Bella Escapes..

Bella was lying in the bed the whole day. She felt sick doing nothing as she was not used to depending on others. The expressionless nurse came frequently to her on the doctor's demand and helped her to move about but Bella could see clearly that the nurse was not liking it at all. She was scorning at her frequently and was complaining on her fate every now and then.. Bella could slightly move about by now. She could swallow the pain and managed to walk somehow. She saw that everyone in the hospital had someone to take care of. There were girls of her age too near her room. The person who admitted her here might have been rich to have reserved a separate room for her instead of the common ward. As she walked across the corridor she saw patients being pampered by their dear ones, the affection and care in their eyes irrespective of whether they were rich or pure were genuine and pure..

She realised that the hospital was the first place where you can realize and imbibe in the essence of love, but even here she had no one to care. She had never felt like this before since she was always living her life without much care in anything, she lived it alone and without any regret. But looking at the sweetness of the love around her, she felt a lump in her throat. She could never experience a feeling like that. She wished to escape from this atmosphere which was spoiling her.. It was making her greedy and sad.. She was determined to escape from this suffocating hold, from this unknown and painful world where there was love all around and she was the only one alone, suffering physically and mentally..

Bella could barely sleep at night. She was having one of those worst nightmares again.. She wanted to run from here.. as far as possible..

Early morning she freshened up and dressed up on her own. The pain had not reduced still but she was able to walk with tiny careful steps. But this pain was far bearable than the lonely scary thoughts that kept on eating her as she lay on her bed.

She was only having the money that was left out by the stranger with her.

She took just the bus fare with her and left the rest of the money on the table and wrote a 'Thank You' letter for the nurse. Even though the nurse had been rude, she had taken care of her and this was the least thing Bella thought she could give to her.

Without much people noticing her, she managed to walk out of the hospital since it was only early morning.

With great difficulty she managed to climb the bus and reached her stop.

Mrs Mathew's house was visible from the stop already. She dragged her foot and walked with great difficulty. She realised that she could walk no more as her leg started to bleed beyond the plasters..

She sat on the bench infront of Mrs Mathew's gate. She hoped the bleeding would stop and she could reach her home fast.. It might be the action of the drugs that she dozed off and went to a deep locked sleep.

Bella could feel the dampness and her legs turning numb but she couldn't open her eyes.. It was as if her eyelids were sealed together. It was raining and she was getting all wet but her body was totally numb that she could'nt move. She felt surprising that it was late evening and the sun was about to set. She wished someone would pass by but no one came to her rescue..

She was shivering and tears rolled from her eyes as pain engulfed her whole body except her legs which felt like it was dead already..

Bella was starting to loose complete hope and was in the verge of fainting when she heard a footstep.. Someone had put a coat on her from behind..

It was the same scent..

With great difficulty,she turned her head to see his face.

And Bella knew, she had seen him before.. There was only a vague memory and she churned hard to remember.. She saw him bend to lift her.. She couldn't resist, she was not even able to move, so she allowed him to carry her in his arms staring at him, and thinking hard.. She noticed something shining in his hand and even in the dim light she could recognise that watch. He was the same man whom she had poured wine at Mrs Mathew's party.. She tried to struggle out of his hands but his hold was firm and she was too weak.. He was carrying her as easily as a feather and she could feel a similar comfort close to his chest.. He felt so familiar..

She wished she could speak.. because there were many questoions she wanted to ask him. She knew that he was the one who saved her before so she wanted to thank him but here she lay staring at him vainly unable to utter a word.. She cursed herself for being so weak..

He was speaking to her now and she could see his lips move..

"Why did you run away from the hospital? You are not well still. If you needed something, you could have called the nurses or you could have even called me. Why are you so stubborn?"

Bella saw that he was scolding her and she felt a strange sense of happiness seeing somebody caring for her. She knew it would be only transient, maybe only a few more minutes but she wished it would stay forever. Alteast one person in this world telling her to take care..

She directed her fingers to her home.. He looked doubtful as he spoke, " Do you really want to go to your home? We can go back to the hospital and get the complete treatment done."

Bella shook her head and the man carried her to her home as she showed him the directions. She did not want this person to know that she cant hear or speak, so she put on a rude and haughty face. As they reached the front door, Bella surprisingly found the door locked with a note under it..

It was Dona's writing telling that her grandma had suddenly fallen ill and was in her last moment.. They had all gone to visit her in Jacob's hometown.. They may come only after a few days. There was the key kept in the flower vase.

So that was the reason there was no one at home. Bella had been left alone at home like this before too but this time she felt frightened, she was of no idea what she would do alone. But she managed to put on a bold and brave face.

She showed the letter to the man and pointed onto the vase which was lying at a height. Her hands were shivering and she was dripping wet. But the man turned did not follow his gaze onto the vase. Instead, he walked out of the house carrying Bella in his arms and placing her in his car. She struggled to get out of the car and she found that her legs were responding slightly.. With the maximum arrogance she could plaster on her face, she got off the car falling down onto the ground with the thick droplets of water falling onto her, hurting her..

"You dont need to act anymore. Try to be yourself. Its not your fault that you are deaf and dumb. So just admit it. And just listen to me. We are going to the hospital or else I dont think you will survive here if I left you alone. Rest is your wish.. if you wish to live or die.."

The man sounded rude, and there was no pity or sympathy in his eyes.

Bella slowly tried to stand and somehow managed to get inside the car. The man did not budge or try to help her this time and sat motionless looking straightly at the road before him. As soon as she shut the car's door, he drove straight to the hospital without uttering a single word in their entire journey..

Bella watched him and found out that her being deaf or dumb had not been so bitter to him.. He did not see her as something useless like the rest of the world and left her in the street but instead was willing to save her...

She was thankful to god for this brief moment where someone valued her life.