Chapter #1
Maya, the resort's main dining room hostess trekked over to
the couple's table shortly after their waiter had departed, having taken their
lunch order. "Namaste,' she greeted them. "So, you've made it back from this
morning's excursion. How was the river rafting?"
"Invigorating."
"Exhausting."
The female of the pair ignored her husband's complaint. "It
was amazing; thank you, Maya. The only downside is how very hungry we are now."
"Maya Ji, am I correct in thinking that we could have
ordered off the full dining-room menu and had it delivered to our suite should
we have wished?"
"Absolutely Mr. Agarwal, the limited room-service menu is
only in effect from 11:30 PM."
"Like I said, Sareena," the man said turning to his wife, "we
could have enjoyed the best of both worlds. You could have eaten your fill, and
I could have got what I need sooner..." the man grimaced suddenly, the victim of
a sharp kick under the table from his better half. He smiled boyishly at his
now flushed spouse and reached across table for two for her hand. "A nap," he
teased.
Her lips twitching, Maya had to clear her throat to suppress
the laughter that fought to come out. "Aacha, well let me go to the kitchen,
and see if I can get your meal prepared quickly as possible, why don't I," she
interjected knowingly before leaving the very much in love couple to each
other's company.
"This is not a honeymoon, Vihaan, you shouldn't expect..."
"My life with you is a honeymoon, Jaan," the besotted man
countered. "Every single day," he continued, counting his blessings to have the
woman of his dreams in his life. As he expected, his beloved melted practically
in front of him. "We will eat fast," she said sweeping her eyes away from her
husband's heated gaze.
Out of nowhere, an agonized bellow came from the direction
of the kitchen, ensued by another: this one laced with pain. Instantly
Sareena's demeanor changed. She was already rising from the table when the doors
leading to the kitchen swung open and Maya's desperate eyes sought hers.
"Vihaan, my bag; it's in my suitcase, please go and get it."
******
Shaurya fought against the hands that were restraining him,
attempting to strip away his jacket and shirt, all the while, dismissing the
stinging pain. The severe burning sensation he felt as a result of his
collision with the kitchen helper carrying a full pot just off the range, meant nothing after watching his wife fall unconscious
before his eyes.
"Nahi, leave me...Mehek ...Jaan...for God's sake someone call a
doctor!"
"Sir you've been burnt. The sauce, it could burn her as well
if it gets on her."
Hina, ever the voice of reason, got through to her boss
whose already frayed nerves had snapped completely on seeing his wife
incapacitated. Any thought that he could bring further harm to his wife, was so
intolerable, that the man finally stopped fighting and allowed his staff to
help him to remove his jacket. "Mehek," he whispered desperately, unable to
tear his eyes away from her. She lay deathly still, giving no outwardly
indication of her condition, which frightened him on a greater level than any
physical pain could measure against.
The kitchen door
swung open and Shaurya watched Maya usher a stranger that he vaguely recognized
as a guest into the kitchen. The woman's eyes quickly scanned the room,
identifying the two victims as well as the probable circumstances that had
brought each of them to their present conditions. Her eyes met Shaurya's and
comprehension of his identity and relation to the woman on the floor, had her
clear as to how dire this situation could be.
"I'm a doctor," She called out exuding a confidence that
immediately gave Shaurya a small sense of optimism.
"I'm fine," he lied, "Please attend to my wife. I can't lose
her."
Sareena saw that someone had appeared with a first kit.
"Call in the emergency. Get an ambulance here as soon as possible. Run cool
water over his burns for a minimum of fifteen minutes or until the responders
arrive, whichever comes first. Do not apply anything to the burns."
Confident that her orders were going to be followed, Sareena
immediately kneeled beside the fallen woman and did the all-important check to
confirm that the patient was breathing in the first instance. Noting straight
away that the unconscious woman's chest rose and fell in a regular rhythm, she
then grabbed the woman's wrist and checked her pulse, further confirming her
vitals. Satisfied with her preliminary findings, she called out, mostly for the
benefit of the man who frantically awaited news, that the patient was
breathing.
"Was there any possibility of her striking her head or back
when she fell?"
"Nahi, it didn't appear so. She just fell."
The door opened again and a young man rushed in, looking for
and locating his wife. "Here Jaan," he said passing her the compact case that
held the tools of her trade. He caught her penitent expression, but he just
shook his head. Medicine was her life, and he could not fault her for secreting
her equipment with her on their holiday.
After an indeterminable length of time, which had in fact
been less than he thought, Shaurya heard the words that settled him at last. "I
cannot see any immediate danger. Is there somewhere we can move her so she can
recover?"
Shaurya started to withdraw from the sink where his hand had
been placed under a steady stream of water.
"Nahi, you remain there. Provided your burns don't warrant a
hospital visit, you can come later."
"Hina take her to my suite. I will be there as soon as I
can."
He watched as the doctor's husband went over and hoisted
Mehek into his arms and followed Hina.
"I will be right behind you," Sareena called out, before
going to see the other patient. The man was already denying her attention
"Nahi, her condition is more important...please."
"Calm down Mr. Khanna I fully understand your situation. I
just want to get a look here before I go."
Gently she manipulated his forearm and examined the man's
injuries. His hand looked to have borne the worst of the scalding contents of
vessel that had upended on him in his haste to get to his wife. And even in
that he looked to be very fortunate. "Your watch and ring will have to come off
just in case there is any swelling, but I don't believe that a hospital visit
will be necessary. Mind you, you should defer to the expertise of those who
attend you."
"And my wife, should we be transporting her to hospital as
well?"
"I don't envision that this is anything but a fainting
spell, but if you have any concerns or are aware of any underlying conditions that
would suggest that we should..."
"I don't, but I don't what has happened to her either. She's
just come back today."
The fear she had heard in the man's voice had returned. "Let
me go then. Ideally, I would like to be with her when she comes to. If she
permits it, I will conduct a more thorough examination which hopefully will
guide you in the next steps to be taken."
"Thank you Doctor ..."
"Arora: Doctor Sareena Arora."
********
She came to slowly, completely in the dark as to where she
was, yet strangely comforted at the same time. What was it she wondered as she
inhaled deeply, that made her want to snuggle exactly where she lay and remain
here forever? Where was she? She heard noise beside her just before a shadow
fell over her. Somehow, she knew straight away that it was a woman, and she was
immediately filled with an unfounded fear. Her eyes shot open, and she looked
frantically to identify who could be there with her.
"Oh, thank God," the unfamiliar woman exclaimed, before she sped
to her side when she would have risen. "Wait please...Don't get up. Let the
doctor see you first. She should be here in a second."
She didn't know what it was about her voice, now that she
had spoken, that had her convinced everything was was okay, but she nodded and
remained there while the well-dressed woman awaited the physician who must have
been summoned to aid her.
Another woman, dressed too casually to be the doctor, came
carrying a small case. However, in this she was, as she was in many instances
nowadays, wrong.
"My name is Dr. Arora. How are you feeling? Is there any
pain or lightheadedness?"
"Nahi, neither, I'm just incredibly tired."
"Thik hai. I was nearby when you fell ill. If you have no
objection, I'd like to just do a quick examination to ensure there aren't any
underlying issues that we should be concerned about."
Sareena smiled gently, when her patient nodded "Thik hai.
Can you tell me your name; today's date and where you are? Preferably in that order."
His hand bandaged, Shaurya finally reached his suite. He
noticed as soon as he entered that the bedroom door was closed and Hina and the
doctor's husband: Vihaan Agarwal, he had since learned, were waiting in the
lounge. His PA stood immediately. "She's awake, Sir. The doctor is examining
her. It shouldn't be much longer now."
Shaurya released a shuddering breath and nodded. Feeling for
the moment that he could turn his attention elsewhere, he approached the man,
whose choice of a vacation resort, he would forever be thankful for. "Shaurya
Khanna," he stated, holding out his uninjured hand. "I cannot tell you how
thankful I am that you and your wife were here with us today of all days.
Consider you stay comped Mr. Agarwal."
"Completely unnecessary," the man returned. "I'll be
satisfied with getting my lunch sorted, and be just as grateful."
"Consider it done. Hina?"
"Ji Sir, I'll see to it right away," the PA said, and
immediately got on the phone to make the arrangements.
"Could we actually get it delivered to out suite, if it's
not too much trouble,' a voice from behind them queried.
Sareena approached them smiling. The relief that brought was
palpable. "Perhaps in about thirty minutes or so? After I speak to Mr. Khanna.
You can last that long Vihaan?"
"Haan, Reena; I will just go back to the room and wait for
you."
********
"Your hand, Mr. Khanna?"
"Just as you said, it didn't require hospitalization. They
were quite anxious to slather my hand with turmeric paste, but I told them I
would like a second opinion first," indicating the gratuitous faith he had in a
practitioner he barely knew.
"You have elevated me to a position that I hardly deserve,
Mr. Khanna. And as much as I am reliant on modern methods, it would be foolish
to discount well founded homeopathic remedies. If the preparation is done
hygienically, I would definitely recommend it as a supplementary treatment. If
you would like I will mix up some a little later."
"Thank you," Shaurya said, unable to stop his eyes from
straying to the closed bedroom door.
"Meera is fine. It's apparent that she is very much relived
to be back here, and is taking what I suspect is much needed rest. It wasn't my
business to delve further into what has happened, but as the accident was
widely reported, I had to take into consideration that the nature of her
disappearance may not be of her own making, and I approached my examination as
such."
Shaurya's eyes widened at the doctor's intimation. His focus
being solely on locating his wife, he had not even pondered the implications of
her time apart from him.
"I saw no evidence of any recent mistreatment; there is no
bruising of any kind, no contusions, no visual scarring that would indicate any
past abuse of any sort. Would you say she has lost weight since you were last together
Mr. Khanna?"
He had noticed it as soon as he had seen her. "Ji,
definitely."
Sareena rushed to assure the man, whose mind, already in
overdrive, was seeing peril in every word. "This may just be just due to a long
recovery period, if she was severely injured in the accident, or if not that
something as simple as a diet change. Perhaps both." She then paused as she
contemplated what she wanted to broach with the man next, based on her
observations. "Mr. Khanna, Shaurya, to give you as thorough of an assessment as
I can, I need to ask you something rather personal, if you would rather not answer..."
"Bolo, anything you need."
"Aacha. My understanding is that despite having married some-
time prior, that you and your wife had just got around to celebrating your
honeymoon before her disappearance?"
"Ji,"
"Were you intimate with your wife prior to your honeymoon?"
"Nahi."
"And your wife was a
virgin when you consummated your marriage?"
"I don't understand what this has to do with..."
"I am very certain that Meera is pregnant. Even though I
haven't confirmed it through any testing, her physical presentation is pointing
towards this. She has confirmed some first stage symptoms, and there is a
distinct firmness to her abdomen which would point to an almost 3 month fundal
height. Her exhaustion is a definite clue, and I would not be surprised if
Meera's fainting was not associated with this condition."
"Mehek," Shaurya stated
"I'm sorry?"
"You keep calling her Meera. That's her mother's name..."
For the first time during their conversation the young
doctor's face registered real concern. "Nahi," She answered slowly. "She told
me her name is Meera: Meera Sharma. I didn't know her given name, and I assumed
that she used Sharma for professional reasons, much as I use Arora. She began
pacing, obviously reflecting on this information. "She was able to identify the
name of the resort, but other than that..." she stopped as something important
occurred to her. "She didn't mention you, didn't ask for you once. May I use
you telephone," she suddenly asked. "It will be long distance."
*******
Two hours later, Hina exited the bedroom. "She's awake, and
wouldn't mind something to eat now."
Shaurya nodded and called the kitchen for the predetermined
meal that Sareena had suggested. He then placed a call to the doctor's suite,
who indicated that she would be there in fifteen minutes.
"Did she recognize you, Hina?"
"Nahi, Sir. I'm sorry."
"Thik hai. Dr. Arora will be back momentarily. Can you please
go back in and sit with Mehek, in the meantime?"
Fifteen minutes to the dot, the physician had arrived. So
too, had the trolley holding the meal they had ordered for Mehek. Understanding
what had been asked of him, Shaurya collected the bed tray table and followed
Dr. Arora as she entered the room.
Mehek was already sitting up in the bed, and greeted the
physician with a smile on her face.
"Meera, how are feeling now that you have rested?"
"Famished," she answered before inhaling the scents that
permeated the room. Her stomach growled noisily, and she blushed and placed her
hand on stomach. "As you can tell."
Shaurya's eyes strayed to where her hand lay, and felt his
own stomach flip. Was it true? Did she even know?
"Well we've got you something delicious, and fortifying. And
then there are these: vitamins. They are a higher dose than normal, but will
help you regain some strength. Don't take them on an empty stomach, but try not
to miss them either. At the very least take them with a glass of milk, thik
hai?"
Mehek nodded and sat a little straighter before the tray was
placed across her lap. Her eyes raised to thank her server and she froze. "Th..thank
you," she stammered. Her confusion was evident but she didn't speak on it. His
heart pounding so hard in his chest, Shaurya waited for his wife to acknowledge
him in any way, shape or form, but had to withdraw when he realized none would
come. He smiled, and nodded and stood back up to walk away.
"Wait."
Shaurya's eyes closed, and he schooled his expression before
he turned back. "Ji?"
"Did you make this for me?"
He had no clue at first why she would ask that until he
recalled that after his shirt sleeve had been cut away and his burns had been
treated that he had borrowed one of the chef's coats, to return to his room. He
still wore it
"Nahi Ma'am, not this time."
"Meera, not ma'am."
Shaurya stole a glance at the doctor, who nodded subtly.
"I'm Shaurya. Shaurya Khanna."
Still nothing.
"Thank you Shaurya."
He nodded and walked towards the door. Behind him he heard
Dr. Arora speaking. He didn't care how strange it may have appeared when he
paused to listen.
"Meera, is there someone we should telephone? Anyone you
would like for us to contact to let them know that you haven't been well?"
The pause was as pregnant as she was suspected to be, but
finally Mehek spoke.
"Nahi, there is no one to call."
*******
She slept again as soon as she finished eating.
In the time between then and when she next woke, Shaurya
remained in conference with Dr. Arora, making a slew of appointments and
arrangements for his wife. A private nurse was secured in hours and the range
of tests she believed should be done discussed with a local expert. In a move
Shaurya would never imagined, Sareena offered her time for the duration that
she was there to accompany Mehek to any appointments and to ensure the
continuity of her care. Post-traumatic amnesia was what Sareena was leaning
towards, something of all things she had been exposed to as a young intern. The
patient had suffered a less severe case, and her recovery had been well within
the duration they were dealing with, but the key takeaway point is that
recovery was possible. They would begin their quest for this goal tomorrow with
the testing to determine his wife's condition.
The arrival of dinner, ended their discussions, and after
the new trolley was wheeled in, Shaurya finally insisted on the woman's
departure.
"I fear I have ruined your vacation. Please extend my
apologies to your husband."
"These are very extenuating circumstances; he understands."
Shaurya nodded. Nevertheless, the couple would incur no
expense for this vacation whether they agreed to it or not, and in the near future he would
determine on a generous recompense for her services. For now, though, it was his
wife that needed his attention.
On entering the room, he suggested that the nurse take a
break and enjoy her own dinner in the other room, and then quietly placed the
tray as he had earlier. He stood waiting.
"Sit down Shaurya, you needn't hover."
She seemed agitated this evening, so he did exactly what she
asked. Minutes of her silent eating passed, with the distress becoming more
obvious.
"Is something wrong Meh..Meera?"
"I don't know. I've been here thinking how wonderful your
boss is, and then I see that she is nothing of the sort."
"My boss?"
"Hina Ma'am. How can she be so kind to have let me stay here
tonight; to have got me a change of clothes, act so concerned and then treat
you so badly? She continued when it looked as he had no clue what she was
referring to. "Why is she making you work, especially being injured? It's not
right."
"It's okay, don't worry about me. Just concentrate of
getting better thik hai?"
She nodded as she had a mouthful of food. After she
swallowed, she spoke again. "Turmeric Milk, Shaurya, mix some and drink it
tonight before you go to bed. It's a cure-all and you will help you sleep."
He stared at her pensively. "I seem to recall hearing that
somewhere before, maybe I will try that."
"Trust me, you will thank me in the morning, Shaurya."
Chapter
2
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