOW UPDATES]

22

~NAINA~

"Faster, please!" I pleaded to the cab driver as I sat on the edge of the seat, tapping my feet. He was blaring his horn on the dressed-up people who had blocked the major portion of the roads, even the highway. I wanted to get out of the cab and crush each one of their heads. Such was the state of my mind.

I looked at my cell phone, which I was fidgeting with my sweaty palms throughout the ride. Thirty minutes had passed. I hope he is fine. Please, God!

My internal voice was just a string of 'Please'. Any other thoughts popped the instant they formed, like soap bubbles.

"How far is it?" I asked the driver.

"At the end of the highway, to the right."

"Drop me here then," I said, pulling out ten-dollar bills from my purse. Before running out of my house in haste, I made sure I had some cash, my credit card, and my ID. They were crucial.

I handed him the bills, and without taking the change, stepped out of the cab. As the biting wind gnawed on my body, I realised I forgot to wear my coat. I jogged on the highway, pushing people to the side, muttering sorry and excuse me under my panting breath, covering my nose with my hand to protect it from the cold air. Some of them cursed me, but I ignored them. It felt like an eternity, getting to the end of the highway, to the hospital.

"The emergency ward.. Phi..he was stabbed.." The receptionist stared at me before turning to the computer screen. I hadn't seen another person with a more boring expression painted on their face in my whole life.

"Um.. miss.." a husky voice called out. I turned to see a tall man standing two feet behind me. He was wearing a jersey with loose pants and a baseball cap was hiding his hair.

That must be him. "The call? Did you-"

"Yeah! I..I called. I'm Hugo. I found Phi in the alleys near the building. I-"

"Where is he? Is he okay?"

"In the emergency room," the man motioned back. "Still unconscious," he added seconds later, with a pinch of grief in his voice.

The man narrated what he had seen as he led me to the emergency ward. I could spot a few cops talking to the doctor in one corner. Hugo had found Phi stabbed by shards of glass, lying unconscious, with bruises all over his body. My gut wrenched at the thought. Who could have done this to him? Muggers?

"He has lost blood, but I'm more concerned about the internal wounds. The boy was beaten red and blue," he said and observed my expressions for some time. "Don't worry, he will be fine."

"Thank you so much sir, for everything. I don't know what would have happened-"

"Oh.. you need not thank me. Phi is a nice guy. A little reserved, but a good lad. I wish I would have gone there sooner."

"You know him?"

"I do some minor jobs in those buildings, you know, fixing the doors or the floor. I know everyone but they probably don't know me."

I was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude for him.

"There he is," Hugo pointed towards a stretcher inside a chamber. I saw Phi through the glass window. He looked pale and his lips were chapped. I couldn't see anything more. The nurses had surrounded him, cleaning up his wounds. The lump in my throat got heavy and my eyes, which had roped the tears within up till now, started brimming with them. I opened my eyes wide, trying to dry them, swiftly wiping the ones which had managed to spill down my cheeks.

***

"Hey.. are you fine?" Lisa asked in a worrisome tone. I looked at her and nodded as she patted my shoulder. I had called them, my friends. Omer showed up in his joggers. Lisa and Seth were still in their costumes.

"It's gonna be okay," she whispered.

Phi was still in the emergency room, his wounds were stitched up and blood transfusion was in progress. I looked at the wall clock which was ticking in the silent gallery. Three past ten. Occasionally, some patients would show up, bruised, attacked or hit by a car. Halloween was not fun for everyone.

"Where is Phi?" I heard a nasal feminine voice and looked sideways towards the entrance to see Pam. Her hair was dishevelled and her cheeks were wet with tears. She looked like she had just woken up and dashed to the hospital, like most of us. The news had spread. A string of messages were lined up on our college WhatsApp group enquiring about Phi's state. Many started showing up at the hospital as well, even after the long and exhausting night they had. I was kind of grateful to them.

Lisa consoled Pam and updated her about Phi's condition. Pam cried like a five-year-old kid the entire time. Her tears were unending.

"Only two can stay here. Please don't make this place crowdy." A nurse exclaimed, slightly irritated.

"I'll stay," Pam said, sniffing her nose.

"I don't think that's a good idea, dear. You've literally cried buckets in fifteen minutes.." Lisa tried to reason with the sweetest voice that she could speak.

"No.. I'll be fine." She retorted.

Seth walked closer to the girls. "Of course, every one of us wants to stay back for Phi. But what if there is another emergency? You are yourself so anxious, how will you handle it?"

Lisa shot daggers at Seth. "Pam, he wants to say that.. let the others stay here. They'll handle it. You know you can sleep in my room if you want and then come here in the morning."

After some more protests, my friends had convinced her. I knew she wanted to stay badly just like me, but she was getting so nervous at every other sight in the hospital. It would have been impossible for her to pass the night without getting PTSD herself.

"You aren't going?" Omer asked, sitting beside me.

"No.."

"I'll stay with you. Lisa and Seth can come in the morning."

I nodded in agreement.

The nurse brought me a form, insurance-related. I pulled out Phi's ID from his wallet, which the Hugo had handed me before leaving. I tightened my grip on the ballpoint pen, which was slightly trembling in my hand.

"Here, give it to me," Omer said.

"I'll write." I looked at the Phi's name in block scrawny letters which I just penned in the desired place on the form. The 'I' looked wobbly. Omer leaned towards me and snatched both the form and the pen from me.

"Naina.. listen," Lisa interrupted us. She gave me a tight hug. "Take care, okay? And call me if anything happens. We will come by 7 in the morning."

"Yeah.. just take care of Pam." I looked at her. She was standing outside the emergency ward, looking at Phi, wiping tears at the same time.

"I'm trying," Lisa sighed.

I and Omer sat silently after everyone left. Not many words were exchanged throughout the early morning time. I was lost in my memories and probably Omer was lost somewhere too.

"Phi.." I yell. I hear my echo even in that open, eerie place. I look up at the dark sky, which is as dark as something could get. Phi is walking lazily at a distance, his hair ruffled as usual, his backpack slung on his shoulder. "Phi.." I say as I grab his arm. It's cold.

We are back in the park, where we saw the sunset together. I look around. Everything has changed. The sky is the same as we witnessed that day. "Phi..." He doesn't respond again. He is plucking small bits of grass from the mowed lawn, engrossed in his own little world. His eyes are tired. His skin has lost its glow. "What happened to you?" I ask.

"I couldn't save her.." He says.

"Naina..."

I opened my eyes abruptly at the call of my name and sat straight, wiping my face. Omer slouched on his feet, meeting my eye level. His tired eyes were sparkling this time.

"It's Phi.. he is awake!"