The Army Love

Chapter 2

Edited

Author

Looking up, Viren was dumbstruck. Standing before him was Jeevika, the girl he saved yesterday. She was trying to walk but it was difficult because of her injured leg. Viren stood up, went near her and offered her help by moving his hand forward. Jeevika looked at him and hesitantly accepted his hand. They slowly made their way to the bed. Viren helped her sit down and covered her with blanket . He then, proceeded to sit on the couch. There was an awkward silence which Viren didn't favoured.

"I'm Officer Vadhera from Delhi. I'm in charge here for the victims along with my colleagues" Viren started.

Jeevika offered a small smile and introduced herself. "I'm Jeevika."

Viren repeated her name in his mind and smiled lightly.

Placing his elbows on his knees, Viren leaned forward. "If you don't mind, can I say something?"

"Of course."

"I really don't think you are from here." Viren judged, his black eyes calculating.

Jeevika gave a small laugh.

"Actually, you are right. I'm not from here. I'm from Delhi,  like you."

Chuckling he answered.  "Guess I was Right."

Silence, once again was drawn on them. Being uncomfortable, they both fidgeted nervously.

Viren broke the silence again. "Your family hasn't arrived yet?"

"No. They'll reach here by night by what I was told." She sighed. Sadness clear in her eyes

"Guess, it's just you and me till then." Viren gave a small laugh to which Jeevika smiled. "So....not trying to be rude but what were you doing here? I mean work or something else.?"

"No work." She chuckled. "I was here with my friends to travel and enjoy some peaceful time but didn't know this would happen." Jeevika gestured to the hospital room.

"Yes...that's a bummer."

"Actually," Jeevika started the conversation this time."I'm here and alive because of a guy. My friends told me that they couldn't find me after the tragedy. A guy found me, you know all b****y and dirty, who then took me to the ambulance. Because of him, I'm breathing. I wish I could appreciate my lots of lots of gratitude to him" She expressed with her hands, but then sighed. "But I don't think I'll ever see him again. For God's sake, I don't even know who he is or what does he look like."

Viren's heart warmed up listening this. He decided to tell Jeevika that the guy she was talking about was he himself.

Clearing his throat, he opened his mouth to speak when the door opened.

Viren turned around and saw a woman in her 40's. He stood up and walked towards her, wanting to ask what she wanted when tears glistened in her eyes.

"Jeevika..." She breathed. Tears fell down her cheeks and she immediately hugged Jeevika. She sobbed quietly, muttering 

'thank God, you are safe'.

"Mom, I'm okay. Nothing's to worry about." Jeevika spoke while patting her mother's back as she hugged her tightly.

Viren, who was watching this, went towards the table and poured a glass of water for Jeevika's mother.

Asha, Jeevika's mother, sat down on the couch which was previously occupied by Viren. She took the glass of water which Viren offered and began to calm down, assured that her daughter was okay.

"I'm never letting you leave for a vacation alone now. You scared us to death." Asha declared.

"Mom, I'm okay. Besides an earthquake is not my fault. Its nature's." Jeevika tried to reason while smiling.

"Whatever." It was then, when Asha acknowledged Viren. "Um...who are you, if I may ask?"

"Sorry for not introducing, I'm Officer Vadhera, Indian Army. I'm in charge here." Viren introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you." Asha smiled.

She turned towards Jeevika." Are your friends okay? What even happened?" She questioned.

"Yes, they are all okay. Actually we all were together in the fete until I got a call. I don't remember what happened after that. 

I woke up in the morning, here. Girls told me that a guy helped me. So mom, I'm alive because of him only but I can't even thank him because I don't even know him." Jeevika told her mom, the whole story.

"It's okay dear. I know that he will know that you are grateful for what he had done. God bless him."Asha stated, folding her hands in a small prayer." Your father and siblings couldn't come as they were engaged with their meetings and exams, 

respectively. "

"It's okay mom." Holding her mother's hand, Jeevika assured.

Thinking he is just intruding the mother- daughter moment, Viren decided it's best he leave as Jeevika would not be alone now.

Clearing his throat, Viren announced he should leave. Asha stood up and placed a hand on Viren's shoulder. She smiled."Thank you son for staying with my daughter."

"It's no problem ma'am and it was my duty. "Viren replied. "I'll take my leave." He stated,  nodding towards Jeevika.

"Bye Officer Viren and thank you for your time." Jeevika thanked.

Viren smiled slightly when something caught his attention. "How do you know my name. I never told you." He asked, confused.

Jeevika giggled and pointed towards his shirt pocket. "It's written there, on your name plate,

'OFFICER VIREN VADHERA',"

Viren laughed at his own stupidity. "Yeah..its...never mind. Take care and get well soon."

With a smile Viren exited the room, leaving Jeevika and her mother alone.

~~~~~~~~~

The next day, Viren woke up late. His sleep was disturbed by a knock on the door. He lazily opened his eyes to see the time and was shocked to see the time. It was 9.

How could I sleep for this late?

These words were roaming in Viren's mind when he went to see who was at the door. It was room service. He gave Viren his breakfast and wished him a happy day ahead. Viren smiled and thanked the person before closing the door.

Placing the tray on the table, Viren made his way towards the bathroom to freshen up. After doing his business, he closed the door behind him and went to have his breakfast. 

Lifting the tray above the food, he saw what he had today for his morning meal. It was cucumber and tomato sandwich this morning along with cold coffee. He took a sip from his drink and started eating his sandwich.

While eating breakfast, his thoughts wandered back to yesterday. A small smile accompanied by blush, adorned Viren's face.

He shook his head when he remembered that Jeevika managed to sneak into his dreams too. He remembered only some of the dream.

Jeevika was wearing a purple colour dress with her hair open. She was admiring the scenery before her.

Snow covered mountains standing in a round, forming a natural basin around the teal blue lake. Beautifully coloured flowers blooming all around the lake. A tree standing all alone in its glory, its branches forming shades, under which Viren sat. The brightly shining sun completed the magnificent view but its warmness doing nothing to stop the pleasant climate.

Standing up, Viren walked a few steps and took a content sigh. He watched as Jeevika bent down and inhaled the scent of each flower with her eyes close and a small smile on her full lips.

"Jeevika!" Viren called out, startling her. She stood up and asked him what's wrong. "Stop now. I want to spend time with you but you are busy with these flowers. Come here please." He requested, giving her a puppy look.

Jeevika shook her head, laughing as she ran towards him. Wind blowing through her hair, making them run wild around her face.

Viren opened his arms to catch her so that she wouldn't fall.

But she hugged him so hard that they both tumbled to the ground, covered with fresh green grass.

They laughed seeing the position in which they were. Jeevika above Viren with her hands on his chest while his hands took their place on her waist.

All around them vanished as they got lost into the depths of each other's eyes.

Viren snapped out of his thoughts and hurriedly ate his breakfast as he was getting late for work.

Today he had to visit the other hospital where some victims were admitted. He was disappointed that he couldn't see Jeevika today and maybe yesterday was the last encounter they would have had. But still, he had perform his duties.

On the other side, Jeevika woke up as her hand accidentally touched the railing of the bed which made her wince in pain. Her mother was not in the room

She must have gone to have breakfast

Jeevika thought as she gently took the drip out and uncovered herself with the blanket. She slowly and steadily got out of the bed and made her way to the washroom.

It was a difficult task to freshen up but she did it on her own somehow. She came back after few minutes. With an injured foot, Jeevika was having a really hard time in walking.

She stopped when the pain intensified. Grabbing the chair, she sat down and massaged her knee which was swollen. While tending to her bruised knee, she remembered someone. Someone who helped her yesterday to get back to the bed. Someone who talked to her when she was all alone.

Viren

A light smile crossed her face when she remembered Viren.

He was surely handsome.

Her smile widened as she thought of Viren. But her pain brought her back to reality. She slowly went to her bed with the help of her surrounding furniture. By the time she reached her bed, Asha came. She helped Jeevika settled in and then called the nurse to check her daughter.

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Kaur D