บท 24: Ray's First Mission

Three days later, one of the patients was awake.

He looked around to find where he was and saw Del was in the same room unconscious and body wrapped in a gauge. He was afraid that someone had kept them under surveillance. Slowly he walked out of the room and saw me on the sofa reading a book.

"Excuse me where is this place and who are you?"

"No need to be on alert, someone helped you and brought you here. You are still in Weery City."

He turned quiet.

"Are you feeling weak? If not then maybe you are feeling hungry so help yourself. The kitchen is in the right corner. You can eat whatever you want."

I didn't even raise my head and continued reading. I had expected he would wake soon but only today did he gains consciousness. When he blocked the bullet it was hit on the right side of the shoulder. He will only have difficulty using his right hand.

In the evening, Ray arrived with the dazed Nia who was sitting in a wheelchair and her mother. I asked Ray to have a rest and brought both mother and daughter to the room I had prepared. Showing their room I told them to freshen up and left the room. As I already had my supper I brought some takeout for the mother-daughter and Ray.

Early morning as I was meditating I heard a shrill sound from the kitchen. As the young man, Pri (Del's wounded subordinate) was preparing breakfast, he was shocked by the sudden intrusion of Ray in the kitchen. He had dropped a lot of things.

I had to go there. Pri was looking with a questioning gaze to Ray and Ray was looking at him as if he was blaming the young man that he had stolen his role. Yeah, Ray liked to cook so most of the time he was the one who prepared the food.

I coughed lightly and both looked towards me.

"I want my breakfast early today. I have to go somewhere today and Pri you're coming with me."

"Sure lady."

I told Ray that we will have a talk after I return. I have a long talk with Nia's mother.

After having my breakfast I took Pri along with Nia and her mother to the airport. I had booked a flight for Eastern City. I wasn't the one going but was Nia's mother.

"Miss can't I stay here to look after my girl"

"You could, but you will put Nia in danger. I know you won't want that to happen. As Nia isn't fine, with you both being together has a high chance to be found by those groups."

"I know but being a mother how can I leave here when she isn't well."

"I said what I should. It's your choice to do as you wish. I can promise you that I will keep her safe till she gets fine. But after that whatever she does is her choice."

"I know she will be fine with you better than with being with me. Okay I will go to her maternal grandparents as they are old. I also should be responsible for them in their old age. I will leave Nia in your hand. Thank you for everything you have done for us."

"Ok"

Dropping her at the airport, the three of us had about a twenty km ride. We had reached a nursery and a beautiful big garden on the hillside.

Asking for permission, Pri handled Nia's wheelchair and we walked towards a cottage. I told Pri to watch outside. Nia and I went inside after knocking on the door.

Inside a man with white hair and a white beard was sipping the tea.

"Sir, I heard you can treat patients who have mental problems. As I have a friend who has a severe problem I hope Sir can help us." I tried my best to be polite and respectful.

"Why should I help or should I ask why she needs to be fine?"

"If it's your first question then I can only say helping someone to be alive is the greatest blessing but if the second I also don't have the answer as I can only say to you that she has some answer which could help mankind."

"Okay, I accept. Leave her here for a week."

"As much as I want her alive she may be in danger so I request if I could leave someone behind her to take care of her."

"Okay"

It is so difficult to speak politely and warmly with those old people who have a lot of life experiences and knowledge. Thankfully I succeeded.

Leaving Pri to take care of Nia, I took a cab and went to my old house. When I reached, it was already dark. I called Ray and told him to say whatever happened in Ohane city and his journey. I sat on the rocking chair, closed my eyes, and listened to him.

Ray's Narration*****

It took me a whole day to reach the city. As it was already midnight I booked a room.

The next day early morning I went to the hospital but took some fruit with me as it was easier to act as a patient's well-wisher. You had already informed me of their hospital ward number. I directly went toward it.

As I was near their room I saw two men guarding the room and someone was inside. As the paid bodyguards have stopped their work, those could only be my opponent.

I acted as if I didn't know them and asked, "Sir, how are the ladies inside? The lady's mother had helped my brother with the blood transfusion. But I didn't have a chance to meet them. I saw them some days ago and I got the ward no. Can I enter?"

"No, the ladies are busy and have told no one to disturb them--"

From the corner of my eyes, I could see someone in the room was messing and searching the room. I acted as if I didn't see.

"Oh that's okay I will leave these fruit to you and please deliver them."

I walked outside the hospital but sat on the opposite side cafe. If those were messing around the ward I was sure the mother-daughter had left the room. So where are they now?

Just at the time, I got your message about their location. They were still inside the hospital. If they weren't in their room they have to be somewhere those opponents couldn't find.

Those men could find the duos on any other ward, or if they are in doctors, nurses, or the administration room. So maybe they were in the restroom. I check every gents and ladies' restroom but they were nowhere. I thought about 'what can people never think which can be in hospital '

'Think Ray, think hard. Where could they be.' I thought they could be in the storage room and found them there.

One problem has been solved by finding them but how was I going to take them out that was the second. So I asked both to stay there as I will find out the situation.

Three of those men along with two more were five. I had to bring all of them to the same place as I could find time to let those pairs exit the hospital.

Then I thought to barge inside Nia's medical ward but that will put me in danger. So I created a situation. I told some women that the hospital has harassed the pairs by asking for money which the pair couldn't pay and someone came to make trouble by asking for money in those difficult situations as the mother-daughter doesn't have any.

The rumor circulated so far that the hospital management and some other patient's relative went to visit the ward. As the chaos was rising all five had to gather inside so using this distraction I brought the mother and daughter to the safe place and told them to rest.

I went back to the hospital acting as if I wanted to know their situation. As the mother-daughter wasn't in the room those five were in a tight and difficult situation.

Then I spoke to the head "Hello sir! Is there a problem here."

"Nothing the patient admitted isn't here as they hadn't paid the hospital. These people should be responsible."

"Oh sir how can you say that. They are also the same as you as they want money. And the mother-daughter ran away how can these people be responsible for it." I questioned the head.

"That's true but….. everyone disperses and you men vacant the ward otherwise you will have to pay the whole fee."

The ward was less crowded as only me and five of them were nearby. "Thanks, bro for the help " one of them told me.

"Not mention bro," I replied and blended with the crowd.

I continued to spy on them as that evening, those people left Mid Western City and I don't know where they went.

Then only the next earliest morning we took the road for here.

Ray Narration ends****