Rai Pharmaceutical Company, Laboratory.
In a pure white coat and plain glasses, a man was extremely busy cautiously mixing some solutions in a test tube, to even notice the surroundings. The temperature of the room was increasing constantly. Smoke slowly filled the room.
"Cough...Cough" He saw smoke rising from a corner.
Beep--Beep--Beep-Beep
The smoke alarm went off but there was no shower by the water sprinkler. They were not working.
"Water... water" He heard voices of people screaming and rushing. His heart jerked. He ran to the door but there was no way out. A huge fire erupted from the exit.
The laboratory was located in the basement. Not many had access to it. The only way out was blocked. He ran to another room, its door was collapsed caught on fire.
In the rolling flame, he was in the centre of a sea of fire.
"Cough_Help!" gasping for his breath he yelled for help.
"Help, Somebody here. Save me...." The temperature of the room was constantly rising. As Flames slammed him he felt pain.
"Save....." In a hoarse voice, he cried softly, not willing to be swallowed by the flames. On the ground due to breathless, he was about to lose consciousness when he saw a shadow in the smoke.
An oversized brown person emerged from the smoke. someone wearing a mask with a cylinder on his back.
Help has arrived!
"Help..." As the person dragged him out.
Breathing fresh air, and seeing the light, his eyes calmed. The anxiousness disappeared, leaning more on the shoulders of the person dragging him.
As soon as they got out, there was a burst of noises. His dad, his employees, all people around looking and cheering him. Paramedics came to him, separating him from the firefighter.
Taking him to the ambulance to check his wounds.
While his eyes followed the person.
Wishing to see the Firefighter who saved his life, Instead, he was shocked, he saw Her!
The funky one with red hair. Her hair fell on her shoulders as she removed her mask, dancing in the air like fire he saw on that night.
'Me, I save lives.' she said in the bar.
He thought it implied a doctor.
'She is a firefighter!'
He wanted to shout for her.
'I don't even know your name.'
"Hey.." a weak hoarse voice came which was, unfortunately, was never going to reach her.
Forgetting his pain he waved his hands at her frantically. Her eyes fell on him...
She waved back.
Then turned to sit in the firetruck which left. He was left dumbfounded, with his hand still in the air.
'Didn't she recognize me.' He wished to run after her. However, he was surrounded by medics.
His gaze fell on his blackened hands. He touched his face, his palms covered with soot.
'Obviously, she won't recognize me.'
His face was soiled by soot. Blackened and unrecognizable.
She saved his life.
But he lost her...
Again...
'If God exists, he will let me meet you again.'
"Ash... Ash..." Tej Rai shouted. "How many are these?" Waving his two fingers in front of his son, he yelled.
"Two," Ash said blankly.
"This."
"Three"
"Now"
"None...Zero"
"Aha, you didn't see my pinky?"
"Dad, it is not a game."
"Half bend pinky still counts. It is one."
"You are alright my boy."
"Hmm"
"Can you see this?"
"Stop"