Yeh Sukoon: Book II

[I]

Chapter 1: Vo Awaaz

.....

It was a beautiful morning. The morning of the mountains! There is something about the lush green trees and mist that is pure bliss. Maybe it is the clean air or the nature, or maybe both – but the very breath of mountains is calming and energizing.

In a place surrounded by nothing but nature, a young girl is seen standing in a garden full of colourful flowers. She has her hands spread out as she breathes in the fresh air and smiles. Her hair blow gently and irritate her eyes. She pouts as her moment gets ruined and removes them from her face. She giggles at her own silliness and for getting annoyed at such a small thing. She shakes her head to fill it back with happy thoughts only. The sound of birds chirping reaches her ears and it's like music to her. She looks up and sees a flock flying up in the sky. She gets happy for she was feeling just as free.

Standing a few steps away from her and observing her was a man not much older than her. He smiled as he saw her happy face.

'Dr. Gupta?'

The man turned and saw a nurse standing in front of him. This man, a psychiatrist and Akshara's closest friend now, was Samarthya Gupta. He nodded at the nurse.

Nurse: Doctor, Dehradun wale hospital se call aya tha. One of your patients had some doubt reading a medication.

Samarthya: Arrange of a video call. I am coming.

Nurse: Sir, aur vo Akshara Ma'am...

Samarthya: Let her enjoy the nature...she seems happy there.

He smiled at her direction. Not that it went unnoticed by the nurse. She huffed. She had a crush on Samarthya and was annoyed that he was so gentle with Akshara.

Nurse: Pr Doctor, vo baache unse gaana sunne ki zidd kr rahe hai...and they also want to play with her.

Samarthya: Itni subah?

Nurse: Yes.

Samarthya: Accha, you take her there then. I will manage the call.

Nurse: I'll come with-

Samarthya: Nah! I can manage.

He left from there. The nurse felt sad and went to Akshara who smiled at her. The nurse sighed. Even though she hated her crush's concern for her, she couldn't stay mad at someone as pure and gentle as Akshara. She smiled back. They two woman then left towards the children's ward of Gupta Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences.

Akshara had been staying there for a while now. The hospital was built in the lap on nature, a few kilometres away from Shimla, the next big stop. It was peaceful- an environment great for healing. Since it was small place, many other treatments were also available in the general wing of the hospital as it was the only medical facility in the nearby villages.

The place had not been what she had planned- but probably it was all a part of the larger plan of fate.

.....

Abhimanyu Birla sat in the cab. He had reached Chandigarh and hailed a private cab from there on. He looked outside as the trees flew by. There was a river down in the valley that followed his car. The wind hit him right in the face and he closed his eyes. He had a strange feeling, a nervous excitement. He hoped Akshara was here but wondered if his heart will be able to take her with Samarthya? He wanted to share everything with her but he did not feel prepared to face her. Yet, he knew he'd rather see her and take whatever consequences that came with it than live another day wondering where she was.

After hours of driving on the narrow hill road, the driver took another road that went towards the valley instead of continuing on the pervious road. He drove for another hour before arriving at a place that seemed like a small community. There were cottages surrounding a large building that seemed like the hospital's main building. All buildings were surrounded by wild flowers and lush trees. Abhimanyu could see children running around and adults engaged in different activities. He paid the cab driver and looked around.