HER PAST & HIS FUTURE

CHAPTER - 19 A CORDIAL HAND IN MISFORTUNE

29th Feb 2020:

"Hey! Why did u faint? Excuse me!" Ashish says. He struggles trying to balance her for a minute. He thinks about what to do and decides to take her home. Ashish
reaches home and rings the bell. He decides to open the door by himself since the door doesn't open soon enough.
Ashish walks inside smelling something delicious yelping a bit from the pain caused by trying to balance Alara...
"mama, you're here?? I made "mirchi bajji" for us since it's been raining. I'm almost done, fresh up and let's eat" Vicky
says from the kitchen. "Hey Ass!! Why aren't you answering?" Vicky says turning around and looking over the open kitchen platform to look at Ashish. He runs over
to Ashish. "Dude what?? I thought we shouldn't bring girls home. And that too an unconscious girl? No, no it's a crime you can't!!".

He says "It's nothing like that she was crying on the road nearby so I reached out and asked her what happened but
she fainted. So "Ashish says and shrugs" I bought her home. He adds. Vicky sighs "What will we do now?" he asks. "We'll see about that, first help me put her to bed"Ashish says. Vicky nods. They tuck her in the bed. "let's find out her address when she wakes up tomorrow and send her back" Ashish says. "Of course we should" Vicky says. "I'll sleep with you today then, since my bed is occupied" Ashish says. "Sure, now go and freshen up. We'll eat bajji and sleep. It's already late" Vicky says and turns around. "The Bajji must be all cool by now" Vicky mumbles leaving the room. Ashish chuckles hearing him.

In the middle of the night Ashish wakes up not used to the place he's sleeping in. He walks to his room and sees Alara is sound asleep. So, he goes towards the window.He stands there looking at the window "Oh! It's still raining? He says to himself. A cool breeze blows over him. A few minutes later his thoughts get occupied by the chain and its owner he has no idea about. "I wonder if you're as beautiful as these flowers when the moonlight reflects on them". Ashish thinks in his mind. He quickly shrugs the thoughts away reminding himself that he told Vicky that he'll not think about her.

He turns around to go back but when he's leaving, Ashish notices Alara shivering. He walks towards her and notices she has a high fever. He wipes her forehead with a towel dipped in a bowl of hot water until her fever goes down. After an hour
Ashish removes the towel and covers Alara with a blanket. "Goodnight 2052 girl". He says to her who's already asleep. He leaves the room. A minute later he
comes back again. "Just once. Yes, I'll check her just once" he thinks. He walks closer to her and holds her hand. He taps on her wrist again checking if something shows up. Nothing shows up at all "She's lying??" he thinks. "I should try knowing her whereabouts. I might be able to help Vimala mam. If she's really from the future". He says to himself and goes back to sleep without trying too hard.

1st March 2020:

Alara wakes up in the morning and gets out of the bed eyes half open. She walks to the window half conscious.She stumbles on her way but manages to open the
window. She smells the wet soil and opens her eyes fully taking in the fresh air. Alara looks at the top of the temple. She smells coffee. "That smells amazing! I want coffee"she says. "But wait" Alara realises something. She looks around the room. "Where on earth am I?" she yells and
tries to recall what happened last night. "I cried, met him,I yelled at him and then I fainted". "No way! Where am I? who bought me here? Alara panics. She runs out of the room and dashes into someone. Ashish stands there his shirt buttons open, torso is displaying. "Oh! You woke up?" He asks her.

"Oh! So, it's you who bought me here? Yes! I woke up but why did you bring me here?" she says rubbing her forehead which she hit to his head. "Woah! Calm down.I'll tell you. Just a minute Ashish says and goes away. He comes back from the kitchen with a glass of water in his
hand. "Here! Drink. I'll tell you now" he says to her.Ashish explains what happened and Alara grabs his hand
"Thanks for not leaving me there itself". She says shaking his hand. "Nah, It's just a small help. By the way I noticed
you had some fever yesterday. How do you feel now?" he asks her. "Oh! I'm fine now" she says. "You sure?" he asks stepping closer to Alara and checks her temperature."I think you still have a fever though" he says. "Nah, its okay. I'll leave now" she says. "To where?" he asks. "I
mean I'll drop you there" he adds. Alara stays quiet "C'mon, tell me the address, I will drop you there" he says again. "It's okay, I'll go by myself" Alara says after
thinking for a minute.

“Whatever but at least fresh up and eat something or you’ll faint again” he says. Vicky listens to their conversation standing a few steps away. Alara notices him “Oh! You? What are you doing here? She says. Vicky chuckles “I should be the one asking you that but whatever hi!” He says rolling his eyes. “If you’re done with the greetings go and fresh up miss 2052” Ashish says. Alara smiles a little and leaves the room. Ashish looks away from Alara and Vicky stands right in front of
him “What’s going on?” he asks Ashish one eyebrow raised. “Are you flirting with her?” he says. “What! No”Ashish replies, then why are you being nice to her all of a sudden?” Vicky asks. “Just because she’s sick and doesn’t seem to be a bad person” Ashish replies. “Sure” Vicky says. “Now, if you’re done making assumptions make us some breakfast chef Vicky” Ashish says. “Okay mama!“KHICHDI DOSA” here we go!” Vicky cheers walking to the kitchen.

10:00 AM:

The three have breakfast together. “This tastes good.Who made this?” Alara asks. “It’s chef Vicky” Ashish says. “Chef Vicky I see” Alara says nodding. “Thanks for the food Vicky” she says. Vicky smiles firmly. When they are almost done with breakfast, “Mama! I gotta go. Come to the UNI” Vicky says answering a call while leaving the table. “You too, bye Alara” Vicky turns around and says before leaving the house. Alara just smiles. “I’ll leave now too” Alara says when she’s done eating. Ashish nods. They get out of the house. “Bye 2052” he says. “A new name for me huh?” Alara smiles. She walks a few steps  and turns back. “Hey 2020” what’s your name?” she yells. Ashish smiles “ASHISH” he yells back. “Your name sounds nice” Alara says. “Thanks” he says. They both smile at each other “Bye Ashish” she yells and walks
away. Ashish looks at her till she disappears from the  road…