Noah was sitting all alone staring at the blank white wall of her hospital room. She had read somewhere, 'The hospital walls heard more prayers than the gods of temples and mosques'. She still wondered why was it so. Hearing the beep sound had become her subconscious habit. She heard it even when she was granted a day of leave. It was just like the thing had gotten embedded into her system.

There was a small arm table placed on her bed, behind which Noah sat with her legs crossed. The white table had a pen with a piece of paper kept on. Noah had written something on the paper in calligraphic style. When the doctor entered the room she slid the piece of paper into a pink envelope and handed it over to the doctor before he said anything.

"Thank you for the pen, paper, and envelope Uncle!"

Vivek smiled and took the envelope and when he was trying to sneak into it, Noah left out a shriek and said

"Naaahh... It's for Mama and Papa!"

"Ohhh Okay, my darling..." Vivek slid the envelope into the long pocket of his apron. "I promise I will not look into it!"

Noah's smile brightened as Vivek came close and said her to look up and pulled her eyelids down. She said while he was examining the pallor

"I don't know why uncle, but your hands feel as though they have magic in them! I always feel safe in your hands! Did you learn any magic?"

Vivek smiled at Noah and left her eyelids and told her to open her mouth and stretch out her tongue. He said looking at her mouth

"They teach us this magic in our medical school!"

"Then I want to be there too..."

Vivek didn't hear the next sentences. He felt as if he was drained out of his energy. He had learned two things while he was studying medicine. One that he should never get attached to the patient on an emotional basis as it would hamper his performance in treating the next patient. The other the was the assuring touch, 'magic touch' as Noah called it. He felt he would lose the former if he got any more connected to Noah.

"Noah, my little princess, before that, there is a surprise for you!"

"And what is that, uncle?" Asked Noah biting her lips. Vivek smiled and spoke continuing his examination

"It won't remain a surprise if I say it. Your parents have a gift for you and..." He stroke her thin pale cheeks "You are going to have a leave for tomorrow!"

Vivek started to walk back when the girl started to rejoice, but stopped and turned around when Noah called him out

"What is it my darling?"

"Uncle, how am I doing? Am I normal with all the things you checked in me?"

"Yes... hmmm... Your parents will be coming... hmmm... In ten minutes, I suppose... can you wait until then?"

"Sure uncle!"

When Vivek closed the door, he felt what Anya was going through. That question had hit him from nowhere, but still, there was an innocence in those blue eyes.

How hard could it be for a mother to lose such a lovely child? And...

He wondered as he started to walk towards the next room.

How can anyone answer that particular question, genuinely?

***

Noah was not told of where she had been taken to. The only thing she knew was that one of her wishes was coming true. Shaan had given the car keys to Anya and he was cuddling Noah in the back seat. She was laughing endlessly when he tickled her foot. He always wanted to smell Noah in his arms.

"And how does a dog bark?"

Asked Noah pointing at Shaan and he grinned

Wooofff... Woooffff...

Noah climbed the back of the driver's seat and whispered in Anya's ears

"How does a wolf growl?"

Anya left out a snicker before she said

Vooooowuuuuuuu....

Then all the three started to laugh and as the airport came in sight, Shaan gestured Anya about revealing the secret through the rear view glass. Anya nodded briskly and Shaan pulled Noah from the back seat. His heart wrenched when the thickness of her entire body was not any more than his palm. He smiled nonetheless

"Noah, where are we going?"

Noah looked up biting her lips. She came back to her senses and screamed

"Disney land!"

"Ohhh... You want to go there too!" Shaan smiled and hugged Noah tightly "We will go there another day, Now... Look!"

He directed his hands above as the rooftop of the car opened. A group of white birds was flying and that looked beautiful. Noah said without turning to him, still gazing at the birds as they flew. Her voice as frail as she was

"Pa...pa..."

Shaan kissed her cheeks and said

"Yes, we are going to fly with them today!"