RaBir FF -A Cast of Characters chapter 97/98 & Epilogue pg121/2 (4 - Page 50

Chapter 41

Kabir observed as Rachna quietly closed Naomi's bedroom door. Her expression sober, she balanced the tray in one hand and lifted the cover off the dishes on the tray she had removed from the room. From his vantage point the plate had looked too full for his taste. He frowned, as he moved to intercept Rachna, not liking the situation one bit. She stopped when she saw him, allowing his approach. Repeating her actions, he surveyed the tray contents for himself. As he had suspected, barely anything had been touched. He replaced the cover and retrieved his mobile from its holder. "Enough. I'm calling the doctor."

"KT stop, it isn't necessary."

"Rachna, how can you say that? It's been two days, actually over two if you consider that she didn't make it through dinner. It's obvious she needs medical attention." He scrolled through his contact numbers, and paused in frustration. "What I can't understand is how no-one besides me sees a problem with this. Why the hell hasn't Rajeev insisted that she be seen by a doctor? Clearly he is concerned, as often as he has stopped in to check in on her and yet ..."

Rachna hurried to place the tray on the hall credenza, as she sought to allay her husband's alarm. That and also to get him to lower his voice, which had risen in his tirade, so that it wouldn't carry back to their friend who seemed to finally be finding some relief to her malady. She placed her hand to his mouth to hush him.

"I think she is doing much better, KT. Actually she must be since she has started packing." The fact that she had mostly directed what should be packed for her, was neither here nor there right now, Rachna thought, only that she had to dispel KT's concern . "I think she just needs another day to recuperate."

Kabir removed his wife's hand and exhaled. "But from what is the question, Rachna?' his eyes spoke the words he didn't want to voice to his wife, who had taken full responsibility of the care of their ailing friend.

"It's nothing contagious, KT; not even for Naomi would I take such a risk.

Kabir sighed and packed away his phone. "We're due to depart in two days. I don't want her travelling if she is seriously ill." Rachna's eyes drifted from his, as she answered noncommittally. "That won't be a concern. I'm certain that she will be okay to travel. And obviously she is of the same view since she's given me her passport case so you can do the preflight check in today like you wanted to."

"Thik hai, Rachna, I suppose I will have to believe that, but I will definitely make certain later when I take her passport back to her." He started to walk away. "You are still coming down to the studio, right?"

"Ha, KT just give me a minute to take the tray to the kitchen."

Her mind totally occupied, Rachna practically walked into Rajeev at the foot of the stairs as she headed from the kitchen to the studio to KT. She staggered and he steadied her, uttering an apology. He felt her stiffen under his hands before she pulled away. Her reaction gave him pause and he hesitated before continuing his trek upstairs. There was an awareness in her eyes that wasn't there yesterday, not even this morning if he was truthful. He knew he would have to address it, but did not have the time to do so right now. "Is she feeling better; has she been able to rest?"

"She's barely eaten today, but it seems that the discomfort has lessened a little. She was going to try to get some sleep, so I don't know if you will find her awake. You should go to her."

In truth he really hadn't had the time to backtrack home, but on entering Naomi's bedroom Rajeev found solace in the stillness after the harrowing period the past few days had been. He knelt beside the bed, noting her smooth brow, a clear result of Naomi finally able to rest and escape her suffering. Ruefully, he smiled, as he toyed with the long curly locks that had loosened from her ponytail and now fell across her face. His fingers must have grazed her face, as she suddenly stirred, and her eyes fluttered open to focus on him.

He looked at her apologetically. "Exactly what you need; me waking you when you've finally managed to rest. I'm sorry."

"You're on your knee again, Rajeev." She whispered.

Amazed at her non-censure, he smiled. "Hmm, I thought that maybe I'll get the answer I want if I keep at it."

"I thought you got the answer you wanted."

"Let's rephrase that; perhaps I'll get the answer I want without any conditions attached."

Naomi's eyes softened. "Soon, I promise." She took hold of his arm, and looked at his watch. "But what are you doing here; don't you have to meet our boys soon?"

Rajeev nodded. "I came to check on you obviously. How are you feeling, any better, Sweetheart?"

There was definitely something comforting in listening to her husband as he attempted to plan her time while he would be abroad. Thankful that he had at least been considerate enough to allow to her to schedule her own work, Rachna smiled as she mentally went through his list of requirements. Basically it appeared to consist of eating and sleeping, caring for Aryia and their baby on board. Oh yes, and deferring to everyone else as obviously she could not think for herself. She shook her head. A couple of days ago this would have had her screaming, but not today. She realized that KT was extremely nervous of being so far away from her during this trip, so for today let him have his head, if for no other reason than to make him feel better.

"Have you confirmed with Arpita that she will be working with me, KT?"

"Yes I have and as I expected she is quite excited to be working with you. I've told her to be prepared for a flexible schedule as we won't know how you will be feeling from one day to the next." Kabir noticed Rachna's head snap up at this. "Just so she can be prepared for every contingency."

"Thank you KT, that so was very considerate of you."

Kabir look to his wife, his eyes narrowing. She was smiling, so perhaps the hint of sarcasm he had heard in her response was his imagination.

"And our phone call, whose time zone shall we work with, you time or mine, KT?"

"Rachna, I hope you aren't making light of this conversation."

"Nay, KT of course not, but don't you think our daily phone call warrants just as much attention? I understand that you will be extremely busy, but ..."

Kabir reached out to hold her hand. "I wouldn't miss our telephone calls for the world, Rachna." Once I arrive in New York, we will determine what works best for both of us, thik hai? Perhaps we may have to go for 10:00 pm in each time zone, since something tells me you will be disregarding everything I say as soon as I'm out of sight."

"That's not true KT, you know that I will not do anything that will cause you any worry."

"So that leaves just one thing to address, Rachna."

"The visitations."

They each paused for a second gathering their thoughts, and then both spoke at once.

"Ha Rachna, I don't want you to feel pressured..."

"KT, everything went so well last time..."

Both husband and wife chuckled.

"You first, Rachna."

"Thank you. I was just trying to say, that I was hoping to take the advantage of being able to spend some more time with Sanjay...I mean if he would like to, that is. I just think that everything went so well when he was last here, and that perhaps it would be the opportune time for the two of us to get to know each other better." She bit her lower lip before continuing. "So what do you think?"

"I think that I would like that Rachna, provided that you let Daadi handle the interactions with Sonal. And before you think it is a case of me not believing you capable of dealing with her it's not. I just don't want her to even potentially have the chance to cause you any distress right now. I've already made this quite clear to her that she would be dealing with Daadi, so there should be no excuse for her to contact you at all."

"I understand, but we will still be seeing Sanjay tomorrow, right? I've made picnic plans for the four of us. Actually I have the entire day planned for us... I trust that you will finish all that you need to do today so that you are totally free tomorrow?"

"Actually I'm almost completed here; I just have some last photography to review and then the flight online check-in to complete. I'll finish packing after dinner, and then after that I am all yours to do with me as you wish."

She laughed. "How very tempting , Kabir Tripathi." She checked her watch. "In that case, I will just go and work a little more on my design and then look for you at dinner." She reached up and brushed her lips against his cheek softly. "And yes I will be alone in there, so I will leave the door open just so you feel better. I love you KT."

It took some time to get through all of the photos, but Kabir nodded, smiling at the quality photography Mohit had prepared over and above the launch photography. The couple had made excellent subjects even though they had been totally unaware of their participation. Anyone seeing these would understand the depth of feelings the pair had for each other. He closed the file and then logged on to the airline website so he could complete their check in. He would then return Naomi's passport to her, and see if she was well enough to join them for dinner.

Despite still being in her night clothes and bathrobe, Naomi was at least out of bed when Kabir knocked on the door. He walked in holding her passport case aloft.

"Hi KT, are you all done then?" Naomi asked reaching for the case.

"Ji. It's good to see you out of bed. You are feeling better I take it?"

"I am thank you." She looked at her friend strangely as he hadn't released his hold on her case.

"Naomi, can you clear something up for me. Why would you keep drug fact sheets in your passport case?"

Her hand dropped away and she hesitated before lifting her head defiantly. "It's just a practice I've had, that when travelling, I would have the information on any medications I have taken recently in the event the information is needed for emergency purposes."

It was all she would say.

"And that's all you have to say on the matter?" He placed her passport case on the nearby dresser and removed the fact sheet from his jacket inside pocket, unfolding it. "Thik hai, let's see what we have here:

Unwanted 72: emergency contraceptive pill.

Side Effects: Nausea, headaches; abdominal pain; dizziness; fatigue...

Need I continue Naomi?"

Kabir thought back to the onset of her illness, three days ago; the day that Rajeev had returned. It was apparent that she wasn't feeling well at dinner that evening, on returning home with Rajeev after they had spent the afternoon together. He had even teased her about not being able to tolerate her own cooking, since he knew that she had planned to prepare lunch for Rajeev that day. He had instantly regretted it when she had been overcome, and had to leave the table suddenly.

"So you still have nothing to say; no explanation?"

"Excuse me, but at last check Kabir, you were Aryia's father, not mine."

He grabbed her by the shoulders "Dammit Naomi, this is not the time to be glib about things. How can you be so irresponsible?"

She yanked herself out of his hold and stepped back. "No the irresponsible thing would have been not to take the action I did."

"How so very pragmatic of you Naomi; such a woman of the world. That is if you were that type of woman, but I know you are not so how could think that you should have taken such a step in the first place?"

"Again, I'm not your daughter, so I need not offer you any explanation for my actions!"

"Did Rajeev tell you he loved you? That's it, isn't it? So was it before or after he seduced you?"

"What!"

"Come on Naomi, you want to act like you're a woman of experience; you must know a man would say anything to get what he wants."

Kabir knew as soon as the words left his mouth that he was so wrong saying them to her; at the very least he should have reserved any such accusations for his other house guest who had taken advantage of an innocent. Now,he only had himself to blame for the hurt he had levelled on such a dear friend, who now stood shaken to the core in front of him.

"Naomi..."

He never had the chance to finish his sentence. And if he had remaining doubts as to her recovery from being unwell, this too was laid to rest, if the force behind the slap she gave him was any indication.