NOT THE ONLY ONES

9. BROKEN AGAIN

NOTE:- THIS CHAPTER IS FROM ROBERT'S POINT OF VIEW.

As I m driving I look at her again. She is so silent and she is continously looking out of the window.

What wouldn't I give just to see her happy.

I don't know what came over me and I told her how I felt.

Now she is upset because of me.

I concentrate on the road and a sigh escapes my mouth.

She looks at me and I see something glistening on her cheek. She realises what I m staring at and quickly brushes off her traitor tears.

My heart wrenches at the sight.

She smiles at me but I can see that it's just a forced one. Her eyes are brimming with moisture.

"Mallika, I would like to meet your parents"

"Why?" She asks

"You see they are very well known doctors in town. We'll teach them defence and they'll strengthen us."

Her eyes widen and a look of horror croses her face.

"No. I don't want them involved in all of this. I don't want them hurt. Please Mr. Hale keep them out of this and I promise I'll do anything I have to. I won't ever whine about practice" she pleads.

"Mallika, You got me wrong. I won't let anything or anyone hurt you or your family. What I was trying to say that they can help us with their knowledge of Medicine and teach people about first aid and emergency situations "

"All right Robert, I'll take you to them. And as far as I know my parents they'll be more than happy to help. But please just keep them away from war" she says.

"Yes Mallika, I understand. I'll speak to them and ask them to volunteer and if they agree then I'll ask them to fight with us".

"No No no no no... you won't ask them to fight. They'll agree. I can't loose them. Please just ask them if they wish to volunteer for medical help and nothing else " she says.

"All right "

****

We reach her home and her parents were already home so she asked me to speak to them right away.

"Hi Mommy, hi Daddy " she greets her parents and they smile at her warmly.

Her parents eye me top to bottom. Then they look at her.

"Sweetie, did you go out somewhere?" her mother asks her.

"Err.. Yes mom I did with him" she said and pointed towards me.

"And he is"? Her father asks.

"Mr. Hale. My friend and trainer " she say. 

"Hale as in Robert Hale? The one who has come here in India to help us right?" her father says.

"The very same Sir "

"Oh! It's an honour to meet you Mr Hale. Please have a seat and make yourself comfortable and by the way I'm Vitrag Jain, proudly Mallika's father and she's my wife Meera Jain" her father says.

"Pleasure to meet you too Sir and mam".

"I don't think that you are here to complain about my daughter and if you are, better leave before saying anything else" her dad says really sternly.

"Dad " Mallika hisses.

"No, sir of course not! I m here to speak to both of you. Mallika has been working hard there's nothing to complain"