Reclaiming hope

Fear

Ashok became panicked. He tried to wake Akash up but Akash wasn't waking up.
"Hey baby! What happened... open your eyes. See papa is here now!"
Nehal reached for Akash but Ashok didn't let him take Akash. He became historic.
"Nehal, why isn't he waking up??"
And then he saw Akash's right hand. The whole hand was already red and blistered. He ran to the sink and put Akash's hand under running water.
"Baby, wake up." He became so frantic that he wasn't registering anything other than Akash. He wasn't registering his parents or Nehal. Only Akash mattered to him right now. Nehal called Abhishek first and then he called police. Anish and Kavita were standing afraid until then. But after hearing Nehal calling police they couldn't stop themselves anymore.
Anish-"What are you doing Nehal? Why are you calling police?"
Nehal- "I don't want to talk to you right now Mr. Aurora. Police is coming. Whatever you want to say, say it to police.
Kavita- "This is our family matter Nehal. You don't have any say in it. We will sort it out with Ashok"
Nehal- "If you think ashok will have your bullshit this time and forgive you like other times than you are daydreaming, Mrs Aurora. Just look at him,"
Amis- "We were just disciplining him. You don't know how insolent he is becoming. Ashok trusted us with him. We had to do what's best for him. You don't raise him. You just come with gift, toys and leave him with us. We brought Ashok up. Don't teach us how to discipline kids.
Anish said in extreme anger."
Nehal-"Okay. You don't have anything to worry about then. Just tell the police that."

Ashok put a soft towel around Akash. And put Akash's head on his shoulder.
"Don't worry baby. Papa is with you. Nehal, let's go. We have to take him to the hospital."
"Yes, let's go. I've already informed Abhi. He is preparing everything."
Nehal took the driving seat and Ashok set on the back with Akash on his lap. Ashok kissed his forehead and cried. His mind didn't want to process the scene he saw. But his brain knew what is it. What his baby must have suffered. Hearing a whimper he looked down and saw Akash was waking up. He caressed his face and smiled for Akash's sake.
"Pa-p-a" Akash whimpered
"Yes baby. Papa is here. Is it paining?? It will go away soon baby."

The first thing Akash felt was he was on someone's lap. Someone is holding him close. He opened his eyes only to scared face of his father. Akash couldn't believe his eyes.
"Pa-p-a"
"Yes baby. Papa is here. Is it paining? It will go away soon baby"
Akash couldn't believe it's his papa. He must be dreaming. He had to be sure he wasn't dreaming. He moved his hand to touch his papa. He had to be sure. As he moved his had searing pain shot through his body. He whimpered out of the sudden pain.

Ashok gently hold Akash's hand to prevent him from moving. His heart broke hearing his baby's pain.
"Oh, baby. Don't move buddy. You are hurt. It will hurt if you move."
He saw that Akash broke into a sweat from the pain. He was trying to console him without touching his hand. He took the water bottle from the cup holder and dampened a part of the towel he put around Akash. He cleaned Akash's face by dabbing the damp towel.
"What do you want buddy? Are you thirsty?"
He took a little water in the bottle cap and gently gave it to Akash. He did it 2-3 times. Then he readjusted Akash so that he could lie on his lap more comfortably. But when he was adjusting Akash something caught in his eyes. To see clearly he lifts Akash's shirt up. His breath caught in his throat seeing the condition of Akash's body. His baby's whole stomach and chest is one big bruise. There are several type of discoloration throughout Akash's whole front side. He took a sharp breath to calm himself tears streamed down from his eyes but he didn't have the time to cry. Suddenly Akash's breathing becomes uneven. For some reason, his baby started to panic. He had to put away his feelings to calm Akash down.

Akash had been living his dream, his only dream for so long. His papa came to him. He is taking care of Akash. Akash was laying on papa's lap and hearing his heartbeat. It made him so happy. But suddenly he remembered his papa saw his grandparents punishing him. Now his dada, dadi will tell his papa how bad he is. Now his papa will know how bad he is. Papa will not love him anymore. He would go back and never return. Thinking that he became so panicked that his breathing became uneven.

Ashok was trying to console Akash but he was afraid that he will going to hurt Akash more.
"What happened baby? Tell me where does it hurt? We are going to hospital. It won't hurt anymore. Ok?"
He takes a cute bear fidget toy out of his pocket which he brought from London airport. He saw the toy and was sure that Akash would love it. All the other toys he brought were in the lagguge only this one was in his pocket.  He gave it to Akash.
"Baby look. What is it? Do you want to play with it?"
Akash shyly took the toy from him. And started to play. He chuckled and kissed Akashes forehead.
"You like it?"
Akash nods and asked something so softly that he couldn't hear it.
"What is it, baby?"
"Does he have a name?" Akash asked softly.
"Maybe you can name him."

They already reached the hospital and Ashok got down from the car with Akash. Abhishek was already there with a stretcher. He came forward and tried to take Akash. But Akash didn't let go of his papa. He clunched his shirt tightly and hide his face in his shoulder. Ashok also hugged him protectively. He didn't want to let go so soon. Abhishek saw the condition of Ashok's hand and became very worried.
"Lay him down, Ashok. We have to take him fast."
But Akash refused to lay down. Abhishek let it go for now.
"Okay. You can take him for now but come quickly."
They took ashok to an examination room.
"Hello I'm Dr. Priya Mojumder. What's your name kiddo?"
Akash look at his papa scared.
"It's okay baby. Tell her your name."
"Akash"
"Oh such a nice name for a cute boy like you"
"Akash, you got hurt right? I need to examine your hand so that I can make it better. I need you to be a brave boy for me. Can you do that?"
Abhishek again tried to lay Akash down on the bed. But Akash didn't let go of his papa. He just hides his face in his father's chest. Priya saw his reluctance of parting from his father.
"It's okay Abhi. Akash, your papa can stay with you. But you have to let me let me examine you. Okay? Me. Aurora, sit on the bed please."
Priya, Abhishek and two nurses examining Akash's hand. Priya was horrified after seeing the damage but she didn't say anything as she already heard somethings from Abhishek.
"Mr. Aurora, we need to start a IV. Akash, I need you left hand. Please give your toy to your dad."
Ashok smiled gently to his son and took the toy from him.
"Have you decide a name for him yet?"
"Po"
"Like Po bear?"
Akash noded shyly.
"It's a fitting name. I'll keep Po safe for you. Okay?"

In 5-10 minutes of starting the IV Akash fell asleep in his papa's arms.
"Mr. Aurora, please lay him down properly. We administered a sedative. We have to examine him thoroughly and dress his wound."
"He have some bruising on his body also"
"Okay Mr. Aurora. You have to step out of the room for a while."
"Why? He will be afraid if he wake up. I'll not leave him alone."
Abhishek took his hand and took him out.
"He will not wake up for at least 3-4 hours. Stay here and take some rest. Nehal, watch him."

Ashok sat on the hospital chair and broke down. Nehal tried to console him. But he didn't know how he should console Ashok.
"Ashok, be strong, please. You have to take care of the kiddo. If you break down like that how will you do that? You have to do a lot more than that. Do you understand? There is no time for falling weak."
"What happened to my baby Nehal? Why? Why anyone would hurt him? He didn't even cry when they were doing the IV."
At this point, Ashok just felt pure fear in his heart. Fear of knowing what happened to Akash, and fear of facing reality made him breathless.

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