Best Bro

I spent the whole night in misery. What I have to do now? I often asked this question that night. That night I felt true pain. I was in America pursuing engineering at MIT. At 12 of night, when I was reading a mythological book, my phone rang. First I thought that why my mother called me at this time of night. Then I remembered that in India, it wasn't night. I picked my phone. 

"What happened, mom?" I asked a little angrily as she called me at late night. Then I realised that the person on the other side of the phone was sobbing. 

"Mom? What happened? " I asked slowly. 

"Your...your sister...she...in hospital," she said crying.

"WHAT?WHY?" I asked standing from my bunk.

"Sc...scooter accident. Car...car hit her. In...in ICU.," she said and tears rolled from eyes and made their way towards the cheek. 

I cut the phone and sat on my bunk. My sweet little sister was in the hospital. And I was here reading mythological books. I sobbed. My sweet sister. All feeling suddenly rose. What happened if I lose my sister? What happened if some disability hit her? No. So sweet is my sister. I can't afford to lose her. She looked like a golden beauty. I remembered when she pleading asked me for a gift with her big almond coloured eyes. I remembered when I combed her blond hair. 

How can I lose her? I cried and tore my mythological book. That woke up Jeffrey, my roommate. 

"What happened buddy?" he asked rubbing his eyes and yawning.

"My sister is in hospital." that sentence suddenly swept sleep out of his body.

"What are you doing here?" he asked angrily.

"What can I do? I won't get a flight at this time." I whispered.

"Kenn's dad is a pilot. Maybe he can help," he said.

"I DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY!" I shouted.

He was silent for a few minutes. Then he said, "I will arrange that."

"How? You don't have bundles of dollars to book an emergency flight to India." I growled.

"I SAID I WILL LOOK TO THAT! YOU PACK UP YOUR THINGS!" he shouted and climbed out of his bunk. He donned his black overcoat and went out with his bike's key.

Two hours later, I was sitting on my bunk and Kenn returned with a packet in his hand.

"2000 dollars it is," he said handling the packet.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"Don't know. He took me somewhere and told me to meet him in Brown's café. Half an hour later he returned with this pack and told me to bring this to you. I asked him where he was going, he just yelled to go away." he concluded his story.

"What do I do with this?" I said pointing to the pack.

"Meet my dad at the airport. Give this to him and he will give you your ticket and 500rs. Then you can be on your way." he said.

An hour later, I was on a flight to India. Three hours later, I landed at Delhi Airport. I took a cab to Max hospital. 

"Jaldi chalao na bhai!" I growled at the driver. 

And I entered the hospital.

"Where can I find Miss. Reeta Sharma?" I asked the lady at the counter.

"Um...your name?" she asked.

"Raj Sharma. Reeta's sister." I said.

"Third floor, ICU." I ran to the third floor. In front of the ICU, my mother sat on the bench and my father was constantly walking. I kept my bag on the floor and hugged my mother.

"You here?" my dad with bewilderment. 

"How is she?" I asked with tears swelling in my eyes. The red light above the ICU'S door turned green.

A doctor dressed in a white coat entered the corridor. 

"Safe." his one word bought a smile on our faces. I hugged the doctor. and asked, "When can I meet her?"

"Now." I entered the ICU cabin. She was resting on the bed with a bandage around her hand and her head. I slowly went there and slowly slid my hands through her hair.

"When did you come?" my sister asked. 

"Now." and I kissed her cheek. She closed her eyes and slept.

After five hours when everything was safe, I called Kenn.

"How's your sister?" he asked.

"Excellent. How's Jeff?" I asked.

"He..." a slow voice stopped him.

"He is fine. When are you returning?" he concluded.

"Soon," I promised. 

Ten days later, I was back in the hostel of MIT. When I entered my room, I didn't found Jeff. Kenn was sitting on his bunk.

"Where is he?" I asked.

"He told me to tell you a story. Five years later, when he was studying in California, a midnight call woke him up." Kenn started but I stopped him.

"What has to do with him?" I asked.

He ignored.

"His mother said that Leslie, her sister is in hospital due to a car accident. He rushed to the hospital. When he went to his mother, she said, "She is dead. She needed a kidney and we couldn't find a donate" And he said, "What good even if I couldn't help my Sister?" Kenn told.

"What has to do with him?" I asked dumbfounded. 

"He said he couldn't let anyone else see his sister dead. So he donated his one kidney for you," he concluded and tears swelled both in his and my eyes.

"Where is he?" I asked and probably I knew the answer.

"After he donated his kidney, three days he stayed in the hospital. On the fourth day, he...he died. The doctor said his second kidney was damaged and they didn't know that." Kenn said and he was crying.

"Sleeping peacefully in his grave." I burst into tears.

"He was really mad. A nice friend till the end."

Too good friend. He will always live. In mine and the world's heart.

THANK YOU.