Rainy season had just started. Last night's rain had left puddles on the street, light drizzles made the day look gloomy. Prakruth and his friends were chatting in the cafeteria. Rahul came running and stopped at their table, he grabbed a glass of water from the table and drank it in a shot, others at the table were waiting for him to speak.
"Prakruth, that girl of first year is in trouble, some guys are teasing her in the parking lot, she might need help" said Rahul in a panicked voice still panting.
"Which girl?" asked Prakruth.
Rahul who had relaxed a little said "I want to talk to you personally…that girl" mimicking Punya's style.
Prakruth chuckled. "Ok, come let's go. Why didn't you yourself help her?"
"There are three boys and your girl is quarreling with them, I thought she might need your help, so I came in search of you. You must become hero in her eyes, not me" he winked.
......
"Idiot, we asked sorry right? Can't you let us go?" Punya raised her voice.
"No, she has to come clean my dress now" a tall dark guy with weird beard and rough face scowled at Siri. Siri while coming to college in two wheeler, had splashed water against this boy who was walking on the pavement. He and his friends stopped her and started ragging her, hence Punya volunteered to help her friend.
Tall guy moved forward and held Siri's hand "Come baby, clean me up, then you can go anywhere" he told in a teasing tone. Two boys behind him were laughing.
"Leave her hand now, or you will face the consequences" Punya threatened him.
"Man, she's in serious trouble. Look at that guy, he's from degree class I guess" said Rahul who was watching this fight from a few steps away.
"You're her friend right, come you also join her" the bad guy passed a flying kiss towards Punya.
Prakruth's anger triggered like a rocket seeing this…"I'll kill him now." Prakruth started running towards the bad guy. Before he reached, he heard a loud voice.
"Aaahhhh" fell the bad guy on the ground. Prakruth stopped as he saw the guy on the ground. He couldn't believe his own eyes. Punya had punched his jaws and kicked him in the center, between the legs which made him lie flat on the ground in pain. The other two boys tried to attack her. She lifted her leg and kicked one fellow's head who fell sideways, attacked the other guy by punching him in his stomach and kicked his face by her knee when he bent down holding his stomach. This kick was bit hard making the boy bleed from his mouth.
Punya was frowning in anger. Prakruth stood just behind these three boys who were lying flat on ground and rolling in pain. She saw the bleeding guy and held her mouth tight as if she was controlling herself from vomiting. She closed her eyes and moved two steps in swaying manner. Siri came running towards her but Punya landed safely in Prakruth's arms. She had fainted. Prakruth carried her to his car. He laid down her carefully on the seat behind and headed towards the driving seat.
"Hello Mr." said the girl who had come running behind him.
"Yes"
"Punya is my friend, I will come along"
"Errrr...What's your name?"
"Siri"
"Siri, you go to class, I will take care of her"
"I can't leave her alone with you" said Siri touching Punya's hand through the window.
"I won't hurt her, I will bring her back immediately after treatment. We have to hurry, please understand" he pleaded.
"Are you sure?" she asked.
"Yes, don't worry…It's your first physics practicals, you can't miss on basics. Go" he commanded. She walked towards the lab reluctantly.
Prakruth drove towards his father's hospital as it was just 10 mins away. He parked his car and carried Punya in his arms carefully from the back seat. Ward boys came to help but he refused. He entered the Emergency section and laid her safely on the tall bed for examination.
A Nurse gasped seeing Punya.
"She just fainted seeing a boy bleed" said Prakruth.
"Oh, let her rest, I'll send the Doctor to check" asked the Nurse.
"Yes sister, Please hurry up" demanded Prakruth.
"Sure I will" she said and walked away.
Someone had informed Dr. Sarala about her son who had come so she walked into the Emergency ward to see him. Prakruth asked her to treat the girl..."Mom, please"
She checked the pulse of the girl lying on bed and also with her stethoscope and turned towards Prakruth.
"She's fine. This phase will pass. Give her something to drink…OK?
"Yes Mom"
"Is she your classmate? What's her name?"
"No Mom, my junior. Punya- her name is Punya."
"Nice Name and pretty girl…I'll send a glass of juice, give her after she wakes up" said Dr. Sarala and left. Prakruth was left alone with Punya. Punya's face had turned pale but he couldn't help staring at her. He wouldn't miss this chance of seeing her beautiful face peacefully for a long time unlike previous encounters. He touched her face from his fingers and felt excited. He took her right hand and kissed it closing his eyes. "You're my life dear, I'll never hurt you. I Love you forever" he whispered in her ears. "Hmmmm" She moaned. Prakruth left her hand and put his chair a little away. After few seconds she started moving, she slowly opened her eyes and could see Prakruth's blur image while blinking.
"Water" she whispered.
Prakruth grabbed the glass of juice and helped her to drink as he held her tight in his arms. She came to conscious. She held her head in both her hands and asked "Why do I fall in your arms always?"
It was a unexpected question… He startled. "How are you feeling now?" he asked ignoring her question.
"This is not the answer, when there are so many people out there, why is it you again and again? Do you follow me always?" she raised her voice.
"No, not at all. I'm also as surprised as you. Trust me" he said honestly. His face was so innocent that Punya couldn't doubt anymore but had to believe him. Silence prevailed for seconds.
Prakruth giggled breaking the silence.
"What? What's so funny?" Punya asked. She was feeling better now.
"Have you learnt karate?"
"Yes, My Dad feels self defense is the most required skill"
"Good, you were good out there. Black belt?"
"No, will reach there soon.... I just wanted to scare them away, I think I hurt the last boy badly"
"Don't worry, he's taken care of but .."he started giggling again.
"Again. Why?"
"The girl who fought so well fainted on the sight of blood. It's like you hit them hard enough and you faint before them" he burst out laughing.
"Yeah, the sight and iron-rusty smell of blood puts me off. I feel my stomach heaving" she sighed.
Prakruth chuckled again. "Stop laughing, my plight entertains you?" she frowned.
"No, No, Its like the Lion fainted seeing the deer's blood" he explained. She understood the inner meaning and started laughing.
"Ok. Can we go out? This medicine smell is provocative" she asked as she tried to get down from bed. It was a taller bed, she couldn't reach the floor so she looked at Prakruth and asked "How will I get down?"
He immediately held her by waist, lifted her off the bed and slowly landed her on the ground.
"Idiot, you could have given the stool which is behind you" she smirked and walked towards the door.
"Punya Sorry…I didn't think… Sorry" he ran behind her.
Both stopped as they saw a Doctor coming in pushing the door.
"How are you young lady? My staff told you were brought faint" asked Dr. Murthy.
"I'm Fine now Doctor. Thanks" said Punya.
"Wait, let me check" said Doctor and examined her eyes with a torch. He held her wrist and checked the pulse, "You're fine, do you feel dizzy or does anything look blur?" he asked.
"No, nothing like that" she smiled.
"She didn't drink her juice Dad" Prakruth complained.
"Is this your Dad?" Punya exclaimed raising her eyebrows.
"Yes" Prakruth shrugged.
"I'll complain to your Dad about you following me?" she whispered in a low tone that only Prakruth heard.
"Yes you can, go ahead" he said in a normal voice.
"What's that young lady, any weird symptoms?" asked Dr. Murthy.
"Nothing Doctor, Can we go?" she asked slowly.
"Drink the juice, I think you skipped your breakfast. After that you can go" Doctor said.
"Ok…I will… Thanks doctor"
"I heard you hit three boys, you're a brave girl. Keep it up" he appreciated Punya, and said "Prakruth, take her back safely". Dr. Murthy walked out of the ward smiling.
Prakruth took the juice glass and stood before Punya.
"Prakruth… Nice name" she smiled and took the glass from his hand.
"Oh we haven't introduced ourselves at all. I'm Prakruth, 12th grade in your college. Son of Dr. Murthy whom you just met and Dr. Sarala who examined you when you were brought here" he explained. First time Punya heard him speak for such a long time. "Handsome, charming, brilliant and exceptionally smart... also a gentleman"- she thought as she sipped the juice.
"Hello", he waved his hand over her face seeing her distracted. Punya smiled sheepishly. "You didn't tell me about yourself" he asked.
"I'm Punya, 11th grade. Daughter of Varun, Owner of V&P Iron and Steel pvt ltd" she said.
"That's Nice. Friends??" he held his hand towards her for a hand shake.
She shook his hand for a second and withdrew it immediately. She trembled. She felt a electric wave pass down her spine. "We can't be friends. Sorry" she almost screamed.
"OK relax, your wish... come we'll go to college" said Prakruth.
"No, I'll take a taxi from here. Don't follow me" she frowned in anger.
Prakruth stood there demented.