Free Neel Dervin and the Dark Angel by Neeraj Chand

from
Neel‟s health to Priyanka‟s school, to Mr. Ghosh‟s job and Mrs. Dervin‟s boss.
    “He‟s been surprisingly understanding through this whole thing.” Neel‟s mother
remarked. “I think it‟s because he has children too. But from tomorrow,I‟m sure he‟ll be
back to being a mix of Napoleon and Genghis Khan.”
“Well, Neel seems completely finenow.” Mrs. Ghoshsaid. “The situation is under
control, hopefully. And we‟re right next door if there is anyunexpected emergency.”
     
“Neel?” Priyankalooked at him as he sat staring at the centre of the table. “Are you all
right?”
    Neel looked up at her, a strangely contemplative expression on his face. Ever since
waking up in the hospital he had felt confused and terrified. Alone in his room, the sense of
loneliness and fear he had experienced had been almost overwhelming. But now, sitting at the
table with his family and friends, surrounded by good will and concern, he felt a burst of
happiness and comfort. Tomorrow he would see where the serum would take him, but tonight
he would sleep better knowing that he wasn‟t as alone as he had thought, and that he had so
many people in his life who cared about him.
“I‟m fine.” he said with a smile as he reached out for yet another parantha.
     
* * *
    The next day Neel got up at seven, and lay on his bed staring up at the ceiling. He had a
week long holiday from school, during which time he would be working with Doctor Fahim
on understanding and managing his new abilities. Thoughts about what was going to happen
to his when he would meet the doctor filled his mind as he went slowly to the sink to brush
his teeth.
    Upon going downstairs for breakfast, he found his mother getting ready to go to office
for an early shift. She greeted him with a hug and an enquiry about his health. After assuring
her yet again that he felt fine, he went into the living room to turn on the television.
“So you just relax today, alright?” his mother called out from the kitchen as she prepared
their breakfast. “I might be a little late, so I‟m leaving your lunch in the fridge.”
    “
Okay.” he said. Neel knew she felt guilty about the amount of time she had to spend at
the office. Hewished she wouldn‟t worry so much. “I‟ll have lunch and thenI‟ll go for a ride
on my cycle. Just to stretch my legs.”
    “Don‟t be silly,
Neel.” his mother said, coming out of the kitchen and staring at him in
surprise. “Youcan‟t go anywhere on your cycle.You need to rest. That‟s why you‟ve gotten
leave from school.”
    “Yeah, but mom, I‟m sick of staying in a room all the time.” Neel said. “The doctor
s told
me to do some light exercise. I‟ll just ride over to the bridge for a while.” The bridge offered
a picturesque view of the area around it, and the giant steps built under it were often filled
with people who came to enjoy the scenery.
His mother hesitated. “I don‟t know...” she said dubiously.
     
“Please, mom.” Neel said earnestly. “I‟ll go crazy staying inside the house for so many
days.”
     
She sighed. “Fine, you can go. But don‟t ride fast, and come back soon. And be very,
very careful. ” she ended with a warning glare.
     
“Thanks.” Neel saidwith a grin. “Have fun at your office.”
     
“Thank you, honey.” His mother kissed him on his forehead and left.
    Neel spent the morning roaming around the house, watching television, flipping through
some magazines, working harder than ever to keep the speed of his mind under control, and
feeling the pleasurable laziness which comes from bunking school. After a couple of hours
however, the various speculations going through his mind about what was going to happen to
him that day brought back the feeling of confinement he had experienced the day before. He
went up to the terrace of his house, and entered the nest.
    The nest was a little room on the terrace of Neel
‟s house at the far edge. It had been
there when