Part: 15

Gouri called Kripa thinking to talk about her health. Kripa took an appointment around noon and went to meet Gouri at her hospital though she wondered for Gouri's call.

Gouri was busy with some lady in her room so Kripa was asked to wait outside for few minutes.

Gouri was busy with Sheetal Kapoor, the well-doing gynecologist and her batch mate..

"Sheetal! I have a 25 year old patient. She is unmarried and is suffering from abdominal pain for 10years. She's using some pain-killers." Gouri explained about Kripa without mentioning her name and what she saw at hospital in Lucknow. Gouri was an internal medicine practitioner and she took Sheetal's help for Kripa.

"I'm worried coz she's Nishu's friend and. Nishu usko behen maantha hai. I wanna help her" continued Gouri.

Sheetal wanted to check her before came to any conclusions. Gouri took Kripa inside. Gouri introduced Sheetal to her.

"Kripa! I talked to sheetal regarding your pain" explained Gouri the reason behind her call.

Sheetal took her inside and checked her completely. Kripa was asked to wait outside for a moment.

"Gouri! I don't see an abnormality in Kripa but better find out if she had undergone any surgery and bring her to me when she was in  pain next time. I didn't ask any details of her personal life as you requested".

"Confronting a female patient with abdominal pain, as a board-certified OB-GYN, I sometimes don't have a clue as to what the problem is. All I can say is "this patient is sick with something." Laughed Sheetal with easy go.

Gouri didn't reciprocate as was seriously thinking.

"Sometimes these patients get well before I can figure out the diagnosis. Sometimes these patients get worse and I end up performing surgery and find PID, or endometriosis, or an ovarian cyst or almost any other gynecologic problem. Sometimes I do laparoscopy and find nothing abnormal, but the pain goes away."
"If the patient has pelvic/abdominal pain or tenderness, placing her on bed rest for a few days will usually help and is never the wrong thing to do" Sheetal gave general opinion about such patients.

"For many of my patients, the pain will simply resolve although I don't know why. If there is no fever, but she complains of chronic pelvic pain, a course of oral doxycycline is wise" Sheetal advised Gouri.

"Most patients complaining of intermittent, chronic pelvic pain will benefit from oral contraceptive pills. OCPs reduce or eliminate most dysmenorrhea and have a favorable influence on other gynecologic problems such as endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and adenomyosis. I can diagnose and give treatment next time when she is suffering from pain" Sheetal told her opinion and took leave from Gouri.

As soon as Sheetal left, Gouri brought Kripa inside and started explaining the situation. Nishant's call had interrupted the conversation. Gouri told Nishant that Kripa was with her and Nishant asked Kripa to join them for lunch.

Kripa, Gouri and Nishant relaxed at beech side restaurant and watched the waves from the window silently. Gouri went to the restroom to fresh up and asked Nishant to order the food.

Nishant asked, "Kripa! Tum India Angad se milne aayi thi?'

Kripa looked into Nishant's eyes for a moment and replied, "Haan bhaiyya! We decided to get married". She explained how she remembered Angad as "Prince" and couldn't recognize till few days ago. She explained her love on Prince and the way how she found out Angad as her Prince.

"Do you know about Diya?" Nishant asked curiously.

Kripa nodded her head 'yes'. "Magar Bhaiyya patha nahin kyon darr lagraha hai ki uske pehle biwi wapas aagayi tho".

Nishant nodded as if he understood her fears. "Main bhi itna nahin jaantha hoon uski barren mein. Kabhi kabhi parties mein milthe they magar kabhi personal life mein jaag kar nahin dekha. But I never saw his wife. Kabhi mili nahin. Misthy se touch mein hoon magar tumko maloom haina main aisi baathon pe nazar kum rakhtha hoon", smiled Nihant.

Kripa smiled too.
Gouri came and the three enjoyed food as watched silent waves. After lunch Nishant left for his work after dropping Gouri and Kripa at Gouri's hospital. Kripa took leave from Gouri and went to pick her car. Gouri asked Kripa to drop her home on the way.

Gouri started conversation while Kripa was driving, "Kripa! Theek se bathao yeh pain kab se aarahi hai?"

Kripa surprised for her sudden question and hesitated to reply.
"Kripa! Main yek doctor hoon. Don't hide anything from me. I want to help you. How it happened?" Gouri convinced her.

"Main Kanpur mein thi tub se I'm getting this pain" Kripa gave a pale answer.
"Then what's that scar?" asked Gouri thinking her suspicion might be correct.
Kripa still hesitated and pretended concentrating on driving..

 
"Sheetal said your pain is related to that", Gouri wanted her to open up.
Kripa gathered her guts and told "I've undergone an abortion".

Gouri was happy for Kripa opening her heart,"when?"

"When we moved to Kanpur….after a month….. I found it and …"Kripa paused when her voice became heavy.

Gouri pressed her palms friendly. Gouri nodded her head as if she understood everything and said in her mind "this is new to me…Abortion only?"… "And the scar?""

Gouri asked, "Kripa! tum…. Kabhi…. kissi …koyi…. boy friends…. or .any more pregnancies." hesitantly paused.

Gouri wanted to know if Kripa had any more pregnancies to find out more information about the scar as abortion won't leave any scars on abdomen.

 
Kripa nodded her head "no". "Nahin Gouri! Us abortion ke baad kabhi kissi boys ko kareeb nahin aane diya" said Kripa with shy voice.

 
Gouri surprised for kripa's reply and asked,"why? darr gayi?"

Kripa again nodded her head,"Shayad main Angad ki jagah kissi ko nahin dena chahti thi".

Gouri surprised more "Woh Angad ka bacha tha"?

 
Kripa said "haan".

Kripa further confirmed that she never told her mom or Angad about the pregnancy, abortion and pain. "Jabb pehle baar pain aya tha main ussi doctor ke paas gayi thi jisne meri abortion karvayi thi. She gave me some medicines. I continued those whenever I got pain till I left for US. And in US one of my friends helped me. I even now go to her aunt only."

"Haven't your doctor told about this to your parents?" showed her curiosity.

 
"I was 19 when I went to US. And I managed." Kripa laughed.

Gouri was surprised for her braveness.

 
Gouri got some clue and thought to connect all the information with presence."Tho Kripa ki abortion nahin hua?" "how come she didn't know about this?" Gouri was confused about 'only abortion' and the scar which indicated she had undergone a caesarian.

She couldn't ask many questions as they reached Gouri's apartments. Kripa bade goodbye and left for home.

Kripa took shower to get ready for date with Angad. She thought about Gouri's words and lightly touched her scar on abdomen and remembered past.

* *

"Kripa!" Naina's scream disturbed Kripa's sleep. She checked the time and it was 6AM. She was annoyed at her mom's shouting her name early morning and came down. She saw the whole house decorated with balloons and banners saying "Happy Sweet 16".

Kripa realized today was her birthday and ran into the bathroom to get ready. Naina gave a big party on Kripa's 16th birthday. Kripa told her mom last night to wake her up early so she could go to the temple. Actually Kripa lied to her mom about temple but she made a plan with her so called best friend Tanya at 8AM.

Kripa wore a light yellow frock with frills and laces and small mirror work. It had big puffs on sleeves, broad boat neck with white frilled lace. She wore gold ear rings and left hair loose. She came to her mom and gave a hug. Naina was happy for Kripa getting up early and was planning to go to temple. Though Naina had no time to follow customs she respected her culture. She blessed Kripa and put her necklace around her neck promising she would get her real  gift in the evening. Kripa gave hug to Dilip also and he blessed her as gave a gold bracelet with her name engraved on it. Kripa loved the gifts and ran out saying time to go to temple. Naina and Dilip proudly stared at the way she went and involved later in their preparations for evening party.

"Tanya! Jaldi chalo we are late already" Kripa hurried Tanya, her class mate, best friend so far in 11th grade.

Kripa and Tanya came to a place on Tanya's bicycle and went inside. It's a general hospital where Tanya's older cousin works. She was 13years older than Tanya and worked as a gynecologist. She examined Kripa and confirmed that she was pregnant. Kripa was shocked. "Congratulations! Happy 16th birthday gift"Tanya teased her.

Kripa was angry on her "shut up Tanya. I'm worrying how to handle it and you are teasing me?"

"Hmm, kyon pehle akal kahan gaya tha" Tanya grinned. Kripa put sad face and said that she never thought about it. She was seriously and silently thought the ways to get rid of the problem now.

.
"Abb kya karey"  Tanya thought loudly .

Tanya's cousin came to them and asked how could they handle the situation. Tanya already told her how strict Naina was.

"woh tho hongi. Koyi maa apni bachi ko bina byah mom banne ki permission nahin deti" cousin gave her opinion. Kripa asked her help to get rid of it.

Cousin stunned and understood her situation and told abortion was the best idea if she didn't want to give birth to child.

"Birth"? stunned Kripa "NO Never" she told her decision. Cousin thought for a moment and asked her to come back after four days. "four days!!!" Kripa screamed and asked if she could remove it immediately.

Cousin laughed at her and told it was not that easy and she has to be in the hospital for few hours and since she had a birthday party today its better do later. Kripa agreed with no alter and went back home with Tanya. She went to temple on the way to get proof for Naina and came home. The whole time she was busy in thinking how to get rid of the problem secretly.

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