21 Please don't leave me alone
Vikram had called his driver and he reached the Karaoke station within 10 minutes. Once the driver reached, Vikram escorted a slightly tipsy Akira out. She was struggling to walk in her high heels. At first, he was annoyed with her choice of footwear but then he remembered what made do so and suddenly he suddenly felt sorry for her.
"To what length you will push yourself down Akira", muttered Vikram.
Once they came out of the elevator, he swiftly lifted her up in his arms and took her to the car. His driver had already opened the car door for them. He carefully placed her inside and then joined her in the car from the other side. Once seated inside, he tried to put her seatbelt on and while doing so he noticed that she had a bit of vomit stain on her top. Initially, he hesitated a bit but then he took out the wet wipe from his car and cleaned it up because he didn't want her to puke again because of the bad smell from the vomit stains. His hands were nervous but he did it anyways.
He then signaled his driver to start.
Slowly deep sleep had engulfed Akira and her head was wobbling down every now and then. He placed his palm to support her face. Her face was warm and soft like fur. He just couldn't stop looking at her. After a few minutes, his hand started feeling uncomfortable so he removed her seat belt and let her sleep peacefully on his lap.
After reaching Akira's house, Vikram asked the driver to take the key underneath the mat and open the door. Then he swiftly lifted her and took her inside to her bedroom. While Vikram lifted her and walked he slowly felt her raising her arms and embracing him. His breathing hitched, and for a moment he wished time to stop and wanted to hold her in his arms for eternity.
After a while, he placed her on her bed and carefully and arranged the pillows to support her head properly. He tucked her in like she was a baby who needed all the care and attention in the world. She slept on the bed while he kept waiting next to her, just to ensure that she was ok.
After around 30 minutes, Mike and Teddy also came back.
"Is she ok?", Mike asked.
"Yeah, she is sleeping. Don't wake her up early ok? And you guys also go to sleep", Vikram said and closed the door to Akira's room.
Then he went to the kitchen and filled a bottle with water. He reached for the medicine box and took one Advil out. He placed the medicine and water bottle on Akira's bedside table. Then he picked up his jacket and got ready to leave. but before leaving he bent down and placed a small peck on her head and traced his cheeks with his fingers.
"Please don't leave me alone", Akira mumbled in her sleep.
Vikram was startled at first but then he understood that she was just talking in her sleep. But still, his heart felt all warm and fuzzy.
"Promise me, Anthony, you will leave her and come back to me".
When he heard the next sentence coming from her, he felt like his heart was poked with a thousand needles. The pain surged in like a dark cloud blocking all the light and happiness and gripped him from all sides. One moment he felt like he was on cloud nine and the very next all his hopes were smashed into pieces. He took a deep breath and consoled his heart like had been doing since ages. Then he held her Pinky finger with his own and said -
"No matter what happens, No matter who you love, No matter where we are, I will always be there for you".
"I will never leave you alone Akira. I promise", he said and then silently left.