Smoking is injurious to health. It causes many health problems which are fatal.

Say no to smoking.

Your life is precious.

Shamsher

I stand in the waiting area as the doctor approaches me.

"Kaisi hai wo?" I ask about the girl, me and my friend, Jaivardhan rescued from a horrible party.

(How is she?)

Those bastards were trying to assault her but we made it at the right time.

"Physically just few minor cuts. Nothing serious. But psychologically it can be really traumatic, even though she is acting fine" She explains.

I nod.

The girl slowly comes out, looking around and finally meeting my eyes. There's a band aid on her forehead and cheek. She is still wearing my jacket over her torn blouse, clutching it tightly. Her black hair is a little messed up due to the incident. She pushes them out of her face. There's a small mole just below her eyes on her cheekbones.

She is confused.

"Any medicines?"

"Haan prescription de dia hai inko" the doctor tells me and leaves.

(Yeah I have given prescription to her)

I move towards her, her eyes follows each of my movement.

"Prescription" I forward my hand.

"Koi zaroorat nahi hai. Faltu ki dawaiya hai. Choti si chot hai apne aap thik hojaegi" she says in a low sweet voice full of confidence but I detect a slight quiver in it.

(There's no need. These are useless medicines. It's a minor injury, it will heal on its own.)

"Mein le aauga" I tell her.

(I'll bring it)

"Bola na koi zaroorat nahi hai"

(I told you there's no need)

"Tum-" I step closer to her while she moves away instinctively but putting a brave face. I take a deep breath taking a step back and then speaking "Ek accha kaam karne do mujhe. Itne khoon kardiye hai mene aaj. Thode kam kode naseeb hoge narak mei mujhe"

(No-) (Let me do one good deed. I've already committed so much murder today. I'll get fewer lashes in hell.)

A tiny smile appears on her face.

"Toh tumhe ek acche kaam ki zaroorat hai?" She questions.

(So you need to do one good deed?)

"Bilkul sahi" I lie. I don't have any need to do good work. I have accepted what I am and what I do.

(Absolutely correct)

But I know some people don't want to feel like charity. They inherently don't believe someone will do something good for them without having any hidden intentions. And I can sense she is one of them.

"Ab kya tum mujhe wo kaam karne dogi?"

(So now would you let me do it?)

She hands me the prescription and I ask her to wait till I bring the medicine.

I usually don't come to hospital except for Ma's usual check up. There's a weird environment here.

Misery and hope. Death and life.

I deal with all.

When I return, she isn't there. I look around, no trace of her.

Where did she go?

"Sabko bhaga deta hoon" I chuckle at my skill. "Magic of the great Shamsher"

(I make everyone run away)

I walk out of the hospital, glancing around in hopes of finding her. It's very late and it can be dangerous for her. She has already suffered enough trauma for today.

Leaning against my parked car, I light a cigarette looking at the sky. There's so much to think about.

Silently I just keep staring at the moon. I envy it. So much.

"Cigarette sehat ke liye hanikarak hoti hai" the same voice says and I look infront of me to find that girl.

(Cigarette is injurious to health)

"Yeh life meri sehat ke liye hanikarak hai. Par dekho jee raha hoona mein" I reply taking another puff. "Kaha gayi thi tum?"

(This life is injurious to my health. But look I'm still living) (Where did you go?)

"Hospital ki hawa mujhe raas nahi aati" she replies with a grin.

(Hospital's air doesn't suit me)

I observe her. She is pretending to be completely fine. I see a reflection of me in her eyes.

I smirk.

"Cigarette dena"

(Give me the cigarette)

I forward her my cigarette, she takes it with a slight tremor in her hand.

A giveaway of her inner world.

"You smoke?"

"Tch." She denies "Ek baar kari thi bas. Par itna sab kuch hogya hai aaj socha yeh phirse try karke dekhti hoon. Kya pata iss baar pasand aajaeye"

(I only tried it once. But since everything that has happened today, I thought I'd try it again. Who knows, I might like it this time.)

"Don't just keep the smoke in your mouth" I tell her. I mean if she is doing it, she better do it correctly.

I know I'm a jerk but hey, I'm the hero here.

She takes a whiff and immediately coughs making me laugh.

"Pakdo isse. Abhi bhi bekar hai yeh. Mood kharab kardia" She makes a disgusted face. I take it back and give her the medicine bag.

(Take it. It still sucks. It ruined my mood.)

"Gaadi mei baitho ghar chord deta hoon" I finish the cigarette and throw it away.

(Sit inside the car, I'll drop you home)

She narrows her eyes on me.

Oh now she finds me suspicious.

I sigh and take out my pistol from back pocket.

"Yeh kya kar rahe ho?" She backs off. "Dimaag centre mei nahi hai tumhare"

(What are you doing?) (You are crazy)

"Pakdo isse." Taking her hand, I keep the pistol on it. "Agar tumhe mujhpar halka sa bhi doubt ho toh phew" I make a gun with my fingers and place it against my head. "Okay?"

(Take it) (If you have even the slightest doubt about me then phew)

She nods hiding her surprise.

What kind of people have she met till now?

I assume bad and greedy. Most of them are.

"Tumhe pata tha wo kitni bekar log the?" I ask while driving after asking for her address.

(Did you know they were bad people)

"Haan"

(Yes)

"Toh tum gayi kyu?"

(Then why did you go?)

"Kyunki mein pagal hoon"

(Because I'm mad)

I raise my eyebrow and she shakes her head "Ofcourse paise ke liye. Aur kya reason ho sakta hai"

(Ofcourse for money. What else could be the reason)

I nod. I can understand what money can make you do.

She turns completely towards me, scrutinizing me.

"Kya hua?"

(What happened?)

"Toh kya kahani hai tumhari?"

(What's your story?)

"Matlab?" I question.

(Meaning?)

"Matlab kya hua hai tumhare saath"

(I mean what has happened to you)

"Kuch bhi nahi" I reply

(Nothing)

"Mera guess sunoge?"

(Want to listen to my guess?)

Oh so she is distracting herself. I can do that.

"Sure"

"Dil toota hai tumhara" she guesses right but I won't affirm.

(Someone broke your heart)

"Tumhe kaise pata?"

(How do you know?)

"Jo yeh tumhare chehre pe 12 bje huye haina saaf saaf pata chal raha hai. Plus mujhe ankhein padhni aati hai" She says proudly.

(It's clearly visible on your face. Plus, I can read eyes.)

"Mere haste, handsome chehre par tumhe 12 bje huye dikh rahe hai?"

(You can see it on my smiling handsome face?)

"Nahi wo toh tumhara mask hai"

(No that's your mask)

"Bilkul tumhare jaise. Haina?" I state.

(Just like yours. Right?)

She looks out of the window.

See everybody wants to be seen until they finally are and then they feel vulnerable and want to run away.

"Ghar aagya" she speaks up and I stop the car.

(Home)

She quietly gets out of the car leaving my pistol behind on the seat.

"Suno" I shout.

(Listen)

"Haan"

(Yes)

"Aaj raat ke liye mein tumhara chaukidar hoon. Tension mat lena koi aayega toh mein sambhal lunga." I tell her.

(I'm your watchman for tonight. Don't worry, if anyone comes, I'll take care of it.)

And there's that look on her face again like she had no one who looked after her.

She almost looks gullible. I'm aware she isn't, life hasn't been kind to her.

I feel like protecting her? Weird.

She simply goes inside and I send my mother a text that I won't be returning today.

This neighborhood doesn't look safe at all. We have erased all the members of Dhanush's gang, the person to whose party she went but just for precaution I'll stay. So nothing happens to her.

Somebody give me an award.

Gosh I'm joking with myself.

The whole night passes and it's morning again. It's not hard for me to stay up all night, sleep barely comes to me.

I scroll through the texts, the voice notes, the pictures.

I should delete them. But how to delete the memories?

There's a knock on my window.

"Naam kya hai tumhara?" She asks.

(What's your name?)

"Shamsher. Tumhara?" I lower the glass window.

(Shamsher. Yours?)

"Dhwani. Chai" She forwards me the half filled cup of tea. "Mene bas apne liye banayi thi. Phir dekha tum abhi tak bahar ho toh adhi adhi kardi"

(Dhwani. Tea) (I made it just for myself. Then I saw you were still out, so I divided it in half.)

I take the cup and look at time. It's 7:30am. She has make up on her face but I notice slight puffiness around her eyes.

She cried once she was alone.

"Itni jaldi kaha ja rahi ho tum?" I inquire since she is all ready.

(Where are you going so early?)

"Kaam" she states as if it should be obvious.

(Work)

"Kal raat ke baad tumhe thoda aaram lena chahiye"

(After yesterday night you should take some rest.)

"Aaram baad mei karege. Abhi mujhe paise kamane hai" She says as I gulp down the tea.

(I'll take rest later on. Right now I need to earn money.)

She takes back the cup and coming out again, locks the door.

"Mein chordu?" I ask as she looks in rush.

(Should I leave you?)

She hasn't even healed yet. There's weird connection I feel with her.

I ignore it.

"Thik hai. Mera auto ka kiraya bach jayega"

(Okay. It'll save my auto fare.)

She sits beside me in the car and I start driving.

"Thik thak aadmi toh ho tum" she states after sitting silent for a while.

(You are nice man)

"Janta hoon" I shrug."Toh batao"

(I know) (So tell me)

"Kya?"

(What?)

"Kyu kar rahi ho yeh sab?" I ask.

(Why are you doing all this?)

"Lambi kahani hai" She winks at me and I chuckle.

(It's a long story.)

"Poora saffar hai humare paas"

(We have the whole journey ahead of us)