He got to the helipad. They had to report there by eight.
Not much of a problem as their work was done. The enemy was demolished, the
team unscathed. He thought that within two months, he might be able to meet her.
A blurred thought came to his mind as the blast reverberated throughout the
building.

She woke up hearing the bell. “He’s finally home!”
she muttered. Running down the flight of stairs, she wondered what she should
do as he finally meets him after seven months. She often used to gaze at the
stars, and wish that he would return fast. She had been lonely as she could
hardly remember what happened in the last six months. That didn’t matter right
now as she was too happy.

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As she opened the door, the jolly young face of a man
greeted her. She could not control herself but hugged him hard. It would
probably go down in her list of ‘Best Things’ that she made during the lonely
days. To her, the hug seemed a huge thing. Nothing else mattered.

He cursed himself for falling asleep. Today was an important
appointment. Missing this would ruin his career and her life. So, making this
appointment on time was an impromptu decision and that was ruined because of
his sleep. He got the keys of the Ford Aspire, he dashed for his wallet.

Not because he needed his money safe with him, not because
he needed his Driver’s licence but without his hospital ID, he would have to
fake an accident and hurt himself to get in.

He had convinced Dr. Amos to check his sister. So as he
drove on, he thought about the incoming obstacle ahead of him: forcing his
sister to meet up with Dr. Amos.  With a
sigh he parked his car in the driveway where his brother’s car usually used to
stand. With a moment of disbelief and grief, he rang the bell; the wavering
tunes of the sweet melody of Mozart ringing in his mind. Quietly, he let the
guilty tears flow down his face, as he stood on the porch, when the door opened
and out came his sister.

After about an hour or so, he told her that they had to go
somewhere. “Where to now? You just came home.” She exclaimed.
“Somewhere nice. A fresh air should cheer you up”, he said. “Ok
if that is what you wish”, she answered.

She hoped so too and enjoyed the few moments of the car
ride, daydreaming about the fine things he had planned for her. Shawn Smith
cried while signing the documents. ‘Ann G. Smith diagnosed with mental problems
and Stage 3 hallucinations.’ His sister had gone mad when she saw the news of
her husband, Logan Smith’s death in the papers.

She couldn’t accept his passing away and started believing
that he was still alive. It was nothing major in the beginning, but slowly she
lost her mind. For six months she was in coma. Seeing that the effects did not
work, Shawn used his last bait: Dr. Amos. After the check-up, she was operated
on and the memory of her husband was wiped clean. Shawn had no other choice but
to agree to this.

Jitomanyu Datta, Class IX, Don Bosco, Park Circus