Till The End

Chapter 44 - Shelter

"Eila", I rush as I find her lying unconscious on the piles of snow. She's shivering, "Hey, wake up, Eila, wake up", I try but she's not responding. I need to make her warm but the inn is too far from here. It's started snowing heavily, the storm is nearing, I need to find another safe place. Placing her head on my legs I open the map to locate any nearest safe place and I finally find one. It's towards the west and it's near. Without wasting a second further I carry her in my arms and head towards the West. After walking for almost 10 minutes I see a small wooden house. Maybe someone there might help me. This one has a wide porch in front of it, stepping up the 4 wooden stairs of the house, I knock on the door standing under the wooden roof. After almost 1 min someone opens it and I find a middle aged man dressed in casual trousers and a black jacket staring at us. He has got grey lining of hairs behind his ears. "I need help", before I could complete my sentence he starts, "Come in". I guess he understood the situation seeing us. "Lie her on the sofa", I carefully lie her down on the white floral printed sofa which is a bit far from the entrance door. Placing her I take a look around the whole place which is beautifully decorated, there's an antique touch to every furniture of this woodenly carved place. In front of the white printed comfy sofa a small wooden table is kept with a glass and a jug full of water. A few steps away to the right direction is the kitchen from where a middle aged lady with brown curly hair comes out wearing her blue floral printed apron on top of her orange printed skirt and black full sleeve t-shirt, "Honey, who's there?", she rubs her hands in the cloth of her apron as her eyes stares at us.

"Oh, we have guests dear", the man exclaims. 

"I'm sorry. But I need help. She's unconscious", I point to Eila. "We need a place to stay till the storm gets over" .

"I know. Don't worry. You both can stay here. And yeah I'm Robert. Robert Steve and this is my beautiful wife Lauren Steve", he shares a smile with his wife before forwards his hand.

"I'm Jim D'Cruz", I shake a hand with him, "And she's Eila, my girlfriend. She got unconscious, maybe due to this heavy snowfall and the temperature. Would you mind giving some warm water?"

"Of course not. You sit, I'm bringing", Lauren smiles. "Honey, show them the guest room".

"Come with me and bring her too", Robert asks to which I again hold Eila into my arms and follow Robert. The guest room is on the opposite direction to the kitchen. This one's a single storied house, each corner is beautifully decorated. Beside the guest room is a showcase full of medals, trophies and certificates. "You can lie her down here", Robert points toward the bed which is covered with a greyish bedsheet along with to pillows of same color. After I lie her on the bed, Lauren comes with a jug full of warm water along with a glass. "I would suggest you change her clothes first, they are completely wet, she'll catch fever this way." I don't know what to say. How can I change her clothes! 

"Come on, there's no need to be shy. You are her boyfriend. And you too need to change your clothes too. Yours one's also wet", Robert exclaims.

"I'll bring some clothes for the both of you", as Lauren heads out I ask Robert about them allowing us here.

"Well, we both shifted here 5 years back. We are originally from Boston. I was a state level basketball player and so was Lauren. Lauren always wanted to reside in the North Appalachians. As you see, we both shifted here and most often we help travellers like you who gets stuck in this land of ices. You can call it a shelter home", he spreads both of hands slightly lifting up his shoulder.

"Free of charge, not to mention", Lauren smiles from the door as she comes with two pair of clothes for both me and Eila along with a towel. 

"Yeah free of charge", Robert smiles back.

"Thanks for helping us". 

"Oh no. It's okay. Change the clothes first and then try to make her drink this warm water. She'll get well soon". They both go out of the room sharing a warm smile before which Robert lits up the wood stove which is at a side of the room. This room is certainly a nice one with a single chair sofa and a small round table beside the wood stove and an almirah at a corner of the room. Though not that much spacious yet not that small with a window on a side wall.. It's a nicely decorated room of a moderate size. I close the knob of the door after they're gone. I have to do this.

I carefully take of her sweater underneath she's wearing a half-sleeved yellow crop top. The top is not that much wet. I should better not change it. Her jeans got wet but I don't go for changing it since this would become too fiddly for which I put the grey blanket over her body.Pouring the warm water on the glass I try to make her drink it. After sometime she is coming back to her senses. As she open her eyes trying to sit up, I carefully place the pillow behind her to make her sit comfortably. "You alright?"

"Yeah", she rubs the back for her head but suddenly jerks up, "Where's Emi?"

"Huh? Emi?"

"Yeah, where's Emi?"

"Emi's in the inn", but why is she asking about Emi.

"No she went out and I came to search her".

"No, she was there. In fact you were missing. I rushed to find you while you were lying unconscious on the ground".

"But Winnie said, Emi had gone out". What! But Emi didn't.

"Winnie said that? But Emi was on the basement with others."

"Thank God she's safe", she places her hand on her chest. 

"But why did you go out alone? You know how tensed I was, there's storm coming and you were missing. Even if you went searching for Emi at least you should've told me. It felt as if my life was snatched away from me when I wasn't able to find you anywhere", I know I'm being a bit rude or strict I should say but I can't help it.

"I'm sorry", she bend towards me embracing me tight, "I won't do this again. Promise".

"You better remember that", I hug her back.

"But where are we?", she asks upon releasing while taking a look at this whole wide room.

"It's a small house of Robert and Lauren".

"Now who are they?"

"They are the one who helped us at this moment. Change your clothes first then I'll introduce you with them", I hand her the clothes and towel which Lauren gave. She goes into the washroom taking which is inside this room. My eyes are stuck on her as she comes out rubbing her wet hair with the towel, dressed in a white full sleeve t-shirt tucked into the long red and black floral printed skirt. With the fire enlightening her, she's looking impeccably beautiful.

"What?"

"Nothing", I avoid my eyes.

"Ooh. You go and change your clothes". Taking the jeans and black shirt I get hold of the towel and head to the washroom. After I get out Eila just stares at me finally saying, "Woww. I thought you look best in white shirt, but you look damn in black too".

"Really?" I lift up my eyebrows.

"Yesss", she gushes. "Now introduce me with Robert and Lauren", we both go out where Eila finally greets them.

(Next chapter is all about what you're wishing for. Check it outtt! )