Chapter 7 Chapter-7

I heard his heart pounding out of his chest. His sculpted body was stone cold and I could sense his breath on my shoulders, it was rapid. His big hands are behind my back, bringing me closer to him.

"Umm..Chris" I called him slowly.

He realised what he is doing and released me immediately, "I'm..I'm.. sorry...I'm bit scared of thunderstorms" he cleared his throat.

I looked him with a cheeky smile.

"Ok fine" he surrendered, "I am scared of thunderstorms".

I laughed, "It's somewhat funny that, Mr. Steve pine in American spy single handedly defeated an army is scared of thunderstorms".

"Hey, don't bring Steve Pine in this" he objected, "I love him, he is not afraid of thunder. It's Chris, he is afraid of thunder" he looked around uncomfortably.

"Relax Chris! If you want, I'll give you the pills I gave to my little" I teased him.

"Ha..Ha..very funny" he imitated me, "Besides, I'm not that scared" he made his brave face.

Again a thunderstorm roared. This time he stood up on the couch cursing, "You sick mother son of a bitch!"

Now, I cocked my eyebrows.

"Okay, you're right" he came down with a tensed face, "Can I have the pills?"

"I was kidding. I have sleeping pills, you can have that".

"You use sleeping pills? Was it recommend by Doctor?"

I remained silent.

"I'm sorry..if I asked something wrong".

"No...No.." I tried to smile, "I had some issues with sleep in past..now I'm all right and don't worry it's prescribed".

He nodded, "Ok then, I need those before I can yell another curse word".

"Just a sec" I went to the bathroom and opened a medicine cabin. I took a pill from the bottle and came back to him.

"Here" I handed it to him.

He swallowed and drank his coffee.

"So, no way you can go home. It's still raining and just now you had sleeping pill. Stay here, I'll arrange the bed for you".

"No, I can take the couch".

"Chris, you are 6 feet and that couch is 3 feet, no way you can fit in that. I can guarantee. I'm 5'3, I can adjust here".

"No don't try to convince me. I can do this".

"Ok, then show me a sample" I crossed my arms.

He tried to lay on the couch. As I predicted, he didn't fit. His leg was too long for that couch. He had to squeeze himself to sleep.

"Chris you can't sleep in that position. Don't argue, go and sleep in my bed".

He stood up uneasily, I felt he is awkward with something.

"You don't have to be awkward. Jamie crashes there most of the days. Sometimes if he was drunk, he will come straight to my home. Idiot!" I tried to cheer him.

"No, it's not that..you know since my childhood, I am never allowed to spent the night at other's house and it kinda grown on me. This is the first time, I'm doing this".

I was honestly surprised by this, "Not even once?"

"Nope, whatever I do. I'll be back to my home to sleep".

"Well this may not be a good start..but you'll eventually get a grip" I winked, "Because tonight you don't have a choice. Get ready for the new changes in your life".

He smiled and replied in a slow voice fixing his eyes on me, "Yeah..I'm seeing a new phase of my life".

I nodded and arranged the bed. Grabbing a pillow and a sheet, I came back outside, "Well the bed is ready. You can sleep, Good night".

"Yeah, Pill started working. Good night".

I placed the pillow and tried lay down, "Chris, wait! How do you manage this thunderstorm in your house?"

He smiled like asking, 'Really? Are you serious?'

"Oh! Right! You have a soundproof bedroom, again Good night".

"Good night and thanks".

"Don't be silly. You won't thank your friend" I waved it off.

He went inside to sleep and I layed down on the couch.

Next morning,

I woke up hearing Little's bark. I tried to close my eyes again, oh! Shit! Chris! I opened my eyes, waking up. I went inside the bedroom, there little is barking at bathroom.

"Chris, are you okay?"

"Thank God! Ana! You woke up" I heard his relieved voice, "He arrested me here, for past ten minutes".

"Sorry...sorry.. Completely forgot about this".

"Little! It's okay..ssh.." I ordered him to be quite. He stopped barking.

"He is our new friend. You should not yell at him, Okay?"

He sat down, like approving that. I grabbed some treats and called him, "Chris, you are safe now. You can open the door. I'll give you some treats, you give it to him. Then you'll be best friends".

"Okay" I heard him unlocking the door, he was in his yesterday's clothes. He took the treat from my hands and fed it to him. At first, little was confused and scared. But, when be got his second treat, he wagged his tail and licked his face.

"See, he now loves you".

"Totally" he petted his head and laughed loudly, "Well then, I leave you boys alone".

I went inside the bathroom, freshened up and came back to the kitchen. There Chris and little was bonding over. Little helped Chris with breakfast.

"What you guys are doing?" I asked taking the seat on the kitchen counter.

"We are preparing breakfast" he said proudly, "This boy exactly knows where you keep the stuffs".

"You don't have to do this. Here let me.." I tried to stand up.

"Aah! Aah!" He stopped me, "Stop right there! Stop treating me like a guest, stay where you are. You cannot work with that injured hands so, you are not doing anything".

"I was just checking you are comfortable here" I shrugged.

"Of course" he replied positively, "You have a lovely apartment".

"But not cozy as yours..so..I.."

"Ana! It's perfect" he replied confidently, "Am I right buddy?" He asked little.

He barked, we both chuckled.

We had waffle and coffee for breakfast. Even though it was bit overburned on the corners, it was good to eat. Not bad, he is average.

After breakfast, he asked me, "What your plans for today?"

"Nothing" I shrugged, "Psst..It was boring doing completely nothing. Jamie strictly warned me not to do any office works for two weeks. I'm watching TV, reading some books to pass the time. But still, I have 12 hours empty".

He gave a thought for a minute, "Hmm..if you don't mind. I have a perfect idea to pass your time. I'm going to Christopher's Haven. You can join, if you want".

Christopher's Haven was founded in 2001 at Boston. When a group of people saw the desperate need for temporary and low cost housing for pediatric cancer patients, this was founded. Childrens and their families can stay here until they receive their treatment.

"Oh..you are one of the fund member there, right?"

"Since my 22. It's my birthplace, I have to do something" he tucked his hand inside the pocket.

"Hmm..let me think".

"Then, come to a decision within 30 minutes. Cause, I'll pass this way only. If you are interested, stand before your building. I'll pick you up, bye".

"Wait! Are you going by a walk?"

"Don't worry, Chuck is waiting for me down in the parking area" he winked.

"Oh..kk..bye".

"Remember 30 minutes. Bye little" he rubbed his head and walked out of my apartment.

Hmm..visting children's. It's not that bad, "What you saying little?"

He wagged his tail and barked.

I changed my cloth into a plain white and black Jean. I loosened my hair and came down wearing my adidas. I waited for him, after 5 minutes he came in is blue Ferrari.

He came out of the driver seat, removing his coolers. He was wearing a white denim slim fit long sleeve shirt and a black jean. Then suddenly it hit me, "Oh! God! Don't tell me media is coming there".

"Nope, it's just my casual visit. I go there once in a month. Don't worry there won't be any flash lights".

"Good, cause I don't want someone to follow my ass for a month".

"Shall we?" He pointed his hands towards the car.

We both hopped inside the car, "You only? What about Chuck? And are you aware this is 3 hour drive?"

"Umm..he is busy with Some works also I don't wanna him to remind me continously how much time I need to spend there and don't worry we can be there in an hour. Thank this beast".

We reached there in an hour. A few members welcomed me and Chris inside. It's an house which is transformed into a room for Childrens. We started to visit them. I need to admit it was horrible seeing a little childrens who are below 10 carrying an oxygen cylinder and tubes around their nose all the time. Some childrens gasped for air while talking, some have no idea what's happening to them. Clearly, it's a nightmare.

This heightened my respect for him. He became one of the child, he played, sang and dined with them. Some fondly called him 'CV'. I don't what that means.

I also got a new friend, Abigail 8 year old girl, leukaemia patient.

We bonded each other within a minute of our meeting. We talked and played together.

After spending a whole afternoon, Chris got call from Chuck, reminding him to come back. So, we bit good bye to all and I went to meet Abigail.

"Abigail, I need to go. Sorry" I kissed her cheek.

"Will you visit me again?" She asked with her tiny voice.

"Of course, I will" I kissed her again.

"Can I ask you something?" She asked with enthusiasm.

"Sure. What is it Darling?"

"Are you Mrs. CV?"

"No" I smiled, "I'm his friend. What made you to think that?"

"Oh.." her energy dropped, "I'm sorry because CV never bought anyone with him, you were wearing matching shirts and you too looked so cute together. So I thought you are his wife, sorry again".

"It's ok Darling. You don't have to be sorry".

"So, when will you come back?"

"Umm..how about next week?"

"Oh! Yeah! Then we can play kitchen Puzzle" she clapped her hands.

We came outside and hopped back into the car. I felt my heart heavy.

"You okay?" Chris noticed it.

"Why God gave cruel punishment to this childrens? They don't even have no idea what was this, they haven't even saw the world".

He gave a deep sigh, "Sometimes, we don't have answers for everything".

"Chris, Can I help them?"

"Of course, you are welcome".

"Can I write an article about them?"

"Umm..that I don't have control. But I'll ask with the foundation".

"Okay, then What is CV?"

He smiled, "At first when I met them, I told my name as Chris Rovan.They immediately cut shorted it to CV. I too don't know why, but I like that".

We stopped in our house, "Okay, here we are. I'm sorry I thought this will cheer you up, but it backfired".

"No it didn't. I've earned a new friends, thanks for that" I smiled.

I hopped outside the car, he bid goodbye and disappeared swiftly on the road.

I came back to the apartment and saw it unlocked. I opened the door, there Jamie was waiting with an angry face. Uh-oh! I'm in a trouble.

Before I can explain, he busted, "What was that Ana? You told you were alone. But, you spend the entire night with Rovan and you two were outside? Tell me what's happening? This is the only secret you hid from me?"

I looked him with guilty. Yes Jamie, I have a one secret. You shouldn't know that, Cause I'm ashamed and very angry about that.