Straight To Infirmary
VISHVA
It'd been a long time since I had a conversation with my friends. We all talked about our current life and reminisced some past memories.
"Alright, it's time to cut the cake. Go and call Madhur," said my friend to his wife, holding a wine glass.
After few minutes, his wife came rushing.
"Honey!"
"What happened? Why're you runnin'?"
"Ma-Madhur! He's not here," his wife said while breathing heavily.
"What? Did ya check outside?" asked my friend, bearing a confused look on his face.
"Yes! I checked everywhere; outside and inside."
"He must be outside playin' somewhere. Let me check," said my friend, and he went outside to look with his wife.
After listening to their conversation, it occurred to me that I also hadn't seen Anant for some time. I was just about to ask my wife, but she asked me first, "Dear, have you seen Anant? I haven't seen him for some time now. I'm starting to get worried."
"Don't worry, he must be here somewhere," I replied in a calm manner, not wanting to make her worry.
My wife and I both started searching for him inside the house but couldn't find him anywhere.
"Dear, he's nowhere to be seen. I'm really starting to get worried now," said my wife anxiously.
"Don't fret, he must be outside. Let's check there," I said reassuringly to my wife.
We walked outside and there I found my friend and his wife still searching for their son. But when I stepped outside, suddenly I sensed a strong disturbance in my surroundings.
What's with this sudden disturbance in nature? Where's this coming from?
Sensing the disturbance, I followed the trail it left behind, and it led me straight to the direction of the forest.
Wait… is it coming from inside the forest?
At that moment, something clicked in my mind. I hurriedly rushed to my friend's home and screamed loudly, "There's an emergency! Hurry up and follow me!"
Most of the people that were at the birthday party were mages and one of them was even a healer. If what I was thinking happened to be true—which I really hoped not—then I needed that healer.
We quickly rushed into the forest; and as we went deep inside it, the disturbance started increasing step-by-step. After few meters, we finally reached a place where the disturbance seemed to be at its peak.
Is this the source of—
I didn't even get to finish my thoughts. No… rather, I lost my ability to think after what my wide eyes saw in front of me.
I saw two kids: one on the right, and the other, few meters away on the left, lying down unconscious. But the one on the left was lying near to a… dead wolf. I hurriedly rushed towards the one nearest me and found Madhur. His neck… was broken. There were bite marks around his neck. I checked his breathing, and he was… dead. Without wasting any time, I ran straight to the other one. His familiar clothes could already be seen by my eyes. I quickly began checking the boy, hoping it wasn't him, but— my worst nightmare came true— he was indeed my son.
His clothes were torn apart. There were claw marks on both of his shoulders. I quickly checked his breathing, and by God's grace, he was still alive.
Screaming from the top of my lungs, I yelled, "HE IS ALIVE! BRING THE HEALER!"
The healer, who was in her mid-20's came rushing towards us. She put her hands on my son's body and started healing him. Her hands glowed, all four elements surrounded my son's body, trying to stop the bleeding.
After some few intense seconds, she spoke, "I've stopped the bleeding, but he needs medical attention at once. There's a small clinic nearby, we need to get there immediately."
"Alright!"
I carried Anant and ran outside the forest. On my way, I saw my friend and his wife crying over their son's sad demise. All I could do was pray to God— to not let us end up like them.
ANANT
Ur-urgh… my whole-body… It hurts…
Slowly opening my eyes, I found myself to be in a different place.
W-where am I?
Before I could even begin to study my surrounding, the sounds of coughs and groans ringing in the room gave me my answer. I was most probably in a small clinic. I tried to get up but couldn't move my legs. I hadn't even noticed in which state I was in.
I couldn't feel my right leg and the left one was hurting pretty bad. There were bandages all around my chest making me look as if I'd dressed up as a ghost to scare people on the streets. But the worst looking one were my arms. They were wrapped in so many bandages that I thought the entire nation's medicinal supplies were coiled around them.
I tried to move my arms, but they didn't respond. Just then, a horrifying thought struck my mind— H-have I become handicapped? N-no, it can't be! What will happen to me now?!
While I was worrying about my future, a woman came rushing and hugged me. That woman was none other than my own mother. Tears started coming out of her reddish eyes, flowing down her rosy cheeks. She was trying so hard to say something but couldn't muster her words due to her rhythmic hiccups.
After much effort, she finally managed to say something while crying, "I-I thought I'd lost you! Y-You were found in such a bad state, blood coming out from everywhere. I-I thought…"
Hearing my mother's heartfelt cry, I couldn't do anything but sit helplessly. I wanted to console her… I wanted to say, 'It's okay. I'm fine. Don't cry.' But who was I to say that to the woman who had nearly lost her only child?
Suddenly, I realized my father was not with her. I turned my gaze everywhere but couldn't find him.
"Y-Your dad's gone outside to get some food. He'll come in a second," she answered my mind while wiping away her tears.
"A-Anant?!"
I heard someone call my name. I turned my head to find the source of the sound. It came from a man, holding a lunch box in his hand. I could never forget the face of that man in a million years. He was my father.
He was stunned to see me awake. The lunch box slipped from his hand as he came running towards me with his teary eyes. At that moment, I felt a sense of Déjà vu. He hugged me so tightly with his manly hands, I thought for sure he would break my ribs.
"I'm so glad you're okay," said my father, trying to hold his tears but some still made it through.
"Yeah, me too…" I replied, embracing him in return.
"How did you even find me?" I asked my father. I was unconscious and woke-up directly in this clinic. It was a miracle he found me, and that too before I could lose a significant amount of my blood.
He told me everything that happened and how much of a terrible state I was in. I was passed out for three days. He also told me about Madhur's funeral… a friend that I lost. Thinking about Madhur made me remember something.
"By the way, did you see a wolf's cub there?" I asked my father.
"No. What cub are you talking about?"
"Nothing."
So, he ran away... I wish you the best of luck buddy.
Coming back to the discussion we were having, I asked my father about my injuries.
"The doctor said your right leg was broken due of high external pressure, but the left one only sustained some minor bruises. Both of your shoulders had deep wounds that needed stitches. But the worst injury was to your arms. They were badly mauled."
"S-So… will I be alright?"
"Yes, but your arms would take at least six months to heal and an additional year to function properly. Until then, you must not strain them."
"I see…"
I was relieved to hear that my arms would be able to heal back. Although it would take time, it was much better than being handicapped for the rest of my life.
Guess the only thing I can do right now is just rest and see what my future has in store for me.