"She doesn't even look at me. We are still strangers. We don't talk. We are just under the same roof." Arya thought about his relationship with Maya. "We are just married for a show, this marriage is not going anywhere," He kept thinking.
"Arya, hey Arya," One of the members called out. "Yea.. Coming," Arya responded.
"Arya, the vaccines are here. We are all set to run the first batch of test run. I hope you know about the cure of this vaccine, well… potential cure, I mean?" The member asked. "Yes, Sir I do know. This vaccine is a potential cure from the deadly water of the Lake." "Yes, my boy. Also for your information, we are looking for young people for this vaccination drive. Old blood might not stand the doses. Young blood like yourself, would be of help." The member told. Arya understood the indication of the member. "Whatever… It's my time to prove my worth here." Arya thought to himself.
"I want to add my name to the batch of volunteers." Arya announced. The room witnessed silence for a minute and then… "In that case you should be aware that this vaccine drive is remunerative because… because the recipient could be internally injured or even dead in the process, to be precise." The member declared. Ruckuss did rounds the room as this was being said.
"What? Dead? What's this? What?" People in the room exclaimed. Arya showed no reaction. His face was still, like a calm surface of sea water. "Well, I am dead already, a living dead," Arya said to himself. I am living till date as I believe I do not have the right to take away my own life." he kept musing. He was not bothered by the risk and…
'I have no problem with it! " Arya said aloud. "I am trusting your words and hoping that in case I die… " Arya was interrupted by the people in the room, "What? No… no deaths are meant to be the outcome of a vaccine!" "Yes, true that!" "Absolutely" Voices overlapped each other.
"In case I die, remunerations will reach on time to my family." Arya completed.
"Arya, my boy, why are you being like this? You aren't suppose to be this hopeless. You just got married right?" A man said. "Yes, don't drag yourself into this, we have got other volunteers any way!" Another man said. "Oh, do we?" The member asked. "We do… I suppose, Ahem!" all confused, the man cleared his throat.
"In fact," The member, stood up from his chair and continued, "Arya being a part of this drive as a volunteer, will encourage other young volunteers to be a part of this drive too." "Besides, I believe that the vaccines are quite efficient and casualties are highly, rarely" He added.
"I want to start with the documentations and other formalities by tomorrow. Will take your leave now." Arya left the room. He hurried as he wanted to escape all the chaos and be alone. He started walking towards his home. After sometime, he stopped by a soft drink vending machine. While Pulling out a coin from his pocket, he saw a cute, white kitten circling around his feet. The kitten started playing with his shoelace. Arya's tension suddenly soothed a little. He smiled at the kitten, bent down and took it into his arms. The kitten started meowing and Arya was loving it. He put the coin in the machine, took his soft drink and started walking again, with the kitten in his arms.
"Will she like it?" Arya suddenly thought. "I heard they had a dog… oh what? Why… why am I thinking about all these suddenly?" Arya tried to escape his thoughts about Maya. "That girl is just a liability. I promised my mom, I would keep her happy. That's it. Even if I die, I wish…Mom and her would be happy." Arya stared at the sky while thinking.
*MEOW*
The kitten licked Arya's hands.
"Will take you home buddy, alright?" Arya smiled at the kitten.