I really want to thank everyone for their reviews. You guys were really awesome to leave me your thoughts on the story. Anyway, here is chapter 2 and I hope you like it.

Chapter 2

Brahmapur, India

Neela sighed with relief when the sounds of her relatives became decreased as they all left the house. She'd arrived late last night and had been longing for her Aunt Rajah's plush couch. However, her family was too excited about the new doctor in the family. She was hounded with questions, as if she were some celebrity. Everyone wanted to know everything. It was at that time Neela would rather have been in her crummy old apartment, rolling her eyes at something Ray had done to annoy her.

Now though, it would be her sisters turn to be hounded and Neela could finally catch some sleep. So, as soon as the last relative was out the door, she let herself collapse on the couch.

Lying on her back, she stared up at the ceiling. She studied the swirling patterns of orange and brown and for the first time since she'd been back to Indian she was able to feel a pure moment of enjoyment at being back. The feel of the warm air that wrapped around you like a blanket. The sun shining like a jewel in the sky. The exotic animals sleeping under trees, observant as of you as you are of them. Turning on the radio and hearing the cool sounds of Bally Jagpal or Kam Dhillon instead of being blasted by some wannabe rock group.

The beach was and always had been her favorite part of India though. The best thing about being in Brahmapur was that she was so close to it. Her Aunt Rajah lived within walking distance. Neela could stare at the ocean for hours and feel pure tranquility. Even last night on the drive home, her eyes never left the beach when they drove by it. She could see the waves dance with such force, she didn't think she'd ever seen them like that before. It was beautiful, she had thought to herself.

Though her family could anger her so and she did miss her messy apartment, even Ray, she still felt happiness to see India again. She was comforted by the fact that she would find the bright side of things. Ray was right, it's Christmas, a time to be cheery. She would be cheery, she decided as her eyes closed to sleep.

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Fast Forward

With all his might, Ray was trying. He really was, but the girl shook so much with fear had it not been for her focused expression he would have thought she was having a seizure. She was a patient with a traumatic medical experience in her past and tiny veins. Good IV sites were hard to find and painful for her. She could tell you stories of having to be stuck over 8 times to try and find a good vein.

But the more she shook with fear, he admitted no matter how much confidence he'd had in his phlebotomy skills, she was making him feel inadequate. Although he should have realized that even the calmest patient couldn't calm his nerves. No matter where he went it was all about the Tsunami that had happened a day and a half ago. The radio talked about it, the TV showed horrifying images, and the people around him couldn't find another subject. To make matters worse, Neela hadn't called and nobody knew anything. Her plane, if she was on it, was due in early tomorrow morning and Ray would be there waiting, till everyone was off that plane if that's what it took.

"Are you sure? You have to be absolutely sure," the young girl said to him while he inspected a vein on her right arm.

"I'm just looking. I'm not going to stick you yet," Ray assured.

Tears streamed down her face. "Just please, be absolutely sure," she said again.

He nodded then said, "This one looks really good."

She whimpered. "Are you sure? That looks like a bad spot."

"I can feel the vein really good," he explained.

"GO FISH!" The boy in the next bed squealed to his mom.

Ray became startled then sighed with annoyance as the boy continued to laugh loudly. He tried to ignore the kid, though he found it ironic that the kid could squeal so loudly with a supposedly scratchy throat.

He took an elastic band and wrapped it around the girls arm then wiped the area with an alcohol pad and took out an IV. "Ready?" He asked her. "It'll be really quick."

"GO FISH AGAIN!"

"Go ahead," she answered him and shut her eyes.

Ray leaned forward and brought the needle to her skin, his hand beginning to shake as a memory entered his mind.

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"I don't understand. What is the point of this game again?" Neela asked while inspecting her cards closely.

"You gotta see if I'm lying or not," Ray explained.

"But if I have two Aces then I know you have the other two. And if you put down two cards and say they are two aces then why would you be lying? I don't get it," Neela went on.

Ray sighed, "Neela, I thought you were supposed to be a genius?"

"I am when it makes sense. This seems pointless."

"Look, I'm going to put down two cards and I'm gonna say two aces. But maybe I only put down one Ace and a Queen. If you think I'm lying you say 'BS' and you look. If I am lying I pick up all those cards and If I was telling the truth and did put down Two aces then you'd pick up the cards," Ray tried again.

"Fine, fine. Go then," she said.

"It's your turn. We're on 5's."

"OK. Four 5's," she said and put down some cards.

He looked down at the mini deck with suspicion. Then he moved the cards around a bit, she slapped his hand away.

"You can't touch the cards!" She yelled.

He laughed. "How many cards did you put down?"

She sighed. "Seven. But you weren't supposed to know that. You can't touch the cards."

He laughed some more. "Says who? I thought I was teaching you this game?"

"Well, I'm adding a rule. 'You can't touch the cards'."

Ray laughed wildly now. "You're just mad cause I found you out, you cheater."

She pouted and threw the cards at him. "I don't want to play anymore."

"Aw, Neela!" He called after her as she got up. "Come on!"

"NO!" She yelled back and shut the door to her room.

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Ray stopped going forward with the needle. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying to get thoughts of Neela out of his mind. Once he felt he was ready, he went forward again.

"GO FISH!"

The radio was then clicked on.

"Ohhhh," the girl cringed.

"Over two thousand have been confirmed dead already. Livestock had been found all over the lands, dead. The people here are completely devastated by this trag…"

"GO FISH!"

"Ugh!" Ray got up and slammed the needle into the disposal. He peeled his gloves off and bolted out of the room. "I can't do this. Chuny!"

"Yeah, Ray?"

"IV on bed 4 please," he said and didn't wait for her reply. He walked out of the ER. He desperately needed some air.

"Ray?" Chuny called after him, worried, but he didn't hear her.

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Present Time - Brahmapur, India

At least I know where I am, Neela thought to herself. However, the thought didn't comfort her. She was stuck in Aunt Rajah's collapsed home, broken glass all over the places, boards ripped apart, and water creating a pond in the house. The small of her back was in such pain, she felt as if she might split in two just standing up straight. Her own breath heavy, blood stained her clothes, gashes and abrasions all over her body. The waves had had no mercy on them and slammed into the house and hit her with such a force that her body had been numb for a few hours. She had been knocked unconscious and was unsure of how much time had passed.

Though she'd already found her mother and sister's bodies, she hoped that the rest of her family had survived. She tried to walk but couldn't and so she had to slide on the floor through the water using her arms. She feared one of them might be broken. Her energy was shot and with a few movements dizziness would overwhelm her. She tried not to think of what had happened because she knew she'd be driven mad with fright. But fear was already setting in of her own impending death. She didn't feel good at all and had already coughed up some blood.

She clutched at her chest as she tried to catch her breath but it wouldn't come. Rolling over on her back, she lay there able, to see the skies through the partially collapsed roof. She felt blackness washing over her. As she shut her eyes, the only person she saw was Ray.

"Ray?" She whimpered as she fell into unconsciousness.

To be continued…