Against The All Odds

She stared at the three people before her with the heart beating too damn high, but still tried to maintain a serene expression on her face and just waited.

She was never good at showing patience and always been curious to know whatever is not known. And now it is nearly killing her to wait, but she knows she can't do anything other than that.

And then she heard, "Fine! Fine, I will break up with her. Happy?"

His voice reached her ears, but it took a few seconds to get it settled and she blanched but controlled herself to see two people showing their relief while he is giving a blank expression.

"How could you say that? After all this time?" she asked in a whisper but not in a shaking voice for which she is proud of right now.

"This will be for the best." He stated and the anger took the place of the shock.

"For whom?" she asked and he closed his eyes before opening them to stare at her.

"Look... you are not understanding..." he trailed off, looking at the other two people.

"Not understanding? I am a nurse! I can understand anything even regarding what is troubling a patient. So, you can try to make me understand." she persisted knowing well he never liked it when someone pushes him.

"This is my decision!" he stated and took a step near her.

"You are not alone in this to take such decision." she pointed out, taking a step herself near him.

"There can't be any relationship if one of us doesn't want it." He pointed back stepping near me.

"Fine! I don't want to be with you anymore then." Saying that she stepped to aside and started walking off ignoring the stunned expression of his.

Now, she can reach some safe place before letting the pain out and overcome it soon. It isn't like it's the first time, someone is throwing her out of their life, right?

*Ansh Pov*

I stared at the blood on my hands and just sat there wishing today didn't turn out like it had. Isn't that what anyone wishes when something happens which we don't like?

"Excuse me?" I can hear the voice, but I didn't glance away from my hands with fear gripping my heart too tightly.

"Excuse me, Sir?" I finally looked up only to blink my eyes, feeling too much light is pointed directly in my eyes.

"I am not the one that needs some check up." I snapped making the small torch removed from my eyes.

And the person accepted, after which I finally saw the person who was stupid enough to point the torch on the patient's family.

"You are in shock and so I decided to bring you out of it, Sir." She mumbled and took a step back from me.

"And who are you suppose to be to do that?" I asked frowning.

"Nurse! And also the same person who is here to say that the woman you brought here is out of danger." She replied and I immediately stood up only to stumble feeling my legs numb with all the sitting.

"Careful! Otherwise, I may have to use my torch again." She warned when I finally found the balance with her hand on my shoulder and I turned to stare at her.

Who is she? And why is she being this rude to me? Isn't it the hospital policy to be nice for the patient's family? Didn't she know what danger was the patient was in?

"You must be the new nurse here." I mumbled and stepped away from her.

"No! It's been two years." She mumbled and turned to walk while I followed her.

"Then why are you behaving so rudely? I don't think we have met before for you to show this attitude." I asked frowning.

"We didn't meet before, but I have met your type. If someone is meek before you, you will just run over them. Now, all you need is to be distracted from the shock and that's what I am doing." she replied shrugging and finally stopped.

"You know me that clearly?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.

"Of course! I always know about my patients." She replied and moved a door.

"I am not a patient." I pointed out and glanced at the blood on my shirt and the hands.

"You are her family and she was in danger of dying. A person's danger will have even more effect on their family. So, for me a patient's family is also a patient." She said shrugging.

"Weird!" I whispered, but she had heard before giving a nod and gestured me to go inside.

I took a step, but hesitated to which she calmly whispered back, "She is not conscious right now."

"Thank you!" I whispered and stepped inside to see the only person that love me truly lying on the bed who was on verge of the death a few hours back.

"What have you got yourself into?" I asked, sitting beside her bed sighing.

After some time, the same nurse entered the room and checked her but stopped near me. I glanced at her to see that she is holding some clothes in her hands.

"I don't know whether to ask you to call anyone else here, but you need to change, Sir. She shouldn't be affected with any bacteria." She requested and I glanced down to see that I am indeed covered in blood but also a lot of mud.

"Why did the doctor allow me in the first place?" I mumbled standing up.

"He doesn't know! You are supposed to be here after a few hours." She replied and I glanced at her in shock.

"Why did you do that and why didn't you say anything when I walked in here filled with this bacteria you are saying?" I asked with an irritated expression confirming her to be a waste nurse.

"Who even made you a nurse?" I added, shaking my head and she frowned at me before shaking her head.

"I thought, her needing your presence is more important than the speculation about her maybe affecting from the bacteria. Now, I can see she is stable. So, I brought the clothes for you to change or you can go to your house. I will be here until you return." She replied in a normal tone.

"Where can I change?" I asked, not wanting to leave this room for long with this mad nurse.

She nodded like she can understand my reason and gave the instructions for the place where I can change.

After changing I took out my phone and called my Dad, but it was switched making me remember he is in some important meeting. And calling Mom would be nothing but waste right now.

"She is like she was when you left the room, Sir." Those are the first words the nurse uttered when I walked into the room while I gave her a surprised look.

"You are not the first person to doubt my credibility." She added shrugging and left the room while I stared at her until I lost the sight of her.

"Please open your eyes and remove me from this madness, Anusha." I whispered sitting beside her again.

"Bhai!" I heard the whisper and immediately stared at her face.

"Anu!" I whispered and she blinked her eyes before turning to stare at me.

"I will call the doctor." I added, but she just stared at me not saying anything else.

Thank to god, that nurse was in the room the moment I stepped out of the room and called for the doctor. Informing me that the doctor will be here soon, she walked near the bed and checked her.

After that, the doctor came and asking a few questions he left, giving some instructions to the nurse while I just stood in the room.

"It will take a few days for the stitches to dissolve and then she can be discharged." Doctor informed and left.

"I am calling Mom and Dad." I informed her and she immediately shook her head.

"No! I don't want that to be done." She finally talked instead of single words.

"I am sure your In-laws would worry about you." The nurse suggested and I glared at her.

"Try to do your own job." I snapped and Anu immediately frowned at me.

"He is my brother, nurse." Anu informed the nurse and she just nodded, but didn't utter a single word before leaving the room.

"Why are you taking anger on her?" Anu asked, to which I stayed silent.

"I want to murder someone." I replied and she shook her head.

"Isn't me being here enough?" she asked and I felt my phone vibrating which was from the past few hours.

"You want him to know?" I finally asked and she immediately looked away, her eyes going blank, but she shook her head in negative.

"He will not know then." I promised and stayed in the room lost in my thoughts.

For the next whole week, I settled at the hospital only and there was no call from our parents asking about my whereabouts which is a common thing. But I wish they had called me by which I would have been able to tell them about Anu's health.

However, my phone didn't stay in silence at all and if I have to count the missed calls and give ten rupees for each one then I can buy some new mobile right now.

"Don't you have a better family than him?" the voice reached my ears while I was working on my system and I glanced up to see the nurse plaiting Anu's hair.

"I didn't have the choice." Anu replied, but for the first time I saw her giving a small smile.

"I can understand." Nurse said in a sympathetic tone.

"What is your name?" I finally asked her not liking to think her as a nurse even in the thoughts.

"To complain? It's okay! There is already a list of it near the doctor." She replied waving off.

"I will not accept if you complain." Anu said frowning.

"That's what all my patients say." Nurse said, smiling at Anu and I just stared at her looking at her smile for the first time.

"Tell me!" I insisted and she sighed, walking away from the bed finishing the work.

"Kirthi! My name is Kirthi, Sir." She replied and left the room while I turned to see Anu already getting comfortable and slept off.

I never had any experience of staying at a hospital or talking to anyone other than the doctor. Is it how all the nurses behave or is she something else? Who cares? I can see Anu recovering at least outside before of Kirthi and that's all should matter.

"What do you mean, you will not come home?" I asked her frowning.

"I will not and you know I shouldn't. Don't act like everything is normal." She replied frowning.

"But now the circumstances are different and there will be no problem if you come home." I pointed out.

"No! This is my fate which I choose and I will not go on being like I did a mistake and everything. Because I will do the same mistake if we have to go back to the past." She said stubbornly.

"Really? Then why don't I lift this mistake's phone call?" I threatened her.

"Do that! Nothing will happen because all the rights have been removed already. It will be nothing but headache for everyone." She replied, but I can see her eyes filling up.

"Don't cry! If you do, I will leave the control I am holding on to and kill him." I said and she closed her eyes.

"Fine! I will buy some place and you can stay there." I offered and she again shook her head in negative.

"No! That would still be the money related to them." She mumbled.

"I am not getting paid because I am his son, Anu. I do the hard work." I stated and she nodded.

"Still, that hard work is for them." She mumbled and I stared at her in surprise.

She has always been the most sorted out person I have ever seen and was never stubborn expect for one reason. But now, she is being too stupid.

"What do you want me to do? Change my job and work something else for someone before buying a house for you?" I asked raising my voice and stood up.

"If that's what you want, then you can ask the hospital to let you stay here." I shouted and heard someone clearing their throat.

"I heard what is going on..." Kirthi started when she moved near us from the door.

"Why am I not surprised?" I asked, snorting which she ignored.

"You can come and stay with me." She offered to Anu and I immediately stared at her suspiciously.

"It is not a big place, but it will be like you are living in a flat with your friends in college." She added.

"I never had that close friends and never stayed away from the home." Anu mumbled.

"Then it will be even better because you can finally experience it." Kirthi said, smiling at Anu to which I can see my Sister wavering to accept.

"However, I need you to pay for letting you stay by keeping my flat clean and help me with other chores after you get your strength." Kirthi added and seems like she hit right on spot.

"I am in!" Anu stated and I frowned at her.

"This is madness, Anu. What is the need for you to stay in some filthy place and do any work?" I asked her frowning and she glanced at me before giving an apologetic look to Kirthi.

"I am glad you feel my place to be filthy by using some seventh sense of yours regarding my home because then she may be free from your presence which will in turn be an amazing boon for me." Kirthi replied nodding at me when I turned to apologize to her.

"Like hell I will stay away from my sister." I stated and she didn't protest or gave any indication that it is of any importance.

"Shall I go along with preparing for discharge papers?" she asked, looking at Anu and got a nod in response.

"I will give you hospital money after I can get well." Anu said when we both are alone in the room.

"Shut up! You have gone mad and don't go more madder staying with that woman." I said scowling and heard a throat clearing.

"I wanted to say before preparing for discharge papers that the doctor wanted to talk to your brother regarding the checkups, you need to have." Krithi calmly informed and left.

"She must have heard." Anu said with a disappointed expression on her face for me.

"I am not going to say anything because I am not sure she will not come here again that silently and hear everything." I mumbled and she shook her head while I looked out thinking why is all this circus going around us.

*Kirthi Pov*

"Surprised?" I asked him in a whisper when we three stood before my home with Anusha hanging onto him for support as she still needs to take too much care.

"This is where you stay?" he asked back as if he can't believe.

"What? Expected roof that is able to fall or a place where there will be no place to even sit or anything else?" I asked but didn't wait for his answer before moving to open the gate.

"This place looks beautiful." Anusha said, looking at my garden and then at the area around.

"The safest area you have ever seen and the view of the ocean is amazing from the terrace." I offered and she looked more delight even thought at a very little length as the more time she looks sadder than anything.

"You said it is a flat." He said in a flat tone.

"I said it will be like she is staying in a flat with her friends, but I never said my home is flat." I mumbled and opened the door.

"The house is still small and I have only extra bedroom which I arranged for your arrival." I added looking at Anusha and gestured a door.

The siblings just stood and looked around the house like something is fascinating, but it is just a small house and nothing else, right for these rich kids.

"Your salary must be going for the rent of this only." He commented and I stared at him with a frown not understanding him.

He acts like some arrogant, but still I have seen him care for his sister and worry for her. Well, who cares what he is like.

"This is my own home." I replied and walked to the kitchen to prepare some coffee for us.

"Where are your parents?" Anusha asked slowly walking near to the kitchen door while the man stayed near the door.

I wish I can jump into that topic, but calmly cut short saying, "They are not alive."

"I am so sorry." She whispered and turned to see her looking guilty.

"It's okay! You are younger than me so I will forgive you." I said, waving her off and she again gave her a small smile.

"What if I was elder?" she asked and I shrugged.

"We shouldn't keep grudges on the elder people." I replied and she shook her head before looking around and saw the coffee cups.

I immediately understood what she is going to do and what she is planning to do with this moment. I know I said she can do the chores as a payment, but not while still being this week.

"No! You can start the work only after a few days when I say you can." I stated and she immediately frowned at me.

She took a step back and I think she is ready to think of some other place to say as it may have felt for her I am doing her a favor or taking pity on her.

"I will make you work double when you can." I said, shrugging and turned around not saying anything that she should stay here.

Because I know the moment I will say that, she will fight more to leave. Didn't I understand her predicament when she was in the hospital? She suddenly doesn't want to be in any situation where she is in debt with someone.

"I will take my leave." He suddenly announced and I turned to see that she got a normal expression, leaving her plans aside while he is staring at me.

"Coffee?" I asked, but he shook his head before looking at his watch.

"Didn't they ask where were you all these days?" Anusha asked while I moved to bring the coffee mugs near to her.

"No! They just assumed I was living in my flat." He replied while I passed the mug to Anusha.

"Where is mine?" he asked, looking at me with a frown when I took a sip from my cup.

"You said you don't want it. So, I didn't mix it." I replied and he frowned more, but just left after a few minutes.

Of course, he left a few instructions that he needs to be kept updated whatever happens or not happens which I am definitely not going to do.

"Want to see the room?" I asked and she nodded before I helped her to reach the room.

"I wish you didn't lie to the doctor that you were not in that much pain." I finally said not able to stop myself.

"That's why you brought me here, didn't you? Because I was being discharged without getting full recovery." She suddenly asked understanding entering her eyes.

"I never liked if the patients I look after leave the hospital without getting well." I replied shrugging.

"I needed to leave the hospital otherwise he would have found me. He has too many connections to achieve that." She suddenly said slowly sitting on the bed.

I left the room not saying a word and returned with her bags before opening them. I started arranging the clothes while she sat on the bed lost in her thoughts.

After finishing that, I arranged the medicines on the bedside table properly and then stood back while she finally looked at me.

"Aren't you going to ask why did I say that and about whom?" she asked and I gave her a smile.

"You don't want to talk that detail right now." I replied and she nodded.

"But, I just want to know this because I need to make sure you are safe. Did your husband shoot you?" I asked and she immediately shook her head.

"He just didn't pull the trigger." The answer came from behind me and I turned to see her brother standing at the doorway.

"What are you still doing here?" Anusha asked, to which he gave me a glance before stepping into the room.

"He is making sure you were safe within this half an hour." I replied to which he stopped beside me.

"Don't be ridiculous! I just came to say that I am hiring a bodyguard for you and that if he ever gets to track me down, I will tell him you left India." He said looking at her.

"Why is he calling you?" she asked in distress.

I silently moved to the door and left the room knowing well I shouldn't be there. I started to the front door and glanced at my garden to see whether any of it got infected.

I didn't have any time to look after them properly, these past few days and I hope they will be fine. I sighed and turned to see too much dust is also there to be cleaned in the house and even outside.

"Don't stress her with your questions, Ms. Kirthi. She has been through enough and she needs to take care." His voice reached me and I turned to see him walking near to me.

"And there is another reason for me to come back." Saying that he took out his wallet and started taking out a lot of notes not even counting before dangling them near me.

"This is as a payment for letting her stay here." He stated while I stared at him with a smile.

"I am sorry, but I wanted a maid for a long time and when I finally got her, why would I lose that. So, you can keep your money back in your pocket." I said and immediately saw his face turning red with temper.

"You are thinking my sister as a maid? That's it! She will not stay here for another second. She is not a maid. She is my sister." He shouted.

"And I am not running a restaurant to let people stay for money also. And I do not need money to run my house also." I said in a calm tone to which his furious expression turned to confusion before finally he relaxed.

He shook his head and shoved the money back into the wallet. Then he just stood there staring at me and at the moment I felt uncomfortable.

But how is that possible? I never feel uncomfortable, right? I cleared my throat, hoping he stops being creepy and I felt disgusted to think him staring as creepy, but I don't know what else to name it as.

Maybe he saw my disgust expression because he suddenly blinked and looked away before it was time for him to clear his throat.

"You are just good to look at and that's all. No need to think bad about me." Saying that he just walked off not giving me a chance to say anything and not giving him any chance to see my smile.

Hey! No one said I am good to look at until now. I should feel honored and I definitely do. I shook my head and walked into my home to think about the lunch.

"Is it fine?" she asked, frowning and I took another spoon full of the desert.

"Sure! It is good." I replied and she sighed in relief before sitting down.

"I never got trained to cook you know, but I had to start learning and do it because they were just..." she trailed off realizing what she was saying and sat in silence before serving the desert for herself.

It's been two weeks since she came to stay with me and today only she started doing little chores. Cooking dinner became the part of the little chore.

She is adamant to work herself to death for sure, but I know I can do something about it by waking up early and doing the few chores by myself. I have a major advantage because she is not an early riser.

"I am more than happy that I asked you to do these things than pay me. Now, I can concentrate on my job more." I said not knowing what else to say.

"I have more than enough money to pay you and even buy a house." She suddenly said looking down.

"I know you both are rich." I said not understanding her words.

"It is not their money. It is my own, but the thing is, it is in a joint account with... with him. I don't want to take out the money and let him know where I am. I have to do it eventually, but first I want to get well." She explained and I stared at her.

I know she is talking about the mental strength she needs to develop to get in contact with him. But why? The curiosity started and I tried to push it down as much as I can.

"So, where is your brother?" I asked, looking at her changing the topic.

"He said he can't come today as he has some important work to deal with." She replied frowning.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked finally feeling the curiosity win and she immediately gave a small smile.

"He is single!" she replied and I coughed hearing her reply.

"What? What does him being single relates to the bullet you got?" I asked, frowning, not understanding her and this time she coughed.

"Sorry! Ask your question." She replied with a nervous brush off with her hands over her shoulders.

"Was he physically abusive?" I asked and she looked at me shocked.

"Curious?" she asked and I shrugged.

"I know curiosity kills a cat, but before I die I want to fill my curiousity and I do this with everyone. You see, this is the only entertainment I have." I replied.

"Entertainment?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah! If someone says a sad story I will feel sad. If someone says happy one I will feel happy. Isn't feeling something is entertainment?" I asked and her eyes widened more.

"Feeling emotions are entertainment?" she whispered and blinked her eyes before shaking her head.

"It's okay! Even my classmates never understood me." I said smiling.

"What about your friends?" she asked and I shrugged.

"Never had them!" I replied and she again gave a look filled with shock.

"What about the nurses you work with?" she asked and I again shrugged.

"I never get time to talk to them." I replied and she slowly nodded.

"But I am your friend, right?" she asked frowning.

"You are?" I asked and she nodded to which I nodded back.

"Okay! Now, tell me did he do physical violence?" I asked and she shook her head.

"He can never be physically violent." She replied and I nodded.

"Your In-laws?" I asked and she hesitated.

"Not physically!" she replied and I understood the opposed of that word immediately.

"Anyway, they are no longer related to me. But I have got you as my friend." She said shrugging.

"And a sneaking brother." I said to which she frowned but turned to her side which I followed to see her brother standing near the main doorway.

"What are you doing here and from when?" she asked him frowning.

"From the time you were giving her some little detail about me." He replied and walked inside giving me a look.

"How did you know that he was here?" she asked me to which I shrugged.

"He just wanted to finally have a chance of hearing mature conversation different from the immature he had to endure with his circle." I supported him but he took a sharp breath in.

"You both were having a mature conversation?" he asked snorting.

"Like I said, as you have no experience of hearing that, you don't know much about it. It's okay, you will learn soon." I replied, giving him a nod and suddenly Anusha chuckled.

I left them to have their conversation and reached my room. I looked at the calendar and sighed, wishing the days can pass soon than like this.

I still need to wait a few more months and I don't think I can do that. But still, I laid on my bed and drifted off into sleep.

With tired eyes, I entered the house to see a regular seen of both of them sitting on my porch and talking like for the past one month.

I swiftly walked near to them gritting my teeth and stopped a few steps away before clearing my throat.

"Anusha! Just because I am calm doesn't mean you can do anything as you wish. Why is he here every day? I thought you were the only one staying here, but not your brother too. This is so against the rules." I said in a stiff tone to which Anusha sat stunned while Mr. Brother's temper raised too much which I can see looking at his face.

I suddenly chuckled, making both of them stunned more before saying, "This is what would have happened, if you had stayed with some friends in a flat. You said you don't have any experience with that, so I am just giving you some of it."

"You don't mind him coming everyday for sure?" she asked hesitantly.

"It is a minding thing for anyone and I would have. But your brother looks good and it is entertaining for my eyes. So, I am fine with it." I replied, shrugging smiling at her and walked off to let them continue their conversation.

I took my dinner with me to the room and finished it feeling hungry before freshening up. I took the plate and stepped out of the room to return it only to feel being pushed back into the room.

I decided to make a huge noise, but a hand covered my mouth, but that hand couldn't stop the plate from falling down, making a loud noise than what I would have with my shout. I flinched hearing it along with him, but he just continued to stare at me and I stared back not having any other option.