Chapter 37: Deranging lives.

Tyson waited for Grandpa to gain consciousness for the entire night. He woke in the morning and he was tensed that his boss would probably call him for not have arrived yet. But suddenly he remembered that it was the weekend. Grandpa was shifted to other ward where other patients were in the coma state. He asked several nurses about the Doctor but they said that they were just about to come. He waited patiently.

I'm a mess right now
My heart is in two places
Half is back at home
The other's off and racing

Seeing Tyson's temper on the verge of flaring, the Doctor first checked Tyson's Grandpa and checked pulse.

"What is it?" Tyson asked,

"Just pray that he gets consciousness soon. I think it might take a few weeks," After saying that, the Doctor quickly moved to other beds. Tyson slumped his shoulders in defeat and walked out.

Staying around in that ward, he felt nauseating and giddy, he didn't even had his lunch properly, he went to his home.

…..

He had light meals which included an ordered vegetable and chicken sandwich and some orange juice. He lied down on his bed and pondered. He couldn't believe what was happening with him. Everything replayed in his mind.

At the end, I'm alone…

His mom left him when he was born, his dad and brother left his as he was a kid, he lived a few years finely, then, Ashlene left him too, his friends left him, and now, his sole permanent companion through these years also left him. He bitterly wept and sniveled, giving gasps and loud moans. He couldn't see anyone around him to console; anyone who could tell him that Grandpa would come back. He could hear his own moans resonating and reverberating through the walls.

He was deranged.

I've been
Running and running and running and running away
I know they'll catch me
Running and running and running two opposite ways
Two opposite ways

I can't let my past catch me now, me now
I can't let my past drag me down, me down

I feel the burden now
It's weighing down my soul
And I can't catch my breath
'Cause these demons follow.

He slipped from the bed and fell on the floor. He had everything, he had all the money, all the luxurious things he had ever needed and wanted, but everyone left him. He was all alone. He'd no shoulder to cry upon, he has no one, no one.

.

.

.

Ashlene drove her car recklessly craving for a cold shower as soon as she reached her home. Soft music was playing on the radio and the summer breeze was still irritating her. She closed the windows and switched on the AC. She turned her head as her phone rang,

"Hey, Jules,"

"Ash, are you going to Ellie's school?" Julia aske on the other line,

"Oh Shit! I forgot to pick Ellie! How the hell did I forgot!" Ashlene yelped in shock,

"Calm down. I 've called to tell you that Ellie's school was till midafternoon only and Raul picked her, so will you just chill out?" Julia said,

"Oh, thank god! I can't believe I forgot," Ashlene sighed,

"Alright, I will be arriving in ten minutes. Tell Mischa to prepare some coffee for me," Ashlene smiled,

"Sure,"

"Hmmm…" she hummed the song and smiled to herself. After a long time, she was feeling serene and happy unlike most of the times when she seemed perturbed and nerved out.

She reached home exactly after ten minutes. After seeing her daughter sleeping, she sighed and calmed down. She immediately showered and dressed up in loose T-shirt and tracts. She sipped her coffee and checked out the dates for examination of post-graduation.

"Damn, just a few weeks," She sighed exhaustedly. She couldn't take any leave this week. So she thought to take them next two weeks and definitely, there would be a cut off from her stipend for this month. Fred told her that he was somehow managing daily to prepare for the entrance and she didn't mind to apply that part on her own. She rather busied herself in gym and walks and for the rest of the time she just ate, slept or spent time with Ellie.

Life was moving on ever so fast and she was though getting tired, she was contended. Raul avoided any topics regarding Tyson and Ellie's needs, and Ashlene herself didn't want to think about it anymore, she had made her mind that till that worst time to arrive, she will make Ellie perfect. She just stopped thinking about it.

…

"Ash, you there?"

"Yeah," Ashlene turned her chair to see Raul and Julia coming in,

"Hey, Raul, you returned early today?" Ashlene asked,

"Nope, I took a leave today. I was just feeling to spend time with you guys, especially Ellie, so, that explains," Raul smiled,

"Oh okay. Julia seems tired. Did kids bother you too much today?" Ashlene asked pitifully,

"Yeah, you guessed it," Julia said,

"Uh, I remember now, Ellie told that she have half half-day school tomorrow, so make sure you don't forget. I won't be there to pick her," Raul reminded,

"Okay,"

"Ash, I'm going at my friend's place today, so if you don't mind, just handle the house, okay?" Julia said,

"Sure; have your time, Julia," Ashlene said seeming convinced,

.

.

.

Days moved lifelessly and limply. Tyson returned home and it was all dark. He switched on the lights. His steps' voices- he could hear them. He ignored the silence. He went upstairs and showered, he prepared his meals in the kitchen alone and to drive away the quietude, he played songs on his iPhone. Though he cursed him that he was listening songs when his grandpa was in hospital, he found no other way to distract himself.

He ate alone in front of TV and passed time. An hour passed and he was still lying on the sofa of the living room. Hilary didn't call him since few days and he guessed that she might have been busy.

He still didn't inform Hilary about Grandpa and he has a fair idea that she will kill the shit of him after he tells him or after she finds out. He didn't tell it to anyone, nor Max, nor Daichi or others. He simply dismissed his male friends of unworthy and undeserving of knowing about Grandpa's. If they were concerned, they could have called him and asked.

However Hilary was a different case. The girl just came to Japan for his birthday and she would come again if she knows about it and he really didn't want to perturb her constantly to miss her studies/internship.

Tyson went to his Grandpa's room and stared around. He could envisage him lying there or watching TV. Grandpa has been quiet these days, especially since the last Championship but he didn't took it seriously. That dismay, disappointment, tiredness, exhaustion from own-self and life was there on his face, Tyson could now understand his expressions facially.

But why? Why did Grandpa wanted to leave the world? Why wasn't he so unsatisfied and down? Did he know about me? That I was suffering… Maybe, maybe that he was sad seeing me suffering and struggling these years and he let me suffer because he wanted me to break my shell on my own and become something, some independent, self-stable person.

Thoughts lingered his mind. They never seemed to end. He visited hospital daily and since a week, the doctors said the same monotonous line, 'It might take few more weeks,'. He was tired of hearing the same. He was almost on the verge of hitting the Doctor who looked like he was fooling around all the attenders of coma patients in the ward with that same monotonous crammed line.

He had his bey-battle in next few days. After talking with Mr. D and explaining everything that how his friends left him and his Grandpa was gone in coma and he currently doesn't have any tag team partner to battle with, Mr. D sympathized him and agreed that he can battle as solo player and he needed just one battle that he'd be battling against and the ultimate blader was none other than Kai. Tyson wasn't worried. He was anyways spending his time since few days in blading, since he was clearly not interested in losing and getting himself fooled there.

His phone rung. He sighed as the screen showed Hilary's name.

"Hey," he said,

"Hey, didn't bother to call me, huh?" she said annoyingly,

"Yeah, was a little busy. You say," Tyson tried pulling a smile,

"Nothing, was just lying down. I took a leave today," Hilary said,

"Hmm, you seem exhausted. Take care" Tyson said,

"I know, I think I will come to Japan," Hilary said,

"Why?" Tyson almost yelled,

"Huh? What's wrong with my coming to Japan?" Hilary asked perplexed,

"I mean, you just came here last month so," Tyson said in gulps,

"Because my internship is almost on the end, and next week, I'm done, so get ready. I will be coming at your place and you better clean some room on downstairs because I'm shifting in there temporarily," Hilary clearly stated in demanding tone,

"Yeah, but you can't come here," Tyson said,

"Why?" Hilary shook her head,

"Because no, I'm not allowing you stay at my home. You can't come at my place to stay. NO," Tyson said jittery and loudly,

"Crazy man!" Hilary shouted, "Fine, I will stay at my place, but I WILL come at your home to meet Grandpa, NOT you!" Hilary said, seeming little angry,

"No, you don't have to come to my home. Don't come," Tyson's voice slightly shook.

Hilary paused for some time, "Tyson…" she said slowly, "What's wrong?" Hilary asked, clearly nervous,

Tyson sniffled. Hilary's panic intensified. "Tell me now or else I will not leave you!"

"Hilary!" Tyson said, "Grandpa is no more…"

.

.

.

Raul messaged Ashlene to pick Ellie sensing she'd forget but he guessed that her phone might be switched off. His guess was anyway true. Ashlene didn't charge her phone properly so she had no texts, calls on her phone and this week was a hell of ride with the worst patients she has ever met.

Seven hours and they looked like eternity. She was glad she submitted her leave already and seeing that many young Doctors took leave in those days for the Entrances, she was granted the leave rather easily.

Ashlene took her bag sharp at three and rushed outwards towards her car. She was already feeling nauseating. She didn't had her lunch properly and those protein shakes were also not adjusting with her body quite well. She wasn't even feeling to drive. Though she could have called Raul to pick her, but her car was here so she sighed at the fact that she HAS to drive.

The road was full of heat and people bursting out on the eve of some festival. There was lot of traffic and the sun was at its peak. She was getting irritated and to add, her fuel of car also seemed to finish off soon.

Lord, why am in this mess?

.

.

.

After knowing that grandpa was in coma, Hilary couldn't stop. She already had two vacations this year, so there was no way her parents were affording to let her visit Japan once more and besides he wasn't dead, exactly.

It has been hours since Delia and Margot tried consoling her but she kept crying and cursing Tyson for not informing her before.

Hilary spooked out at her last call with Tyson when he told her about Grandpa and she had no bounds on her fury, letting it all splash on him. He knew he was wrong, so he didn't fight back. She dialed Tyson's number suddenly and called him,

Tyson picked,

"Hilary, you okay?'' he asked first,

"No! I'm dead! Baka! Send me a ticket quickly! I want to come to Japan!" she cried on phone,

"Okay okay, I will. Will you stop crying now?'" Tyson said,

"You wronged me! I won't forgive you!" Hilary hung the phone. Tyson sighed on the other side.

"Will you just relax? You've been crying since three days, you've an idea how much you've destroyed your health?" Delia asked,

"What should I do then?" Hilary sniffled in a low tone, "Everyone will leave me one day, I will be an alone girl one day with no one. I will be deranged! Ryan leaves me without telling, Grandpa's in coma, don't know if he will survive or not!" Hilary whimpered,

"Hilary, we've seen his reports, Tyson had sent them. He will be fine within few months. CO2 narcosis is not a joke. I'm wondering how Tyson didn't know about it." Margot explained,

A few hours later,

"Hilary, there is a message on your phone," Delia said as she carefully picked up Hilary's phone,

"Your ticket has been booked, you can print it." Margot said, "C'mon, start packing now, you are leaving next week. It says 1:30 am, sharp"

Hilary stopped sniffling and she washed her face. She pulled out her possessions and started packing them. The other two girls stayed quiet since Hilary was strangely quiet by herself- tired off everything.

A/N: Hey everyone, thankyou so much for reading. I hope everyone is safe and healthy. ^_^

I'm not sure if the updates will be regular since exams dates are approaching. Our exam dates haven't been announced yet but it could be anytime and I've lot to start studying. *sighs*. I was working with Hilary's part yesterday. Maybe two chapters at least will be of Flashback for Hilary's part. And two more parts for Ash's flashback are left. Those two are ready. I've to just work out for Hilary's part because I haven't given much account about it.

There might be total of 50 plus chapters, but less than 60.

Again, thanks so much for reviewing to all the readers ^_^. That meant a lot and I was motivated to write more. ^_~ PLEASE review. That would mean a lot, really.

Reply to guest11: Thanks so much for reviewing! That means a lot! Hope you liked this chapter! ^_^

The next two normal chapters will be little monotonous, but there will be soon something good enough to get curious upon. ^_^