It was time for him to bid goodbye to his new friend. He wished the time stood still. He had never felt so complete in life. He had never felt that life could be very beautiful. Maya was magical just like her name. It was strange that few hours ago he hated her sight and now he longed for her company.
He had stopped at her place. She got out of the car. She walked few miles , turned and waved him goodbye. He smiled and waved back. He didn't stay for long and continued his journey towards home. He hated goodbyes and couldn't stand the emotions that sprang from it. As he reached home, the silence greeted him. He was tired and walked towards his room. He fell on his bed while his tired body enjoyed the well needed rest.
He woke up to new morning and new self. He freshened himself and headed towards the dinning room. His family were surprised to see him enjoy breakfast with them. They had never seen the happy side of him. He listened to their stories that he missed and spoke about his life which he had not shared with them. After a quick family reunion, he headed back to work.
For the first time, he enjoyed work. For the first time, there were no clashes or starry tantrums. It was like as if new star had risen. While he completed his commitments, he wanted to meet his new friend. He wanted to share his first day achievements with her. He drove past the same place he had dropped her. As he got out of the car, he was surprised. He was standing next to old building bearing name of the hospital. He was engrossed too much with himself that he didn't even bother to ask her where he was supposed to drop her or where she leaved now. He did know that she was in hospital before but he wasn't aware she was never discharged.
He walked toward the reception in the hospital. The receptionist was starstruck at his sight. She took minutes to reply him. He had to repeat many times until she was back to senses. "Sorry sir! I hardly get to see stars coming to this hospital. Give me a moment. Let me check and tell you.", she said. He smiled. She checked her old dust strewn register and got back to him. "Sir, this patient is at room number 12.", she said. He thanked her and rushed towards the room with excitement.
As he walked towards the room, a middle aged man rushed towards him. He caught his collar tightly and asked angrily,"Look, what have you done to my daughter. She is in coma for an year and this is all because of you." The man bent down, releasing his grip from his collar and cried. Vikram bent down to console him. "Sir, I am sorry. But I didn't do anything. I have just met her yesterday.", he said softly. "What do you mean? ", her father asked. He narrated last night activities with her father.
Her father wasn't convinced. "How do I believe you?", he asked. He took him to the tea stall where they had tea. The tea stall was missing. He asked a person walking by the same place." There is no tea stall here, sir. Two years back there was an hit and run accident where the drunken driver ran over the tea stall owner and some men who were sleeping on the pavement. Since then, there is rumour that every night the pavement is haunted by their souls.", the person said. Vikram understood the eerie feeling he had got when he was there last night. He watched her father holding his palm on his face with shame. "I am sorry , Sir. I really want to prove that I am telling you the truth. But I don't have any evidence." Her father looked up at him and said, "She wanted to meet you. She said that she wanted to meet you when she was bought to the hospital. Those were her last words before she went to coma." He continued," Take me back to my daughter. That is least thing you can do for me."
After the bitter truth surfaced, Vikram learnt that he was not only responsible for her state but also for the death of the tea stall owner and other men. He wanted to repay all the sins he had done. So he headed towards the police station and confessed his crimes. He also took the responsibility of all the medical expenses of Maya. He was sentenced to four years. Fortunately it was later reduced to three years as soon Maya recovered from coma. A night had changed a fallen star to realize his worth and mistakes.
**** The end ****
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