Holidays have a special place in everyone's heart, especially students. We always crave that one Sunday when we get to sleep a little more, eat something special or go out with our parents to watch a movie and take a rest from our hectic week life.

For Aaradhya holidays meant sleep. At home, she was not allowed to sleep after 10 in the morning at any cost. But now when she was in the hostel who's gonna stop her? There were some sessions kept for the final-year students, so all the other year students were getting a two days holiday and the third day was Sunday. Three freaking days! She has made up her mind that she is gonna complete her sleep which she sacrificed because of her exams. And last night she got her periods too, so she was very happy about the timing of her holidays.

She was sleeping peacefully when her phone rang for the third time now. She picked up this time, without even checking the name of the person calling her.

"Hello, Aaradhya? Why were you not picking up my calls." came an irritated voice.

"Hmm?" she said in a very sleepy voice.

"Are you still sleeping?" came the voice again.

"Hmmm," she said.

"It's 10.30 Aaradhya. Get up! I am coming in front of your hostel in fifteen minutes. Freshen up fast." said Abhi.

"hmm hmm," she said and hung up.

After some time her phone started ringing again. She again picked it up. This time she checked the caller id. Abhi! Why is he calling her so early in the morning?

"Hello?" she asked.

"I am outside. Come." Abhi said.

"Outside? Where?" she asked confusedly.

"Outside your hostel, Aaradhya"

"My hostel? Why?" she asked in a panicked tone.

"I can't believe it. I called you just fifteen minutes ago and told you I was coming. You slept again? "

"I don't know. I was sleeping. Why are you here this early in the morning?"

"Morning? Just talk for a few more minutes and it would be afternoon."

"So what? We have three days off. Let me sleep."

"You want me to climb to your balcony?"

"What? No!" she said getting up to sit.

"Good. So come in front of your hostel gate as fast as you can." with that he hung up.

After fifteen minutes Aaradhya found herself in front of Abhi. He was carrying a few papers and a bag.

"What?"  she said stopping in front of him. She was wearing a simple T-shirt and pyjamas. It was a simple outfit. Very simple. But he found his eyes observing her very carefully. How was she so simple and beautiful?

"Abhi? What happened?" she asked again.

He cleared his throat and shifted his focus to the papers he was carrying in his hands.

"These are your reports. You have iron deficiency. Your haemoglobin is 7 Aaradhya! 7! Do you understand this? How can you be so careless? You can never be a good doctor if you are this irresponsible patient. You did not go to collect your reports too." he saw her looking at him with glossy eyes.
"Aren't you going to say something?" he asked.

What should she say? Why is he scolding her if she is not well? It's not like she purposely entered her body and created iron deficiency there. She felt like crying. She is already having her periods and here, he is scolding her for something she did not do intentionally.

"I am sorry," she said controlling herself from crying.

"Sorry? Why are you sorry?" he asked looking weirdly at her.

"I don't know," she said almost crying.

"Are you going to cry now? What happened?" he asked panicking.

"Why are you scolding me? I did not decrease my haemoglobin count knowingly," she said wiping her tears.

"When did I scold you? I am just telling you to be more responsible towards your health," he said calmly.

"Oh!" she said feeling immensely embarrassed. Why is she such a child?

"I am sorry if my tone was harsh. I was just worried. But you have to work on this now. No excuses. Take this. There are some fruits and beetroot in this. Finish this by tomorrow." he said giving her the bag.

"Beetroot? No! I can't eat that. I feel like vomiting just by the mention of its name." she said shaking her head and trying to return him the bag.

"I said no excuses. You have to eat this. And the medicines Dr Naveen prescribed are also there. Take them at time."

"You took my reports and went to him. Why did you not call me? You did not have to do so much, Abhi."

"I called you but you were busy taking your beauty sleep. So I went alone. He was going to be busy for the next few days because of the session and all."

"Why are you so concerned?" she asked looking into his eyes.

"I.. I had some work there. So I thought to take your reports too. It's not a big deal. " he said scratching his head not meeting her eyes.

"What work?" she asked again still looking at his face.

"Some work," he said

"I am asking that only. What was that 'some work she pressed again?

"Anuj. Yes, some work related to Anuj. I am not supposed to tell you more. Now bye. Eat this and this should be finished by tomorrow. And don't you dare throw this." he said the last part seriously and left.

She stood there for some time watching him going towards his hostel. Her heart was about to come out of her chest seeing him so worried about her. First, he went to collect her reports then he went to the doctor to show them. Then he brought these fruits and medicines for her. She was feeling so special now. Why was he so concerned? But then it strikes her, he was this concerned for Teena too. Maybe he just considers her a good friend that's why. With all these thoughts she moved towards her room.

                        *************

Anuj was sitting in the campus garden staring at the tree in front of him. Why was he so weak? Why? He has always been a coward. Always!

If he clearly remembers, he was five years old when he first saw his father raising his hand on his mother and from then there was no going back. His mother, Apurva was a strong woman. She was a school teacher whereas his father was an alcoholic. He worked at a nearby factory, return home drunk and beat his mother. Anuj was very scared as he was a child. As he grew up, he asked her mother to separate from this abusive relationship.

"We don't have anyone else, Anuj. It's very difficult for a single mother to raise a son in our society. At least we are safe from the outer monsters because of your father's name." his mother always used to say this.

But one day he raised his voice. He stopped his father from slapping his mother. After a lot of drama, his abuse stopped for a few days. But now when Anuj was here, away from his home there was no one to stop him. Yesterday, when his mother was not picking up his calls he called his neighbour, Reena Aunty to ask about her. She told him that his father has beaten her up badly again and his mother was sleeping after she has applied some ointment on her wounds.

Weak was a small work for him now. He was disgusted by himself. He could do nothing to help his mother. Why was he not like Abhi? He was so brave.

"Anuj?" called a soft voice.

"Yes?" he said looking at the beautiful girl standing in front of him.

"Are you alright?" Teena asked worriedly.

"Yes, I am perfectly fine. Why?" he answered trying to give her a small smile but failed miserably.

"You don't look fine. You can share if anything is bothering you," she said in a gentle tone sitting beside him.

Should he tell her? Will she judge him? What would she think? For all these years, he never told anyone anything about his personal life. He was scared that they would judge him. But he needs someone to share his feelings too. Fuck everything. Let her judge him, if she wants but he will tell her. He would let everything out today.

So he told her everything. Everything! Without any filter. He searched her face for any sign that she was disgusted by him too, but all he got was gentleness. She listened to him very calmly.

"You should call the police," she said after listening to everything.

"What?" he asked shocked.

"Call the police, if you want to help your mother. She is an independent lady. She earns for herself. She doesn't need a man like your father for her safety. Even if he is your father, he deserves to be behind bars." she said calmly yet seriously.

"My mother will never allow this," he said after thinking for some time.

"They make her understand that she needs to allow this. You are her son. She will always choose between you over that horrible man you call your father, pardon me for my words but he deserves them."

He sat there for some time not speaking anything. She was right. He has to become brave now. He will help his mother even if he has to fight her for her good. He was going to file a complaint against him. He is going to his home now. He will come back only after he ensures his mother's safety.

"Thank you," he said standing up.

"Where are you going?" Teena asked standing up with him too.

"To my home. Will meet you after sending that horrible man I call my father behind bars," he smiled genuinely this time.

"Now that's like my boy. Go. All the very best. And don't hesitate to call if you need any help." she said smiling too.

"I won't." he left having a firm determination in his heart this time.

                        ************

Tanu woke up at eight a.m. sharp even when it was a holiday. She wanted to sleep more but she couldn't, so she decided to complete the novel she was reading last night. She loved to read. If not a  doctor, she would become an author.

Since Aaradhya was sleeping so peacefully, she decided not to disturb her sleep by switching on the lights and reading in the college library instead.

While going to the library she stopped near the notice board where she found they were hiring members for a club named 'Akash'. It worked with the nearby orphanages and focused on children's health. She loved children. She would never miss a chance like this. So she wrote an application as mentioned in the notice to apply for it and went directly to the room notified there.

As she entered, she found the person she expected the least to be there.

"You?" she asked in a shocked voice.

"Oh god! Not again! What are you doing here?" Yuvraj asked equally shocked.

"I am here to... Wait wait! Why would I tell you? Just leave. I need to meet the head of 'Akash club' Where is he or she?" she asked looking around the room.

"I am already very busy. Just leave. I don't have any time for your nonsense talk." he answered in a bored tone.

"Just do one thing. Take out some time from your busy schedule and die," she said in a sweet tone.

"Die? On you?" he asked.

"Oh please! I would kill you myself if you think anything of that sort. Now tell me where is the head?" she asked again.

He took a deep breath to calm himself down. He was already very tired. Handling the club was becoming difficult because some members left it recently. He was not in the mood for any argument now.

"I am the head. What do you want?" he said.

"You? Head? Of a club that deals with children?" she laughed loudly.

"What's funny in that?" he asked looking at her weirdly. Why was she laughing?

"Nothing. Jokes apart. Tell me seriously where is the head? I want to apply for the club too." she said controlling her laugh.

"I am the head. I just told you," he said seriously.

"Like seriously?" she asked again.

"Listen! I am already very tired. Just leave. I don't have the energy to deal with you now." he said in an irritated tone.

"You are the head. Oh god!" she said finding it hard to believe what he just said. How can a man like him deal with small, innocent children? He is very scary. How are they not scared of him? Then she saw a very irritated expression on his face.
"Ok sorry, sorry! I thought a man like you... Oh, leave that. This is my application. I want to join the club too." she continued.

"Keep it there and leave," he said pointing towards the table.

"Ok," she said in a small voice and turned to leave. As she reached the door she turned and looked at him again. He was looking at the papers in front of him.

"Now what?" he said without looking at her.

"Just don't reject it because of the personal differences we have. I want to join this club. It would mean a lot to me if I work for these orphan children. I hope you think as the head of the club and not 'Yuvraj' while reading it." with that said she left the office.

Unknowingly Yuvraj found himself looking at the place she was standing a few minutes before. Then he slowly opened her application and after a small thought added her name to the list of the club's volunteers.