Chapter 20

Happiness-A Myth

"Sorry" Ben said hesitatingly "It's just that I do not have too many friends here. I thought we two could make good company"

"My apologies" Iris said humbly "but I cannot afford moving about much. My dad's been operated today and needs me so I would probably miss a class or two but I'll come to the college for sure. I cannot afford to miss any further".

"Well then a little bit friendship shouldn't matter." He asked expectantly.

"I am in for that." Iris said positively. He's been helping her so often lately so denying him for a simple friendship would have been a bit rude.

"Goodnight" Iris greeted him and stepped ahead to go to the hospital not able to control her nerves to be at the waiting room of the hospital operation theatre.

She did not even wait for his reply.

He was also stunned and amiably disappointed too because he waited in his car for a little more while after she left.

She however chose to ignore him.

She wasn't; neither did she want to be a social person especially not for her classmates from college.

She had managed to be a reserve, introvert not at all communicative in her classes.

Her confidence was all time low for the kind of low jobs she did. Away from crowd and no revealing is what she had started believing.

She rushed to the waiting room where Edwin was sitting fiddling with his mobile and playing some games if she was not mistaken.

"You are early?" He asked and looked at her cheerfully. Immediately his face dropped as he looked at her.

He could see the memories of the evening being recapped on her face.

"You look bored" Iris commented noticing him sitting alone at the waiting area.

"I am fine" Edwin smiled "The doctors are working continuously because the green light is on and nobody was out of the room" he narrated "so I had no idea what is going inside the closed doors."

"Thank you so much Edwin" Iris said honestly.

"I was a bit uncomfortable too as the past memories of my mother and Stella's dad were freshening up in my head." He said sadly "Now when you entered from the doors of the waiting room, I am good".

He tried to lift her mood. He knew she was early. A little early was expected but this was a bit too early for her own good. Maybe she managed with her skills to convince so he asked her, "you early?"

Right after his words left his mouth he did notice her face dropping and disappointment in her eyes. Her spark had left her; her inner strength that radiated her face was missing. She looked so vulnerable but he knew she won't open a bit.

So he walked to her and hugged her tight.

Her stiff body loosened immediately and she relaxed at an instant.

He cupped her face and said "everything will be fine."

It hardly meant anything for he didn't knew what actually the problem was.

He did it because he honestly felt like doing it.

Her short stature made her lift her chin to look at him, and when their eyes met he could feel the pain in them.

He cupped her face again and kissed her forehead.

She turned around immediately, not apprehending to what happened but she was back to her normal self again "you can leave now" she offered.

"I told you that I'll wait till the doctors inform that the operation was a success." He denied.

Too touch and overwhelmed all Iris could do was turn around hide her tears from him

After hours of waiting, one of the nurses came of the room followed by the doctor who called for Iris and informed that the "operation is a success."

Iris couldn't contain her happiness. She was numb and all she did was let the tears flow freely down her cheeks.

"Can I speak to the doctor?" Edwin asked the nurse.

"Hello doctor" Edwin greeted.

"Hello" Dr Fadnis greeted back "you must be with her" he stated. "you want to know about surgery and I would like to be clear on that" he said seriously "the scale of success was unpredictable which couldn't be assumed till her father gets conscious in the morning. The sedatives would take another five hours to leave his body completely as the operation was a major one"

"thank you Dr" Edwin shook his hands.

It was 12 am and they decided to leave now and to come back in the morning to check the progress of the operation.

Iris however completely denied his second visit to the hospital.

She insisted so much that he had to agree to it.

"Thank you so much Edwin. I don't know how I would have managed without you" Iris said honestly.

He did not reply her. Words were too short to answer what he felt about their undefined relationship as they were getting closer every time they met which Iris tried to avoid as much as possible earning more respect from him.

Hel hurriedly to his house hoping to snuggle his beautiful wife in his arms and drift to a deep slumber.

Iris left for her house planning to come in the morning before leaving for her classes expecting to be lucky enough to get to know the actual result of the surgery, which could only be known once the impact of the sedatives, was eliminated completely.

The doctors however had denied for any major miracle.

'''''''''''

I had a sound sleep last night and woke up fresh as she cooked boiled eggs for her brother who stayed at home for the whole day waiting for her. After the success of my dad's operation though she did not expect him to be healthy enough to be back home but yes he might be a little conscious and she can let my brother spend an hour or two in a day with his company especially on days when he doesn't have his class meant for challenged kids like him.

She carried the flask of hot tea to the hospital hoping that after years her dad would be fine and if he is capable of eating, he'd rather enjoy the hot cup of homemade tea.

"Good morning" she greeted to the nurse who was working on the syringe her dad had been poked working with the glucose thing.

She was intently looking at her dad who was the same as earlier breathing with rising and compressing of his chest.

She started panicking.

Was he fine?

Shouldn't he have been awake by now?

Did the operation have otherwise effects?

Did the surgery actually work?

The doctor arrived right then bringing her out of my negative assumptions.

"Miss Iris here you are" the doctor said enthusiastically.

"Good morning doctor" she greeted him trying to constraint her mannerisms. She was actually angrier than anticipated.

She was expecting her dad to be sitting and chatting with the nurses if not walking on his own.

The open window of the room did bring in some sun light and the room looked fresh apart from the dryness in her heart for the loss of hope that was nurtured inside me expecting the well being of her father.

"Your dad gained some consciousness by 5 in the morning. That is much before our expected time." the doctor said proudly "This seems that the operation turned out well. He did move a bit though they were minor ones and in his own bed just left and right but after being in the comma for such long duration we the panel of doctors assume it as a good sign. Congratulations." The doctor said ending his note and continuing to examine the reports that the nurse had made notes on.

Glad to hear something positive though it was far less than expected she asked the doctor, "When do you expect him to be conscious again? Can he speak?"

"See Iris the operation was a major success that is for sure but the results would eventually come. We cannot predict anything for now." Doctor answered patiently "It may take an hour, a day or maybe a week. All we can do is being patient and positive."

Not knowing what to speak she simply nodded and sat on the chair besides her dad and saw him breathing like usual.

After finishing the tea she made for her dad trying to settle the tears she was upset as she was expecting to get more response from her dad other than the same breathing pattern on which her life had been dependant since years.

She left my college expecting it to be better off than simply waiting and smearing off her patience and depleting levels of hope.

She sat on her usual place trying to put my utmost concentration on what teacher was saying and not on the

Hospital room where her father was lying recovering from the sedatives.

She got a hit with the paper ball.

She need not turn around to see it was Ben. He had been trying desperately to befriend her. After struggling a lot with her instincts to not turn around and lit his hopes, she gave up and looked back.

She just couldn't hold myself since after she couldn't believe that there was some guy who was trying to grab her attention, not for pleasure of sex but mere clean friendship.

To add to it he was her classmate; a little bit of happiness and joy shouldn't be that bad for a teenager slut like her.

She thought of giving it a chance and if ever he came to know about her profession he'd back up on his own.

She didn't have anything to loose.

He smiled a beautiful smile that any teenage girl would have loved.

If she agreed to have liked it, it would be an understatement. I

She returned his smile with hers and he winked.

She felt elated at the exchange and was now focusing well on the lecture.

Another paper ball hit her after some time. This time it was a pink colored paper ball which she couldn't ignore.

She opened it to see that it was a message from Ben

"You have a beautiful smile" it read

She couldn't help blushing. If she got to see herself in the mirror her cheeks would have been red by now.

This was such a lovely feeling that she had never expected.

She always tried to be aloof from her classmates in the class. Even if anybody tried she gave them a cold glare and never missed classes to move out, a complete nerd types. This was a major step and she did like it.

Another ball hit her.

But teacher caught it right then and kicked them out of the class.

Though Iris was good in grades she wasn't a liked student due to number of leaves she had to take for the kind of job she did especially when she got clients like Jason.

"Miss Iris and the newcomer " I guess you have more important to discuss than the notes I am imparting. It's better you leave instead of distracting the class" the HR lecturer who was skinny like a bamboo in end of her thirties and tied up tight pony which only accentuated her strictness said as she pointed to the doors with her hands to direct them to exit the classroom.

"Sorry ma'am" Iris said pleadingly but she sternly tapped her feet

"Now out of the class you two" she said and folded her hands around her tiny waist.

To avoid further drama Iris stood up and then Ben grabbed her elbow pulling her out of the class.

Iris obediently followed him to avoid further delays as the stare from the teacher was so venomous that she felt that she'd faint right there.

Also the entire class was looking at the two mockingly as if there was something certainly going on between them.

"How many others are more keen to join their discussion?" The teacher asked the class multiplying the anger in her tone and the entire class went pin drop silent in fear of detention.

Iris couldn't help but giggle as she ran out from the corridors holding Ben's hands tightly like small kids running together to hide after plucking a flower from a restricted area.

They went to a nearby cafe our hands still together as she opened the doors of the cafe.

"We can rate her as the most strict professor of the institute." Iris said as she seated on the chair where the cold blow of the air conditioning reached her bare arms.

Though it was always crowded being the most happening place and favorite of the college students as there were couple of colleges in the vicinity it was very lively too.

Iris had always seen this place when she passed by but never intended to be one of the visitors.

She did not have any friends neither did she want to spend the limited amount of cash in hand on luxuries.

Yeah for her sipping a cup of coffee in a cafe was quite a luxury.

She did not want to earn more than required from her skin selling.

She however was always short of money with the kind of treatment her father and brother needed so she was struggling with the life waiting for 'and they lived happily ever after' kind of fairy tale ending.

'Click click' Ben clicked his fingers in front of her eyes bringing her out of her tiny world of guilt.

Enjoying made her guilty

She felt that she wasn't deserving.

She have loads to do other than to waste her time and money on this silly cafeteria.

"Sorry I think I should leave." She said and stood up picking her bag ready to leave.

Ben stopped her holding my wrists tighter than normal and she flinched.

"Sorry I didn't intend to." He apologized immediately loosening his grip "But why are you leaving? I have ordered coffee and burger for both of us. How am I supposed to eat for two?" He said pouting like a baby.

It was then she realized that he'd gone for a while.

She was so lost in my thoughts that she forgot she had company.

"Umm okay" she said and sat down sheepishly embarrassed at her weird behavior

"You don't like my company?" He asked so innocently that her heart skipped a beat

Did it really matter?

"We have hardly spent time together and why wouldn't I like your company?" she asked him back.

"So let's try it then." He said.

She had to agree. She couldn't be a bitch with him even if she tried to.

He was quite nice a person actually.

"The coffee's good" he said to start a conversation.

"Come on Ben we are better off than that" she chuckled

"Really we can talk any bullshit. We are better off?" he asked sheepishly "I am still in trauma of Miss. Ladyfinger

"Miss. Ladyfinger?" Iris lost him.

"Our HR teacher she's a non lady like lady and thin like a finger and straight hard with her strictness completely ladyfingers like always ready to erupt out seeds of her insulting remarks to students." He mentioned with utmost profanity.

She giggled. It was after ages she was bitching about teachers.

She had always been a sincere student.

Life had been her teacher lately.

"Okay then you should guess whose Mr. Potato?" she asked enjoying the little safe conversation running.

"Mr. Patterson" he replied immediately.

"That was fast" she complimented.

"No that was too obvious. With his fat bulky body and easy availability whatever day of the year it is he is always there, not a single missing of classes and tasteless notes." He said waving off his eyes in disgust.

"Tasteless?" she asked now laughing hysterically.

"If you continue listening to him without him boiling you'll puke. Just potato like." He said hiding his mischievous smiles. "Now about the princi?"

"Wait.. wait let me guess 'Brinjal' she said now laughing and waiting for his reaction.

"You are a genius. Brinjal suits him. The crowned good for nothing king." He said accepting the idea.

They kept on naming each and every faculty from spicy and bulky capsicum, their moral science teacher who was fat and bit rude too. Mr. David whom they nicknamed as a tomato. Just as tomato is confused whether a fruit or vegetable so was he confused between a male and a female. So were his cheeks always red with an add on blusher which he uses on his cheeks. Not to miss Miss Bellpepper their OC teacher who would always jump on every bell ring murmuring lack of time, complaining incomplete chapter.

Their chatting went on and on about school days, their likes, dislikes even after the coffee and burger had exhausted for her to realize that it was far too late for her to resume the college.

"I did not realize its been so long we have been chatting. It's almost the end of college." Iris told him honestly not feeling a least guilty about it.

"Yeah time flees when we are having fun." He said smiling "we should have such meets very often."

Her smile faded "I didn't deserve to be that happy." She murmured inaudibly

"I think I need to leave" she told him for the second time in the day. There was something magical in this guy that attracted and even manipulates her actions.

He stood up and faced her.

Though he was quite tall compared to her and Iris only reached his chest, he pulled her chin and said "I too enjoyed your company and want you on my side."

Her heart was beating wildly.

Never had she ever imagined someone to ask her out.

"Ben...." she murmured and he bent down to give her a quick kiss.

She stood still and he walked ahead pulling her hand with him.

As they walked and reached an empty road where the two were alone, Iris pulled her hand and tried to jerk his hands that were too tightly held to set loose.

"Ben this cannot happen." she shouted.

"What?" He asked confused.

Right then two bikers in a bike rode in the area and started eve teasing "Hey girl need a shoulder" and they sped their bike making a grunting noise. They rode few meters and sped back to us circling us around

The rider was wearing a helmet but the one sitting behind was throwing dirty words at Iris "your guy screwed up. Come to me. I am great pleaser in the bed."

Ignoring them they walked ahead but the biker gave a grunting race to his bike and followed them "Wanna have threesome time baby? I am sure this little kiddo of your sucks".

Iris held Ben tightly.

She was used to such type of comments and even worst than that as some guys try to use such words to get a cheap bargain but she knew they were bad for a guy like Ben's ego.

She clutched his hand tightly and tried to take him way bit to far to reach the crowded area as quickly as possible.

Though she knew that with them on feet and later ones on bike was difficult.

They continued racing their bike increasing the noise of the engine and sometimes lifting the rear wheel on the air "baby you'll get some manly stuff we are here" and they sped

In a reflex, Ben kicked the bike such that his leg kicked the biker throwing him on the ground. The bike skid to a long distance taking the other guy along who fell down.

Iris stood gawking as the bike further skid for some more distance. Ben then picked the biker and removed his helmet punching him thrice on his face and threw him on the ground.

He then shred his sleeve and held her hand making her walk with him.

The bikers somehow managed to crimp towards the bike and ran for life.

"You can fight. Who are you?" Iris asked him.

He was taken aback at her question and got conscious. Then thinking something he answered "I was in army before I joined college." He said but did not feel good about it.

"In the army. Seriously!" Iris gasped.

"Yeah" he said scratching his hair behaving kind of nervous and added "For two years till I couldn't take the blood and dead bodies, all the cries and stuff..." He said shrugging wanting her to understand the rest on my own.

"You are strong and brave too." Iris smiled proudly

"That was the first compliment I get from you." He said smirking.

"No I am honest. You look hot when you fight. I like the moves too like 'Bruce Wills' does in his films" she said smiling like crazy.

"Whoa that was a great comparison. Do you think I should quit this college and join Hollywood?" He asked intently.

"Noooo." Iris said "I like the protective you on my side" she said jokingly.

He dropped her to the hospital after that and I was somewhat relieved to know that her dad had been awake for a while and though he did not recognize anybody, not even her name but he did sip a glass of water.

He was sleeping peacefully.

Doctor had informed her "since the operation was a major one, he needs to rest more for an early recovery."

Iris got a message from Brent to meet him urgently before going for my jobs.

She sighed frustratingly not wanting to meet that creepy b**tard.

Life had been so good to her today.

But that's the game life plays.

She had to go to her doom since there was no chance she could avoid him