Darsh's POV:

It's four past time in the morning and the only emotion that runs in my sleep. According to medicine, we call it Sleep Deprivation.

After a sleepless night, you likely feel sluggish the next morning. Your brain cells feel sluggish, too. And when those brain cells are tired, you may be more likely to be forgetful and get distracted more easily, the research found. 

And Sleep Deprivation makes it difficult for brain cells to communicate effectively, which, in turn, can lead to temporary mental lapses that affect memory and visual perception. 

Despite knowing all these wild implications one person have on their body, I am still sitting in my boss's office my right hand resting on the armchair and my head resting on my palm. I am waiting to hand him the keys. I could have left the room placing the keys on the table but I don't know if he would take that act of mine well. 

He just finished the surgery and talked to the family members of the patient. Had I not been given this driving duty I would have been in the operation theater too, gaining more knowledge. 

Though it's not like I regret doing that. When her father asked me to fetch her daughter my insides fumed, I want to reject it but the most I could ask was why me? 

And his answer was, 'I trust you with my daughter'. Those words put some sudden responsibility on my shoulders and the urge to put up with his trust level with me increased. 

But what I didn't expect is that I have to bring a woman who has the mindset of 10 years old. What a child she was!

And a responsible adult too for offering money for the repairs of the car. I have to return it to her as I didn't make any use of it. I would have given it to her father but then I have to explain everything to him, so this idea is not applicable. Wonder when I will meet her again.

"Kept you waiting, Darsh?" came the voice of my boss, as the door opened. 

"Yes sir," I mumbled and stood up rubbing my hands on my jeans. 

"What?" he asked with a raised brow and removed his head cap. That's when it strikes me. I shouldn't have said yes. Damn my sleepiness. 

"I mean No, sir. I am good," I replied with more attention. 

"It's ok. I know you must be tired and sleepy," he chuckled understanding my situation. 

"Your keys, sir," I said handing the keys to him. He took them and asked me to sit when all I wanted to do was leave for my home. Unable to disappear immediately I sat down again. 

"Hope I didn't cause too much inconvenience to you because of this and hope my daughter too didn't say anything." 

"Not sir. Everything went well."

"So why are you waiting in my room? Want to tell anything?"

"No... sir. I am waiting to hand the keys to you. That's it."

"You could have kept them here and left, Darsh. What a fool you are?" he responded and laughed out calling me a fool. By now I got used to his unfunny jokes and being called a fool and its synonyms. 

Giving him a tight-lipped smile I stood up and said, "Now I will take my leave, sir." 

He nodded his head and even granted me leave for the whole day. Thanking him I set outside of the hospital towards my car.

The car took its time to get started and it was getting on my nerves. It's a second-hand car which we bought 5 years ago so it has a starting problem which is testing my patience. 

With a few more attempts I was able to kick-start the vehicle and started my ride. Thanks to the early hours of the day there is no traffic and I reached home in 30 minutes. 

I have already informed my mother and younger brother about my whereabouts and when I might reach home. Knowing my irregular work timing I have a spare key to the home to enter inside without disturbing them.

I parked my car outside and slowly entered the home to not make any sound, but my gaze met with a pair of feet laying on the ground. 

This kind of scene would scare any intruder in the home but I got used to this scene as the legs and body belong to my Maa. She has this habit of sleeping on the floor even without a pillow. No matter how many times I and Vihas, my brother chided her for this habit of hers she can never change it. 

"Maa. Maa!" I bent to her level and shook her shoulder gently to wake her up. Groggily she opened her eyes and sat up holding her legs close. 

"You came...." she said and stood up taking my support. 

"Yeah. Just now. You could have slept in your room, right?" 

"Was waiting for and sleep eventually came over," she replied and walked towards the kitchen. I gazed at the watch it was near to six and time for Vihas to get ready for his college. 

"Vihas is not up yet?" I asked her as I gulped down some cool water from the fridge. 

"Guess not still. I will have to prepare his food now. Will you eat anything?" Maa asked me tying her hair in a bun. 

"No, Maa. I had my dinner. I'll sleep now. Wake me up by noon for lunch."

She nodded her head and went ahead to do her chores. I went to my room and saw my brother stretching out his arm to stop the buzzing alarm in his phone on the table. I went and picked up the phone and placed it on his ear. 

He woke up with a sudden jolt and rubbed his ears as though removing sound from them. Slowly coming to his sense he looked at me with confusion which soon turned into annoyance. 

"Anna!" he groaned at me. 

"Go freshen up. It's time for college." 

"Yeah. I will. Good night," he said to me and stood up from the bed and went to get freshen up. Immediately I fell onto the bed, not even bothering to change my clothes to compensate for the lost time in my sleep. 

****

My eyes slowly fluttered open when I heard my phone ringing. It felt like it's been ringing continuously for the past few minutes but I choose to ignore. 

After a few more minutes it rang again. Feeling annoyed I took the phone and answered it without even looking at the caller's name. 

"Darsh?" came out a shrill voice and I instantly recognized the voice as I have been listening to it for the past 16 years. And this person has the habit of calling at unexpected times and certainly with a piece of unexpected news. 

"Why are you calling now?" I asked being semi-conscious. 

"You must have already guessed it. I have some news," seriousness dripped from his tone.

"Which is?" 

"Your grandfather passed away and it's been more than a month."

Hello everyone.

It's been quite a few days since I updated and from now the updates will be slower than usual, so I hope you won't mind these delays and continue your support for the book.

How's the chapter? It's more about life of Darsh and his family.

And some interesting reveals which I hope I will maintain well in upcoming chapters.

Hope you liked the chapter.

Please do VOTE, COMMENT and Share the story.

Thank you.

Stay Safe.