Chapter 4

"It's nice to see you guys here." Rukia spoke out for the first time.

Perhaps I was supposed to say that but I was too offended to say anything like that.

"And we are extremely surprised to see you two here!" said my dad.

"Surprised?" Rukia couldn't get what dad was trying to say and neither could I.

"I spent my whole life peeking into my teenager boy's stuff looking for a girl's photo but…."my dad went on like a crazy old man and I had no choice but to stop him.

"Dad! Will you please cut it out?" I had had enough of him.

"He talks a lot about you people." Rukia said before my dad could say anything.

I looked at her. She looked very calm. This gave me some relief.

"Well I am surprised to hear it. I mean he hardly talks to us." It was my sister, Karin.

"Hey! Did you get your birthday present?" I asked Karin trying to change the track.

"It would have been a lot more pleasant if you came." She answered my question in a serious yet mocking tone. I couldn't say a word.

"He is not such a good birthday present I assure you." Everyone laughed as Rukia said this. She kind of saved me from the piercing feeling of guilt.

After that there was no callous conversation. I was surprised to know that they came to that restaurant even after I left the house on my every birthday.

My favorite chocolate cake was ordered. We had a brilliant time there. I had never enjoyed that much on my birthday ignoring the fact that I had not been celebrating my birthday for past 4 years. It seemed quite childish to me.

Time flew away as fast as never before. The fact completely skipped from my mind that she was ill and it was not good for her to talk so much.

At about 10.30, she suddenly got up.

"Excuse me! "She said as she rushed towards the door. Judging from the expression on her face, she was finding it hard to breath and probably wanted to go out for some fresh air. It was quite natural in her condition and I was figuring out what I should do. But she had hardly taken two or three steps when she collapsed.

"Rukia!" I rushed towards her and grabbed her before she could dash to ground.

The girl whose little compliments, little jokes made my world go round was right in my arms but not for good reasons.

"You should not have pushed yourself too hard." I said softly though I knew she was not listening.

My family became really worried. They were extra ordinarily concerned and were willing to help but I promised to explain the whole thing to them later and assured them that it was alright.

She had the keys in her hand but it was a bit troublesome to take her back home.

I placed her gently on the bed. It was about midnight and I had no choice but to sit on the arm chair beside her bed and wait for her to wake up. At about 12.30, she she opened her eyes.

"Thanks God you are alright!" I said getting up and reaching for her hand.

But she impulsively shrugged back. "Where am I?" she asked in a weak voice.

"There is no need to worry. You are in your very own house. This is your bedroom." I said to her expecting that she would get it all.

"Then what are you doing here?" she was back to her normal self. I couldn't get whether she was angry or shocked.

"Excuse me! Firstly you forced me to go to that damn restaurant, then you collapsed there and I had to carry you home and take care of you and now you are getting angry at me being in your room." I know that I should not have been that much offended but I kind of felt insulted. She did not show any sort of reaction.

I went on "And don't you worry. I do get your point. I have called for a substitute nurse. She will look after you for the night….I could not have left you alone in such a condition because…."

"Because you are my doctor, right?" she said smiling. She kind of intimated me.

"Right!" I smiled back.

"You didn't have to explain the whole thing you idiot!" she said and I could not say anything to her in reply.

I just stood there looking into those beautiful angelic eyes until the door bell rang.

"I think it's the nurse. I should go now….. but don't be so careless in future. You should have at least told me you were not feeling well." I said with a concerned look on my face.

"If I had told you, how would have I come to know that you care about me so much…."she said feebly.

"I am giving your diet schedule to the nurse. Take medicine on time. I will visit tomorrow." I didn't want to stand there anymore.

"You have got such a wonderful family. I am glad I met them…"she said as I moved towards the door.

I said nothing….just looked back, smiled and went away because I did not want her to see the tears that welled up in my eyes…

Was it Love at first sight or not….I don't know! What I know is that I had found a girl without whom, perhaps I would not have died but a girl for whom I could live for…

Author's note "Please do review if you can find time to because i need serious motivation to continue this one. Thanks for reading."