Mika - The Finale

For those who missed the earlier parts, here are the links
Mika - Part I
Mika - Part II
Mika - Part III
Mika - Part IV
Mika - Part V
Mika - Part VI
Mika - Part VII

Mika and Arun made their way through the throngs of people at the hospital. They found Hemanth's parents in the lobby. Mika went and sat next to Hemanth's mother.

"Hello mother, how's Hemanth now?"

"He's fine now, Mika. You look tired out! God will definitely help you find the person you are searching for."

"By the by, mother ... do you know Hemanth's email address? ..."

"Umm ... I think Hemanth once gave me his visiting card ... let's see if it has his email address ..."

She searched in her purse for Hemanth's visiting card and handed it over to Mika. Mika eagerly took it in her hands and glanced at it for the email address. Arun looked over Mika's shoulder.

"Is it him?"

Mika nodded in the negative. Mika stood up and went to the porch of the hospital. Amlu was standing there gazing at the garden. White little butterflies were skimmering over the tops of the tender petals of daffodils and daisies. Mika went and stood next to her.

"Do you enjoy watching the beauty that nature has to offer?"

Amlu looked up at Mika and gave her captivating smile and nodded very assertively.

"Yes ... Daddy has always taught me to enjoy the little things that many people miss out on ... Daddy says if you make peace with things around you ... you will always be happy ..."

"Very true ... "

"Mika Akka? ..."

"Yes?"

"Did you find 'neo'?"

"Nope ... I still haven't found him ... "

"Do you want me to help you in finding your friend? ... you see .. all you need is a lot of faith ..."

"umm ... I really wish you could ... but you already have done a lot in locating your father ... I guess you should also take a good rest along with your Dad ..."

"Come on, Akka, .. just tell me his name or something more about him ... you will see I can help a lot ..."

"Umm ..okay ", Mika cheered up a bit with Amlu's antics. "I don't know his real name and you also know his name on the computer 'neo' ... I will give you one more clue ... his email address is catchme.ifucan@yahoo.com."

"Yahooooo .. yahooo .. ", Amlu started dancing about.

"what ... what is it you are so excited about?"

"i ...know ... the .... person ! ...", Amlu kept running around Mika and shouting.

"oh! ... who is it? ... "

"it is my father ... the email address you told is his secret email address known only to him and me ...", Amlu suddenly stopped running. "umm .. how is that you know his secret email address? "

"Secret!", Mika said and ran inside the hospital.

"Arun!"

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Mika entered the ward where Hemanth was resting. Hemanth was reading a novel as Mika entered. Mika noted the title "A Walk to Remember". Hemanth closed the book and looked up as Mika entered.

"Hi Hemanth", Mika said. "I'm ... Aarthi ... I'm a neighbour of your parents..."

"Oh ... hello ... pleased to meet you ... take a seat .... "

Mika sat down in a couch across the bed.

"Thanks a lot for helping my parents in need .."

"Oh, it was my duty ..."

Both were silent for a while. Hemanth seemed to be deep in thought.

"Are you always very pensive like this?"

"Oh .. sorry ... no I guess - only when I am thinking ... "

"Oh .. I guesss I should be leaving ... I'll see you later ... "

"No ... no ... don't leave please ... I'm extremely sorry ... I guess I'm not very communicative but I would really love if somebody would talk to me ... "

"oh ... right then ... ", Mika sat down again.

"I was just in a deep thought about the novel I was reading ... it's one of my favorites ... every-time I read it, it always revitalizes my faith ... "

"oh ... great ... it must be a very good book then ... "

"yeah, it is ... especially when you are just out of a trauma .. it makes much more sense too ... "

"Did the ordeal test you a lot?"

"umm ... yeah .... umm ... ", he smiled to himself. "what's funny?", Mika asked.

"oh .. it reminded me of something I had said to ... ", Hemanth stopped, then looked at Mika straight in the eyes. Mika shivered a bit. It make her feel as if Hemanth was gazing deep into her thoughts.

"hey, have I met you somewhere before? .... "

Mika quickly said, "No .. I don't think so ... what makes you ask that?"

"well .. err ... ", Hemanth smiled to himself again. "this is the second time in the last few days that I am ready to believe in someone whom I don't know much ... something has definitely changed in me .... changed for the better I guess ..."

Hemanth then looked at Mika and smiled. Mika blushed.

"So ... who is this other person you are talking about ? ", Mika asked with a twinkle in her eyes. She was highly excited within. She could hear her heart beating louder than ever.

Hemanth fiddled his hair with his fingers. "Well .. huh ... I don't know much about her except her name ... I'll keep that a secret for the moment .... well, she .. she ... I don't know really know ... there was something about her ... her faith in me ... it filled a long standing void in my heart .... "

"well ... hah ..", Hemanth laughed again. " ... it is really funny I know but ... "

"What?", Mika asked hardly able to remain calm from outside.

"well ... you see I could be in love with her .... not sure how this is possible ... how I could feel so with a person whom I've never met ... but yet ... "

Mika got up and went to the balcony. "Excuse me for a second ... " Hemanth who had been engrossed in his own words .. suddenly realized that Mika had been in the room... "oh ... sure ..."

After a few minutes, Mika entered the ward again.

"Hemanth, I've got to tell you my real name."

-------------------

Hemanth had been stock still since he heard Mika tell her name. Mika turned and went out into the balcony again, tears in her eyes. Hemanth limped along to the balcony as well.

"Mika ... "

Mika did not turn to see Hemanth.

"Mika ... I'm sorry if I've hurt your feelings ... "

Mika simply turned around swiftly and tightly hugged Hemanth.

-------------------

Arun who had been dreamily watching the bustling activity outside the hospital for a long time turned back. He entered the hospital and walked up to Hemanth's parents.

"I've something very important to tell both of you."

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Hemanth grasped Mika firmly and slowly pulled her away. She was beautiful in the evening light. Her hair blew over his face.

"Mika ... look at me ... it might be that whatever blossomed between us could have been ... ... but at the same time, that is the very same thing that gives one the power to look at things as they are ... and the courage to stand up to it ... "

Hemanth continued.. "You were right in your emotions ... and I guess, so was I .. I realize that now ... there is nothing wrong with that ... but ... "

"Appa!", Amlu came running in. "Mika Akka ... Appa, do you know that it was Mika Akka here who saved my life .... "

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A fragile Sunitha entered the hospital with her caretaker. Nearly two years of chemotherapy had sapped most of her physical strength. Yet, she had fought on with Hemanth by her side.

Sunitha saw Hemanth's parents in the lobby. They were weeping. Then she noticed someone who was sitting across them. Someone, who initially had his head buried in his arms. The person looked up. Sunitha saw Arun looking at her with teary eyes. Hemanth's mother saw Sunitha and came running towards her.

"Sunitha ... why did you not tell us the truth earlier .... "

Sunitha consoled her. "Aunty, at least you know now ... "

She smiled understandingly at Arun. Arun smiled back weakly.
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Hemanth held Mika's palms. Both of them had tears in their eyes. Both looked into each other's eyes for a long time. Hemanth with understanding in his eyes released his grip on Mika's hand gently. It was metaphoric to his emotions.

Mika finally said, "Hemanth, you have taught me more in these two days than all my life ... I know that I will tread my life boldly from now on ... and .... I would like to have you as a friend for life to guide me all along!"

"Definitely", Sunitha replied. "You should ... ". Both Hemanth and Mika turned to see Sunitha standing at the balcony door.

Hemanth exclaimed, "Sunitha, you shouldn't have taken the trouble to come all the way here .... you are still sick ... "

"Hey Hemanth, who am I fighting for? ... for you, idiot! ... when you are in trouble ... what's it about me ... ".

Hemanth went forward and hugged Sunitha's frail structure tenderly. They held each other for long. Amlu jumped up and hugged both her parents. Mika smiled at the three of them.

The end