All alone

A man is sleeping on his bed but he is continuously stirring and murmuring something, there is a frown etched on his face while he murmurs "no.... Stop.... I didn't do anything....please stop..." He is sweating heavily and seems like he is having a nightmare and he is trying hard to open his eyes, in the dream he see a small boy who is hiding in the cupboard he could hear the sound of his parents fighting when suddenly he hears his father calling him "Chris.." he shivered hearing his voice and ducks his face in his arms to hide himself even more  "Chris, where are you? come out" he hears again but he Didn't dare to open the cupboard then he hears the sound of clicking of shoes and his eyes widen with fear.

The door of his room opened and he shut his eyes tightly, his heart was pounding as he feared what was going to happen next...

"Xavi, this is the last time I am calling you... Come out else consequences will not be good" he hears which make him flinch

There was silence for a few seconds after which he heard the door of the cupboard open.

He looks up and the look on his father face was enough to scare the hell out of him, his father pulled him out of the cupboard harshly

"Dad i didn't do anything today Dad....sorry Dad please Don't beat me" the small boy cries

But the man looked at him with angry expression he was about to raise hand at him when the man open his eyes

He opened his eyes and was still panting heavily and he looked so disturbed from his dream, he picked up the bottle from the side table and chugged down the whole bottle.

He closed his eyes and rubbed his face to calm himself but it wasn't helping him so he opened the cupboard and took out a box, he opened it and seeing the thing inside it immediately calmed his nerves, he took out that thing and caressed it while a few tears dropped from his eyes.

Giving a last glance at that thing he placed it back and looked at the time it was 6 am so got up and went to the bathroom to freshen up. He changed into his track suit and left his home to go for a run as running always calms his mind, he plugged his earphones and started running, he doesn't run on parks as he don't like crowd so he prefer to run on fields as he is running anyone can notice that he is well built his muscles are bulging out of his arms, he has a well chiseled face with sharp nose but his eyes his eyes are hollow like there is no hope in them, there is a pain in eyes which one can easily see if anyone peeks through them but only if he allows.

After running a long distance he stops and bends to control his heartbeat, he closes his eyes to relax himself, running always helps him to calm his mind, he looks around and sees no one was there, the field was empty just like his life, he is all alone in this big world.

He sat under a nearby tree and closed his eyes.

"You came.... I was waiting for you"  he heard and opened his eyes and saw a man in his early fifties standing there, he was wearing a simple Shirt and a khaki pant and was having a sweet smile on his face.

Chris got up and went towards him  "yes I am here, how are you feeling Xander" he asked "and why are you here today you should have taken rest today, yesterday your condition was not good" Xavier said

The old man smiled "child, I am fine today and this field is like my medicine. If I would have taken a rest then I would have become more ill. This field is all my have and like to take care of it" the old man replied

The old name is Xander and he owns this field and works here to pass his time. Chris met him two years back when he first came to this field for a run. Initially he was distant and never talked to him but one day when he was running he found this old man unconscious on the floor so he helped him and took him to his house which is near the field and came to know that old is alone too as his sons are living in abroad and hardly visits or call him while his wife is dead so the old man is all alone in this world. Chris saw reflection of his pain in eyes, his eyes were showing the same emptiness which is in his eyes so he decided to help the old man that's why he help the old man in his work in field in morning before going to college and he also visits him at night after coming from work but still he maintains some distance with him.

Chris helped the old man in his work

"Ok Xander uncle I am leaving now but please don't over exhaust yourself  I will come at night to see you" Chris said while the uncle nodded and placed his hand on his head to bless him "God bless you my child" he said while Chris just nodded, he is not use to all this compassion so he doesn't show any emotion.

He reached his home which is a single room house located at the outskirts of the busy city Mumbai. He has deliberately chosen this place because there are only a few houses, he doesn't like crowded places in fact he doesn't like people he prefers to stay within himself.

Reaching home he got ready for his college, he is 23 and is in final year of  his master's degree, after his college he goes to work because he has no one to look after his needs, from early age he has started doing some small jobs to support him and his studies and now he is manger in a small firm.

Upon getting ready he made a quick breakfast for him. After that he took out his bike which is a second hand bike he managed to purchase last year. He sat on his bike and drove to his college. Reaching there he could see the many prying eyes on him. Girls are crazy after him and boys are jealous of him but he doesn't even give a damn to anybody. He has no friends because he never allows anyone to come close to him as he is afraid that if he will let someone get close to him then they will get to know about his past which he doesn't want.

He reached his class ignoring all the seductive glance of girls and sat on his usual seat when a girl approached him "hey Chris can I sit here?" She said in usually sweet voice and batted her lashes

"Noo" he said without even looking up

"But...." She tried to argue but Chris gave him a dangerous glare "I said no which means no" he said in a rude voice while the girl feeling humiliated left immediately.

"I don't know what's wrong with this man"

Yes he is so distant and rude"

"He ignores everyone in the college"

"He is very mysterious"

Chris could hear this whispering but he chose to ignore it as normal to him.

His day at college went normal with him ignoring everybody. After his college he went for his work. He is very focused towards his work which is the reason he got promoted twice in a year. Chris wants to start his own business and he is working hard for it.

Even at his workplace he doesn't interact unnecessarily with anybody and minds his own business but for the people around him his cold behavior is the topic of gossip.

After his work he went to his home and cooked dinner for himself and uncle Xander as he was ill and took the dinner to the field.

They ate in silence as Chris doesn't like to talk much

"Uncle tomorrow I am going to Boston for some work" he said after a long silence while uncle nodded fixing his gramophone

"Uncle why don't you buy a new radio this gramophone is too old and needs repair on every alternate day"

"Beta this gramophone was gifted  to me by my beloved wife and this is the only possession I have of her so it is very special to me. This makes me feel close to her." uncle replied while Chris nodded

He knew how much uncle loved his wife because he has told many stories related to him and his wife so he can understand the importance of gramophone in his life.

He too has something with him to give him peace of mind, some memories things in the box, his lips immediately curved into a smile thinking about some memories.

Xander's uncle looked at him "God, Chris is a very good and kind person but I know he lives a very plain life. Please send someone who can fill color in his life and make him happy."