Finally
                        Fiction by Ananya

The presentation got over. He walked out of the board room. But realized something was missing. He stopped for a second, looked about himself and walked on, till he reached a large door, leading to his own cabin.
A blast of cool air welcomed him inside. But still, something with that was missing.
The room was spacious and beautiful. On the ceiling, in the centre of the room, was a beautiful Chandelier flanked by smaller versions on either sides. Two large mahogany desks were just in front of the large French window, which overlooked the city. One desk was cluttered with files, papers, huge books. The other, absolutely spic-n-span. Towards the right was a comfortable set of sofas with a centre-table. To the left, was a medium sized wall unit of Oak with two LCD screen computers in the central compartment. Both the screens displayed the standard Windows Screen-saver. On the part beside the computers was a Hi-Tech Music Player. Beside the Wall Unit was a Large 82 inch LCD television with the speakers standing on the carpeted floor.

He went to the untidy desk and put down the Folder and mini pen-drive, and sat down in the comfortable chair. Reclining in it, he inhaled the cool and fresh air in the room. He looked around. Something was missing.
He picked up a telephone on his left. “Send up a strong coffee.” And waited. The room, other than these furnitures had a large bookcase, a huge glass cabinet. Right in front of his work-table, was just a small stand on which was a designer vase with artificial flowers. ‘It gives the room a homely touch, honey.’ He recalled.
He felt a shudder go through him, as he recalled those very words, the voice and the gentle hand which had placed it there.
Ignoring what his mind was trying to recall, he looked at the wall right in front of him. On it was a collection of Framed Photographs. Photographs of him at a party, photographs of him with celebrities. Photos of him and…
He heard a knock at the door and he was distracted.
“Yeah…come in.”

His coffee had arrived. After he was alone again, he picked up the coffee cup and sipped. He felt better. His cell rang.
“Yes…Oh yes, Mr. O’Hailey…” He began his business talks with him. The coffee went cold.
“Oh yes, sure. You must do the job and then contact my engineers. Yes.” Saying so, he disconnected and put down his cell.
Sitting back comfortably in the chair, he rested his head on the chair’s head-rest.

“You look tired, honey! Should I rub your shoulders?”
“No I am fine. If I need it I shall go down to the Spa.”
“Personal touch does it.”
“I do not require anybody’s personal touch. Please leave me alone.” He snapped.

He opened his eyes as if he felt someone’s hand on his forehead. His pulse quickened. He became uneasy.
“What is happening to me? What’s wrong with me? I’ve never felt this way before! Something is wrong…terribly wrong! Something is missing…”
He could feel a prick in his heart. He stood up. As he did, his hand brushed against the coffee cup. He looked at it.

“There! Your coffee’s cold! How many times should I tell you to first eat and then do work? It will affect your health! There dear, I’ll ask for another coffee.”

The gentleness, the care…he was missing it. He did not realize this. Suddenly on an impulse, he left the room.
The people working for him, stiffened as they watched him go by. Some gathered courage to say, “Good-day Sir.”
But he was all oblivious to all.
People whispered behind his back.
“What’s wrong with him? He never goes out of the office in day-time. Not even for a funeral.”
“Yeah…but here its his wife. Even for the STEEL MAN, it must be difficult…after all he too is human…” Went the talk.
He asked his driver to give him the car as he wished to drive himself. As he’d just pulled out of the gates, his cell rang.
“Mr. Frost, the time has come. We have to go ahead with what had been agreed. If you wish, you can come over for the final step.” Said a strong but stern voice of a lady.
“Yes. I’m on my way.” He said with great difficulty. His throat seemed to have grown a lump. He could get words out of his mouth with difficulty. He breathed deeply.
As he slowed down at the signal, he banged his hands on the steering wheel.
“Damn! What the fuck is wrong with me?!”
He switched of the AC and opened the windows. As he started driving again, the wind swept his hair. However, his thoughts were constantly in the past.

“Honey…you’re looking so…soo…”
“Soo what?”
“Uh hmm. Nothing. Its just that…I love it when the wind rushes through your hair and you are driving…I cant stop looking at you then.”

His heart-beat quickened as he thought of it. At the next signal, he saw, a balloon seller.

“Ohhh…stop stop. Wait at the corner, Please buy me the balloon!”
“What? Are you kidding? Come on. Your not a baby. A balloon? For God’s Sake?”
“Please…I love them!”
“No. It will be a blot on my reputation. Think of what people will say? A billionaire’s wife buying balloon’s for herself! Ha!”

He reached the gates of the Hospital. He just flashed his ID and passed through without waiting for a response. No one could say anything to him. After all, he was the owner.
As he parked his car, he recalled something and pulled out again. He was back in 10 minutes. The change was, he held a huge bouquet of Daisies.
He went to the reception and asked for the room. He was told to reach the 10th floor.
There wasn’t much crowd on the 10th floor.
“Excuse me…”
“Yes?”
“Could you…please,” He said and was hit by a realization. He stood unspeaking for a few seconds. He’d uttered the word “Please” after an eternity.
“…yes sir? Could you please hurry? I shall be late for my work.” Said the Nurse whom he’d stopped.
“…place these by Mrs. Frost’s bed?”
“Uh..?” She began but then she said, “Alright.” And left.
He looked at the white-washed walls and inhaled the antiseptic smell. The desk at the end of the corridor seemed very distant. People were walking around. But he couldn’t even sense anything. A photo frame hung in one corner. He happened to glance at it. It was a picture of a Young mother and a baby. Before he knew it, he stood before it and raised his hand and lightly brushed it.
“Daise…” The thought just struck him.
“Damn…how can I think so? How could I have been so….” He raged within. Outwardly he showed a calm demeanor.
Pacing about the small but spacious corridor, he waited. And with bated breath. His heart was pounding against his ribs. A fear was cornering him. His senses would have reeled if he hadn’t so much composure. He was extremely uneasy. He loosened his necktie and opened the first two buttons of his shirt. His palms were wet with anxiety and fear. Perspiration was forcing its way out but he was wiping it of immediately. He felt all this just, for the first time, finally.
Never had he ever felt so much, so emotional, so sensitive and so very shattered. He didn’t want to cry, but he felt tears coming onto the edge of his eyes. But his self-control, as if shoved them aside.
He felt as if someone was looking at him. He looked up and saw three people walking as fast as possible towards him.
He gulped. He couldn’t face them, the people who’d never seen this side of him before. He himself was shocked at himself.
It was then he realized, how much he had grown so attached and dependant on her. Just her presence and moral support had started to mean a lot, before he’d realized it.
“Carlos!” Exclaimed the elegant, medium heighted woman, who was among the three people who came towards him. Her hair, graying at the temple, was swept into an elegant twist, which gave her a mature and responsible look.
She instinctively held his hand in hers and looked at him questioningly. Her deep brown eyes, were extremely perceptive and reading. Her look for the 15 seconds till the others reached them, was enough for her to understand everything that had happened. She just uttered five words softly, “So, it has happened, finally!”
He squeezed her hand, unable to say anything. When the two men with her had reached them, she just turned and buried herself into the arms of the taller, stronger and elder of the two men.
“Linda…what the…” The man said, in his deep voice. He wore a business suit, but his burgundy brown hair was windswept and he was unshaven. But, inspite of that and his graying hair, he was a handsome man. Mouth agape he looked at Carlos. Carlos gave him a blank but communicative look.
“Dan…I knew this would happen! I knew…I couldn’t….I’m sorry…!”
Dan held her and calmly said, softly, “Shhh…Lin…its okay. Don’t worry. Its not your fault!”
“Carlos…how could you!!” Said the other man, whose voice was surprisingly thin but deep. He was one head shorter than Dan but was heftier. He looked like Dan, the same hair color but his face was narrower and more striking. He was wearing a simple Tee on blue jeans. He seemed to have just come right out of bed.
“Victor…I…” Said Carlos and stopped and looked at his feet. He couldn’t seem to be able to get words out of his mouth.
Dan looked at him. He saw something on Carlos’s face and realizing something, gently parted from Linda. He braced himself, moved towards Carlos and simply hugged him. Carlos was taken aback. He hadn’t expected his Step-father to show him such affection inspite of his unreasonable and improper behavior. He gave in and hugged him back. He needed support now.
“Its okay. Do the explaining later. Where is she? How long has it been?”
Carlos sighed and murmured, “Just 10 minutes. It seems like an eternity.” His strength and mental stability seemed to be failing him. He hid his face on his step-father’s shoulder and choked back a sob.
“Carl…” Gasped Linda and looked at Victor, surprised. Victor too, surprised stared at Carlos. The steel had been broken. Carlos was being human?
Victor then looked at his mother, “Mom…I’ll go and check it out. Maybe…” Saying so, he went into the room near which they stood. Since he was a doctor, he could go in. Linda merely nodded her eyes still on Carlos’s head.
Despite being his mother, Linda was unable to reach out to Carlos. He seemed to have closed his mind to all, but himself ever since he was 5 years. But that barrier seemed transparent and non-existent to her now! The brutality, perversity and inhumane behavior he’d shown over the years, the unjust treatment, the cold and distant attitude, the rudeness and hatred he’d displayed, all vanished. There she saw now, her little boy, her son, her flesh and blood, whom she’d never seen before, whom she’d longed for, whom she’d cried for, whom she’d prayed for!
The entire truth was crushing him now. The finality, the enormity of his decision and the changed situation. His feelings, his needs, his desires, which he’d never even bothered to search for, all welled up! Carlos tried to hold back the tears, but he couldn’t.
He had destroyed it all! He was responsible for all that she would never get. Practically she was the loser, but in reality, He’d lost!
Linda cautiously stepped toward them and apprehensively gripped the hand that lay on her beloved husband’s strong and sturdy back. For a few seconds, there was no response, so she loosened her grip and was about to withdraw her hand, when suddenly, his hand reached for hers and held it tightly, the way, a small child says, ’Mommy, I’m scared.’
“Oh Carl….” She whispered and kissed his hand.
Carlos simply sobbed in his step-father’s arms. Dan only held him.
“Excuse me…” Came a voice. Linda turned and saw a nurse with papers in her hand.
“We have completed the formalities…” She said and looked at the two men. Her look, at Carlos, plainly said, ‘Its no use crying over spilt milk.’
“You can collect the body from the morgue…on the Ground Floor. Or if the Doctors permit, you can even watch it till the end. ” She said, detachedly. And then looking at Linda, with sorrow and understanding, she said softly, “I’m sorry.” And she left.
Carlos watched her go away. His eyes were red-rimmed. Never had he felt so bad, but so much better.
Finally, everything had happened!
Finally, he’d realized what he’d done all these years!
Finally, he’d become receptive of others affection.
Finally he’d started realizing the importance of others, in his life.
Finally, he’d fallen in love.
Carlos Frost, the steel man, the man without emotions and attachments, the man who lived for himself, had finally changed, for good.
Carlos was a handsome, tall and well-built man, with brown shoulder length hair and deep green eyes. Broad shoulders, lean hips and an extremely attractive face. His broad jaw and full lips, just made girls drool at the sight of him.
His mother, Linda Frost Wells had given birth to this man 30 years ago. She separated from his biological father, who was a murderer and had been extremely torturing to her. Linda had found home and happiness with Dan Wells, the man, who fathered Victor.
Ever since he’d seen and started understanding things, Carlos had grown to be an aloof child. He’d closed his mind from everybody. He only thought of himself and for himself. This made him the most successful and the richest businessman. The Steel plants and Steel goods manufacturing business being his business, had given him the nickname, “The Steel man”, affected by nothing.
Carlos entered the business-world in his late teenage. He married Daisy Evers, under a contract. The contract itself, was a secret between the two of them. They did not have any children. But she played an upper-hand in the business he managed.
Inspite of working with him, Daisy was a complete contrast. She made no demands with Carlos. She was a pretty girl, who looked younger than she was. At first meeting, people took her to be a lower level office manager in his company. But later, they would be shocked to know that she was the President of the two companies and Carlos’s wife.
Daisy though was competent and perfect in her work, she was just obliging and submissive to Carlos.
Carlos behaved with her just like he would with any other person. When his mother meant nothing to him, why would she? Infact he must have surely been emotionally torturing, just like his biological father was to his mother, to Daisy. She never showed it, however and was still by his side, 10 years later.
Carlos had, started a Scientific and Biological Research Centre, where doctors and scholars could work on the new aspects and facets of Medical Science. It had helped Victor, his half-brother.
The Frost Science and Research Centre (FSARC) had proposed to conduct a series of experiments on cure of Bone Cancer.
As destiny would have it, Daisy was diagnosed to be a Bone Cancer patient. Osteochondroma though benign form of a tumor, which can be serious if found near areas of Ribs, Spine.
Daisy seemed to be advancing into the malignant form of Osteochondroma, near her shoulder which advanced to her spine. The cure could have been a surgical removal of the tumor. This was initially stalled as the research centre wanted to research on the newly developed medicine on it.
The newly developed Enzyme proved to be under-developed and had resulted into a delay in the treatment of her cancer. The Advancement into the malignant was nearly close. The surgery hence, was extremely urgent.
Carlos, however being the most self-centered person, pushed forward this occasion when the most important event of takeover of new Steel Company came forth. Daisy being the very submissive person, gave in.
The Malignancy developed. After the event, Daisy went in for the surgery anyway.
Here developed another complication. During the surgery, some error occurred. Some nerve was hit. Initially it showed no problem.
Daisy seemed to be recovering after her surgery. However, she started slipping into sleep, greater number of times and unexpectedly.
Carlos was unaffected. He hardly visited her in the hospital. However, gradually, Daisy slipped into a Coma.
Daisy had been in this Coma, for the past 5 months. For the past 5 months, Carlos visited her twice only, saying that he could not bear the suffocative air of the hospitals. Though, the hospital was a part of Carlos’s business empire, it had its limitations.

“Carlos, what exactly did they say? Why did you say yes? How could you?” Linda demanded.
Carlos had stopped sobbing then. They were still outside the room.
“The Hospital works on a charitable trust. They had no more resources they could provide to hold her on the Life Support System. They said…they had to…I couldn’t say a thing.”
“You foool!!” Linda thundered. However her relations had been with Carlos, she adored and loved her daughter-in-law. “YOU COULD HAVE HAD HER SHIFTED TO A BETTER PLACE!”
“Mom…” Carlos began.
“You selfish-bastard…how could you do this? How could you do this to your own wife? You rascal…I’m ashamed that I even gave birth to you, you soulless, pitiless, inhuman creep….”
“Mother…” He said a little loud and she stopped. He’d never called her Mother, since he was 4. He would call her that only when he was scared and lost. She looked at him, again, shocked, surprised and embaled.
“Mother…they said, they had no more hopes for her…anymore. She cannot live anymore than 6 days, even if we carried on like this…”
Dan was just sitting beside then, his hands in his lap, absorbing every thing he said. He sighed.
“Mother…when I finally realized…I’ve lost what I had…” He said and sat quiet. Linda looked at him. His shoulders were quivering. Linda placed her hand on his shoulder. He turned his face to look at her. A tear rolled down his cheek. She raised her hand and wiped it off, her own lips quivering in pain and despair. He held her hand and kissed it.
“Mommy…I’m sorry for everything!” He said and hugged her. Linda couldn’t understand what was happening and before she knew it, she began crying. She had always loved him. Her boy, her little kid, her son, whom she loved and shielded from Hughes. She wanted him to be happy, protected, loved and successful. She had failed before. Now she was getting the opportunity.
“Oh honey…baby…don’t cry! Its okay. “
“Mommy….I don’t want to lose her…I cant live without her…I just didn’t know how much she meant to me…till now! Oh Mommy…”
The Steel Man, had finally become a MAN.
“Mom…” Came a voice. They looked up. It was Victor.
“I suggest you meet her once before….they…” He said and trailed off. Carlos looked up and said, “Vic…is it…over?”
“No Bro. She’s in. But…they are ready to remove it. The ventilator…”
Carlos stood up. He went inside.

Inside, the atmosphere was calm and peaceful but there was lots of hustle-bustle. A few people stopped to watch, as Carlos walked towards her bed. Daisy lay on the bed, calm. There was no strain on her face. She only breathed, via the ventilator. Her hands were on either sides of her body. Her hands, clean and white, used to have a pinkish tinge, now were bluish-black, due to the injections and various connections. Her nails, however, were clean and colorless. Simple and pure. That’s what she’d always been.
Daisy, as pure, gentle, beautiful, satisfying as a daisy. As fragrant and clean and attractive as a daisy…his Daisy, his life…she lay there, breathing in the last few moments of a life, which he had made hell for her.
As he approached her bed, he had eyes only for her. He noticed none of the people, who were staring at THE STEEL MAN, agape, shocked at the behavior he displayed. “Its Working!” Whispered a nurse to the doctor.
Carlos sat on a chair beside her bed and just looked at her.


“Carl…I like to eat Chinese and Thai food! I just love to be around the sea…Can we go to the Hawaii and Andaman for our honeymoon?” She asked.
He just looked at her with a smile on his face. But the smile, he alone knew was fake. But that made her blush. And how cute and extremely adorable she looked, when she blushed.
“Carl…we will go?”
“Yes. Wherever you wish.”
But it never happened. They had never gone for any honeymoon after their marriage. The company had made a major profit and was making some advanced progress, which made their honeymoon an obstacle for him.. So it never happened. But she did not complain. She stood by his side.

“Carlos…I liked Mr. Heigenzer’s car model. Its really magnificent! Lets get it!” she’d said.
“No Daisy…I don’t like that man…or anything that he owns. Ask for anything else other than something he owns.”
“Okay dear. How about allowing me to direct the venture for Mr..Jenson’s Production house. It’s a dream project honey…please let me do it!”
“Look Daisy, its not going to work out for now. I have to get that deal with the Jackson’s done. And you’re going to play an important role in that. I cant spare you. So let’s do this Direction thing later.”

Carlos slipped her hand into his gently. He remembered all those times, he’d refused to do anything that she wished for. Actually, she’d never gotten whatever she wanted. He never provided her. Never had he treated her right. Recently, he even went to the extent of betraying her. Just because he wanted to satisfy his own whims.

“Carl…” She said, running her fingers through his soft hair.
Carl did not say anything. He kept working on the project as they sat in their room in the bungalow.
“Carl…I feel lonely honey.” Saying so, she’d kissed him on his neck. But he was not distracted.
“Carl, darling, lets make love!” She said and slipped her hands around his neck and kissed his cheeks and tried to turn him on.
He had pushed her and her hands away and said, “Daisy. I’ll let you know when I am aroused. Right now, I don’t feel like it.” He said and continued at his work. He hadn’t even bothered to look at where she went.

He gently placed a kiss in between her fingers. He ran his finger gently on her face. How he ached for her. How he wished he’d realized his love for her before.
“Daisy…I’m sorry! I…I…I’m so sorry! I never bothered about you! But you know what? You are my life. You’ve done so much for me! You’ve given me everything I wanted or ever wished for! Except that one thing…yea…and I’m responsible for that! I’m the culprit. I never thought about you…and I’m feeling so ashamed of myself! I…I…Daisy…Will you ever forgive me?”

“Carlos…I want to talk with you! Its something important.”
“Yeah…what is it?”
“Carlos…I’ve been thinking…its been 6 years since our marriage. I really know, it wasn’t a part of our contract…but you know what? I love you!”
“I know you do. You’ve told me so.” He said expressionlessly.
“…” She looked out of the window which overlooked the sea. Breeze ruffled through her hair. She pushed some strands of hair which had strayed, behind her hair. “I want to have a baby.”
He simply looked at her, smiled coolly and said, “Go ahead.”
She looked at him, blankly and beseechingly said, “Carlos…your baby…I want to have your baby! Please…I want your baby inside me!” She knelt by his knee.
He exhaled heavily. Then he said, “Alright. I’ll donate the sperms. Get your IVF done.”
She looked at him, pained. A tear rolled down her face. She clawed his trouser. Through her tears and pain, she said, “Please Carlos…Just this one thing! I love you so much! Please…don’t do this to me! Carl…”
“Sorry Daisy. I don’t want someone of me to grow. If I could have a baby…without anybody else’s interference…that is…without a woman…a child having only my blood and flesh…no woman! I would have. So no!” Saying so, he had left her alone for 5 days. The pain, depression and wound she must have suffered, he did not bother, so long as she continued working for him, efficiently.

“Daise…” Carlos said, unaware of the tears running down his cheeks. “I want to have a baby with you!...Daisy...come back…I love you…” Saying so, he stopped. He choked back the sobs. His tears fell onto her hand.
“Daise…could you ever forgive me for the pains I have given you! I have realized, that you must have even grown to hate me…I’ve just hurt you so much…Daisy…oh honey…please, forgive me! Oh Lord…Shit!” He said and abruptly got up and left the room.
From there he directly went to the toilet, where he washed his face. Clutching the sides of the marble which held the wash-basin, he controlled himself. He took a few deep breaths.
“Carlos. They’re going to…end it!” Came Dan’s voice.
Carlos gave a tired sigh. He wiped his hands on the toilet paper and went out. He went back to the room, where his mother, step-father, Victor, two doctors and two nurses were waiting. He looked at all of them. The doctors and nurses were grave.
“Carlos…” Victor began. Carlos nodded assuringly. He had finally accepted that he’d lost what he had so much in abundance. He lost his Love. He had lost the person, who had changed him. The person who was most important to him, the person who was the star of his life, the person whose presence in his life was his constant supply of Oxygen, whose absence was going to bring unto him loss of his reason for living.
He stood between his parents. Both of them, extended their hands to hold his. He held their hands in his. He was not going to let the love of his parents allude him anymore nor let himself allude from it.
“Dr. Victor, Mr. Frost, Mr. and Mrs. Wells. We shall be disconnecting the support system keeping Mrs. Frost alive. We’re extremely sorry…however; she has no more chances of living. The cancer has spread inspite of the surgical removal. It happened because the surgery was delayed…”
At this Carlos flinched. This too, was due to his recklessness and uncaring attitude.
“…We tried out best to bring it under control. We had conducted tests one week ago. The cancer has spread. No more than 6 days can be given to her. The hospital rules too say that, a patient cannot be given life support for more than 4 months. Considering the patient’s special condition, we tried to be accommodating. However, it is becoming difficult. Hence, we briefed up Mr. Frost in the interview we had with him, last week. And Mr. Frost agreed to the removal of the system. Considering the…”
“Wait a minute, Dr. Smith…cant we wait for another 6 days then? If you wish, the charges will be paid…infact I’ll even pay triple the amount…but just these 6 days!”
“We’re sorry, Mr. Frost. Our hands are laden with other responsibilities too. Another needy patient, who has chances of recovery, in lesser than 6 days awaits us. We cannot delay this process anymore, hence.”
“Then make it a inhouse treatment…I mean set her up into our house…there’s plenty of space...”
“Mr. Frost. We have no time. You could have placed all your objections before the people in the meeting you all had regarding this very matter. Its too late, sir. I would suggest, you do not interrupt us now. We are going to perform our own duty. We did our best. And we do not have more regrets regarding the treatment. But we do regret the loss of such a wonderful person from amidst us.” Saying so, the doctor looked at Victor and gave a slight smile.
The other doctor, as if waiting for this to happen, reached forward and pressed a button on the machine, which showed the patient starting to gasp for breaths.
Carlos panicked. He started forward towards her. Dan and Linda held him back, afraid that he might do some harm to the already harmed Daisy.
The system then beeped long and the doctor removed the connections and shook his head, his face unseen.
Realizing all was over, Carlos, stopped his struggle. He looked at Daisy, blankly. He lifted his hand as if to touch her from a distance…and closed his fist. He banged his fists on his lap. Tears flowed abundantly down his face.
“Carlos.” He heard a voice say, faintly.
He started. He looked up. Through his tears, he looked at all. Then he smiled to himself. ‘Way to go, you’re haunting me, eh Daisy. Right. I deserve it! Else, I’m hallucinating!’
“Carl…” Came the voice again. He looked at his mother and said, “Mother…I’m hallucinating! I can hear Daisy!”
Linda was smiling through her tears. She nodded and said, “No darling. I too heard it. Look up.”
Hearing these words, Carlos, looked at Dan. Dan too, smiled at him, tears in his eyes. Carlos looked in front of him, towards the bed.
Daisy still lay there. But, the life system wasn’t there anymore. However, something made him look at her, more closely.
Her eyes were open.
Carlos called out, “Daisy…”
Her eyes moved trying to focus in the direction whence he called out her name. Carlos stood up as if some haunted. He walked towards the bed, each step, uncertain.
He stood beside her bed. He looked at Victor, standing opposite him, with his hands crossed. Both the brothers stared at eachother for a minute.
“Carlos…she’s alive…without the life support.” He said simply.
Carlos kept looking at him. He felt something on his left hand. He looked down, as if unknowing of what it was.
Daisy’s hand was trying to hold his.
Looking at this, Carlos fell to his knees. He looked at the hand. Hesitatingly, he touched it gently. It did not go limp. He held it in his. The hand was warm. He felt the slight pressure from the hand.
He looked at the girl, whose hand he held. The face, which he had prayed for just in the past 2 hours, to smile again, make him smile again, was glowing with life. The eyes were open. There were dark circles under the eyes. He touched under the eyes, gently, with the thumb of his right hand.
The eyes blinked. He looked into the eyes. They looked straight at him. Amber brown warmth and love, they grazed his face taking in every detail.
Carlos looked at her stupefied. He was amazed by her beauty, even in this condition.
“Daise….” He whispered.
The lips curved into a small smile of contentment. The pink, soft lips parted and words came out of them, “Carl…”
Carlos bit his lower lip and closed his eyes to hide his tears. But they persisted.
“Its alright. I’ll be around now onwards, Carl.”
Carlos opened his eyes immediately. He looked at her and said, “Daise…are you really alright?”
She gave him a slight smile. Carlos felt someone’s hand on his shoulder. He looked up. Victor squeezed his shoulder and said, “Bro…she’s fine…she was anyways, on her way to recovery! It was for you that we did all this! She’s going to live!”
Carlos looked at him for a second. Leaving Daisy’s hand, he stood up and said, “You sure?”
“Yup.”
Hearing this single word, he hugged his half-brother, tight. Victor too, hugged him back. Behind Carlos’s back, he winked to his sister-in-law. Showing a thumbs-up sign, he mouthed to her, ‘Good Luck.’
She smiled.

Everybody had finally left the room. Carlos held her hand in his, as gently as possible and said, “Daisy. I need to tell you something.”
“Sure.” She said, weakly.
“I love you. My angel…I love you a lot babe. Don’t you ever try to leave me again.”
“Finally…you’ve said it Carlos…I’ve waited for this day…I love you, Carlos.”
“Yes…Finally!” Saying so, he leaned forward to kiss her.


Ananya,  age 20,  contact:  ananmail@rediffmail.com
Copyright 2008 Ananya.
Reviews and comments requested (optional)
Posted 05/29/2008