"Ouch", cried the little girl.

Akira's senses were overwhelmed with pain, burning sensation and a heavyweight lying on top of her body. Before she could even get up and assess the situation, she heard a frantic cry,

"Oh my God !!! Kate !!!"

She tried hard to comprehend the things happening around her. What, who, where? Her vision started to fade and everything seemed hazy. She was surrounded by everything black and slowly it started engulfing her. She blacked out.

---

Akira felt cold. Suddenly she started to feel like she was standing near a waterfall which was spraying water all over her face. She slowly opened her eyes and saw Katherine sitting next to her with a bottle of water in her hand. She immediately got up and started asking Katherine,

"Did you see a little girl? I fell down here with her. She might be injured as they both fell on the pavement."

"You mean this one?", Katherine said and pointed her finger towards Kate.

"Yeah. Are you ok? Sorry, I pulled you back with too much force", Akira said and checked the girl's elbows which had been bruised because of the impact.

"Sorry? You are saying sorry to her? You are impossible Akira. If it was not for you then she would not have survived by now", said Katherine and held Akira's hands and supported her in getting up.

"I don't know how to thank you. I don't know what would have had happened to my daughter if you didn't pull her back at the right time", Katherine said and hugged Akira tight.

Akira could feel Katherine's emotions, the fear of losing a loved one, the fear of what could have had happened. She had already crossed that path when she lost her parents. She was no alien to this fear, this haunting pain. So she pulled herself back and wiped out Katherine's tears and said,

"Anyone would have done that ok. Let's not discuss what could have had happened. She is safe now and that's all that matters", Akira said and winked at Kate.

"I have a medical kit in my car. It's better if we get your bruises cleaned up and hers too", Katherine said and then held Kate by her hand, scared to let her by her own.

"My bruises?", exclaimed Akira with a question mark on her face. Upon hearing her, Katherine pointed her finger towards her foot. Only after that, Akira realized what was the source of the burning sensation. When she fell on the pavement on her back she bruised her ankle and her shoulder blade too.

"Thank you, aunty, for saving me", quipped Kate and beamed a smile on her face. Akira just nodded and looked at the pretty soul. She looked like a carbon copy of Katherine. Sharp nose, loose curls, hazel eyes, she inherited them all from Katherine.

"Your daughter looks exactly like you", commented Akira as they started walking towards Katherine's car. Katherine heard her and just smiled without saying anything.

"What were you doing here by the way?" asked Katherine.

"I was just buying the medicines which you had asked me to apply for not having the scar marks", replied Akira

"Then I should thank my stars and Raymond, that he asked me to prescribe you those medicines and you decided to buy from this pharmacy. It's all fate I must say. You were destined to save my daughter today", Katherine said and open the boot of her car to take out her first aid kit.

"I couldn't agree more. Just like your brother was destined to save me", said Akira and sighed.

"I really feel bad to see him in pain because of me. He can't even write anything properly as his right arm is hurt", added Akira and looked down.

"Uncle is hurt? When, how, where? Why didn't you tell me?", Kate said and almost teared up.

She was very much attached to Raymond and probably that's why Katherine had decided not to tell her about Raymond's injury.

"He is a big boy and he is hurt just a little bit because he saved this Aunty. Just like this aunty got hurt while saving you. So don't worry much ok?", said Katherine and gave Kate a soft pat on her cheeks.

"I know, my uncle is a superhero", quipped Kate. Both Katherine and Akira looked at Kate fondly, admiring the innocence of childhood.

Katherine then took out the medicine box and sanitizer to clean her hands first. Then she passed on the sanitizer to Akira and started cleaning her daughter's wounds. Given that she was also a doctor, she was very specific about hygiene. She fixed her daughter's bruises within seconds and then moved towards Akira who was cleaning her wounds, and said,

"Let me!!". Then Katherine took some swabs and started cleaning Akira's wounds.

"How is your wound on the neck?" asked Katherine as she couldn't see it because of the scarf which Akira had tied around her neck.

"Much better now", said Akira

"I know, it's the wound in the heart that takes much more time to heal rather than the wound on the body. Stay strong. You will sail through", Katherine said.

Only a woman can understand the pain in the heart of a woman.

Akira was overwhelmed with Katherine's warm words. So she just nodded.

The wound on Akira's ankle was a bit deep, so it stung badly when Katherine applied the antiseptic liquid. She flinched in pain and twisted her leg. It was stinging a bit too much. Katherine felt really bad for Akira.

"Poor thing, can't even have one day in peace", Katherine thought inside her head.

Akira had few bruises in her back as well. But she didn't tell anything about it to Katherine as she thought she would clean then by herself.

"All set", Katherine said after dressing Akira's wound.

"This will completely heal in a week. Try not to put water on top of it for one-two days", Katherine added.

"Thank you so much", replied Akira

"Shall I drive you back home?", asked Katherine.

"No no, I can manage. My car is parked near the pharmacy shop", Akira said and was about to leave.

Meanwhile, Katherine whispered something into Kate's ears.

Akira had taken a few steps when Kate ran up to her and said,

"Tomorrow is my birthday and I don't think many of my friends will turn up. So will you please come and celebrate with me and mom?".

Akira looked at the tiny little angel standing in front of her, literally pleading with her eyes. How could she say no to her?

Katherine smiled and thought inside her head,

"Finally all the expensive drama classes are coming to some good use".