CHAPTER 9 : BONDS WITHOUT BOUNDS -2

As the lunch break began- Viveria, Dew, Daniel and Jackie sat together at their hangout spot behind the high school building.

Each one of them had created their own seats. Viveria's one was an extended log of a broken tree. Dew had found a extended corner of the buildings infrastructure which always had a shade. Daniel had a small stone on which he loved to sit. Jackie, being the most coolest among them all, never cared for a spot, she was comfortable sitting on the grass and always enjoyed doing so.

However, today and any other day when one of them were upset, Viveria's extended branch was always squeezed as the common place to sit. The proximity always made them feel closer and was a safe space for all of them.

Dew was about to steal Viveria's lunch as always; Daniel hit on his hand and gave him the famous disappointed look.

Daniel: Grow up Dee, stop stealing Viveria's lunch.

As Daniel was lecturing Dew about respecting people's consent; Jackie quietly picked up a big morsel of Viveria's lunch and stuffed it into her own mouth. Dew, pointing a finger at Jackie, like a small child, started complaining to Daniel.

Daniel gave up explaining and quietly took out his own lunch box. As both Jackie and Dew were about to launch themselves upon Daniel's lunch box too, he gave both of them a very serious and dangerous look. Both Dew and Jackie dared not touch his lunch box again!

He passed his lunch box to Viveria. He had always done that. He knew how Viveria was always busy with all sorts of activities and anybody who wanted to have her lunch would only have to politely ask her once and she would happily agree, like a fool.

Thus, often she had nothing left in her lunch box despite being hungry. Daniel had become her personal nutritionist and always made sure that even if her lunch was empty, he would always give her his lunch. People did call it love! But for Daniel, it was always about Care. He cared for Viveria very much and he would continue to do so.

As all of them were busy eating, Viveria who had been laughing suddenly started to have hiccups. As Daniel passed her, his bottle of water, he instantly knew that he had been right. Viveria was just pretending to be okay. She was suppressing her emotions till she would actually have a meltdown. It was one of her defense mechanisms which Daniel hated the most.

Thinking about it now, he had always hated it the most....

Since preschool, Daniel had always been a loner. Rather he would say that the people around him were no match for his level of intellect. He was never too proud of being the perfectionist, but he also did not abandon his need for it. He only had one friend, a young girl who was always crying as soon as she entered through the gates.

At the age of 5, compared to most other kids, Daniel was more quite and aloof, he did not socialize or play with other kids, rather he would be buried in books or enjoying nature alone. He did not like to talk much either.

He was always pushed around, mocked at and often made fun of. That's exactly how the life of introvert's go. It's not like he wanted to be this way, but eventually he realized it was the only way he could survive. His walls would protect him.

But despite it all. That one girl who always cried had been the only other victim who was similar to him. Now, having a logic of a 5 year old, Daniel had an inborn instinct to protect that girl. He would not let others bully her the same way they bullied him. He still remembers that the first time he had held her hand, she had immediately stopped crying. With her bright trusting eyes, she had looked up to Daniel as her savior and he had promised, he would always be a savior, only for her.

That girl was Viveria. His Vive, his little bundle of solace whom he cherished the most in life.

It was in Class 9, when one fine day Viveria had not turned up at school. Daniel had felt that something was not right. Maybe, Viveria was unwell. Maybe she was alone in that small house of hers and her aunt must have not taken care of her. Maybe her blood sugar level was low, maybe she was crying out for him! It was the first time ever when Daniel had bunked school, sneaking out was a very easy task for him. Thanks to his great memory skills, he remembered the time when the guard usually takes a nap after lunch. Stealthily, Daniel had escaped out of the main gate and was on his way to Viveria's house.

As soon as he reached her house, he rang the bell twice. Having received no response from inside, he still remembered that awful dread which he had felt. He had rushed to the backyard of Viveria's house and had tried to climb the building. It was an old fashioned house with two floors. Viveria's room was on the top right corner, adjacent to the backyard as she always kept the windows open for fresh air. As Daniel had tried to climb, he had fallen down at least twice. The first time he felt that he couldn't breathe.

The second fall had been on his chest again, making it very difficult for him to breathe.

As he was getting agitated at his own lack of being able to climb the building, he could feel that every passing second was leading to more danger for Viveria. For the love of God, he didn't even know whether she was in the house or not.

He then remembered that his caretaker, Mack, could easily hack into the lock of the door. Searching frantically, for his phone; Daniel realized how stupid he was for not informing Mack about his plan. He took out his phone and called up Mack.

Daniel did not remember how long it had been since Mack arrived, but what he did remember was that he was crying. It was the first time in years that he had cried, he had never felt so helpless before. He hated feeling it again!

He would not be able to protect Viveria or save her! He would lose her just like he lost his mom, who had blood oozing out from her wrist and the 5 year old version of him, was screaming and tugging at her for her to wake up. It was all over! He had failed!

As Mack had opened the door, they had found an unconscious Viveria lying on the floor. They had quickly taken her to the hospital and the doctors had said that it was case of acute anemia and she required blood immediately. Not thinking twice, Daniel knew he was a match as a blood donor. As his blood was drawn and Viveria was being treated, Daniel had just one thing in his mind.

HE HAD SAVED HER!!

And he did. However, his own injuries were no less as he was informed later that he had two minor injuries at his ribs and he would always have breathing issues in future if he would be hyper or would get into any sort of a physical fight. Viveria was the only one who also knew about it.

Ever since that incident, Viveria always felt indebted to him, had always thanked him for saving her life. She had said that someday, if the need may rise, she would save his life too. As much as Daniel always made fun of her stating, that she was in no position to save his life - as she was incapable of even taking care of her own self. What he had not said to her ever was that, he was the one who was indebted to her. She had fought hard and had woken up. She had survived and that's all he really cared about.

Daniel knew everything about Viveria and her traumas and illnesses. He knew that whenever Viveria would feel like her trauma or her insecurities would take control over her, she would become instantly too normal or too happy. The only sign, which would show that she was actually suffering internally, was her hiccups. It was something similar to Pinocchio's syndrome, but a milder version of it.

Returning back to reality, as the bell rang again, suggesting it was time for them to go back to their classes.

Daniel saw Viveria questioningly staring at him. As he gave her a shrug of his shoulder, he stared right back at her with a mischievous grin. Mouthing a "I'm fine, Don't worry." He gently placed a hand on Viveria's shoulder assuring her that it was all gonna be fine.

He would always be her savior and no stupid Xavier is going to change that!

None of them knew, what tomorrow would bring but what each of them knew was that as long as their bond of friendship was intact, they would overcome anything.

TOGETHER.