Ayu returned from the washroom, his face still damp from the cool water. As he entered the room, his gaze fell on Rekha. She lay quietly on the hospital bed, one hand resting on her forehead, her eyes fixed on the ceiling. Her face bore an expression of deep thought, as though she were grappling with memories too heavy to articulate.
Wiping his face with his handkerchief, Ayu walked over to her and asked softly, "Mom, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Rekha turned her head toward Ayu, his voice pulling her back from her thoughts. A small smile broke across her face as she said, "Nothing much, beta. I was just thinking about how my little Ayu has grown up so much. You've become so responsible toward your mom."
Her words carried a mix of pride and nostalgia, and as she looked at Ayu, a quiet chuckle escaped her lips.
Ayu, picking up on her teasing tone, grinned and replied playfully, "Well, of course! I've grown up now. If I'm not responsible for my mom, then what's the point of all this growing up?"
Rekha laughed softly, her hand reaching out to affectionately pat Ayu's cheek. For a moment, the shadows of worry lifted briefly, leaving only warmth between the two.
---
Meanwhile, Ram arrived at the hospital in a hurry. Stepping out of the taxi, he handed the driver the fare and adjusted his bag over his shoulder. The afternoon sun bore down on him, but he barely noticed as he entered the hospital through the glass doors.
The air inside was cool and carried the faint, sterile scent of antiseptics. Patients and their families moved about, some rushing, others pacing anxiously. Ram made his way to the elevator, pressing the button for the second floor.
The lift doors opened with a quiet ding, and Ram stepped out onto the polished floor. He glanced around, noting the hushed activity of nurses and attendants. The faint beeping of monitors filled the corridor as he made his way toward Room 17.
Standing before the door, Ram paused for a moment, fixing his shirt and taking a deep breath. He then knocked lightly before pushing the door open.
Ram stepped into the room and found Rekha gently running her fingers through Ayu's hair, both of them laughing together. The sight brought a smile to his face, and he walked toward them, chuckling.
Ayu and Rekha, still lost in their shared laughter, stopped abruptly as they noticed Ram approaching them with a big grin. As soon as Ram reached the edge of the bed, Ayu quickly placed a hand over Ram's mouth, cutting off his laughter, and stared at him with mock seriousness.
"Why are you laughing so loudly?" Ayu asked, narrowing his eyes. "And more importantly, what's so funny, huh?"
Ram gently pulled Ayu's hand away from his mouth and replied with a mischievous grin, "Well, you and Aunty were laughing so much that I couldn't help but join in. But now I'm curious—what's the joke? What happened while I was gone that brought back your old, genuine smile?"
His words lingered in the air for a moment, making Ayu pause. There was something about the way Ram spoke—the genuine warmth behind his teasing—that made the atmosphere feel lighter.
Hearing Ram's words, Ayu realized that his friend had probably figured it out last night—the forced laughter, the fake reactions to Ram's jokes, all of it. Lowering his head, Ayu muttered softly, "So, you knew, huh?"
Ram placed a reassuring hand on Ayu's shoulder and said, "Of course I did, brother. I've been your childhood friend, remember? I may not be able to read your emotions as perfectly as Aunty does, but I can tell when something's off. After her, I'm probably the only one who can look at your face and know what's going on inside you. That's why I'm telling you—don't bottle up your worries. If something's bothering you, share it. Because no matter how hard you try to hide, it'll always show on your face."
Ayu looked up at Ram, his misty eyes full of regret, and without hesitation, pulled him into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, brother," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. "But what could I do? After Mom's accident yesterday, the tension was unbearable. I didn't even realize when I started acting like that."
After sometime, Ram gently pushed Ayu back, placing a hand on his shoulder with a playful grin. "Alright, it's fine—no problem. But let go of me now—you're hugging me like I'm your girlfriend!" He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "But listen, from now on, remember—if there's ever a problem, share it. If you can't talk to Aunty, talk to me. And if not me, then Alok. But don't keep it to yourself. If you don't tell us what's bothering you, we won't be able to help, no matter how much we want to. Got it?"
Rekha, lying on the bed, watched their conversation with a warm smile. Her nod of approval reflected her agreement with Ram's words. Her heart swelled with pride as she saw the bond between the two—her son and his best friend, the boy she had watched growing up.
As Ram finished speaking, he swung his laptop bag forward and pulled out a neatly packed plastic bag. Handing it to Ayu, he said, "Here are the clothes you asked for. They're a bit formal, okay?"
Ayu quickly wiped his tears and smiled. "Yes, brother, I'll keep that in mind from now on. And thanks, brother." Taking the bag from Ram, Ayu headed toward the washroom, his steps steady, his heart lighter than before.
---
Inside the washroom, Ayu began changing into the formal clothes Ram had brought. Meanwhile, Ram pulled up a chair and sat down next to Rekha's bed.
"How are you feeling now, Aunty?" Ram asked, his tone softer and full of concern.
Rekha gave a gentle smile, her voice warm but slightly tired. "I'm better, Ram. The love and care you two show me is the best medicine I could ever ask for."
Ram leaned back in his chair, his lips curving into a small smile. "Just keep smiling like this, Aunty. We'll handle everything else."
The room fell into a peaceful silence, filled with warmth and understanding, as they waited for Ayu to return.
Ayu stepped out of the washroom, the creak of the door drawing both Rekha and Ram's attention. He had changed out of his clothes into the formal shirt and pants Ram had brought for him. His posture was slightly stiff, and the awkwardness on his face was evident as he adjusted the collar of his shirt.
Looking at them hesitantly, Ayu asked, "How do I look?"
Ram leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest with a mischievous grin. "Not bad, not bad," he teased, his tone playful. "Now, you actually look like a responsible adult."
Rekha, however, had a much gentler reaction. Her eyes softened as she took in Ayu's appearance, scanning him from head to toe. "You look very handsome, Ayu," she said, her voice brimming with affection. Then, a warm smile crept across her face as she added, "But just fix your hair a bit. They're still as messy as ever, like you just rolled out of bed."
Ayu let out a small laugh, scratching the back of his head in mild embarrassment. "Alright, Mom, I'll fix it," he said, picking up his phone from the table and using its screen as a makeshift mirror to tidy his hair.
"Is it okay now, Mom?" he asked, looking over at her with hopeful eyes.
Rekha shook her head and sighed, placing her hand on her forehead in mock frustration. "When will this boy grow up," she muttered under her breath, a faint smile tugging at her lips. Gesturing for him to come closer, she said, "Come here. Let me fix your hair properly. And by the way, where were you in such a rush to go, that you even asked Ram to bring clothes to the hospital? Couldn't you have gone home to change?"
Ayu stepped closer, bowing his head slightly as Rekha began fixing his hair. "I had some store related work, at four season hotel" he explained. Of course, he couldn't tell her the full truth about the system and its tasks—she'd never believe something so fantastical. Instead, he opted for this half-truth, which seemed reasonable enough.
Ram, observing the interaction with a grin, was about to tease Ayu when his phone suddenly buzzed with a loud notification. He pulled it out, frowning as he read the message. The playful look on his face quickly faded, replaced by tension.
Both Rekha and Ayu noticed the sound. While Ayu ignored it, focusing on his hair, Rekha's attention shifted to Ram. She glanced at him curiously, noting the sudden change in his expression. "What's wrong?" she asked with her eyes, gesturing subtly.
Ram gave a small shake of his head, signaling he'd explain later.
Meanwhile, Ayu, still sitting beside the bed, finally said, "Mom, if my hair is fine now, can I go? I'm getting late. I need to be at the hotel by 3 PM."
Rekha turned her attention back to her son, gently patting his head. "Fine, your hair is fixed. You're always in such a hurry," she said affectionately. "You can't do anything at a normal pace; everything has to be rushed with you."
Standing up, Ayu planted a quick kiss on her cheek. "Mom, if I don't leave now, I might not get my work done," he said with a smile. He sat down on the bed to clean his shoes.
Once ready, Ayu stood and turned to face both Rekha and Ram. "Ram, don't go out to get food. I'll order something from the canteen nearby the hospital before I leave, and they'll deliver it here. As soon as I'm done at the hotel, I'll come straight back to the hospital."
Before either of them could respond, Ayu grabbed his phone from the table and hurried out of the room. He took the lift down to the ground floor, passing by the busy hospital lobby. Nurses bustled about with charts, a patient in a wheelchair was being wheeled toward the emergency room, and the faint smell of antiseptic filled the air. The soft hum of conversations and occasional beeps from medical equipment added to the hospital's constant rhythm.
As he exited the building, the mid-afternoon sun hit his face. He stepped to the side of the entrance, pulling out the phone to book a taxi. But as soon as the screen lit up, he realized his mistake. "Ugh, I grabbed the wrong phone," he muttered, immediately spinning on his heel and hurrying back inside.
He weaved through the crowd, nodding apologetically to a nurse he accidentally bumped into. Reaching the elevator, Ayu impatiently tapped the button and shifted from foot to foot, his mind racing. Once inside, he jabbed the button for the second floor and watched as the floor numbers ticked upward.
When the elevator doors opened, Ayu stepped into the corridor. The second floor was quieter compared to the lobby, the air cooler and more still. He walked briskly, passing by a nurse pushing a medicine cart and a janitor mopping the floor. The faint squeak of the mop and distant murmurs from other patient rooms filled the otherwise hushed hallway.
As he approached the room where his mother was admitted, Ayu noticed the door slightly ajar, light spilling into the hallway. Without thinking, he pushed it open and walked in, his steps quick and purposeful.
What he saw made him freeze mid-step. Ram stood next to Rekha's bed, his hand resting on her shoulder and… slipping lower. Rekha's eyes were closed, her head tilted slightly back, her posture unnaturally still.
The sound of the door swinging open startled both of them. Ram's head snapped toward Ayu, and Rekha's eyes fluttered open, her face flushed with surprise. Ram looked like he was about to say something, his mouth opening slightly, but Ayu, oblivious to the tension in the room, muttered under his breath, "Where did I leave my phone?"
He began searching the room, his eyes scanning the bed, the side table, and the chair near the window. Ram, regaining his composure, cleared his throat and gestured toward the table with his free hand. "It's over there," he said, his voice steady but his expression guarded.
Rekha, still seated on the bed, seemed frozen, her hands gripping the bedsheet tightly as if grounding herself. She glanced at Ayu, then at Ram, her face a mixture of confusion and unease.
Ayu, oblivious to their reactions, walked to the table, picked up his phone, and swapped it with Rekha's. "Thanks," he said casually, giving Ram a brief nod before heading back toward the door.
The door clicked shut behind him, leaving the room in a heavy silence. Rekha finally exhaled, and her hands relaxed slightly. While Ram turned to face her, his facial expression remained unreadable.
_____
Ayu stepped outside the hospital and leaned against a tree near the guard's office. Pulling a cigarette pack from his pocket, he tapped out a cigarette and lit it, exhaling slowly as he glanced at his phone to check the taxi he had just booked. The late afternoon breeze brushed past him, carrying the faint sounds of passing vehicles and distant chatter from hospital visitors.
As Ayu smoked, his gaze occasionally drifted to the hospital entrance. He seemed lost in thought, his mind juggling the odd encounter in his mother's room and the task awaiting him at the Four Seasons Hotel. Just as he flicked the last bit of his cigarette to the ground, crushing it with his shoe, he spotted a taxi pulling up near the guard's office.
Ayu checked the taxi's location on his phone and confirmed it was his booking. Pocketing his phone, he strode toward the cab, raising a hand to catch the driver's attention.
The driver rolled down his window and asked, "Sir, did you book a ride to the Four Seasons Hotel?" He held up his phone to scan Ayu's booking QR code.
"Yes, that's mine," Ayu replied, unlocking his phone and holding up the screen for the driver to scan. The driver nodded, scanned the code, and settled back into the driver's seat.
Ayu opened the back door of the taxi and slid into the seat, leaning back as the cab's engine hummed softly. The rhythmic motion of the vehicle was almost soothing as the city streets zipped by outside. He took a deep breath, trying to steady his thoughts. Today was a big day—not for a task, but to collect the reward money promised to him by Mr. Rakesh at the Four Seasons Hotel.
The scenery outside shifted from the cluttered vibrancy of street vendors and bustling pedestrians to the polished, upscale ambiance of the city's elite district. As the taxi neared its destination, Ayu glanced at his phone, double-checking the address to reassure himself.
Soon, the taxi came to a smooth halt in front of the grand entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel. Ayu quickly paid the fare, nodding politely to the driver, and stepped out.
Standing at the entrance, Ayu looked up at the towering structure before him. Its glass façade gleamed under the sunlight, an intimidating symbol of wealth and grandeur. He exhaled deeply, running both hands over his cheeks in an attempt to boost his confidence. "Let's collect the key to solve my present worries," he murmured to himself, his voice steady yet filled with resolve.
Straightening his shirt and adjusting his posture, Ayu moved toward the hotel's entrance, his footsteps firm. The automated doors slid open, welcoming him into a world far removed from his own—a place of opulence and opportunities, but also one that could be full of unexpected challenges.
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To be continued....