City hospital :
A clattering footsteps echoed through the sombre hall as a boy walked hurriedly. His face laced with sadness and suffocation of his thoughts that were drowned in the silent chaos of the hospital environment. He wanted nothing more than to escape from the gloomy concrete. And yet the echoes of his footsteps told him that he still had long way to go.
Then came an elderly hand handed as they rested upon the shoulder of that boy trying to calm his quivering breath and guiding him to the nearby seat .
"Yound master don't worry our older master will be just fine ."
"Ummm..."
Sitting down the boy fixed his eyes on the red light as it burned into his eyes making them see the dangerous beauty in them. His mind blank and yet fear and anxiety resonated within it. Clasped by the chain of restlessness he suddenly stood up.
"Young master?" inquired the elderly voice tinted in worry .
"I'll be back......"
Saying that the boy walked out.
Moving away from that oppressive environment he felt a little calm. In the quietude corner away from the emergency rush , he heaved a sigh . Feeling in control of his emotions again he was able to better understand and analyse the situation , When he suddenly heard a camera shutter . He looked around searching for the source . There he saw in one of the ward rooms , a girl sitting at the window pane. A girl so frail so thin that it seem a single touch was enough to break her apart. Cascaded in the hospital gown there she sat capturing the symphony of evanesce yet vivid in her camera.
Lost in scene he didn't realise he had been staring at her. The girl suddenly peeked from behind her camera to look at him startling him.
"Oh! I didn't mean to stare." he said flustered.
"No worries ." the girl replied with the smile.
And continued to take pictures.
Seeing the needle marks behind her hand as it holds the camera he was once again forced to cruel truth.
"You like taking pictures?" he asked
"I don't particularly hate it."
"But is there really anything worth photographing here....at a hospital."
"And why not?" she asked squinting her eyes.
"People in pain and their worried family .
Sadness the gloomy environment. What else is there." He said with a as his voice almost cracked .
As an old memory floated in his mind . Memories of his mother . Frail as she was enveloped in the smell of disinfectant.
/What's wrong with me? Why am I remembering this now! /
He realised the memory he once thought he has lost was somewhere, discarded in the corner of his mind.
The girl smiled lightly as she replied ," Maybe . That what you see. But you know what among all these you do see a different every day."
"Every day you see a smile growing bigger everyday . People feelling a little less pain. Life slows down here."
"Here you realise the importance of little things you never noticed before. You learn to observe them and cherish them. And that's what a I capture in my magic box."
In that moment she seemed to radiate so radiate so much.
"You are quite positive."
"Well since you were being negative I thought I should balance it out."
She replied as her lens aimed for the boy's face followed by the sound of clicking.
She checked the photographs looking satisfied.
"Well that's it for today." Putting away her camera she just sat there in the sunlight. As the sunrays gently kissed her face . Basking in the golden light she looked so elegant.
" What's your name?"
" Iris."
"And yours ?"
"Ray."
After having his conversation with Iris Ray felt much better as he returned to the operation theater. Back in the oppressing environment Ray felt heavy again . But this time it was not as suffocating. Just then the doors to the OT opened as the doctor walked out.
"Well there's no need to worry. The patient is out of danger. He'll regain consciousness after some time. "
"Hearing those words he felt relieved ."
" Young master. Older master is fine . So why don't you go back to rest . You were up the whole night you must be tired."
"No Carson I am fine. I'll stay here with my brother. "
/ Kai get better quick. /
The evening colours fell to a slumber as the nights blankets it to sleep.
The sounds of camera resounded the desolate room. A pair of unfocused eyes wanders timidly to search for just that lost spark of hope..With a deep sigh the feeble hands put down the camera not being able to hold its weight anymore.
" Maybe even the evening dreams of a bright morning....... but sometimes the nights are just too long. "
Morning painted the sky in lively colours complimenting the flurry.
Door to the room opened as a tall man wearing spectacles entered. Along with him were a few young other doctors.
With a bright smile the man gently greeted
"Good morning iris."
"Good morning doctor." replied iris with a listless smile
"So how are you feeling today."
"I am fine."
"Good."
Saying that the tall doctor began to discuss something seriously with the other young students.
"So iris. Today you are gonna have your chemotherapy session today."
" Yes......."
After a little more discussion doctor moved on to check on other patients.
Soon the room was left to its previous quietude.
"Sigh..."
As a long sigh escaped her lips. A blank look veiled her face. Even the previous listless smile she had was lost. Clumsily she reached out for her camera only to retract her hands halfway. Propping herself up on the windowsill she sat gazing blankly outside.
Waking up to the call of the sun a boy opened his eyes to the white ceiling. As the blur lines focused he found himself amid the smell of disinfectant. As he slowly took in the surrounding.....
"Ray !!!!!"
"Hey Ray!!!! wake up " said Kai slightly patting his younger brother.
"Ummm....."
"KAI!!!! ......Kai you woke up!!!!"
Waking up suprised Ray got up and hugged Kai .
"Ouch ! Ray calm down ."
"Don't you know take care of your self. Always getting injured."
"Sorry for making you worry" said Kai calmly smiled .
He knew how worried his little brother was. Behind his calm facade he can see the how unsettled he was.
"Okay wait I'll call for the doctor first ." Saying that Ray went to call the doctor.
Laying back Kai looked heaved a sigh. Looking at himself he thought
"I really did make him worried this time."
" Okay good. The condition is improving . But the patient still need to stay at the hospital for a few day so that we can observe his condition in case of some repucrissions . Well there shouldn't be any apart from a little dizziness and weakness. But just in case..."
"Okay . Thank you doctor ."
After the doctor left an old man entered the room.
" Master you are alright! " said the old man wiping his tears.
" Don't worry Carson . I am absolutely fine."
"Yes master. "
" And Ray you too go back and rest too . I am absolutely fine."
" No I'll stay here."
"Young master now it's been two nights since you have slept . Please go back and rest . I'll stay here with master. "
"Yes you go back . I am fine. "
"But....."
"Go and rest now. Come back later."
"Okay fine! Carson take care of him and call me if something happens. "
"Yes young master . I have already prepared the car outside ."
"Okay thank you. And kai take care."
Ray left the room. Walking along the same corridor today he felt calm. The corridor which were so depressing untill yesterday were not so oppressive today. Crossing the garden he saw a familiar sight.
"Not taking any pictures today?"
" Oh it's you! Nah didn't find anything interesting."
"Oh! And here I thought you can find arcane in every mundane."
"Well you certainly seem quite lively today."
"No nothing like that."
"Oh is that so . But yesterday I thought I saw a zombie."
"Zombie!"
"Haha haha so something good happened?"
"My brother woke up today and there aren't any major issues."
"Oh that's good."
The silence accompanying the words were calming rather then being uncomfortable.
"So well I'll get going."
"Oh ya okay sure."
Seeing Ray's figure walking away . A smile spread across Iris's face.
"Oh well atleast someone's having a good day."
As she continued gazing at the scenery outside her eyes seemed to be searching. Searching for something . She didn't know what it was and yet she was searching.
Sitting by the window Ray watching the scenery passing by and yet lost in his own reflection. Unconsciously a smile adorned his face. Heading home.
Days went by. Days filled with healing , caring , heartfelt emotions and some pictures.
Then one evening when the sky fills the sun in its embrace as the birds return to their homes. Leaves of tress rustle to the gentle caress of wind . Sound of camera resounded capturing the picturesque scenery.
"Haven't you taken enough photographs already ?" asked Aaron
" The sunset today is very beautiful. So I wanna capture the moment before its lost."
" Well I don't see any difference from a normal sunset though."
"Well only an amazingly genius talented person can see it."
" Well now didn't you exaggerate it a little to much. "
"No it's just I am amazing beyond words."
"You surely know how to praise oneself."
"Well it's a very difficult to praise oneself. Not everyone can do it."
"Seriously."
"Ya totally."
"Well then I am lucky enough to know a person who do this job quite remarkably."
Sounds of laughter filled in the vacant silence.
"Leaving that behind. So your brother is goona discharge today?"
"Ya . Doctor said he is all fine and that we can take him home."
"Good."
" What about you?"
"Me?"
"Yep how is your health ?"
" I am doing fine. Just a little more and I'll be all better."
"So get better and leave hospital soon . "
"Yep will do. Afterall my junk food must be missing."
" I think you mean to say you are missing your junk food."
"Ya ya whatever."
Haha haha sound of laughter echoed in the air drowning the silence as the beautiful sunset faded into illusion.
"Iris!!!"
"Yes Aaron."
"Well I'll come to visit you at weekends."
"Huh? Why"
"What can't I ?"
" You can. But why do waste your weekend on a hospital trip?"
" Well I am coming to visit you not the hospital you know."
"You don't need to do that."
"Well if I were in your place they would you not visit me?"
"Honestly speaking no I won't ."
" Seriously you didn't even bother to lie , did you?"
"Nope!"
"Whatever . See you later."
"Hmm..."
/Well let's see./
