Chapter 13

Ria was wide awake and…She wasn’t embarrassed… No. It was one of the most beautiful moments in her life but that was her little secret and didn’t have to reveal it to anyone. Why was Gaurav so good to her? Right from the time he had found her fallen yesterday night to almost twenty four hours now, he had taken such good care of her. Her wound was healing only because of his presence of mind. But he was a mystic puzzle way beyond her capacity to solve… she realised she knew nothing about him. He was a far from the ruthless Casanova image projected at work and she wondered why…  

And this place… Parijath? What on earth was this? All those women and children… was this some kind of a home… like an orphanage? Did it all belong to him?  Who was Girija Devi Ahuja? And those Horses… that view was splendid indeed. She had to visit before they left the place. Thinking of which she realised it was high time she called her parents and her eyes fell on the mobile phone. She had to call her folks with a ray of hope that they didn’t know about her rendezvous so far… and they would be probably worried about her. She dialled her father’s number and waited as the phone rang finally… It was strange that she longed to hear his voice amongst all the emotional chaos she was caught up in.

“Hello?” Her father’s voice was surprisingly chirpy at this hour of the night.

“Hello Appa… it’s me, Ria”

“Which number is this? Where are you?”

“Appa, my phone conked off. Pune is flooded badly…. “

“…. Ria good you called. I need some money. When can you send?”

Ria heart sank and her eyes filled. Is this what he had to say? Not even asking her how she was holding up?

“Appa… Pune is flooded. Our housing colony has been under three feet water….”

“I know all that. I spoke with Joshi last evening….”

“You called Rajeev uncle? Didn’t he tell you how bad the situation is? I couldn’t even go home….”

“Ria, I need the money urgently. You can do an online transfer to my account. I will use the ATM here.”

Ria was at her wits end but had no more energy to argue. Tears rolled down as she contrasted the caring of the man who was here a while ago to the person across the phone who was supposed to care a notch higher.

“Why do you suddenly need money? You were supposed to be back in a couple of days…”

“Er… Ria… there is something I had to tell you.  .. er…Pooja’s marriage was fixed yesterday. The guy was from the bride’s side here. One look at our Pooja and he was a goner. He is tall, handsome IT engineer…….”

Ria was stunned. She blocked the rest of her father’s tirade. Pooja’s marriage was fixed and she wasn’t even told. Her father was only calling her now for …money?

“… Engagement is tomorrow. So, I need thirty thousand.”

That got her attention. “What? Engagement… so soon? Appa…. I don’t have that kind of money…. you should know that. I gave you all my savings before you left for Madannapet…” only she knew the difficulty she had to face in spite of earning a handsome salary… who would believe, her own family was milking her dry?

“What about your PPF? I had put money in that from your childhood…. I saw the balance when I updated your passbook last month. I also checked with the clerk. She said you could withdraw about thirty-five thousand… I only want thirty….”

WHAT THE HELL…. Her father had put the bare minimum amount to keep the account afloat. It was she who filled big amounts from her salary once she got the job. She was saving money for herself… for her life after marriage. That was the only safety nest she had… Ria was angry. How could her father do that to her?

“… Ria are you there? Arrange the money quickly. The engagement is on the day after tomorrow. We are doing it at home here but there are other arrangements to be made. Pooja’s saree, caterer…...” he went on.

Not once did he mention or ask Ria if she could visit them for Pooja’s engagement. Was she just an ATM for them?  “I will send the money as soon as I can.”  She whispered, her throat clogging and disconnected. Looked like, her responsibilities were the heavy baggage permanently attached to her back.

She remembered a few years ago when they had made a trip to Warangal for her cousin’s wedding. She was into her graduation program and had taken a week off since it was a close relative. She had saved up money for months to buy a half saree from a store near her house which sold clothes on the seconds. She had her eye on the beautiful green and red combination and there was a flaw in the design because of which she was getting it for a throwaway price. She had paid 500/- to the owner and had reserved it for a fortnight after a lot of coaxing. She had managed to save up 3000/- and was sure to adjust the accessories in it too. But somehow her father had got wind of it and she had to eventually give him the cash to use it to give the gift cover to the new couple. She had been so upset and had to borrow a salwar kameez from Padma. However it was quite ill fitting and she was subjected to sneers by her relatives beyond the usual ones. To add salt to her wounds, her parents had joined them in commenting on her appearance and ‘poor dressing sense’. That was the last family event she had attended and her parents too were never keen on taking her along. With Pooja however it was a different story altogether. Her mother painstakingly altered her blouses for her darling daughter and her parents were always proud to show her off…  It had never bothered Ria so far but today her heart fell totally shattering into a million pieces. For all the trouble and sacrifices she had made just for an acceptance in the family, all she was subjected to was insults and no one cared about her… whether she was dead or alive. She held her chest, her pain far beyond the throbbing of the leg and sobbed falling into the pillow. All the events of her lifetime passed before her shut eyes… It was like she didn’t matter except for her pay check… both for her parents as well as her fiancé. She had tolerated everything for their sake… even her fiancé’s stupid advances. Speaking of which, Ria decided to call Vikram and ask for a loan till she could withdraw her PPF money. She would then repay him, besides the fact that he owed her too. She sat up wiping her cheeks as she made up her mind… this was the last time she was helping her appa. She would move out to a working woman’s hostel for all she cared. She would send him some money every month and fulfil her duty that’s it. She was done… so so done… She dialled Vikram’s mobile number… thankfully remembering it.

Vikram’s phone rang.

“Hello who’s this?” She could hear some kind of rock music in the background. Was he partying? In this terrible weather?

“Hi Vikram…This is Ria.”

“Ria…is this a new number? Ne ways…. leave it. Why did you call?”

… BECAUSE YOU ARE MY GODDAMN FIANCÉ… and the additional bane of my existence currently.

“Um…Pooja’s getting engaged… and I need to wire some money to Appa’s account. I am stuck in the flood….”

“…Ria, can you hurry up? I am …in between something.” Of course he was… everything was important to him accept her.

“Yeah sure… Um Vikram please wire thirty thousand to appa. I will repay you once I….”

“…hey… hey… hold on…. Do I look like a blank cheque to you? Thirty thousand… have you lost your mind? You say YOU will repay… but did you forget it’s our money that you are talking about? You have barely saved a penny since you started working. How are we going to buy that house if you don’t save money…? Just say NO to your appa.” Saying, he disconnected.

Ria felt numb. He fiancé didn’t even ask how she was doing… while he was goddamn partying. He was the one who owed her money and never bothered to talk about repaying. Instead he was giving her lessons on finance. But what could she expect from him when her own father didn’t bother to ask about her. Nonetheless she had to arrange for the money transfer. She couldn’t let Pooja suffer. She looked at the time. It was 10 PM. Gaurav must be asleep by now… she found herself shuffling towards his room clutching the phone in her hand. The pain was there but much better considering her plight earlier today.

She knocked at his door tentatively…

After a minute she heard footsteps. She heard the latch being released and he opened the door. And… her eyes widened. Gaurav stood before her wearing nothing but loose white shorts. His chiselled abs which she had only felt through his clothes was now visible… Oh gosh she was bashfully drooling over the fine specimen before her. His eyes were dreamy and his hair was ruffled… there were bed-sheet or pillow marks imprinted on his cheeks and he looked like a lost puppy. She felt guilty about waking him. He must have been tired too.

“Um…sir…I am sorry…”

“What is it Ria? Do you want something? Is your leg…”, he ran a quick gaze over her body. “…Is your leg alright? Are you in pain?”

Ria’s throat clogged. Her folks didn’t care but he was so concerned about her.

“I… I am fine sir… I um …need some help” She said still clutching the phone as if it was her lifeline.

Gaurav opened his door wide. He gestured her in and right then realising his clothes or lack of there off, he quickly wore a loose t shirt as she stood at the door looking away to give him some privacy. “Come on in Ria. You shouldn’t be standing long with that wound. Come in.”

She went inside and looked around; his room was exactly identical to hers. He went to the study table as he switched on the light. His room had the AC on full blast and Ria shivered. He immediately switched off the AC and rushed to put his blanket around her. She was filled with the same citrus scent that was so much…. him. She closed her eyes and inhaled as the unsaid emotions were overwhelming her.

“Uh… Ria?” He called out and she jerked up as if out of a trance.

“Um… sorry…” she chuckled. “…I need some… money. Actually, my father needs money and I can’t transfer right now due to obvious reasons….”

“How much?” He asked interrupting her.

“… actually, my sister is getting engaged in a couple of days so my father needs …” she tried to explain.

“How much Ria… you don’t have to explain. Just tell me the amount and the account details.”

“…th …thirty thousand. I shall repay you as soon as I have access to my laptop.”

“I know you will. Don’t worry. Just give me the account details. The transfer will be done earliest tonight.” He said with his soft voice which caused her insides to flutter.

“Um …ok then …thanks so much.” She stood up and handed over the blanket to him. “I will text you the account details in the next 15 minutes…” Saying she walked out of the room in a daze… all trouble forgotten… with just the image of him in his shorts refusing to leave her mind’s eye. Her fierce attraction to him apart, it was his good heart that had won over her respect …Once again for the umpteenth time he had come to her rescue in the last 24 hours…

Ria woke up next morning with sunlight coming in through the slits in the drapes. It was wonderful to feel the sunshine after what seemed like ages. She checked the time. It was 7AM. She had slept for a good six hours after restless few hours of twisting and turning in her bed and was refreshed. Her immediate thoughts went to the handsome hunk next door… one of the best persons she had ever met and she found herself smiling. But her euphoria suddenly died as she remembered the events from last night. She had reluctantly sent her account details to Gaurav. She would then transfer the amount from her account to her father’s. She didn’t want her father to create an issue over who the guy was, who lent the money. Surprisingly the situation didn’t bother her anymore… it was as if someone had her back for once in her life. She breathed deeply and logged in to her email using the phone given to her. The money had been transferred almost immediately after she had given him her account details. She logged in to the bank site and transferred the money to her father. She went back to her inbox and typed –

Money sent. Email once you receive it. Phones are out.

She took a quick bath taking care of her leg and changed into fresh clothes kept in the cupboard. She made another mental note to thank Gaurav for taking so much trouble. If she counted the number of times she had to thank him, she would have to fill a chasm with its magnitude. She had thought he was a monster… he had proved otherwise and in the current situation, he was her saviour.

In the next half an hour Kalyani got her a lovely breakfast of Kande pohe a traditional Maharashtrian delicacy made of puffed rice along with tea in a glass… Oh how she loved the aroma. It was her favourite…just…bliss! As usual Kalyani only smiled at anything she asked her. Finally, when she came to take the breakfast tray she said, “Dada has said you will be leaving in an hour. The water has totally receded everywhere. You may get ready accordingly. Your clothes were… gone. You may use anything from the cupboard…. whatever you like… They are all new. And… Shamala will be up in a while to dress up that wound” She handed her medicines to Ria.

Ria took her medicines, smiled back and said, “Kalyani, thank you so much for everything. I will just need one set of clothes when I leave. Um… can you at least tell me what place is this? “

Kalyani turned to leave without answering. Ria quickly went after her and stopped her at the door grimacing at the pull in her stiches. “Kalyani …please…”, she said in a voice laden with desperation. “…. I am totally lost. I just…I just …Please tell me.”

Kalyani turned around slowly. She sighed. “Ria didi, this is a shelter for abandoned women and children. It’s owned and run by dada in the name of his late grandmother Girija Devi. He is… he is god to us. I am one of them…I was. He saved me and so many abused and battered women like me. He has saved so many children from being trafficked and most of all he has given us hope….” Unshed tears sparkled in her eyes as she continued.”…. Didi, so many of us here were forced into prostitution. Dada has given us lots of respect and a chance to live our lives with dignity…we got a family in each of us… I …I can’t ever have children after I was… brutalised as a child… but these children here are all mine.” Kalyani beamed and chuckled as she said, “…. you know didi most of us are mini entrepreneurs. When you get a chance, do visit us again. I will take you around and show you our lives here.”

Ria was teary too but pleased and hugged Kalyani.  “Kalyani, I will definitely come back again. It will be an honour to know and to acquaint with you all. You all are role models for us. And… Thanks once again for your hospitality”

Kalyani got back and smiled again. She held Ria’s shoulders and spoke looking into her eyes, “I am very happy for dada. He chose well.” She then left the room.

Ria was left standing there, staring at the closed door… He chose her? She could hear her heart beating hard… she was fiercely attracted to Gaurav. And after the last 30 hours, she was in awe of the man. Was she falling for him? She shuddered holding her lapels. But… but that was so wrong. He was her boss for god sake.

Oh My God…Vikram… She now knew what to do.

She quickly changed into fresh clothes and decided to call Vikram after reaching home. Maybe they could meet in a couple of days when she was in a better position to walk… she had to see him. She had succumbed to parental pressure when they had told her, Pooja wouldn’t get any good alliance if she wasn’t married. So, she had reluctantly agreed to marry Vikram. Now, she couldn’t carry on with it any more, she was suffocating... Besides Pooja would be engaged soon… then it wouldn’t matter if she herself was engaged or not. Not to her at least since she planned to move away from her current house. It gave her a strange sense of relief… especially after Kalyani had spoken with her. It was high time she develop a spine. She finally decided to make a clean break with Vikram and… move on. She had got a new lease of life. She decided to live for herself… for once.  She would personally meet him and break it off for good.

And no… Gaurav wasn’t the reason behind her resolve…

No…. he wasn’t…. She said to herself……

If only

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 12

Keith drove along the long driveway… lined with palm trees and bushes of different flowering plants on either side. Ria pulled down the glass window and breathed in the beautiful scent of the rainy mud mingled with the assorted fragrance of the flowers. After a moment the the pathway cleared to reveal…Oh my God… a stud farm. There was a lovely wooden board..

Welcome to parijath equestrian farm

That she was shocked would be an understatement and she realised she had her mouth wide open as she saw a couple of horses grazing around what seemed like unending grassland. The car turned again before she could see further and looking at her disappointment Gaurav spoke. “Hey we need to check that leg and get some food in… you can come here once you are better.”

She nodded in agreement and he looked away again. Did he really mean what he said? Her leg would take a while to heal… would they be staying here till then? Did this place belong to him?

Keith brought the car to the shaded entrance of a huge building and after shutting the ignition he got out and ran inside. It looked like some sort of a facility. She saw a statue-like thing at the entrance, however she couldn’t read what was written on it, but it looked like a bust of a woman. Gaurav got off the car too and held his hand out for her. She slid towards his end of the car seat and placed her hand in his. His warmth engulfed her senses and she tried to get moving but she just couldn’t get her leg out of the car. It had turned to jelly. She saw Gaurav call out to a man named Pradhan who she later got to know, was the supervisor of the estate. He produced a wheelchair out of nowhere and she heard Gaurav instruct him something about food and stay… all the while holding her hand.  She couldn’t believe his fluency in Marathi. Suddenly, Gaurav bent and held her under her arms and supported her as she got out of the car, holding her close enough that she got the whiff of his cologne and a tiny feel of his hard chest… and helped her sit on the wheelchair. She was mortified feeling like an invalid and closed her eyes to blink back tears. She felt a soft touch on her shoulder and felt his warm breath on her ears as he spoke softly. “Ria…its ok.”

She nodded instantly felt better and opened her eyes. They didn’t take the main entrance but Gaurav pushed her wheelchair towards a road at the end of the right side of the building. It was quite a distance and she looked around. There was a long line of flower beds along the entire stretch of the compound on her left. Beyond that, there was a huge compound wall at least 8 feet tall lined on the top with the barbed fence. On her right was the three storeyed building. She heard some sounds and as she looked upwards she saw tiny heads looking out of the different windows on the first floor. The kids yelled “dada… dada…” Guurav halted and waved to them and she wished she could see his expressions. There were many women too giving them shy looks. She thought of asking Gaurav but didn’t dare to. Some of the little kids waved to her and she smiled as she waved back at them. Who were these kids? He pushed her wheelchair further breaking her out of her thoughts.

They were moving on a slope and she wondered how he had the stamina to push her weight. By the time they reached the romp at the end Gaurav was breathing heavily. There was a small exit which looked more like a back entrance to the building. Suddenly the metal door shutting the entrance opened and she saw Keith on the other side. He had Gaurav’s bag with him and polythene containing what looked like her tattered tote bag. When did he collect that? Keeping them down he rushed out and took over her wheelchair duty and Gaurav walked inside. As they entered the foyer she saw Gaurav walk further and beyond him inside, she saw a huge corridor. The walls were lined with framed photographs of children doing different activities and celebrating different events. Was this an orphanage… she wondered. She saw a board mentioning Girija Devi Ahuja Charitable trust. Her curiosity only increased as she saw there were many entrances to what she thought were rooms. There was a lovely aroma of fresh food which made her stomach growl. The clanging of utensils indicated the conformation of a kitchen in there. She saw some women, all wearing identical pink sarees rushing from one room to the other. Some had buckets of washed clothes, some held huge utensils. A couple of them were cleaning the floor with mops. Everyone stopped… when Gaurav reached closer. All of those women as well as some more in pink sarees emerged from the rooms and came towards them. Everyone joined their hands and chorused, “namaskar Dada”. She was spellbound at what was unfolding… she saw reverence in their eyes.  Gaurav went forward and joined his hands acknowledging their greeting. He turned to Keith. “Take her upstairs to the Suite number two. I will be there shortly. Kalyani….” he addressed one of those women, “…. this is Ms. Narsimhan. She has had an accident. Go upstairs with Shamala to the suite and help her freshen up. Just be careful of the wound.” Turning to the other woman he said, “… Shamala take the first aid kit along and do the dressing… but tiny… like I showed you the other day…?” Shamala nodded and rushed to probably get the kit. He then looked at Ria, “don’t worry… they will take care of you. Shyamala here is a trained nurse she will do the dressing well. I… I will join you for lunch.” Before she could thank him he gestured to Keith and she was led into the waiting elevator. They reached the third floor and Keith wheeled her out of the elevator to one of the two doors on the left. The lady named Kalyani opened the door with a key and went in followed by Shamala dragging her huge kit. Keith then wheeled her in. It was a beautiful living room with a three-seater by two sofa set on left side along with a centre table and the TV unit on the its opposite wall. The other side housed a four-seater wooden dining table. She saw that there were two bedrooms adjacent to each other. She was wheeled into one of them. Keith turned towards her, “Ms. Krishnan, let me help you stand. Kalyani and Shamala will help with the rest.” He supported her as she stood and she shuffled a few painful steps towards the attached bathroom. She couldn’t help looking around and saw a double bed with white colored linen. Fatigue dawned on her conscience as the pillows and the bed called out to her and she only wanted to collapse on them. Kalyani was arranging clothes for her… wait… clothes?  Shamala ran a bath and also arranged a chair and a little stool for her. Wow… they were so efficient. Shamala emerged out of the bathroom and nodded to Keith who turned to Ria. “Ok… Ms. Narsimhan… I will take your leave…. In case you need anything, Kalyani here is forever ready to help… Take good care of that leg… Got it?”

Tears sprang up into her eyes hearing his gentle voice. She blinked them away and smiled. “Please call me Ria… Thank you for everything… Keith… I hope you don’t mind me calling you by your name…”

Keith smiled revealing a lovely set of teeth and said. “It would be my pleasure Ria… Get well soon”. He turned around and shut the door behind him.

Kalyani and Shamala helped her with her bath It was extremely painful and there was no time for modesty as she shed both her clothes and inhibitions. Shamala did her dressing with utmost care as she sat on the bed wrapped in the large bath towel.  Gaurav was right in trusting her… Shamala was very good at her work. They asked if she wanted help with her clothes but she was too mortified to let them see more of her…assets! They left the room smiling as she got back to the clothes laid out for her. It was amazing to see there were undergarments of her size. They were brand new and she wondered how they knew her size… and when did they purchase them?? She had tried to start small talk with Shamala and Kalyani but both had just smiled back and not uttered a word… looked like they had taken after their dada. Before leaving they had helped her on the bed and arranged the pillows at the head of the bed so that she could just rest against them. Now as she lay wearing her pyjamas, she was so relaxed with the hot water bath that hunger pangs notwithstanding she started to doze.

“Didi?” someone called out. Ria startled out of her little nap and looked around. Kalyani stood in front of her holding a tray filled with food the aroma reminding her of empty stomach doing the somersaults. There was another lady in pink who was standing there holding another plate. Kalyani placed the tray on the night stand right next to her bed. “Please eat this, didi. Then Dada has asked you to take these medicines.” The other lady forwarded the small glass plate which had the tablets.

“Um… thanks Kalyani. Where is … um… Gaurav Sir?”

“We don’t know for sure didi, but I heard him say something about a meeting in the office room. He must have gone there. Do you need help with lunch?”

Ria refused and they both left the room.

Ria was far more famished than she had realized. She gulped down the simple but delicious meal comprising of Khichidi and potato patal bhaji. She then took her medicines and placed the tray back on the nightstand. She was tired to the bone but wanted to wait up, in case Gaurav happened to turn up. But before more thoughts could conquer her she lolled down on the pillow… fast asleep in seconds.

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Gaurav gently knocked on her door. He had been so caught up with the meeting with those foreign nationals, not to mention poor concentration because of intense fatigue and the almond eyed temptress across the door that refused to leave his mind… The hour long meeting stretched to three and he now wanted nothing more than to hit the sack, satisfied at its success. But before that he had to check on Ria. The door wasn’t locked but he didn’t want to intrude. Hearing no answer, he got worried and gently pushed open the door. The drapes were drawn which explained the darkness compounded due to the clouds… it was then he saw her profile on the bed. Kalyani had got her lunch earlier which she had quickly eaten, taken her medicines and gone back to sleep as per their reports to him.  Kalyani must have drawn the drapes. He checked the time. It was 7.30PM. Ria had slept for long now… was she alright? He wanted to check her wound and not that he didn’t trust Shamala to do a good job but somehow he felt Ria was his responsibility now. He also had to see if there was any spike in her temperature, though he had taken all the precautions by increasing the antibiotic dosage now that he had better access to the meds. Nonetheless… he wanted to check for himself. He walked cautiously to avoid noise and as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he saw that she was lying down on her back. He slowly moved towards her and when he reached her side of the bed, he bent down to wake her up. He suddenly stopped midway, when he saw her asleep. She looked like an angel though her features weren’t clearly visible. But he didn’t need light to see her features…. they were etched in his mind. Her mouth was slightly open and her filled chest moved steadily up and down in a rhythmic pattern. He knew she was exhausted due to her injury, fever and poor sleep. But her leg needed to be checked.

“Ria… Ria…wake up…” he said softly touching her shoulder but she didn’t stir. He switched on the night lamp. In the soft glow directly flooding her face he saw her… and couldn’t take his eyes away. Her long eyelashes were beautifully fanning her cheeks. Her high cheek bones gave a strong feel to her face. Her full lips now slightly open…. he was instantly hard. He was drawn to her like a moth to fire…. so much for that self-motivating talk on getting the transfer. Fire…that’s what she was, he thought and he would get burnt… He shuddered as the past memories flooded in and he straightened. He had… to focus on task at hand, this was about her now… not him. 

He tried to wake her up once again but she didn’t move. The pain medicine dosage which he had increased must have knocked her out. He decided to let her sleep and check on her wound. But she was lying on the left side of the huge double bed so he climbed up the bed from the other side holding the first aid box, to reach her wounded right leg. He sat crossed legs next to her leg and gently removed the blanket covering her. He lifted her slender leg gently and kept it on a pillow which he had taken with him. He was relieved to see her dressed in pyjamas… he couldn’t tolerate another blow to his libido. He slowly moved the cloth upwards till the wound was visible. He gently cut open the dressing and checked the wound while she slept like a log. Though the wound was still raw he saw that she was healing well. The wound needed a light dressing now. He applied the ointment and proceeded to fix the gauze and tape, the pain causing her to stir.

Ria started to moan in her sleep. Gaurav quickly fixed the final tape and pulled her pajama down to her ankle. He placed the blanket again on her leg and turned to go.

“…N… no Vikram….don’t do it…nnn…NO… Please …I can’t….” she wailed.

Gaurav froze. He turned back towards her. Her face was contorted as though she was in agony. What was that all about? Why did she call out to Vikram? Why was she saying…NO? What did that bastard do? As she continued to cry in her sleep, he decided to wake her up to relieve her of her nightmare.

Keeping the first aid box aside, he bent down towards her and touched her right shoulder. “Ria…please wake up…. everything is fine…. Ria?” He called out again.

She suddenly opened her eyes and turned her head towards him. His face was close to hers and she squinted to look at him. She was breathing heavily… her eyes filled as she looked up into his eyes registering his presence. “…Ria…” he whispered. She lunged at him as sobs rocked her body. Gaurav lost his balance and fell on the bed beside her, with Ria in his arms. He held her tight as they lay beside each other and rubbed her back as she wept. He pressed her head to his shoulder caressing her. Gradually her crying reduced to hiccups but she still held him. Not that he was complaining but her tears were his undoing. He was in pain too… something about her upheaval tugged at his heart strings. What just happened? Ria slowly detached herself from his hold and laid back on her back staring at the ceiling.

“Ria…what is it? What happened to you? Did you… have a nightmare? You were trembling…scared…” he tried asking her. “…can I help you?”

Ria turned towards his side the action causing a grimace. “I …um…I am sorry …” She whispered avoiding eye contact. She blinked back tears as she continued, “… I shouldn’t have… I was… actually the last twenty-four hours have been taxing…. I guess it took a toll…”

Gaurav knew she had clamped up and wouldn’t reveal anything… not at this moment. He decided to let it go since she was seemed very disturbed to talk about it… who would know nightmares better than him…he was a veteran. He sat up and said, “Look Ria… I just checked the wound. It’s much better now. It should be completely ok in the next week or so. Till then just take care of it …ok? I will give you detailed instructions once I drop you home…. Go to sleep now. If you need anything…just call me. I am in the adjacent room. Here…” He gave her a mobile phone. “…Use this cell phone. Your phone has to be repaired. My number is on speed dial 2. The screen won’t be locked so …no worries. Uh… Your parents may be worried too. So… in case you want to call someone …please go ahead.”

He turned around and climbed down from the bed. Then with a quick glance at her, he walked out of the room, gradually shutting the door behind him. Why was it so difficult for him to stay away from her? He wondered as he took a cold shower and changed into his night clothes before his head hit the bed. As he lay staring at the fan sleep suddenly miles away, he kept going back to what had transpired. Why was Ria so upset…? Usually when sleep evaded him he pursued some hard work on the farm… but today he was flustered. He was in a fix… Oh God… was this …love all about?

He loved her… and realised with a start… he couldn’t let her go… ever…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Ria was jolted awake with a jerk and realized the car had stopped. She was a little disoriented, confused about where she was. She had barely slept and with great difficulty she opened her heavy eyelids. She was so comfortable, she didn’t want to move… just snuggle back into wherever she was, and then with a sudden awareness surging through her, she realized, her head was on Gaurav’s shoulder and he held her close to him. She tried to move away but winced in pain. Her leg was on fire and holding her right leg at the knee as she grimaced in agony. There was a hand pressing on her shoulder. “Ria, hey look here. We are at the hospital now. Don’t worry. You will be fine. We will admit you right away… We will run the vitals….”

She was now wide awake and the reality of her situation sank in. They were at the back entrance of their hospital… close to his parking spot. Thank God…  She panicked and stuttered… “NO… please… NO… no hospital. Ev…everyone will know about…. Nnnn…No hospital sir…” She interrupted him. Her heart was galloping in her chest threatening to rush out… as different scenarios ran through her mind.

Gaurav looked confused probably unable to understand the reason for her sudden outburst. “What is it Ria? Why…why don’t you want to get in to the hospital? Or is it this particular hospital…? Ria listen… at this time its difficult to get you in some other place… besides this is home isn’t it?  I promise you everything will be taken care of… ok? ” He just didn’t get it, did he?.

She started to cry unable to convey her problem to him at the same time feeling guilty about hurting his feelings. But this was a chance she couldn’t take. Right then Sudhir and his colleague’s snider remarks played in her mind, blocking all scope of reasoning. She couldn’t even imagine the trajectory of the gossips spread on her account. And if appa got to know…heavens forbid… NO. She grasped at his hands. “No sir…. p… please. Everyone will know. I can’t afford that… no hospital…”

“What will everyone know Ria?” Gaurav asked in an irritable voice… frowning, confusion written all over his handsome face.

“…That we ….” she waved her hands between them, “…no no sir…please no hospital.” Ria kept persevering openly crying now. She was probably freaking him out and just prayed he didn’t regret saving her.

Gaurav gave her a painful look as if he didn’t know what he was supposed to do as an amused Keith looked on.  He glared at her with the look he gave her in the hospital over her reports. He turned to Keith,” Keith, take us to Ms. Narsimhan’s residence.” He then looked at her, “I hope that’s ok with you?”

“Just leave me at the entrance of my lane. Sector 8 Rigved nagar. I will walk from there.” she said.

Gaurav drew his hand through his hair. “Ria, are you out of your mind? You can’t even take a few steps without support. There may be water logging in your area even now…we don’t know for sure. Besides, the power hasn’t been restored in those parts. How will you contact anyone in any emergency? And most important….” he held his hand up as Ria started to interrupt him again.”…It’s very important for me to check that wound. I will have to redo the dressing with real stuff this time and get you the better medication for this. Do you understand? “

“Sir….” she said in a trembling voice. “…. You don’t understand. I can’t be seen with you in my colony as well…. everyone will know…”

“FOR FUCKS SAKE WILL YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT WILL EVERYONE KNOW?” He said loudly. Ria was startled. She had never seen him like that before… even last week when he had yelled at her. She just stared at him. He looked angry but a lot more fatigued and worn out. Oh God what was she doing… how could she explain things to him… he wouldn’t understand her predicament.

“I asked you a question Ria,” He said with a milder tone this time. “What-will-everyone-know?”

“Everyone will know that I… I was…. with…. you all alone last night.” She whispered looking down at her clasped hands, desperation evident in her voice.

She felt him flinch and suck in a quick breath… oh no was he angry now? She didn’t blame him though… he must be dead tired too and she was acting like a tantrum throwing kid… but from her point of view she was right…

 “What the fuck…” He roared. “…How juvenile can you get Ria? It’s not like we were on a date or something. It was…. it was a meeting by chance. We were STUCK for God’s sake.”

Ria looked outside the window as the silent tears flew down her cheeks draining away all the energy left in her body but her heart getting heavier by the minute. The fact that she was embarrassed to have this conversation before Keith added to her woes and her crying only increased…She covered her face with her palms and sobbed into them.

After a few seconds she felt his hand on her shoulder again.  “…I…I am sorry… Ok Fine. Where can I take you then…?”

“I suggest… I mean…. If you can arrange for a taxi…. I will go home.” She replied softly.

“… Ria… are you sure you aren’t deranged with that hit on the forehead…? I may have to run some scans to be sure…” He rubbed his hand down his face. “…first of all you won’t get any cab at this time… and even more important… I will not allow you to go home alone. Not in this condition…”

“…But… but sir…”

He held up his hand silencing her. “…. Let’s go to this place, I know of. No one knows you there. No questions will be asked and I can monitor your health as well…”

Was he… taking her to his house? Oh no that would be worst…what about his folks? A lot of questions nestled in her functioning brain at that moment.

“Wh… which place, sir?”

Gaurav didn’t bother to answer her. Instead he turned to Keith again who she saw was amused still at the banter. She liked the guy and wondered what he may be thinking about her. “Keith, take us to Parijaath. Call ahead and tell them to prepare 2 guest rooms, and fresh lunch for us.”

Keith looked behind, glanced at Ria and then gave Gaurav a look that Ria couldn’t understand. “Ok sir.”

What was this place? Definitely not his house… thank God. But where was she going with this mystery man…? He seemed to be the spider artistically weaving his web and she was getting tangled in it… really? She mentally berated herself… The man had saved her life and been a thorough concerned gentleman throughout… That was a lot more than what anyone else in her life had done for her so far. And she was an idiot… her fear on creating a scandal of epic proportions which would question her morality was getting in the way of her rational thought. She was guilty of being attracted towards him more than ever before and also upsetting him. Now he was going out of his way for her benefit and all she thought was about his vested interests. No… she would trust him on this. Ria didn’t ask him any further questions. Not only she knew he wouldn’t answer but he was right about her condition. She was definitely not in a position to go home alone.

As the car passed the once busy streets, she saw the havoc caused by the floods last night. She saw garbage strewn on the roads, cars toppled, bikes lying around, trees uprooted… She hoped her friends all made it safely home… irrespective of what had transpired between them, she wished them well.  She shuddered to think what would have happened to her if Gaurav hadn’t been there yesterday. She thanked her stars for her good fortune and she had seen a different side of his personality. Even in her fogged mind she had memories of him working on her injury in pitch darkness… There was a lot more here which she wasn’t aware of and longed to know. She wanted to understand the difficult character sitting beside her a complex cluster of personalities embedded under many layers. He was the onion she wished to peel layer by layer to know what was deep down in the core. But she was sure about one fact though, whoever he really was he definitely was not the monster projected himself to be in the hospital.  She rested her head on the seat as a strange sense of calm descended upon her. Within minutes she was fast asleep…

Ria stirred up awake again to find herself covered by a shawl. The temperature inside the vehicle had come down drastically and she was feeling the chill. She had slept for quite a while it looked like and the car was speeding on some highway from the looks of the passing blur scenery, a soft instrumental music played on the car stereo… she squinted to see Keith driving and nodding to music and she lay… on his chest yet again. He had held her so that was why she hadn’t fallen down… she could get used to it. She moved to sit up straight even as her leg throbbed. His hand fell and she heard light snores. She looked up and saw him asleep on the head rest. She couldn’t take her eyes away from the peaceful face, with just a couple of days’ worth stubble, no frown marring his handsome features, beautiful eyelashes against his skin and his scar was almost invisible. From the V of his shirt which had slightly opened at the top she saw a bit of black curls… his chest hair. Her eyes moved down to his torso which like his back was well endowed as seen from the shape the cloth had taken… what would it feel to run her hands over his body…? She turned red and right at that moment looked up to see him awake and staring at her…his face devoid of expressions.  She gasped and moved away immediately wincing at the pain that shot through her leg. He gave her a bottle of water which she was grateful for. She saw the time on the dashboard… it was approaching 12.30PM. They had been on the road for over two hours. Where were they headed? She hadn’t called her parents or Vikram… would any of them be worried considering the bad downpour last night?

The car slowed down as she saw the change in the scenery…it was more like a rural area with mud houses and thatched roofs, independent row houses in some places and most importantly lots of greenery. There were many farms and she could see farm animals and farm hands busy at work…there were little children playing in the mud or water poodles without a care in the world and that got a smile on her face. Her eyes fell on a huge board at the side of the road it read “welcome to Sitapur” in Marathi, English, and Hindi languages. She had never heard of this place and wondered why Gaurav had come here… nonetheless she was grateful.  She wanted a phone desperately …preferably her own, else her father would have queries lined up.

“…Um..Sir… can I borrow your phone… I have to call my parents…” she asked him hesitantly. Gaurav didn’t say a word and just handed his phone to her… She dialled her father’s number but the call failed to connect. She tried her mother and Pooja too but with the same results. In a way she was glad. Should she call Vikram? She actually didn’t feel like it and handed the phone back to him.

“…what is it… couldn’t reach them…?”

“…No… actually they are in a remote village near Telangana, which has very poor network coverage… so…”

He just nodded and looked away while she still tried to figure out why she didn’t bother to call Vikram… she even wondered what if she broke up with him… How would Appa react? A shudder passed through her body as the vehicle turned along a gravel path and reached a large gate. She peeped from the side and saw the plaque outside which read:

“Parijath”

Blooming your lives

There was this beautiful picture of the flower itself with two icons one a mother and child and the other consisting of a woman with a horse. She looked back at Gaurav who was staring intently at her… his eyes filled with an emotion she couldn’t guess. She turned back at the board as Keith honked and the huge gates opened. She didn’t know what held in store for her as the car entered the gates and the security guards stood up to salute the charismatic man sitting next to her. What on earth was happening? where was she?

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 10

Ria heard his footsteps and tried to compose herself the emotional tsunami still in the throes of unleashing its torment. She had to be strong enough to see this through… she had to reach home as early as possible before any of the nosy neighbours realised her absence. She looked up hugging the coat as the chill continued to seep in through the partly open window bringing along a few drops of the now considerably reduced rain. Nature had a way to calm her senses and she was already feeling better and it’s when she saw him rub a hand on his fatigued face… he looked crest fallen. Why? Did she do something that was unwarranted for? She berated herself for her big mouth. Why was the need to bring up the office topic when she had anyways planned to discuss it with him later in the hospital? He had saved her life for crying out aloud and had only been a gentleman. He was drunk she had smelt it on his breath when he had helped her up last night though she was delirious… but he didn’t let it affect his professionalism even a little bit. The man had stitched her up in the darkness of the room, his hands not quavering one bit… what a talent and she couldn’t help but wonder why he didn’t practise surgery. She immediately compared him to the asshole of a fiancé of hers and realised Vikram couldn’t even hold a light to him. Vikram never cared for her feelings, her thoughts…nada. But Gaurav had been a total contrast to not just Vikram but to his own self as the Bossman. It was unbelievable and she saw some traces of the man she had envisioned him to be three years ago… Nonetheless it was wishful thinking and nothing was to materialise out of her brooding. Her leg throbbed yet again reminding her of the current predicament she was in… and the biggest challenge for her… to reach home ASAP.

She saw him stand at the window looking outside with hands in his pockets. His shirt stuck to his back like a second skin… when did he get drenched? Not that she was complaining. His back muscles were contoured like an artist’s imagination from what she could see the wet cloth following the muscles commands… what if she got to run her hands on them… would they be hard underneath her palms? She shuddered with the sudden awareness coursing through her body… and pulled her coat closer, inhaling the traces of his fragrance on it. Something about him always gave her positive vibes, some sort of comfort, even if he had been nasty back in hospital… why did she now feel there was more to what he projected? Anyways, she sighed. Now was not the time or the occasion to get into all that…even her feelings for the enigma standing in her line of sight. Not even if it gave her the euphoric feel which she had rarely experienced in the last one year. She had to apologise to him.

“Sir…” Ria called out and he turned around, fatigue evident on his handsome face. “Sir, I um…I am sorry. I shouldn’t have loaded that stuff on you… especially after what you have done for me since last night. I just…want to say… thanks.” she tried to smile.

 Gaurav looked into her eyes frowning said, “Its ok. I only did my job…” He then glanced at the window and said, “… Uh…the water has receded to a great degree and hopefully it shouldn’t rain for a while now. As you can see, its quite bright outside. The good thing is the water will completely recede soon. But on the flip side ….” he continued looking at her intensely, “…. you may find it difficult to independently climb down three floors. Also, it will be a while until help arrives. There is no network available on your cell phone either. So… we have no choice but to wait.”

Ria thought about the situation. She stood up and slowly took a few steps shuffling with the injured leg which was throbbing. Piercing pain shot up her leg and she winced losing her balance in the process… before she fell a pair of hands caught her and she grabbed the lapels of his wet shirt. “Careful on that leg Ria…” He whispered as he held her close to his chest and at that moment she didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world… in spite of the unbearable pain, she felt secure and safe. He held for a moment steadying her and making her sit back on the revolving chair, he placed a palm on her forehead. “Ria… uh… you are warm again… wait… let me get you that paracetamol… but here take this before I do it…” He gave her the Glucon D sachet. She bit off the edge and poured the contents into her mouth. He was looking around for water frantically. She now understood why her head had been throbbing… she needed that medicine. “sir… its fine… I will just…um swallow it without the water…”

Gaurav looked pained but nodded slightly. He broke the tablet into two. “Here… uh… this will help you swallow it easily…The…uh… taps here are old and not maintained so I can’t risk the water…”

“Its…it’s alright sir…” She took the medicine and swallowed it, grimacing at the bitter and hard swallow. It was irritating her throat as it passed down her food pipe and she wanted to throw up. He gave her another sachet of Glucon D and she had it, easing the bitterness a bit. Fever notwithstanding, she was parched.

 She realized he was right. She may damage her dressing in her efforts to climb down or even walk more. They didn’t have supplies for covering the wound again. But… what about food and water…? She hoped she could get some water as soon as possible. At least she had that sandwich which could sustain her for some more time. But he hadn’t eaten anything since …probably… last evening. How long before they got rescued?

As if reading her thoughts, he said, “Let me go outside and check out the surroundings. Maybe I can find some help or transport… will you be ok for a while? I won’t venture far.” She looked into his eyes and replied, “Sir, I will be fine…”.

Suddenly he heard a vehicle and rushed to the window. He waved to someone and gestured to the person to come upstairs looking relieved. Hope filled her and she wanted to ask him if rescue had arrived. But he beat her to it and said, “My man Friday is here. I knew, he would come looking for me. Here….” he handed her the blanket. “… Cover it like a skirt. It will protect you from the chill outside.” he spoke looking at her with the usual expressionless mask firmly in place. Gone was the man who had just cared for her and in his place was the tyrannical bossman.  But it no longer bothered her and all she wanted was to go home and lie on her bed and maybe cook up something. She could ask Joshi aunty but her bandage would raise a lot of questions.

“get ready… time to go…” Gaurav was out in the next minute closing the door behind him as if he couldn’t wait to get away. She wrapped the blanket as he had said and also buttoned the coat a couple of sizes too big for her but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Her dress… well it was as good as absent.

She was dizzy with the pain, weakness and fever but she didn’t have to wait long though. She heard footsteps and someone knocked at the door.

“Co… come in…” she replied with every ounce of energy she could gather.

The door opened and in came a tall dark well-built strange. So this was his man Friday… his butler or whatever he called him. The housekeeper Mr. Keith as she read on his name tag, was a huge man. He looked more like a bodyguard but had greying hair and a gentle face as he stood smiling before her. She judged him to be about fifty.

He came close to her and held out his hand. Where was Gaurav? As if he read her thoughts he said, “Ma’am, Let me introduce myself. I am Keith Sequiera, the official housekeeper for the Chopra household. Sir is waiting downstairs charging his phone and making some important calls. Why don’t I help you get up?”

Ria nodded and looked around for her tote bag… it was of no use as it was completely damaged because of falling in the water yesterday… the papers and her change of clothes were all ruined. She shook her head thinking of the load of reports awaiting her once she returned to work and a strong wave of dizziness passed through her. She held her head to quell it away and then once she felt stable she placed her hand in Keith’s and stood up.

He helped her slowly till the stairs then… she squealed as he lifted her in a fireman’s carry. He gently took her downstairs taking care to avoid touching her wound. She had never felt so light weight earlier. From the corner of her eye, she saw the damage to the first floor with the water seeping in…  They reached a car parked close to the entrance and Keith settled her in the back seat adjusting the blanket around her legs.  Ria was totally drained out and was only an onlooker with hooded eyes. Gaurav who was on phone disconnected the call when he saw her and joined her behind. The car was an old model Hyundai Assent. It was a pretty pearl colored car and had very comfortable backseats. The seats were not your regular leather but she couldn’t really make out. Just that it was extremely soft. After the chair that she had put up with for last few hours and the hard ground before that, the car seats felt like luxury. Gaurav gave her the medicines with fresh water which Keith had got. She had never felt grateful for the natural resource so much before today and sent a silent prayer to the Almighty for sending Keith when he did. She also had another cold sandwich that Gaurav handed to her and this time he was having one too. She wondered where he found them. Unfortunately, her phone had gotten wet and stopped working totally. Gaurav kept back his phone for charging in the car. As Keith drove them outside the hospital; compound, she couldn’t remain awake anymore and soon drifted off to sleep.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 9

A goddamn hard-on in a serious situation? Gaurav was annoyed with his lack of control before Ria. But her crying did it for him and he had to hold her. She felt good, he had to admit. But then what was he supposed to answer her? Her question had caught him unawares. Till then he had just been relieved that she wasn’t hurt badly considering the rusted junk strewn around the washroom area. If something would have happened to her then… Why the hell did she come upstairs? Just to use the stupid washroom…weren’t there a few downstairs? It was her good fortune that he was there albeit inebriated. He didn’t know how he had managed to get those stitches done…. But he had just lost it when he had seen her injured form lying on the floor. His heart had almost given away thinking about the worst…. he had checked her pulse and found her breathing. His relief had restored some of his faith in the unknown power up there… The rest of the night passed in a blur as he had tended to her. Every time she winced he felt something piercing his heart, she was in immense pain and he couldn’t give her more painkillers without knowing her medical history and the fact that she hadn’t eaten anything. But the brave young woman that she was, she had held up well given the circumstances.

As he stood in the old operation theatre where he had run downstairs to…to keep a distance from Ria, he looked at his hands holding them up. He had done up her stitches in pitch darkness with an occasional flashes of lightening for visibility… it was unbelievable but he hadn’t even realised it till he was done. His eyes filled as he looked around what used to be his favourite place in the whole wide world, as it lay bare today devoid of any paraphernalia except his old memories. He didn’t know doing mere stitches would rouse the subdued passion of his medical practise. He wiped his eyes… it was beyond stiches… in fact he could do it because it was Ria… he could do just anything for her… couldn’t he? As they had got talking he wasn’t getting a grip over his emotions. He had thought he had mastered the art well… and he actually had. Nothing bothered him anymore, neither his parents permanent rebuttal, Manek’s distancing because of his own family, hospital gossip where he was painted a Casanova… nothing. But when it was Ria in picture his greatly prided self-control went for a toss. He must have blurted out some nonsense before her… gauging her reaction. But the fact that she spoke about her fiance didn’t go down well with him. He had carefully guarded his personal life such that no one knew the real him, while they only speculated about him, based on his past. Only Manek knew everything but there were some aspects of his life he had kept well concealed from everyone, including his parents and Manek. He didn’t care what people thought of him but suddenly at 37 he felt like a teenager needing assurance… Ria’s assurance. Gauav rubbed his hands down his face… come what may Ria deserved better than a scarred soul that he was not to mention his dark past which could darken her life like it had done to everyone around him. He was meant to be a loner and die…a loner without any chance to be loved. He had warranted this punishment upon himself and he would assure Ria was left unscathed…

She was right with her accusation. He had been an asshole of the greatest order because he wanted to hate her. He hated that he was losing control and that was not like him. Her being around had this strange effect on him ever since the last day of her internship when he handed the certificate to her, Ria was the only person who ever got a smile on his scarred face….who lighted up the dark corners of his heart by her mere presence. She was the only one who made him feel those physical yearnings which his body had long forgotten. He had actually gotten a Goddamn erection after years… jolting his manhood from its slumber. He was full mast when he had been sitting or lying close to her last night and today morning. He had moved only to hide the bulge in his pants and she may have felt it too. He was semi hard even now….

He remembered looking out of his current office window three years ago. The new interns were starting work/training that day. There were six of them as per his reports all posted in their rehabilitation departments, but he could see only five tiny specks from his 9th floor cabin. As he was about to turn he saw a bright red dot running toward the group. He didn’t know what transpired in his mind but he quickly went to the security footage screening in his cabin. He saw a pretty Ria with bright red salwar kameez and a matching dupatta talking animatedly with the group with a radiant smile full of life. Something about her just struck his solar plexus and he didn’t know what got over him, the same morning, he got all their details. He had found that her name was Ria Narsimhan , she was her college topper and in the days that had followed he had found that she was the best intern they ever had. He never had been associated even remotely with new interns of any department. But somehow, he couldn’t stay away from this bunch…from Ria. He never directly spoke with her the entire six months they were there but kept daily tabs on her. It was like he looked forward to visit the hospital every day… feeling alive after years. his immediate staff had noticed the changes too and had welcomed it with open arms as he was a far cry from his grumpy self.

He still remembered the last day of the interns and he was to award them the certificates in a small ceremony. Ria was dressed in a beautiful silk saree… red again. She wasn’t tall or slim or very beautiful as such but she had a personality that made her stand out. She dressed simple but carried herself with an elegance he had not seen in anyone before or maybe he was the beholder with her beauty lying in his eyes. For him, Ria was stunning. When he handed the certificate to her, he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She looked up at him from her height of 5 feet 2 inches or so as he towered over her at 6 feet plus. She had smiled as she had thanked him, her tentative smile doing something strange to his… heartbeats. But it also felt like a piece of him had died that day. He didn’t have the heart to come to hospital the next day knowing that she wouldn’t be around. He soon went back to being in a perennial foul mood like he was before the interns had arrived. He even indulged in a bar fight once with a patron for no reason whatsoever, a couple of days later, only to be separated by Manek who had been called upon by the security. His best friend was the only one to sense something amiss in him and on his persistence he revealed his attraction to Ria. He felt ashamed to have feelings for a twenty-one year old young lady then who was about twelve years his junior. Gaurav couldn’t compose himself this time as he drank his way to numbness after years of his rehabilitation. Manek then had suggested, he give in and face his feelings albeit from a distance and bind time… with a hope that he would forget about her soon. Why would a young bright girl be interested in a baggage like him? He was sure Ria would be history… and so after that, for the next two years he had followed Ria’s life through her college as she completed her post-graduation studies in counselling. Their hospital had a tie up with the college so finding how the interns were doing didn’t call for attention. He felt like a stalker but like always when it was about Ria his impulse control lay in shreds.

He knew everything about Ria… even the day she got engaged just before her final exams. He remembered that day very clearly. He was an emotional wreck and Manek had to stay back with him as he drank himself to stupor… as he broke his glass table. No amount of pacifying by Manek had helped him… in fact there was no plausible explanation to his kiddish tantrum over being rejected by a woman… who actually didn’t even speak with him… It was just plain stupid and Manek had given up on him. But he had eventually learnt to accept the situation… at least that’s what he had thought.

His emotions were slowly coming on track… when he learnt that Ria had applied for openings in their hospitals and had bagged it. His fragile control over his emotions were participating in a losing battle as he tried to get her to resign. He hoped it would be something like – out of sight… out of mind. It wasn’t of any use as Ria stayed on undeterred and it only made him feel more guilty about putting her through crap. After a few months, there were three positions for leads across departments and they had recommendations from all over their hospital chains. He had his way and she was one of those selected, of course and to everyone’s surprise he arranged for all three of them to be reporting to him. But no one could question him. He never bothered the other two leads and accepted their reports and suggestions without questions. But with Ria, he didn’t know what got into him, he was always angry…

Ria was quite popular among her colleagues, supervisors, department heads, patients and even the class four employees. She was soft spoken and went out of her way to help people around her. In between there were some rumors about her… where people gossiped about her been granted favours by the boss with vested interests? He felt like a dork but her engagement was still affecting him along with his huge snowballing attraction to her.  He just wanted her to go away… Right from the time she was reporting to him directly, he would call her at God forsaken hours and keep her waiting outside his other cabin while watching her on the monitor in his cabin. He had, by now known her features by rote. The pretty almond shaped eyes which were always lined by kohl, the thick but shapely eyebrows, the stubby nose, short hair usually tied in a ponytail, the chubby cheeks which would turn red when she blushed, and the most attractive part, the cute cleft on her chin. The cleft would get more pronounced whenever she smiled as she spoke to his secretary Karuna while she waited for his summons.

He felt like a jackass for treating her like crap though she was an innocent in this totally. He was the culprit here responsible for his own misery, but he just couldn’t seem to let go. He had seen her blink back tears as he firmly rejected her reports without even a glance or yelled at her last week. But she never complained and did the needed work diligently. His attempts to hate her had backfired badly and he was…. falling for her. He was falling head over heels….

Gaurav sighed as he returned back from his memory lane and slowly made his way back to the third floor. It was then he heard her muffled cry, that was a kick in his gut. He deserved the capital punishment for tormenting her ever since she had joined the hospital. He kept staring at her slumped posture as she cried into his coat, wishing it was him instead of the coat in her clutches. He wanted to console her but knew he couldn’t hold it any longer if he did and it was best for both their sanities that he stayed away from her. Everything that had happened was his fault… always. His therapist would have a field day analysing him if he met him today, may be unravelling yet another of his defence mechanisms. He had enough of the psychobabble and it was time he did something for others…

Right then he made a decision to give over the charges of his responsibilities in the hospital to someone more capable and take a transfer to another branch. No more innocent lives to be lost on his hands… definitely not Ria…who he loved more than life itself… he was sure now.

He could do anything with his wretched life… maybe spend more time in Karma… who would miss him anyway? But for once in his life he was really … scared of the possibility.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 8

Gaurav’s revolving chair creaked as he relaxed into it and Ria looked back at him… again. She could still feel the tension between them and decided to take charge of the conversation. They were stuck here the awkward silence stretching long enough to rile her emotions and it was time for some answers. “Um sir… I had a question for you. May I… ask?”

He kept looking at her with that perennial frown. He slowly nodded once; at least she thought he did.

“Ok… why do you hate my work so much? Or is it me?” She raised her voice as she remembered those long working hours and the mental stress she had been put through last month. “… I know my work… was not bad at all. In fact, some reports were outstanding, if I have to recall my training in college. If my work was substandard or unsatisfactory, I would not have been offered the promotion to my current position…. So I want to know what the problem is here. Maybe… I can …rectify it…” She had lost steam by the end of her tirade, her throbbing leg and pounding head not helping. Gaurav kept staring at her as if she had grown two horns. Probably the entitled man didn’t like to be questioned but he was in for a surprise… because she had had enough too…

He didn’t say anything for a while just gave her a look devoid of expressions. Suddenly, he stood up and went towards the window. For what seemed like an eternity he kept looking outside the slight opening with hands in his pockets. Ria looked at his taut back and wondered if she had bitten more than she could chew all that act of bravery suddenly losing its sheen. She probably shouldn’t have taken up the topic but then there was no other option if she had to confront him. Slowly he turned around from the window and sighed as he sat on his chair. He looked at her with an expressionless face.  “I only wanted you to raise the bar. I wanted you to be an example for others …to motivate them to work hard.” He then looked away.

Ria was angry now, the events of the past ten hours or so not helping to stop the underlying subdued emotions from surging their way upwards. The molten lava simmering in her heart couldn’t be held any longer. She slowly removed the blanket and kept her leg down, panting with the miniscule effort. Holding the arm rest of her chair and using the table for support she stood up on the wobbly leg. Gaurav immediately stood up to support her but she held up her palm in front of her and he abruptly stopped.

“With due respect, Sir… You have been unfair with me right from the day I joined your organisation… be it my decisions or proposal…just anything… you shot down the idea only because I was involved. You have acted tyrannically with me for the entire last month and made my life a living hell… All this…  just to MOTIVATE other workers? Do I… do I look like a fool to you? Do you even know… what I have gone through?” She was so clogged with emotion that she couldn’t speak anymore even as the hot tears streamed down her cheeks. Her recent past swam before her and before she realized, the dam burst threatening to drown everyone around her. She just seemed to lose control of both her life and her emotions. Everything was just slipping away like the sand held in the palms and she was a mere spectator. She had enough of the taunts for no fault of hers… her parents giving her the time of the day for not being appealing enough to their close relatives, her stupid fiance who had stooped to new lows every time they had a conversation and her boss who left no stone unturned to make her like a living hell. She just sobbed clenching her chest… like never before in her life. The sorrows bubbled up drowning all her defensive control barriers in their wake.

She didn’t know who made the first move but in the next instant she was in his arms. But unlike Vikram… she didn’t flinch at his touch…it seemed comforting. circling her hands around his neck, she buried her face in his chest and cried. She cried for her inability to stand up against her parents, inability to face her sister’s and relatives’ bullying with confidence, inability to connect with Vikram, inability to oppose her exploitation, as she called it, at work and most of all… her inability to control her feelings towards this man holding her… in spite of the pain he had inflicted on her tender heart. He kept lightly kissing her head as he caressed her back with one hand while he held her with the other. She breathed in his cologne… she had always loved the fragrance whenever she entered his cabin at work and even earlier she had found traces in his coat as well. She realised she had gripped his shirt.

No…she couldn’t crumble down in this manner, she was a strong young woman…her thatha always said. She stopped her crying bout still holding his shirt lapels, deeply inhaled and sighed. She realised she had been leaning onto him because of her foot and felt mortified… mainly because she was loving it. Oh… God did she cross her boundaries? She still held his shirt and looked up into his beautiful stormy black orbs, his face etched with a concern she had never seen before. Right then she felt something prodding at her stomach… Was that…what she thought it was? As if reading her thoughts, he quickly released her, still holding her arms. He seemed shocked as he looked at her wide eyed.  She balanced herself on the table as he left her arms.

“Fuck…”  He swore shaking his head. He moved away rubbing a hand over his face and walked out of the room…

Ria held his coat closer and inhaled the traces of his cologne as she sat on his chair… it gave her a strange sense of warmth and comfort. She was back to reality after that outburst moments ago, she didn’t know what triggered it but it was more than her injury and being held up overnight in this place with her boss. Gradually the gravity of the situation started dawning on her. She couldn’t even stand for two whole minutes… how could she manage alone at home…? In fact how would she reach home in this condition? Her gown was torn… it was literally in rags. Oh God Preeti would be furious. The gown must have cost a fortune…  Would Preeti or Tusshar or any one of them even bother if she was fine? Didn’t they miss her when they travelled in their vehicles back home? Were they so intoxicated not to care? Her eyes filled…. The thought that they would have left her back on purpose also passed her mind. Why? What was her fault? That she was exceptionally good at her work? That she needed this job desperately enough that she tolerated crap from the bossman…  She hadn’t asked for the promotion, had she?

She still remembered overhearing a conversation in the hospital three weeks ago. She had gone to the store room which was near the cafeteria, to check some old files. She had closed the door accidentally instead of leaving it open and without bothering she had continued with her search. It was then she had overheard the biggest hospital gossip Sudhir talking to someone. They probably had taken a break from the NICU wing and come down for a tea break. It was barely a week since she had been promoted.

“Hey man… whassup…? Didn’t like the tea…?” Sudhir had asked someone.

“No…man… too sweet… looks like excess sweeteners are a part of the package to move upwards…?” the other man had replied making her wonder what they were talking about.

Sudhir then spoke “ Oh yes …didn’t take long eh? Super success at twenty four…department lead… what do you think?”

The other voice had replied. “….oh you get to be in your twenties only once… Swara was there till a while ago…it was Ratna before that and so many…. now it’s her…miss righteous tightness…”

She had been shocked to the core… she knew people talked behind her back but she had always thought it was about her colour or something about treading on other’s toes. But here they were…

Sudhir had again said, “Hypocrites all over man… just the other day my hand touched Ms. Holier than though tightness…  by mistake… just a little brush on that ample boob…and madam had  flared up. Gave me a stare and… said she would complain to HR…” He was lying… the asshole had purposely touched her not just once but a couple of other times as well. She had seen him do it to other women as well who usually giggled or gave him stares but he didn’t bother. She had given him a piece of mind but not in front of everyone. Now standing in the dusty storeroom as she thought about it, she felt she should have insulted him before the staff.

“…aww then? What happened after that…?” The other voice asked.

“Common man who would want to have a faceoff with the boss’s flavour of the month…?” Sudhir had aid with a malicious tone. The piece of shit deserved to be flogged, she had thought as tears streamed down her face.

“…Oh yes… of course… how could I forget that…” The other asshole had jested.

They had giggled and Sudhir had said, “She still doesn’t bother dressing up well… or use a pint of make up, does she?”

The other voice had said, “Oh who needs an overdone pretty face… so long as the oral is given well…” and they had burst out laughing.

Ria had broken down in the empty storeroom… she had been mortified. What the hell was wrong with these educated idiots? But could she actually blame them? She was called into the bossman’s cabin almost every day… after regular hours. People didn’t know that she just waited outside for hours before his highness called her in… they didn’t know the torment she had to put up with every time her reports were rejected for flimsy reasons and what she had to face at home because of the odd hours she put in. NO one knew how important her earnings were for her family.

And now… if they got to know of this ‘situation’ would they speculate on her apparent rendezvous…? She was chagrined at the thought of what would transpire… Sometime back it was only her pain and seeing him right in front gave the right breeze to the subdued embers hidden deep below for the last three years. Now that she was back on earth, she was terrified thinking about what was in store for her…

What would her parents say? She dreaded being the centre of gossip in office. Lewd remarks behind her back, based on speculations… was different but now she would be providing the fodder for their maniacal comments laden with personal gibes. She shuddered at the very thought of being the butt of jokes beyond her colour… She didn’t know if Preeti would support her anymore and probably would join the others if her attitude yesterday was any indication. She remembered Tusshar and some of the other guys trying to feel her up and how she had to struggle to just lay off their attentions. They had eventually understood and moved away but not before disgusting her… The other young women including Preeti had no qualms about hands all over them. She didn’t judge them at all and just wanted the same treatment from them as well. Why couldn’t she just let her hair down for God’s sake? Why couldn’t a girl get a work promotion and not be subjected to jeer comments and get her character maligned?

Then there was her housing society… oh heaven forbid if anyone got to know about her not being at home last night… tongues would wag for sure. She remembered the last time, six months ago her father’s good friend and colleague Mr. Joshi’s daughter had eloped to get married to a boy of a different religion there was so much of chaos in the society with the Joshis washing their dirty linen in public. Their daughter had come home with her new husband to receive their blessings but the Joshis had brought the skies down. There had been exchange of words between the daughter and her parents and even Ria’s father had gone to support his friend. Later that night her father had told how the Joshis had become a mockery in the society because of their daughter who didn’t have the right values. What her father probably didn’t know that Padma Joshi, the daughter had been seeing the guy Jonathan Nadar  for over five years and they had married the moment Jonathan had secured a plum job abroad. Padma had been Ria’s classmate in school and was a good friend too. She was an architect and had a good job. Occasionally when they met she would tell Ria about her plans which included marrying Jonathan. Her parents had tried their best to find a guy amongst their own but Padma had always put her foot down stating one reason or the other till she married Jonathan. She was now in Dubai well settled though did miss her parents.  Ria was in touch with Padma and told her about her parents well-being whenever they chatted or emailed. Ria shuddered to think about the scene that would take place if anyone got to know… She didn’t have a husband to fall back on, she thought chuckling at her misery.

Why was a girl answerable for everything she did… She was expected to study well, get a good job, contribute in every way to the family, marry into a household ‘selected’ for her and at the end of everything… get questioned regarding her virtue. She remembered a famous Bollywood song.. ‘kuch to log kahenge….’ There was the first paragraph which impacted her a lot.

 ‘Kuchh reet jagat kee ayesee hai
Har yek subah kee shaam huyee
Tu kaun hai, teraa naam hain kyaa
Seetaa bhee yahaa badanaam huyee’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95UdAo4JdJI

And she was no Seeta… she thought as the tears kept flowing, her agony not seeming to end. Was this feminism… woman empowerment all about? A woman had to prove herself time and again since eternity…

Her leg throbbed driving her attention to the real reason she was here. Instead of worrying about the injury healing and reaching home she was constantly contemplating the worldly debates about her character assassination. She wept her heart out holding his coat around her… just unable to put a lid on those pent up emotions. Her father would be proved right after all when throughout childhood and adolescence he had warned her about partying late, gyrating before strangers and now she had graduated a step further… at least in the eyes of the world.

She had just spent the night with a stranger…

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 7

Ria woke up to soft snores. She was cuddled up…someone hugged her. Was it Pooja? She sometimes did it when she had a nightmare. But it felt great…felt warm and cosy, like someone bigger than her had held her. She wanted to sleep more but her leg was throbbing. Leg?  The earlier evening dawned on her.  She raised her head and felt his breath on her face. Eyes widened, she immediately moved away from him and winced. It felt as if a truck had run over her. She looked at Dr. Gaurav sleeping peacefully the dark shadows on his face hiding the minute scars… his hair spread unevenly on his forehead. She looked away. The rain probably had stopped she could hear slight drizzle. She struggled to move and dragged herself up. She saw her phone near his head and taking it she checked the time. It was 6AM. It was still dark…maybe because of the clouds. There was barely any charge, and no network. She had to get back home soon. She slowly slipped out of the bedding, biting her lower lips so that she wouldn’t groan in pain. Her leg felt numb. She saw her soiled gown had torn to reveal her leg up to her thigh. Did he see her like this last night? He must have. He had treated the wound and she looked down… She still wore his coat. She pulled it closer to prevent the shivering due to cold. He had shut the window and the entry door sometime during the night. But still, it was very cold and she wanted to see if the water level outside had subsided; most importantly she wanted to pee. What was it about answering nature’s call and the perils following…? Her colleagues would laugh their guts out if they ever heard something as atrocious as to what took place last evening. Why only them? She too would have thought someone was jesting if she hadn’t been experiencing the situation herself. Her immediate thought went to her parents… Oh God they would be so angry and probably blame her… but immediately she heaved a sigh of relief… they weren’t in town. Thank goodness…

She tried to stand using the support of the table but her leg gave away and she slid down again. The pain shot up her body and she winced. Did she wake him up? She turned to look at his sleeping form.  She held up her mobile hoping to use its screen light. She couldn’t make out his features in the dim light but then she didn’t need to. They were etched in her memory. His handsome face had lovely features and the mild scars… She shoved those thoughts aside as her bladder called to be emptied!

She touched his shoulder. “S… sir…Dr. Ga..Gaurav?”

He woke up instantly. He frowned when he saw her sitting up. He sat up and quickly checked his watch. “Ria…are you ok? Is something wrong?”

She pulled his coat closer and said, “I… I… I need to use the washroom. Um…can you help me stand?”

Without uttering a word, Gaurav quickly stood up to his complete height of over 6 feet. He came behind her and held her shoulder close to his body. He then took her hand and helped her up. Ria tried to take a step on her injured leg but she couldn’t feel it and she lost her balance but he held her tight towards him. “Just… just lean on me ok? I will check that leg once you are done. Come let’s go.” he spoke softly so close to her ears that she felt his hot breath on them. She shivered and closed her eyes. She wanted to savour the moment. Though he had been rude to her this past year especially for the past month, she had often dreamt of his soft voice and imagined it close to her in her day dreams. Even now, it was calming her anxiety. She mentally reprimanded herself for those thoughts when she should be only focused on getting out of here. But she only nodded and they shuffled slowly towards the washroom. It was very painful for her to complete the process in the pain and the darkness not to mention the utter embarrassment that had crept up her body, but he stood right outside her cubicle. Once she was done, she washed her hands at the basin and splashed some water on her face. All the while he held her arm. The mirrors were no longer there in the washroom so she couldn’t see herself. She was glad in one way. She probably looked like a zombie. Her head ache had come down but she still experienced a little dizziness and wished it would go away. Slowly they came back to his cabin. He helped her sit on the easy chair and raised her injured leg on the stool. “Thank you, Sir” she said as she looked at him and he stared at her for a moment. He then quickly excused himself and left the cabin.

What was that stare for, Ria wondered. Those beautiful black-brown eyes always had pulled her to him. So, she used to always avoid eye contact at work not that he gave it away either. HE barely looked at her always immersed in some files or books while talking to her…if those few words he spoke could actually qualify for talking. But his eyes spoke a lot.. She felt something in them…something she couldn’t express. She just wished she would understand the emotion in them and probably she would know why he disliked her so much.

He was back in about five minutes. His hair was unruly as though he had drawn his hands through them a number of times, his days old stubble bringing out the attractiveness of his handsome face, somehow gave him a raw appeal.  He held a packet of sandwich before her. “Here… eat this. It looks good. It was in the fridge. Luckily the water didn’t reach it. The… guys must have kept the leftover food in the fridge. It was… uh… good thinking. It … it will be a while before we get to leave here”. She hesitated. Sensing her reluctance, he continued, “Look Ria, I know it has been a lousy ten hours or so. But you have to keep up your strength till you reach our hospital. I will give you another tablet but not before you eat something. Please… eat this”.

She took the packet and opened it. She took a bite, and realized she was very hungry and finished the sandwich in no time. She saw him as he kneeled down and looked at her injury. She unlocked her phone so now he could view it better. “The stiches and dressing are holding up and there is no fresh bleeding. That means it’s getting better…uh…it…it should heal quite a bit in a week or so. But to be on the safer side I shall ask Dr. Shetty to take a look at it at the earliest.” He said examining the leg and Ria was surprised. Dr. Shetty was the head of their surgical unit. She also knew Dr. Gaurav’s credentials. He had stitched her up and dressed the wound in the dark yesterday, using the bare minimum material available. That itself was a proof of his calibre. She decided she would refuse to see the other doctor later. Suddenly he lifted her leg. Then holding it, he sat on the stool and gently massaged the area around her wound. He moved her foot in all directions and gave a little traction. He then folded her leg towards her body and pulled it back towards his chest. This was exactly like she had seen physiotherapists work with the paralytic patients. She started feeling her leg. Though it was painful she was now able to wiggle her toes and felt blood flowing through her limb. Slowly he lowered her leg on the stool as he stood. He then gave her the medicine as she gulped it down with the last ounce of water he had. Did he have anything? She wondered…

“Sir, you didn’t eat anything? Is there… is there any more water… left for you?” She asked him. He swiftly got up without answering and went to the window and as he opened it and a blast of cold air with water drops flew in. She shivered and hugged the coat. He seemed to love the early morning breeze but hearing her gasp he turned around. He looked at her grimacing shivers and immediately closed the window. He took the thick blanket from the floor and covered her body… his feeble touch burning her more than anything else. In a soft voice that was now her favourite sound in the world, he said, “Ria, I am sorry. I didn’t realize you were cold. I wish I could offer you something hot but….” He looked away. He went back to the window and cracked it a little open. “…The water has started to recede but it will be a while till someone would come looking for me… but what about your folks Ria? Wouldn’t they be worried sick by now?” He asked as if he had just realized the fact.

She didn’t even realise when he had started calling her on a first name bases but hearing her name drawling out of his mouth… it had never sounded so filled with emotions that she again couldn’t explain. Ria replied with a calm which even surprised her given her agitation a while ago. “My parents and sister are visiting our hometown for a wedding. They won’t be back for another week. So, I am fine.” She saw that it was cloudy but not raining. She asked, “How long do you think we would be… here?”

Gaurav dragged his office chair in front of her and sat crossing his legs. He sighed.  “The moment my housekeeper realizes I am not at home he will try to locate me. Hopefully the power should be restored by then and I can charge my cell phone. I also hope that either of us will get a cell signal. The landline phones have been disconnected long ago…”

They looked at each other in the semi darkness and Ria felt the pull of the mesmerizing blacks once again as she looked away. Why were his eyes so magnetic and fierce?

Gaurav spoke in a strange tone she couldn’t fathom. “I know your folks are not at home…but if they were, er…would they be worried? I mean…would they send a search party for you?”

What did he mean by that? She looked at him again and gave a sad smile, “I don’t know really… but they would be angry for sure… Um… they would have then probably thought I was safe with Vikram… um… my fiancé or having a night cap with Preeti….” She looked towards the window as though lost in thought and continued, “…but the irony is, I have never missed their curfews except… recently. Never have I defied their order or …” she looked at him staring intently at her. “…. Um… I am rambling…”

“But, haven’t you lived in the hostel? You had your freedom, right?” he asked in the soft voice that she now longed to hear.

“Sir….” she said again looking at the window and pausing as if to gather her thoughts. She was still not sure whether he was making small talk to make her feel better or if he genuinely wanted to know about her. “I… had to call home every day. My upbringing has been strict. Back at home we sisters were never permitted to be outside the home after 7 PM. We had to go to bed by 9.30PM. So, I was used to this discipline. I never went out with friends…. if that’s what you are asking. Then before I knew, I was engaged…. to a person I had never met before the engagement day….” Seeing his shocked expression, she smiled, “…. yes, that’s true. But I have trusted my parents to make the right…decisions for me…” She sounded as if she was defending her parents, surprising her as well!!

He pushed the chair with a loud drag on the floor, startling her, as he jerked up and walked briskly towards the window. He stood there supporting himself on the side still.  Ria started at him… he seemed irked. What did she say that had him ruffled? She just couldn’t understand… ever since she had joined the hospital, he had only been a pain, the cause of her professional troubles and now he had the audacity to talk about her personal life and not like what he heard. What the hell…?

“So, this Vikram … is he… IS he the right guy for you?” Gaurav asked in a stern tone frowning as he looked at her.

Really??

Ria felt the sudden need to defend her parents…whatever it was this was her personal space and she hated washing her dirty linen in public. However she couldn’t stop the feeling of disgust when it was about Vikram. She spoke with downcast eyes. “My parents are everything to me. I owe my existence to them. I am what I am… my success… everything…. It’s… them. So yes, if they feel Vikram is the right life partner for me then …he is.”  She looked away blinking back tears.

 Her heart was heavy and she didn’t want him to see her vulnerable. Vikram always made her feel inferior and she wanted to change the conversation topic. She again looked at him and asked, “What about you sir? You said housekeeper…. So, is he the only one waiting for you? I mean …no other relative or…” She was actually curious.

Before she could continue he abruptly said, “…NO ONE ok? There is no one who is wasting their valuable time waiting for me back home nor will anyone MISS ME. No parents, no siblings, no friends and… No girlfriends… are you satisfied?”

They looked at each other with some unsaid conversation passing between them. As if they understood each other well. She felt her face heat up as Gaurav looked away this time and headed toward his office chair.

What had just happened? She had never seen him so…. was he vulnerable too? Was there really no one in his life? Was that why he behaved like that at work? But most of the people who had spoken about him…in fact everyone only had good words for him. Then why was he like this … with her? And the worst part of it all was…it had started to affect her…big time.

 For once she uttered a silent prayer to the Almighty for giving her the gift of family. She even missed them now. She wondered what they were up to in their native. Would they worry that she hadn’t called them for last twenty-four hours? Considering the flood situation in Pune? Would Vikram have called her last night, for a change?  Would he even have thought about her? She hadn’t told anyone of them about the party. Both, her father and Vikram would have come up with some kind of harsh words to hurt her and she would have landed up cancelling the event.

Why the hell didn’t Preeti or Tusshar wait for her? At least come looking for her? Were they so wasted that they failed to see she wasn’t in the bus? Tears filled her eyes as with a heavy heart she realised… no one would really miss her if she was absconding or kidnapped or even worse… dead. Well, she did have something in common with the bossman after all!

Before she knew half an hour had passed in her train of thoughts.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 6

Gaurav woke up with a start. Was that a scream? He thought he heard something then was it the bus horn…he heard some faint giggles and chaotic murmuring amidst the noisy rain. Oh those partying live wires must be leaving… Ria must have left too. He hoped she would reach home safely. Slightly disoriented and shaking his head to remove the nagging kink, he squinted at his watch looked at his watch. He had barely dozed for a few minutes.

Seeing Ria in the party had disoriented him more than the whiskey he had been consuming since evening when he had been brooding here. He never should have gone downstairs but standing in the darkness of the staircase, he couldn’t help it. He only wanted to take a small peek but he had blatantly started… She looked so unrestrained unlike back in the hospital where she was generally uptight especially when she encountered him. But here she looked devoid of worries and her face shone in the sheen of sweat as she gyrated to the peppy numbers especially in that Godforsaken gown which was taking his blood down south with a vengeance. The same blood had boiled to see that guy…Tusshar something from the Physiotherapy department make a move towards her. He caught a few others too ogling at her dearie. He had tightened his fists on his sides.  Wait…was he jealous? A grown up 37 year old man…freaking jealous of silly young guys who were closer to Ria’s age than he…

 Right then Ria had probably sensed him and had looked around… Before he did something that he would regret later, he had come back upstairs, drowned his whiskey and slumped in his easy chair.

 Now wide awake he thought he heard a thud. He heard the loud honking of the bus and looked out of the window. The bus was submerged up to half its tyres and was now moving away. Good for them, and even better for him he thought. He would finally have his peace here. It probably would soon flood more if the rains continued lashing at this rate. He rubbed a hand over his face wondering what the earlier sound was. It had come from the direction of the washroom. But he wasn’t sure. The whiskey definitely must be working his head. He only had two complete glasses… usually that didn’t get him drunk. Was he hallucinating? Or… Was there a robber? They never had break-ins even during the prime working days of this hospital. Why would anyone come to this ghostly empty place now… in such a heavy downpour? He shook his head and moving away from the window, went towards the washroom. He would as well check for himself.

As he moved towards the washroom, the lights suddenly went off. Oh, hell… the power must have been switched off in the area due to floods….. He took out his cell phone and switched on the torch. The battery read 20% and he had to use it frugally. He thought he would check the washroom area and get back, then switch it off. He continued moving towards the washroom trying to shuffle his way in the faint torch light.

Wait. What was that…?

…Was it a hand? Yes, it was. He was startled to see a hand lying partly outside the entrance. He rushed to check and his heart skipped a beat. Oh God…Ria… . What the hell…?

He bent down and quickly checked for a pulse. Thank goodness, it was there. He shone the mobile light torch over her and saw the long deep cut. Her beautiful gown was ruined. It was torn and the area around her cut was soaked with blood. He held the phone between his teeth and gradually held her leg and checked it. The gash looked quite deep and blood trickled on his palm. Luckily whatever cut her didn’t go too deep…else the damage would have been more. He looked around even as the damp odours made him want to puke, and found her scarf. He picked it and tied it around the wound. That would have to do for now and he had to stop the bleeding. For that he had to take her away from the dirty area.

 He heard Ria moan, probably, due to the pain. It was then that he saw, there was a lump on her forehead and probably under her eye…something like a bruise, which had turned an ugly shade of purple. He had to hurry now. His professional instincts were never wrong when he worked as a doctor years ago. He started to lift her but being drunk he was getting disoriented. He probably had had more than two glasses… he had to wake her. He went backwards towards a basin. Luckily there was some water trickling down and he took some in his palm and sprinkled it on her face. He repeated it two more times and Ria jerked and tried to open her eyes. Quickly moving close to her he took her hand in his. “Ria…are you alright? Let me help you OK? Just try to get up. I will take you to the cabin where you can rest….” He paused. He saw Ria was looking at him confused and in a daze. “…. Er you are hurt. I have to …er… get the treatment started with whatever I have here. But first we have to move. Uh… can you get up please? Here… let me help.”

Ria seemed to follow, though her expression was blank. It was then he saw her gown was torn at the wrong angles. He was careful with the remaining of the flimsy material as he helped her stand, he held her right hand and took it around his shoulder to support her. She groaned as she tried to put the weight on the left leg. Slowly she limped with his support towards his cabin.

Gaurav could see that Ria was in immense pain. He was miserable too seeing her in that condition. But he was a doctor first. A doctor? Where did that come from? He had given up everything years ago. He had never felt motivated to get back to it again…until now. Seeing Ria grimacing in pain, he knew he had to get to the task at hand. He was a surgeon and a very good one at that. Once they reached his cabin, he made her comfortable on his recliner chair. The examination table had been moved earlier today and packed off, so the chair had to make do. He raised her leg on the nearby stool. He immediately checked her eyes for the pupil dilation fearing a bad concussion. So far, it seemed ok. He used his fore finger and gently lifter her chin. “Ria…” he called out softly. “…. Do you remember when did you have your last tetanus shot? I need to know… please think ok?”

Ria grimaced as she tried to think. “um… aahhh” she cried in pain. It was as if even uttering a syllable was taxing her. She breathed heavily and held his hand tightly as if her life depended on it. Gaurav covered her hand with his trying to calm her down. Looking straight into her eyes he said, “Ria don’t you worry. I am here with you. I will take care of you ok? Just… calm down. You are absolutely fine. Just remember your last shot… it will help me help you.”

Ria tried to speak, “la…last year. I h…h…. hurt myself. Got te..tet…nus j..ection”. Gaurav heaved a sigh of relief but it was short-lived when he saw the scarf tied to her leg. Though he had raised it, it was bleeding. He had to get the wound stitched and dressed as soon as possible.

He held her face in his hand and said softly, “Ria, look at me. I need to get the treatment going. But we don’t have the applicable resources I would have preferred. Instead I have to make do with whatever I can find. I will be back in a moment. Just… don’t panic and… Don’t go to sleep ok?” Ria just blinked looking at him and he took it as her response. He quickly rushed towards his cupboard and brought out his box and first aid kit. He needed ice as well. He sprinted to the first floor on wobbly legs. There was a huge fridge where the cold drinks were stored for today’s party. He had to reach there before the flood water came in. As he rushed downstairs he saw that the water had started to seep in. He quickly stuffed some rags and cartons lying around into the crevices below the closed entry door…. The basement that they had considered as ground floor during the hey days here, must be waterlogged by now. The windows were shut. Thank God for little blessings. He saw the fridge and  quickly scrapped as much ice as he could in a cup lying nearby.  He then rushed to the second floor where the OT room…. His OT room lay. It was open. His memories clenched his chest. He had avoided this room like plague for last five years but now it was like he was sliding down the memory lane…. But no he realised with a jolt. His father used to say… ‘A doctor has to have his emotions in check and let the brain take over…’

Ria needed him and that realisation brought down the panic raising within. He looked around for something that would help him. Last week they had a camp here. Would there be anything left? He was hopeful. He quickly found a medical tape and a small ball of cotton. His cabin upstairs had the rest. He had in fact stayed back tonight to relive his career here and looked like he had way more than that up his sleeve. He reached the sink in the corner of the OT room. He found an antiseptic liquid bottle. It had a little quantity but beggars couldn’t be choosers.

He was wavering.. .his head was pounding but he made it to the third floor without dropping his booty. Ria was trying her best to stay awake. He went towards her and quickly held some ice against her forehead. She winced. “Can you hold this for a while Ria? It will get the lump down…” he wondered if she followed. Slowly she lifted her trembling hand and held the little ice. It shook badly. He took out his handkerchief, kept some ice in it and made a tiny bundle. He gave it to her and said, “Here… take this. It’s easier to hold.” Ria mechanically did as told. He then started to work on her leg. He further tore the frills away exposing her leg even as she gasped…but now he had a better access to the wound. Ria whimpered as he tried to untie the scarf which was soaked. As he looked up he saw she was shivering. He took his coat that was hanging on the back of his office chair and quickly covered her with it. He told her to keep holding the ice bundle though the handkerchief was now soaked with cold water. He would think about it later, he thought.

He released the scarf. It was difficult to see in the dark. He clicked on his mobile again to use the screen light, and checked, the bleeding had reduced but not stopped. He used the remaining ice and some cotton to clean the area as he heard her wince. He didn’t dare to look up at her face. He had to be the strong one. The light from his mobile phone dimmed further. Oh no… battery indicated 1%. Suddenly there was total darkness. Ria groaned again and he couldn’t make out if it was due to pain or fear of the dark. The only light was from the lightening. He now had to gather his wits. He said to her, “Ria I am icing and covering the wound tentatively so that it stops bleeding and not get infected. I have to make arrangements for…stitches. Just…just bear with me swee…. er ok?” He was about to call her sweetheart, like he had in his fantasies. He had to be careful.

He washed hand scrubbed his hands at the attached basin. The water was trickling but he had to make do. He had to get his tools in place quickly…in the dark. He sat down and cleaned her wound further. He quickly opened his tool box and picked out the fine dissoluble thread. He had procured it from the UK when he had attended a seminar there. It was the best brand available and he had only used that once afterwards. He checked his needles and picked the one he felt was sufficient. He always kept his tool box sterilised. Even though he wasn’t practising, he used to revamp and take care of his tools every month. So he didn’t worry now about the sterilising the needle. He only had a tiny amount of the numbing gel. He wasn’t sure of the expiry date but it wouldn’t be very long as he always checked… thank God for his obsession, it helped today.  He took his place on the floor. He had to tilt his head as he applied the gel on her wound. She whimpered… After a minute, he took in a deep breath as he started the procedure. If it pained her she didn’t show it and he was grateful for that. Somehow when it came to her all logic flew out of the window.

Slowly he finished the dressing too in the best possible manner. It looked sleek and well finished. Not that he had many options. He took out his tool box and shaped the dressing so that it would cover the wound but not hinder her movement. It was only after he finished he realised, he had done the procedures in total darkness and his hands hadn’t trembled…he didn’t even think of his fear. That was something… he blinked back tears.

He now looked up at her face. Though his eyes were adjusted to the darkness he couldn’t make out her facial expression. He needed to check that lump too. Just then, there was a bout of lightening which shown through the window. He now saw her face for a moment. She was looking at him with tears rolling down her cheeks. Her hands lay on her stomach. He took the little bundle of ice from her hand, which was now a wet cloth. He rinsed it and held it against her forehead. She held his hand with shaking hands and asked, “B… Bus?”

Gaurav didn’t want to upset her further but he couldn’t hide the truth anymore. “The bus left long ago. You had fallen in the washroom here upstairs. I will take them to task for leaving you here like this….” Indeed, it was highly irresponsible on their part. How could they not miss her? No one even called her… called?? He abruptly looked at her. “Ria… where is your phone?” Ria whispered, “bag… dropped”. Gaurav carefully made his way to the washroom. He wondered how he would find the phone in the darkness. He moved his foot around the area where he had found Ria trying to avoid the blood. Something touched his foot and he bent to pick it up. It was her phone. Though it showed no signal, the battery indicated 40%. That was something!

He returned back to the cabin. Ria was shivering and he touched her forehead. As expected she was running a mild temperature. He didn’t have medication for fever. Using her phone screen light, he checked his cupboard which he used to stock with bedding for whenever he visited or stayed here. He dragged it out. He also took out all the three bed sheets and the thick rug which the housekeeper had thankfully cleaned for him. 

He took her shivering hand in his. With his other hand he drew her hair back on the forehead. He said softly, “Ria we have to sleep in the bedding here. It’s started to get cold and you are running a temperature. I have to stay close to keep watching for… you know since you are hurt on the head….” he didn’t know what else to say to her. Ria looked the other way and tried to pull her hand away. He held it tight and tugged at it as he continued, “Ria please… look at me. I know I haven’t given you any reason to trust me. But now I am your doctor. Please…please listen to this once. It’s going to be very cold shortly and you will be further sick.” She looked back at him. He could see tears in her eyes. He knew what she may have been thinking. Realizing that he didn’t have much time considering his state as well, he released her hand. Going towards the other side of the room, he laid flat the few empty cartons on the floor. He had got them from the storeroom earlier in the evening to fill his things. He then put the bedding and helped her into it. She winced with every movement but he had to appreciate her composure. He didn’t get in with her. He placed a thick towel beneath her foot outside the bedding to provide elevation. He then lay next to her on top of the bedding. It was raining heavily. Because it had started getting very cold, he had closed the window. Now he dragged both thick blankets over to cover them both. Ria soon drifted off to sleep. He too slept off with a last thought, to wake her up every hour or so.

He was shaking…? he was suddenly awake and immediately checked on Ria. She was shivering. Her temperature had spiked. He stood and thought for a moment. There had to be something in the OT room. They had stored medicines in the cabinets there for the camp. He took her phone and rushed down. Since the phone was locked he had to depend on the dim screen light. He looked inside each cabinet. Finally, he saw a small carton. He dragged it and opened the seal. There were few Paracetamol strips. There were also sachets of ORS and Glucon D. He took a few and went back. He gently woke her and helped her up as she laid her head on his chest. He caught his breath as he gave her a tablet for the fever. He also found a mild antibiotic which wasn’t enough for her, but now that had to suffice. Luckily, he hadn’t finished his water. He held her as she drank and took her medicines. As he lay her down again, she quickly turned further into him and snuggled into his chest. His arms automatically covered her. Finally, they lay facing each other with his one hand under her head and the other hugging her. He was instantly hard…. he hated himself to even think of such a fantasy while she lay ill. Sleep was now a distant possibility.

Very often Ria would whine in pain or shiver. He held her close and whispered into her ears. He didn’t seem to get enough of the shampoo fragrance in her hair. He breathed in and kissed her head. His breath caught when she snuggled further. He just hoped she would get well soon.

In the wee hours of morning, he checked her forehead. Her temperature had come down. She was sleeping peacefully. He was now relieved. He kept staring into her face just a beautiful silhouette in the dark, till he fell asleep.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

 Chapter 5

Ria looked around the beautiful building. The walls and the roofs all must be having stories buried in them, she wondered. The architecture was awesome. The building was tiled; they looked like Kota stone tiles and looked extremely elegant. Why on earth were they demolishing it? Of course, health clubs were a fad these days and who wouldn’t want money? Pity, the building had to go, she could never understand the value of money over sentiments or emotions. Or maybe it was she was too emotional. They were taught not to get attached to the patients they worked with but she couldn’t help it. Last week she was helping a juvenile delinquent charged with drug abuse and alleged molestation…the guy was only 17. He was usually angry and quiet and during the course of his sessions wherein he was accompanied by the social worker and his mother, she had found out he was from a broken home with an alcoholic father who battered his mother. She had landed up convincing the mother too to come on board for the treatment and the boy had been thrilled. Within a week he had shown positive changes and an eagerness to reinvent himself. Even yesterday after she had supervised their sessions, she had cried her eyes out in the bathroom. She wasn’t weak hearted but these events just got the better of her.

The water drops blown by the wind fell on her face threatening to drain away her makeup and she jolted back to the present. She walked in with the rest of the groups as they made their way to the party hall.

The stairs of the old building attracted her. They were broad spaced and had a side ramp as well for the wheeling up something like a stretcher or a wheel chair. The building didn’t have an elevator but compared to the current hospital where she worked, this was more spacious. That’s it…she didn’t want to think of work this evening. As the blast of the dance songs filled the air her spirits too lifted up. She wanted to let her hair down. She let go the melancholy and joined Preeti on the dance floor. The little elevated dias was artificially made, Ria could see.. probably just for todayThe senior staff members were having a slow dance or some of them were just chatting in groups already busy hitting the snacks and drinks.

Ris swayed to her favourite song the remixed ‘Saki saki…’ She was no Nora Fatehi but loved to gyrate sensually like the dancer herself. Her father never liked his daughters dancing. Ria loved dancing but since it was looked down upon in her home she could never try out anything. She did though occasionally behind closed doors in her room whenever her parents were not at home. She found it extremely cathartic. Sometimes Pooja joined her as well but she didn’t fancy dancing. Ria had practised some mean moves over a period of time but couldn’t get a chance to showcase them. Today she did and she wasn’t going to let it slip away.

After about an hour she had danced to her hearts content. She had never felt so free in a while. It was as if the barriers of her life were broken and she was a free bird. She wanted to leave the turmoil of her work and personal life behind and just savour the moment. Tusshar and Preeti too danced with her and gradually they were joined by her other colleagues who started to follow her lead. Some of the senior staff members also joined them. She was thrilled to the core. She stopped bothering about how wheatish her complexion was, how fat her backside was or how the freckles on her shoulder didn’t suit her or how she was supposed to behave or not to behave. Today, at this moment she was liberated… from every damn stereotypical cocoon and she just wished time would stop right there. Once in a while she felt Tusshar coming too close or the other accounts guy who the hots for Preeti had too tried to feel her up. Ria knew her larger than normal backside was often a butt of jokes besides her complexion and she often wore tight fitting jeans. Preeti often told her it looked sexy but she wasn’t convinced. Today however she was sure the gown brought it up even more… Preeti had teased her about being the Cinderella looking for her prince. It was strange that the guys who probably laughed at her dearie wanted to feel it today… she though disgustingly. It was tough dancing avoiding the touchy feelies but she wasn’t going to mar her pleasure for these chauvinistic idiots who thought they were a blessing to womanhood by just being born. Somehow Swara was conspicuous by her absence. Off late the receptionist hadn’t been her usual flirty or chirpy self… not that Ria was concerned. But she had thought Swara would be there today. The lady loved to show off her booty!

About what seemed like hours, she was exhausted. Her legs were calling it quits and the gown  felt tight trying to strangle her so she decided to take a break for a drink. She drifted away from the dance floor. Preeti’s heels which were a bit tight on her feet were stinging her toes and she longed to sit somewhere. She saw a few chairs arranged in the circular edges of the hall. She chose a mock tail and some starters to go with it. She strutted to the chair where she had kept her bag balancing the food plate and her glass on the plate. The crowd had considerably thinned. Those who had come in their vehicles must have left she assumed. She quickly looked around. Everyone was drinking and dancing. The dance floor was getting stuffy with the crowd as well as the overbearing blend of different perfumes and stinky sweat. Ria wanted to throw up as she saw Preeti who was on her 5^th beer. The girl loved her poison and looked like she was hitting it good. Ria shuddered wondering how Preeti would drive her home… maybe she would have to resort to booking a cab or worse comes worse go to Preeti’s house which was closer from the old building than hers. Tusshar had hit the unmanned bar as soon as he had reached and was down quite a few pegs. The management had been generous Ria smiled looking around. As she popped in a hara bhara kabab she thought how had struggled to keep Tusshar and some other male colleagues away from coming too close. She often thought of… him though. Would he have noticed her if he had come to the party? What would he think of her outfit? Ria shook her head. The guy had humiliated her for crying out aloud, messed up with her work thoroughly. She shouldn’t even think of it anymore… she was definitely disillusioned for two years before joining the hospital. What was she even thinking? Her colleagues would have a field day pulling her leg or even worse calling her choicest names and she would become the top flavour of the hospital grapevine. She was slowly patching up with them, getting them to trust her…  She needed the job and couldn’t antagonise her colleagues in any way. She was enjoying her goodies looking at her friends burning up the dance floor when she felt as if she was being watched. She had felt that while dancing as well but had let it go, not wanting to dampen her fun. She looked around the hall but couldn’t connect with anyone she thought could be staring at her. The haunted place must be affecting her psyche… Ria let the eerie feeling go and returned to her drink. After a while, once again the hair on her neck stood.

 She felt she had enough as she checked her watch. It was late approaching 10.30PM and she longed to go home. She peeped out of a window. The downpour was bad and the outside compound was filled with a foot of water. The roads were not visible for a distance and she was alarmed. They had to rush before it was late, otherwise they would be stranded. A wave of fear took over as Ria rushed to Preeti and yelled over the music “HURRY UP…WE HAVE TO LEAVE” Preeti squinted at her. She was heavily drunk and kept dancing. It took her a good 15 minutes to gather other sober members, the seriousness of the situation gradually dawning on them. The bus cleaner too arrived at the same time asking them to call it quits because of the worsening weather. The driver, who had been dozing off on a bed lying in a corridor, was called in to get the bus close to their exit. The senior staff members had left a while ago in another bus and only the young crowd from her bus and a couple of vans was left at the premises. The vans had trouble wading through the waters so all those people were to be accommodated on her bus… Oh God she had to rush to catch a seat otherwise she wouldn’t be able to feel her feet. They all rushed to collect their belongings as the bus driver hurried to fetch the bus from where he had parked it.

 Ria wanted to take a leak badly and gestured to Preeti hoping that she understood her considering her inebriated state. She wanted to tell some other girl but her bladder was threatening to burst any momenta and the act was anyways not going to be easy with the figure hugging gown. She took her bag and rushed to the nearest washroom and there were three other girls before her in the queue. Her urgency was driving her nuts adding to the anxiety of being able to reach home and she wanted to use the loo quickly. She thought, this was a hospital…. They were on the first floor actually they were above the basement so technically the ground floor…. there had to be many more bathrooms. She couldn’t risk going alone to explore the dark wings on the current floor. There should be something exactly similar upstairs right above. She decided to go for it. There was no more time to waste.

Ria found the stairs and gathered her gown and bag. Then using the light from her mobile phone she rushed upstairs. She was right. There was a washroom exactly above the first floor one. However her happiness was short lived. The washroom was locked. As she looked around she saw there was light on the third floor. There had to be a washroom there. She heard the bus honk as it drew closer to pick them up outside. She had to rush and there was no time to inform anyone. She quickly panted her way upstairs to the third floor. There was a washroom and it was open after all… thank you God!! Ria quickly looked around. The washroom was only dimly lit outside; however the cubicles were still dark. She was forced to use her mobile flashlight. With great struggle balancing her bag and the dress, she relieved herself and as she emerged out of her cubicle, her dress frills got stuck on a door hinge. There must have been a nail. She tried pulling carefully to avoid tearing it but with her bag in her hand it was a difficult task.

A cold sweat broke out on her forehead and she mopped it away with her forearm as she thought the bus was probably filled by now. Her dress was already sticking to her body and she hated the claustrophobic feel, she couldn’t help the panic rising. She looked around and in the dim light saw discarded hospital furniture stored nearby. All had rough rusted edges. She had to be careful. She kept her bag down. The floor was dirty but she had no choice. She tried pulling again but the dress remained stuck. She heard the bus honking… Oh God, they must be waiting for her. To hell with the dress… she pulled with all her might. Suddenly the dress frill tore free and she was thrown backward by the force. She tried to balance herself but it was too dim for her to see the obstacles before it was too late. Something pierced across her leg cutting through her calf and she fell with a scream her forehead hitting the tiled wall as she fell.

The last she remembered in the excruciating pain was the bellowing horn of the bus before darkness claimed her.

Copyright Disclaimer: All content posted here is a work of fiction and original work based on the author’s imagination. There is no intention to disrespect any person or faith. Any resemblance to any person living or dead or any community is purely coincidental. No part of the content can be copied, reproduced or posted anywhere else either entirely or in parts, without the consent of the author.

Chapter 4

Gaurav looked into his glass of whiskey as he shook it to see the floating ice cubes. He felt like an asshole. He had made Ria cry last week. The poor girl was hard working and she was very good at it. But it infuriated him further. Why did she have to be so likeable? Why didn’t she fight back? He didn’t have any right to behave the way he did. Anyone else in her position would have quit ages ago or would have ousted him to HR. He knew she was paid well…he had personally seen to it. But it was not the money; it was something else which forced her to work here. He had seen her clothes. They were very simple unlike what she could afford with her salary. He knew there had to be a reason for this.

Hell… somehow all his thoughts would always come back to her.

Every evening he would rush to his lounge bar ‘Karma’ where he was the sleeping partner to his childhood friend Manik Chaturvedi. Manik was the only person who knew all the crap going on in his life… his past…well almost. There were somethings he had never told a soul though it ate him up from within. He was a bloody coward of the highest order and didn’t deserve the life he had. His routine would end many times with a bottle of his favourite whisky from the bar which he often replaced dinner with.. only to wake up next morning with a mother of all hangovers. He had a pad just above the lounge attached to his office where he often crashed in a drunken stupor. Other days he would go home where he had his trusted butler for company but would be in danger of facing his demons in his nightmare. He was indeed in between the devil and the deep blue sea. Manik was married for a year now and expecting his first baby. Like clockwork Manik stayed up in the bar till midnight after which Gaurav would take over for an hour or so till it was time to wind up. They had a very good handpicked staff which took care of everything and Gaurav would confine himself more often than not to his pad. These days his all in one butler too would join him making him drink less and more often than not he would be forced to go home… and then the appointment with his nightmares would begin. When would it get over? When he was no more? Not that it would make any difference to anyone… would it? He often wondered with a chuckle. what if he killed himself and ended the miseries… would Ria miss him? The way he had been treating her, she would dance a happy one on his grave he thought pensively.

Today he had run away from his situation and come to this old building. The now defunct hospital building was living its last days. This was the last weekend after which the building would be brought down. He looked around what used to be his old consulting room. Now it was a poor reminder of his past as a practising surgeon. He looked at his old glass cupboard that had housed his equipment…yes that’s what he called his surgical stuff. He never used anyone else’s or even those belonging to other hospitals when he visited but carried his own. He had a huge collection of surgical equipment procured from across the world during his short career. Most of it was in the storehouse of his home. He still had some boxes here though. He saw the I-V stand. He had kept it with him here… His first successful surgery patient had scribbled a thank you on it using a hairpin… He saw the box of unused syringes and remembered playing with similar boxes in his childhood, till his mother reprimanded him for damaging hospital property. Finally his roaming eyes rested on the First-aid kit. He had an obsession for the number of gauze and cotton swabs lined neatly in them. There were few minor procedures which he had carried out right in this room… like deep gashes or cuts. Aww good old days…he reminisced. He had strictly told the architect in charge of their project here, that he himself would be winding up his stuff. He didn’t like anyone touching them. He smirked…all the hopes and dreams… how the expectation bubble had burst.

This place was a treasure house of memories. As he moved around what used to be his once customised full-fledged consultation room, for one last time, he brooded about his past. He had literally grown up here amongst doctors, patients and nurses …among the smells of antiseptic fluids, soaps, laundry… blood. His parents and some of his uncles and aunts were all doctors. He had seen them build this empire from scratch. He was a mere child maybe around five years old when parents had moved their joint practise from their home clinic to a commercial gala. He used to hear dinner table talks between them on the increasing rents. Soon his uncle and aunt had joined the practise and they had got together four specialities under one roof, soon starting their first polyclinic. Within a year his other uncle and an aunt from his mother’s side joined the team and within another year they became the most sought after multi-speciality polyclinic in business. He must have been around ten- eleven years old when his parents sold their plot in their village, and his mother and aunts mortgaged their jewellery. This along with a loan had helped them buy the plot and build this first hospital building. It started off with just a ground floor with a small IPD section and a smaller surgical unit for emergencies. In the next few years they were joined by other cousins who came along with their monetary contributions and soon the building grew to the complete three storey-ed super speciality hospital. This was the first ever full-fledged hospital of the Chopra Group. From then on there was no looking back and as some of the relatives, mostly extended family that finished their medical education joined them, they started the expansion. He would often joke that their families had it in their genes to churn out doctors… like a factory of doctors. Some of his cousins who studied management or were CAs or lawyers were roped in the team to manage the running of the now emerged conglomerate.

As a child Gaurav never thought of becoming anyone else, but a doctor. He and some of his cousins who became doctors had taken over the reins of running the show gradually. He always loved working with patients and resented administration works… thank God they had efficient staff for that. He found that work or any paperwork too menial.  Paperwork always bored him. He loved decision making…he loved the adrenal rush of being in the front line managing patients. He was a surgeon and was renowned to be best at his work. He had gotten his initial experience right here in this old, but their first hospital building…

Gaurav stirred the melting ice as he recalled his initial foray into the world of medicine. He was an achiever in school, an all-rounder, not just good in academics but an avid fitness enthusiast as well. As he finished his grade twelfth he started to drink. Initially what began as a part of social drinking in parties hosted by his parents soon bamboozled into a full blown drinking habit. He even appeared for his medical entrance exams completely sloshed to his parent’s utmost horror and it was then they realised the gravity of his situation. He failed the exams and spent a year in rehabilitation before appearing again for the exams the following year. Though he passed, it was water under the bridge. He couldn’t get a merit seat… His parents had to shell out a fortune to get him admitted via some quota. If he had thought he had left the alcoholic misery behind him… he was in for a huge shock. He struggled through the first year with withdrawal symptoms, almost failing the final exams. His parents gave him an ultimatum…either to perform or give up medicine all together and that was an unbearable thought. It was then he cleaned up his act and immersed himself into studies. He also attended his monthly rehabilitation meets and by the final year he was able to cope better. He got back into his groove, topping the final year. He appeared for the entrance exams for the MS and aced it securing admission in one of the top medical colleges in Mumbai to pursue the same. He had dreamt to be a surgeon and now was on the path to be one… He worked his guts out and whatever time he got in between semesters or rare holidays he spent them in this hospital under his mother’s able tutelage. She was a general practitioner but a Jane of all trades and obsessed with practising medicine… he probably got his interest from her. She was a great doctor but an absentee mother whom he barely saw while growing up, as he was shuffled between grandparents, which explained his lack of enthusiasm about what she thought of him today. His relationship with his father had strained when he was first caught driving under influence in his new car an 18th birthday gift…. He had never seen eye to eye with him anyways in those rare occasions when he had even actually seen him while growing up. He didn’t blame his parents for their lack of presence though…they had worked hard to give him a good life and he had been nothing but a disappointment…

As a young doctor with stars in his eyes practising medicine independently had been his dream which he wanted to fulfil right at this place…A sudden gush of memories flooded his thoughts. Memories of successful surgeries… challenging surgeries… He also remembered those whom he had lost on the table. Though the number was negligible in his short-lived career, he still grieved for them. He jolted back to reality as the condensation from the glass he held suddenly chilled his fingers. He hung his head as a lone tear escaped his eye. He had looked forward to make a difference in the life of people around him.

A good difference he did make, he thought sarcastically, as he stirred the liquid in his glass. He had ruined everything. One wrong decision had cost him everything he had given his life for. Five years had passed since but he had given up surgery and was into administrative responsibilities of the Pune branch of their Group of hospitals as well as Karma which helped him fund charitable surgical camps. He had to pay other surgeons since he himself wasn’t doing any. As he thought of the past, a lump formed in his throat. He had been huge a catastrophe to his parents, he could see it in their eyes. He had failed a lot of others who had depended on him i.e. his co-workers and mainly his patients from all those years ago. His parents hadn’t spoken to him for years now and he barely had friends anymore… at least not anyone close for comfort besides Manik. He was living the life of solitude and was terribly lonely. A social butterfly at one time that used to be the life of parties, he felt like a destitute…like an orphan.

Suddenly the heavy rain thrashed loudly outside his window and the dark emotions flared up inside his heart. The resentment bubbling into anger… he flung his glass across the dark room and stared at the broken pieces till his vision blurred. Well… as tears trickled down he realised he was broken too… his heart too was shattered into a lion pieces…

Gaurav had probably dozed off in his chair when he heard the loud horn of an arriving vehicle, startling him awake. He checked the time it was 7.30PM. It was still pouring heavily. Oh… the party was to start. He knew it was to be held here. He also knew Ria wouldn’t be coming. She never partied…. Of course he knew everything about her. He had kept tabs on her… for almost four years and the last year he had watched her… Someone would call him a stalker. But he couldn’t help himself, besides it was his little secret. Anyway her not attending the party was fine for him. No one would notice him or miss him anyways he thought with a heart clenching pang. He was on the third floor in a dark corner. He would have to bear the blaring music when the party would be in progress, but then they would all leave and he would drown in his whiskey. He got up to shut the curtains of his old office window. As he looked down he saw the bus that had got the staff for the party. It had probably taken the back entrance…Oh yes they had covered the front and main entrance by tarpaulin sheets to cover the equipment cartons accumulated there waiting for transport.

 His eyes fell on the staff alighting the bus hurriedly trying to escape the drizzle and… his heart skipped a beat. Was it Ria? Yes it was her… Ria was here. He could identify her anywhere. She had worn a gown…A GOWN for God’s sake.  The figure hugging beautiful gown she was struggling to contain along with her huge tote bag, definitely must have brought out the black in her almond eyes. She looked around and all over as she assessed her surroundings. It was then he saw her face under the compound light. Oh Lord… she was stunning. Those eyes… they were a killer set. The bulge in his pants was a live testimony to her alluring persona and she didn’t even know it. The rain intensity increased suddenly and she along with all the members rushed inside.

He hoped he could control himself… As it is, every day in the hospital was agonising enough to only look at her and feel her around him. And now when the angelic beauty swayed to the music down there, would he be able to rein it in? He had to stay in this room, probably tie himself to the chair.

Dr. Gaurav Chopra, the so called epitome of poise and dignity was now a mere spectator watching his self-control lying in shreds…. Something was terribly wrong with him…He downed another glass of the moonshine and hoped it would suffice for his raging libido and extinguish the burning fire within… but as he closed his eyes those sparkling pair of almonds shone brightly increasing the pressure in his loins.

He was a goner….

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