Chapter 101

Chapter 98

 

If this was a dream, Rajeev prayed that he would just stay there. Here at least, he hadn't lost her; hadn't watched his wife being torn away from him. Even hearing the anguish in her whispers was better than the alternate emptiness his existence would become if he chose to face reality. He recognized that hers wasn't the only voice reaching his ears, but it was definitely the only one that he wanted to hear right now. Automatically he turned his head in that direction; grateful that the other voices had subsided when he had done so.

 

"I don't deserve to be here, not when I've wronged him.  He's in the condition he is because of me, because I've betrayed him..."

 Although Naomi spoke in hushed tones she was no calmer. Despite the amount of time that had passed, there was still no pacifying her patient, and Dr. Visra absolutely refused for Naomi to be sedated once again after the ordeal she had been put through today. Convinced that only her husband's recovery would settle the anxious mother-to-be, the best they could to was to distract her until such time that the patient on the other side of the curtain came out from under the effects of the anesthetic that had been forced on him. It was taking longer than it normally would have, but this was understandable considering the high dosage he had had been subjected to. In fact they were very, very lucky that he was; many would not have. Only an incredible will had maintained the man.

 

"Naomi I'd like to discuss the scan that was done."

The young woman teared up and shook her head. "No, he made them do them, I don't want ..."

"Naomi this has nothing to do with that villain, and everything to do with you and Rajeev's daughters," the obstetrician interjected.

That got her attention.

"Daughters," she whispered. "Both of them...I'm really having two little girls?" She latched on to the idea, that perhaps Rajeev would accept the children, if not her, just because they were the daughters he had wished for.

Dr. Visra nodded. It wasn't common practice to reveal the sex to the parents, but having been made aware that this information had already been disclosed at the insistence of the man who had tried to abscond with her patient; the physician thought no harm would come in confirming the information.

"Yes, two girls. They are developing nicely and will continue to do so, as long as you take care of yourself. And that means maintaining your composure." The doctor turned around when the Doppler she had requested from the maternity award arrived. "Let's just take a listen to their heartbeats, thik hai?"

 

The entire room had gone quiet, and soon a strong steady beat echoed in the silence. As expected, Naomi was lulled into a state of calm by the constant galloping sound. Dr. Visra smiled. "Baby Girl #1 whose heart is beating at very healthy rate of 152," she indicated as she held device there a little longer. She moved it over slightly in accordance with the scan she had recently studied. The Doppler picked up the second beat almost immediately "And here we have Baby Girl #2, who is already trying to one-up her sibling with a heartbeat of 154. You have two very strong little ones right here Mrs. Agarwal."

Naomi bit her lower lip and nodded tears streaming down her face, unaware that on the other side of the drape that Rajeev had finally opened his eyes.

**********

 

Despite Sareena's assurances that everything would be okay, Kabir watched as his wife shed tears for her rescuer as they prepared to wheel him into surgery. Everything had happened so fast and if Jack had not intervened when he had...God he didn't even want to contemplate the likely outcome. Abhi had not gone down quick enough when Rachna had injected him with the sedative, and instead had ripped off her veil, disbelieving that the woman who had pledged herself to him would betray him so. Kabir would forever remember the sound of rage that emanated from the crazed man when he discovered that it wasn't Naomi: had never been Naomi, and had raised the knife. All Kabir knew that he was too far away to save Rachna from attack, and he fully expected to watch his wife die in front of his eyes.

But then miraculously Jack, who they had both thought had been incapacitated, had come in between the descending arm holding the deadly weapon and Rachna, who valiantly struggled to pull away from Abhi, taking the slashing blow in her stead and then somehow through sheer will inflicted sufficient damage to Rachna's attacker, long enough for Kabir to pull his wife out of harm's way and for the police reinforcements to arrive on the scene.

Sareena had emerged from the safety of the terminal and immediately began providing medical attention to her friend, assisted by Vihaan.

 

"It may take a while just do to the number of stiches he needs, but trust me, Rachna, he will be okay," Sareena promised. "Perhaps we should check on Rajeev and Naomi?"

"Nay," Kabir answered, "Not before Rachna and Sanjay have been assessed," his tone brooking no further dissent now that Jack had been seen to.

       

***********

 In the end half of the battle-weary group was kept at least overnight for observation. With the overwhelming presence of the police there safeguarding the bunch, there was no way of avoiding the fallout. By the nightfall snippets of what had happened had made it out into the public domain. The next day, it quickly became apparent the necessity of the group to be snuck out of the medical facility when en-masse the press descended on the building to cover the scandal. Everything had been made worse when the full disclosure of Abhi's crimes had come to light: that in addition to the assault and kidnapping, that he had also been found to have embezzled a significant amount from his father's corporation: money he had stolen in order to fund his new life with  Naomi and their children. He had seen it as the ultimate revenge against both his father for never approving of him. But mostly his schemes were against Rajeev who would suffer knowing that his wife had accepted him as her husband, and that he and Naomi would raise his children in parts unknown. Behind bars, the mad man was making no secret of it and was spewing his hateful lies to any and all who would listen. By association, Sonal's story was soon ferreted out, which just added more and more drama to and already over-blown spectacle. In the days to come, they were all affected in one way or another with the story being rehashed over and over on the television and in print on a daily basis, so much so that neither family could find solace in their respective homes. 

 

After three days the bull was finally taken by the horn, when Rajeev's parents arranged for the group to follow through on their planned vacation. Although their primary reasoning was to succor their bahu, who was deteriorating before their very eyes, they saw this as the perfect opportunity for both families to find some peace away from the pandemonium their lives had become, while they took control of the situation at home. It took some convincing, but at last they were able to escort the group back to the concourse to board the private jet they had arranged to carry them to Goa.

"The quiet will be good for you beta; for both of you," Rajeev's father said to his son as he bid him farewell.

"Ha Papa." He then turned to his mother who stood watching her bahu who sat with the Tripathi family. Distress was written over her face, although Savitra found some relief that today Naomi wore the wedding chain and sindoor that she had initially refused, owing to the blame she had placed on herself, and the perceived shame she had brought to their family.

"I will convince her that she hasn't done anything wrong, Maa."

Savitra nodded.

Rajeev then turned to Vihaan. "There's plenty of room; are you sure you won't join us?"

The younger Agarwal shook his head. "Nay, I'm going to stay to help Papa put out the fires," he said.
Besides I would just be in the way I think," he continued. "Just have a good trip and bring Bhabhi back happy, thik hai." He looked over to where Sareena tended to a wounded Jack, who would also make the trip and recuperate in the tropical paradise. "I'll see you when you get back, so I can say a proper goodbye to Bhabhi," Vihaan continued with a forced smile before embracing his brother.

 It was a smooth flight, and at 35,000 feet the travelling party felt their tension slip away as they put distance between them and the chaotic atmosphere that had become their lives. The respite was just what they need. Not unexpectedly, Naomi, along with the children soon fell asleep. While the children had been lulled into slumber by the droning of the jet's engines, most of them recognized that it was Naomi's still troubled state that led her to drift off. Sure of her sleep, Rajeev turned to his travelling party with a request.

 

He had asked for the night; that he and Naomi be allowed complete privacy for the evening. The others had agreed, all of them worried for their friend who appeared to be backsliding into a melancholy state.

"You have made plans," Kabir stated unquestioningly, knowing that the man he spoke to would move heaven and earth for the woman he loved.

"Ji, but we will definitely see you tomorrow."

 

Now hours later, Rajeev knocked on the bathroom door where Naomi was freshening up. He stuck his head into the steamy room "Our dinner has arrived, so I am going to have it set up beside the pool, Sweetheart. I've left something out for you to wear, thik hai?"

Naomi nodded and smiled wanly back.

He left unsure how she would react, but he had to do something to make his wife come to her senses.

 

 Fifteen minutes later, Naomi stepped through the sliding door, and the first thing Rajeev noticed was that she was barefoot, and that her face was blotchy from crying. Yet she looked as beautiful as she had on their wedding day. It was fitting he thought. He stood there waiting for her to come to him, and watched as she raised the hem of the white wedding gown that KT had designed for her, and hastened to her husband, who stood looking so handsome in his black tuxedo. She threw herself into his arms and began sobbing out loud.

"You didn't have to do this," she cried.

"Ji Sweetheart I did. Consider it positive reinforcement. I'm guessing that something must have got lost in translation last time, which I am blaming your confusion on, so I'm making sure you get the message this time around by doing in a way more familiar to you." He leaned down and kissed her forehead and then clasped both of her hands and nodded at her, before they both turned their attention to the minister who stood waiting with a smile.

 

 The clergyman had obviously been filled in on their troubles as he spoke of marriage being the connection of two souls, something more important than the tangible symbols of their union: be it wedding rings or chains or even sindoor. Yes he said, all three have their place in  marriage, but of more importance are the vows that a husband and wife make to each other... he spoke of Faith and Trust and Love: of Commitment. And somewhere between her tears during the highly specific blessing of their union, Naomi began to find the peace that had eluded her.

**********

 

Basking in the sunshine as they relaxed in the reclining beach chairs, Rachna raised her head in the direction of Jack who was engrossed in his mobile. Smiling absently, the bodyguard's fingers flew over the touch screen, and then after a few minutes, he chuckled. Sareena raised her eyebrows at Rachna in return and had covered her mouth to prevent her laughter from spilling out. Finally she cleared her throat and stood up. Her shadow covered her former schoolmate "Jack it would probably be a good idea for you to get out of the sun now. Plus we don't want to risk you getting sand near your sutures."

Considering that he was sufficiently covered and protected from both, Jack recognized Sareena's words as just the excuse he could use to return back to the villa, and make the phone call he wished to. He took advantage of her being there to help him to stand. Although up and about he was definitely not one hundred percent. When she had him up on his feet, Sareena sent him on his way teasing him about not running up the hotel phone bill.  Behind her, the Tripathis laughed at his expense.

"The two of you have such an amazing friendship," Rachna commented, when Sareena returned to her lounge chair.

"Actually I consider it one of the many benefits of our boarding school experience. Besides the educational foundation, it served as the community that was absent from my life, and opened up my eyes to all sorts of people and cultures I never would have experienced." She paused for a second, looking at a distance to where Rajeev and Naomi frolicked on the shore line with Sanjay and Aryia. "I'm sure that not everyone's experience is the same, but when the time is right, it is my hope that Sanjay finds it a fulfilling experience as well."

 

Although both Rachna and Kabir hadn't spoken, Sareena knew that she had their rapt attention. "Bhai registered him with the school as soon as he was named," she remembered with a smile. "I know at the time he was thinking mostly of educational value, but I was excited for other reasons, myself."

 

Kabir could hold back no longer. After Jack had given him the name of the institution, as expected, Kabir had done some research on it. Sareena was right, on both the academic as pastoral front: the historically established public school excelled. His only grievance was the age that they accepted their students. They were practically babies. "I would rather..." he began, and then remembered his position. "That is, have you considered at what age you will be sending him...?"

Sareena smiled. "That's the good thing about the school,  a set transfer age is not mandatory; there are a couple of stages in which a student can begin. Not that there should be an issue with Sanjay considered a legacy applicant, but I think that it works well for the individual child. Some are ready from the onset, and others," Sareena continued wistfully, "require more nurturing before they should go. I think Sanjay falls in the latter category myself. I would rather keep him within the family fold than traumatizing him with good intentions."

Kabir sighed deeply, and with a small smile, Rachna reached over and grabbed he husband's hand. She knew that this information relieved him.

 

"I can't do this by myself," Sareena said suddenly, causing the married couple to look over to her in shock. The self-assured young doctor sat there with tears streaming down her face. "That's not say, that I am incapable, I just wonder at the fairness of it to him. On one hand it feels like total selfishness on my part, but in my more rational moments I comprehend that Sanjay needs more than I can provide right now, and he deserves more than being raised by the hired help. Perhaps if Naomi had been the one, I could see it through, but that seems impossibility now, not that I would want to put her in that position right now... after everything.  She took a deep breath steeling herself for what she had to say.

"Sanjay needs his family: his Daadi, his sister and especially his Rachna Aunty and his Papa." She wiped at her tears in anger. "So this should be more fodder for the public don't you think...the aunt who fights for custody of her nephew, only to realize that she has no..."

"Don't you dare you think to complete that sentence," Kabir ordered sternly, refusing for the young woman to denigrate herself in any fashion. "Have you not considered that if Sanjay is family to us, then just by default you are too? Family is here to support each other, so whatever it is that you need from us will be given if it's in our power to give..."

Sarrena spoke again, "I can arrange a stipend for his care if you need...it won't be"

"Rachna," Kabir growled in warning, fearing that he would explode at his son's aunt...

Rachna shook her head, desperately needing Sareena to grasp the insult she had about to levy and stop.

"Family Sareena," Rachna reiterated sternly before smiling at the young doctor, "Which means that Kabir will feel he has all the rights to chastise you whenever necessary...and perhaps even when you don't deserve it."

Sareena stopped talking and then chuckled tearfully. "It must be a bhai thing," she said. She wiped her face clear, and then nodded. "At the very least we need to draw up guardianship papers so that you can act in my stead in case of any emergency."