44 Cold, Cloudy Night

Puff puff

Aditya gasped for breath as he lifted a hundred-pound woman and dragged himself back to the garage. Aditya carried her in a firefighter style, he lifted her and placed her on his left shoulder while her head hung towards his back. Aditya wrapped his left arm around Hamsa's soft and delicate legs as he caught her left arm to hold her securely. Her right arm dangled as he limped his way back.

"Tya, why did I feel no pain when I chased those bastards and why is the pain coming back now with revenge," Aditya asked as he wheezed, the rainwater which slipped into his mouth because it was open was ejected like a spray when he exhaled forcefully as he breathed heavily. His muscles felt like they would tear any moment as his eyes drooped with fatigue as he walked.

"Adi, when you saw this elder sister being dragged away, I noticed that your brain had deliberately released some substance which overrode your pain impulses so that you don't have to bother with any interruption. Also, a lot of new chemicals were injected into your bloodstream from some places in your body which helped to boost your strength temporarily. I have asked you to get medical books for me to study so that I can compare my observations to contemporary science but you… hmph" Tya pouted.

"..." Aditya was not in the position to argue with Tya as he was exerting his utmost will to not drop Hamsa as he carried her. She had not woken up even with all the movement.

Aditya placed her in a sitting position leaning against the wall as he jumped over the gate and ran up to his room to take the duplicate keys for the lock at the gate. He ran down swiftly despite the pain and tiredness fearing that something might happen to this poor little woman.

He opened the gate and carried her back to his room and laid her delicately on his bed. He did not have the mind to worry that his bed would become dirty and wet. Aditya supported his own poor back with his hands as he gulped in as much air as possible. After crossing some time, he turned his attention towards this 'damsel in distress'.

Hamsa was wearing a black and golden printed kurti (Short waistcoat popular in India) top, there was an ethnic design pattern printed. It was made of viscose rayon along with a mandarin collar, three-quarter sleeves and flared hem. She wore a dark blue pair of jeans which matched quite perfectly with the top. There was no footwear, Aditya guessed that the footwear was lost in the struggle before. Aditya saw a silver anklet on one of the ankles. Her exposed arms and legs had multiple bruises and red prints of fingers of those brutes when they dragged her into the car. These bruises appeared especially glaring when combined with her milky white complexion. She had one of the fairest skin tones Aditya had seen. She could fight with his Maahi elder sister in this category. Black tracks can be seen along her cheeks as the kohl got washed off due to her tears or the rain.

Aditya changed his clothes in the bathroom and then took a clean towel so as to clean her wounds but stopped when he remembered Hamsa's reaction when he talked with her previously. He sighed as he took his new mobile which he had brought recently which was worth 700 bugs ($ 10). He had been avoiding contact with his friends these days as he knew that if he contacted them, they would immediately come and meet up with him. Aditya had wanted some time to figure out what was going on with him? What were his future plans and so on?

"Psychic hot-line, you have the wrong number," Aditya heard an electronic type of voice as he dialled the number.

"thin bamboo Jatin, it's me," Aditya rolled his eyes as he thought 'this idiot has still not changed this punchline'.

"Congratulations, you are the third caller, please tell us what's your favourite song." the voice replied in the same robotic voice.

"it's me, Adi,"

"You will have to speak up, I am wearing a towel,"

"you nitwit," Aditya roared in anger as he couldn't control himself anymore.

"Turns the lights on, I can't hear you,"

Aditya closed his eyes for a second to take in a deep breath as he said sincerely, "Sorry, that I did not contact you guys these days."

There was a moment of silence as Jatin smiled and said, "What is it, buddy?"

"can I get you to send one of the doctors working in your father's hospital to come to my place?" Aditya also smiled as he put forward his request. When you know that your friends are sad and are earnestly missing you, the resulting warmth drove the coldness and loneliness his heart had accumulated these days, in an instant.

"Oh, what happened to you, is it serious, where are you right now, I am coming" Jatin lost all his cool as he inquired hurriedly.

"No, it's not me but a gal," Aditya explained everything that happened while cutting out portions of supernatural ability exhibitions. Though he did not doubt Jatin, he did not want to discuss these issues on phone.

"Oh..." Jatin took a moment to digest everything as he said, "Cool, so you are able to handle many guys at a time now." he did not care about others.

"So, is it possible or should I call for an ambulance?" Aditya asked

"Nope, there are many doctors who are on a probationary period in my father's hospitals, they have to respond to calls all day long, it's not much of a haggle. If the doctor who I send feels the need for hospital care, then we can take it from there." Jatin said leisurely.

"cool, then I shall wait at my place. Also, it's better if it is a lady as well, it might be more convenient for this Miss," Aditya also relaxed when he heard Jatin's words.

"Okay, text me your address," Jatin said it like a matter-of-fact way but Aditya knew that this was the most important thing that he wanted to know. Jatin or Bhadra with their background could easily trace Aditya if they wanted to but they did not as they respect his wish. But now, Aditya had contacted him, it was not the same anymore. Aditya also knew this before he contacted Jatin so he didn't mind and agreed readily.

"How are you, Bhadra, Kavya…. Anu, how's the school?" Aditya asked as he looked at the downpour outside.

"You don't know?" Jatin asked incredulously.

"What?" Aditya was puzzled when he heard the strange tone of his friend.

"Haha..." Jatin smiled as he cut the call leaving Aditya bewildered.

He shrugged as he collapsed into a chair as he sent the message of his address. He felt sucked out of all energy as his eyelids became heavy as he dozed off while seated.

Tring! Tring!!

Aditya jolted when he heard his mobile's ringtone as he scrambled to attend the call. His eyes were bloodshot as he had slipped into a deep sleep and was awakened in the middle of it but his fatigue had reduced substantially. He was surprised when he saw that he had slept only for twenty minutes and yet feeling rejuvenated. He looked at Hamsa who was still unconscious, he was puzzled if she had fainted or was sleeping.

"Hello"

"Is this Mr Aditya?" a mature female voice sounded.

"Yes, are you the physician sent by Jatin?" Aditya asked as shook his head to shake off the feeling of sleepiness.

"Yes, I am Dr Saanvi, I am currently in front of a garage, is this the right place?" the mature voice was calm which made people who heard tranquil as well.

"Yes Doctor, please wait a moment, I will come down." Aditya cut the call and rushed downstairs while holding the key. The rain had abated, fortunately.

When Aditya saw the doctor, he was dazed for a second when he saw her beauty but quickly recovered as he nodded respectfully and opened the gate.

Dr Saanvi looked like she was in her late twenties with a fully ripe hourglass figure. She looked very beautiful with a healthy olive complexion, big dark eyes, thick curved eyebrows. She wore a red printed A-line kurta which reached up to her knees paired with black leggings and a pair of flats. The kurta hugged her physique tightly which accentuated her curves, unlike Hamsa who wore rather loose clothes.

The thing that shocked him was that this woman was taller than him which was rare. Though Aditya was still in his growing stage, he was 177 cm tall already but she looked as tall as 180 cm, even without any form of heels. Her thick wavy hair was dyed in chestnut colour which really added a charming edge to her otherwise solemn demeanour. She had a small silver nose stud on her left nostril which highlighted her small straight nose.

"Dr Saanvi, let me take you to the person, did Jatin tell you the details?" Aditya asked as he smiled politely. One looked at her placid brown eyes which seem to be sheathed swords was enough for Aditya to know that this woman was not be messed with. So he came straight to the topic.

"Who is Jatin? I was contacted by the administrative personnel and as my house is nearby, I volunteered to come." Saanvi shook her head calmly and explained as she followed Aditya.

"Oh, so let me give my version of events though I am not sure that it is the whole truth..." Aditya abridged the scenes and only explained the key parts regarding Hamsa without bringing any unwanted attention onto him.

Dr Saanvi nodded her head but did not question about details which Aditya skipped deliberately like him causing the car to stop and beating up five fully grown goons. It looked like she talked seldom

Dr Saanvi's pupils shrank when she saw the passed out figure of Hamsa and her wounds. She took out her stethoscope as she asked Aditya to leave the room without turning back. Aditya nodded and exited the room and closed it after. He waited in the dark chilly, cloudy night as a cold wind blew from time to time spreading chills all over his body as he tightened his clothes around him and hugged himself tightly.

When Aditya was thinking of checking if the client had paid the money owed, an ambulance came and stopped beside the car of Dr Saanvi. Aditya knew that Jatin must have sent as it might become handy. Aditya went down as he identified himself to the ambulance driver and struck up a conversation with him. He was mildly stunned when he heard that there was no car or injured men on the spot where he had the fight.

The driver was a friendly guy so Aditya quickly became close to him as they started chatting about everything in the world, from the assassination of the Nicaraguan president just after winning his third term elections in the previous month, they also chatted about Shravya Khanna, the most famous budding Bollywood actress. In the end, they were chatting about these untimely rains and the effect it would have on the farming sector when the doctor called Aditya.

Aditya ran up the stairs as he saw a frown on Saanvi's face. She turned towards Aditya and asked sternly, "What kind of a relationship do you have with the patient?"

Aditya was surprised at this question as he said, " didn't I mention before? She was my attending physician when I had consulted a neurologist for some health problem of mine, other than that there is nothing else to mention."

"Nothing else?"

"yup, why? What happened?"

Dr Saanvi took a deep breath as she stated, "the wounds of the goons are only one of the causes of the injuries on her, I can basically confirm that someone tried to sexually assault her and these wounds are hours old in contrast to others." she was observing Aditya's reactions when she said.

"Son of a gun" Aditya muttered icily when he linked those youth's words to Saanvi's diagnosis.

"What? Do you know something?" Dr Saanvi asked when she heard Aditya cursing.

"it's nothing, I saw a youth approach her in the evening when she stood in front of the garage. I saw her crying when she saw him so I already thought that the matter was a little fishy." Aditya simply explained the meeting he witnessed.

Dr Saanvi nodded but did not speak. As a doctor, she had witnessed too many atrocities that her heart had hardened so an attempted sexual assault was very low in her list of atrocities. She even thought that this woman was lucky that a boy who had minimal contact with her was actually willing to lend a hand in these dangerous times.

"So, Doctor, you think it is necessary for her to be admitted into a hospital," Aditya asked. This was the most primary question for him. He did not think too much into the girl's difficult life. Of course, he pitied her, but he could only help her up to a point. It was not like he self-designated himself as a vigilante who punishes all the criminals in the world.

Dr Saanvi shook her head, "I don't think it is necessary, she has fever from standing in the rain and the fright she received after that which was what caused her to faint. I will come again in the morning before I go to the hospital, she should wake up by then. We will take it from there by asking for her opinion. According to you, she herself is a doctor, right?"

"Do you think I should try to contact her parents?" Aditya asked as he wanted to know some elder's opinion.

"You decide." was the reply he got.

Aditya nodded as he said that an ambulance is waiting. Saanvi wrote a list of medicines which are usually available in the ambulance for Aditya to bring them. Dr Saanvi took her leave after injecting a couple of vials of medicine while instructing Aditya on some diet rules to be followed when she woke in the morning. Aditya thanked her earnestly as he bid goodbye to both her and the ambulance driver.