"You were here on time.. Mr.karthik. otherwise we won't be able to save her. But.. I am afraid she had slipped into a coma."

"Is..Is she... Going to be alright? Doctor?"

"Can't say at this point of time. Let's hope for the best."

"Sure."
Karthik said in a hardly audible voice which was overcome by guilt and grief.

"Um.. doctor?"

"Yes..?"

"Can I see her?"

"Of course. And I think she might be able to hear you. Give it try though. That'll help her recover."

"Okay."

With trembling feet, he walked inside the intensive care unit. She was lying there. A bandage around her forehead and neck and an oxygen mask. Clips attached to her fingers and an ECG machine constantly checking her pulse. Tears of helplessness gushed out of his eyes.. like a reflex, making it through his cheeks to his lips.. and he tasted guilt for the very first time. It tasted like it was extracted from the ocean of rage he had in himself.. all salty!

"Have you ever tasted your tears?"
A flashback.
Khushi was sitting right beside him on dilapidated wooden bench at the tea stall in Masoorie, sipping the tea.

"No.."
He said with utter surprise and amazement in his voice.
"Have you?"

"Many times.."

"Really...? Tell me about it."

"They are like sea water. Salty. But it feels like you are tasting your own soul. It's like tasting your self. And I am pretty sure everybody has a distinct experience when they do it."

"Wow.. never saw it that way. So.. how does your soul taste like.. I mean what did you feel?"

"The feeling that I am having right now!"

"What are you feeling right now?"

"Secure!"

He came back to the present time. For the first time in his life.. he'd felt something really beautiful after Reva. Although it was beautifully painful.. but it was beautiful. He felt like holding her hand and telling her that he was missing her presence.. in his life! Was it love? Nah.. not yet. But it was on the verge of it.

As he was walking towards her.. his phone rang.. he hesitantly picked it up.

"Karthik?! Hey.. it's Sasha. What.. um.. how's Khushi? I mean.. is she..

"Yeah.. she is safe. But she may have slipped into a coma."

"Ohh.. I am so sorry. Where are you now?"

"City hospital."

"Okay.. I will be there in 10 minutes. I have got some news. "
And she hung up the phone.

She reached on time.

"Hey.. where is she?"

"In the I. C. U."

"Okay.. well I have got a news. "

"Yeah.. you told me on the phone."

"Inspector just received some information about the principal's family."

It seemed to spark Karthik.

"What?"

"Not much.. it's that his only daughter.. now lives in Finland. And they are trying to contact her."

"How long is it going to take?"

"Maybe a day or two.. maximum!"